When I left Japan in 2006, I was sure that I would never return. After 17 years of traveling to Japan 3 or 4 times a year, some years I went 6 times, I was done.

My beloved husband was diagnosed with cancer, I now had another focus. I didn’t keep up with my Japanese friends. Generally, I felt that after all the medical education, lecturing I provided, not one really cared. That was my other life, and I moved on and found fulfillment as a radio host.

This summer of 2013, I surprisingly received an email from a Japanese pharmacist I knew. I had given a lecture at his hospital on hospital infection control. He asked me to give a speech on Cancer Chemotherapy in the USA. I said thank you, but no. I don’t do that anymore.

He sent me many emails with the same request. I continued to say no, but offered to find them someone. With encouragement from my adult son, Chris, who loves Japan, and wanted to go with me, I began to consider it.

I thought of other nurses, but they would have no knowledge of the Japanese system. they would not know the key points to address such as the lack of informed consent and little awareness of the cancer diagnosis patients are provided in Japan.

What finally changed my thinking, is a email from Tei, saying ” we don’t care what you talk about, we just want YOU, Ann San. I said OK.

Another lesson of never say never.