The doctor says that you probably have two years to live, or a 50% expected improvement in “survival” (medical terminology for living another five years) if you undergo chemotherapy. In other words, you can have two years of gradual decline with some pain, or three years of nauseating treatments, “chemo brain,” loss of hair, and diminished dignity.
想象你得了癌症。医生说你还有两年可活，如果采取化疗，可能将“生存期”（医学术语，意思是多活五年）延长50%。换句话说，你可以选择带着些许痛苦让生命在两年的时间里逐渐凋零，也可以选择三年令人作呕的治疗、“化疗脑”、掉头发和失去生命尊严。