Exercising the viewpoint that nothing should be taken for granted led to correction of errors in either diagnosis or management of 11 cases previously diagnosed as inoperable or terminal cancer. In none of these cases did cancer exist. The authors summarize these cases pointing out where and why the errors occurred and were perpetuated. They suggest that a fresh evaluation of any large group of patients in mental institutions, in institutions for chronic care or for the incurably sick would unearth a rewarding number of salvageable individuals.