Also known as: Brain inflammation
Initially suspected as cause of Ryan's syncope and seizure, with hypodensity seen in bilateral medial temporal lobes suggesting HSV encephalitis. Later ruled out in favor of paraneoplastic syndrome.
Also known as: Liver cancer
Ryan develops liver cancer from a microscopic lesion in the liver he received from his best friend Dom six months prior. The cancer has metastasized and causes a paraneoplastic syndrome (autoimmune symptoms). He is given only months to live despite surgical resection and chemo-embolization.
Ryan's liver cancer causes his immune system to go into overdrive and attack unrelated organs, presenting with seizures, fainting, rash, and elevated inflammatory markers before the underlying malignancy is discovered.
Also known as: Bladder cancer
Grace, a surrogate carrying her fifth pregnancy, is diagnosed with a bladder sarcoma abutting her uterus. The tumor grows rapidly during pregnancy and causes a uterine vessel rupture. She refuses termination and undergoes experimental cystoscopic surgery to preserve the pregnancy while treating the cancer.
Also known as: Spotting during pregnancy
Grace presents with vaginal bleeding in her second trimester surrogate pregnancy, initially thought to be normal spotting but later found to be caused by an underlying bladder sarcoma and uterine vessel rupture.