Is someone terminally ill?

Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where someone is terminally ill.
A surprise cancer diagnosis or an unexpected subplot/plot twist about a grave or even terminal disease can be upsetting to viewers, especially if they or one of their loved ones recently went through something similar themselves. It’s often not apparent from the synopsis of a movie/show that illness will be major aspect of the story. Sometimes cancer or a similar sickness is just added for extra drama or raising the stakes or softening the blow of a character’s death, so it’s not foreseeable. It would be very helpful to have this as a category. Thanks everyone! <3
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Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
61
No
0
4
RamonaRamone
The main character has brain cancer and is given three months to live.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
43
No
1
4
laurens26
Spoiler

Someone is thought to be terminally ill but it's implied to be due to poisoning.
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
33
No
1
5
A minor character has cancer and dies off screen. No hospital scene or any part of the grieving process is shown. It’s just a time skip with a narrator saying — died of cancer.
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
31
No
0
9
bricker
The antagonist's terminal illness is a key aspect of his characterization
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
31
No
2
3
Sid
It’s CADASIL. They mention it in a later episode
6
Kauleal
A character gets rabies
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
29
No
0
1
Pantalones
Godwin is shown to have a large, inoperable tumor.
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
27
No
1
3
Gothy17
S2
 E2
Someone is revealed to have cancer
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
25
No
0
2
itzyaboitrevor
Main character has cancer and repeatedly talks about how long she has kept living, despite being told she wouldn’t make it longer than _____ days
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
24
No
0
4
GrayTheGay
A character dies from cancer
TV Show • 2020 Report
Yes
20
No
2
1
IdanAzran
Yes- SPOILER!
On the last episode of season 3, near the end, one of the main characters wakes up in a hospital, where he asks a doctor "how long have I got?", and the doctor replies "12 month, 18 if you are lucky"

On another episode, we see a child with cancer, where he gets a visit from a super hero, at the make-a-wish program. There is a "joke" about the child wanting to meet a different hero, and was told that he will come to visit the child in a few days, to which the doctor shake is head "no".
TV Show • 2016 Report
Yes
20
No
2
2
thesco
Hopper's daughter, shown in flashbacks, died from terminal cancer
TV Show • 2008 Report
Yes
20
No
0
1
Pantalones
Walt's lung cancer was most likely incurable but not untreatable. There are several scenes where he has discussions with doctors regarding treatment and prognosis. He does NOT ultimately die of cancer.
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
19
No
1
1
S1
 E1
The neighbor elderly relative is in a wheelchair and seems disabled/terminally ill
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
19
No
0
0
icexcoldxocean
The setting is similar to a hospice and some background characters have terminal illnesses but it's not the focus of the film
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
19
No
0
0
Many, MANY patients die from terminal illnesses throughout the show
Video Game • 2020 Report
Yes
18
No
3
2
Basil’s grandmother is in hospice for the latter segments of the game. It isn’t a huge focus but does seem to be a leading factor in his struggles.
TV Show • 2024 Report
Yes
17
No
14
2
IndigoBlue14
A ghoul (radiation mutated person) is shown to be losing control of themselves and becoming 'feral', an incurable thing.
Movie • 1999 Report
Yes
16
No
0
4
nrerie
a very minor character who is in a support group has cancer that they later end up dying from.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
16
No
9
1
JayR
S3
 E3
While not an illness, a main character makes a deal with a demon in season 3 and only has a year to live until he is killed and taken to hell. Multiple episodes in this series touch upon the fear and grief this character and his loved ones experience while faced with this information, which may be upsetting to watch
Movie • 2005 Report
Yes
16
No
0
1
twitchywitchygirl
john kramer/jigsaw has terminal cancer
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
16
No
0
1
glance
A character is described as "infirm" and their illness is central to the main character's mindset.
Podcast Report
Yes
15
No
0
1
ErinHollow
A recurring character is terminally ill, but survives through supernatural means. Another recurring character isn't so lucky
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
15
No
2
Video Game Report
Yes
14
No
0
4
lilpig
(SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) A major character has a medical issue that threatens to kill them with no apparent cure. They spend much of the game in denial about this, but eventually break down and confront their mortality. Their ultimate outcomes are all fairly bleak, some moreso than others. (MORE SPOILERS LOL SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) There are some new outcomes that give glints of hope, but no confirmation as to their ultimate fate.
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
14
No
2
4
Anonymous
It is mentioned that a character died of illness
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
14
No
1
2
Pantalones
Jack's wife Bella has terminal cancer.
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
14
No
2
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
13
No
4
1
Pantalones
Davros is dying, and indeed very close to death, in the episodes "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch's Familiar." It is never stated what exactly is killing him, but he is very weak and looks and sounds ill.
Video Game • 2020 Report
Yes
13
No
0