Reesa understood the tradeoff inherent in chemotherapy, namely, that for the cancerous cells to die, some healthy cells would too, but this didn’t change her aversion to the side effects.

“Are you comfortable, Mama? Do you need your blanket?” she asked Hazel. They, along with a cheerful Joanne Adkins, were spending their afternoon at Rhode Island Hospital.

“I’m fine, honey. More than fine. I can’t believe I’ll go from being hooked to this machine to ...