Fan Questions on 502: "Not Cancer"
Answered by writers David Shore & Lawrence Kaplow

1) Why did House keep paging the nurse? He usually does his annoying things because he has a point, why was he doing it?

He did have a point; albeit seemingly minor the chart wasn't where it was supposed to be. One could argue that the chart was merely across the patient's bed on a cart, but House has a patient basically on death's door. He shouldn't have to go searching for his patient's medical chart.

2) 'Things will be what they are' was a very important line in the show in my opinion. It has so many different interpretations for House, especially now. What was the writer's interpretation of that line?

Do you mean aside from its intended meaning? Are you asking for an alternative interpretation of what we wrote? Too snarky? Okay, House sees a world of absolutes. Where everything can and should have a cause and effect; his version of meaning. We'd like the world to be this bright and shiny place where only good things happen. That would be nice. No starvation, no war, etc. So you can ignore what's going on around you; be chipper in your isolation; or like House be aware. His is a considered life. And his gift to his patient is a vision of the world as House sees it.

3) Is House doubting his medical genius in the absence of Wilson (i.e. visiting Wilson in hopes of gaining an epiphany)? Or is he merely distracted?

It's best to take House at his word. When he says that Wilson's thinking is nonlinear and sloppy, but that it takes him down roads House normally wouldn't go, he means it. House needs Wilson. If House only had people who saw the world as he did and shared his logic epiphanies would take longer...

4) Most poignant was the part where House tell the patient that she will see the world as it really is, and when he asks her how he looks, she tells him he looks sad, a common line used throughout the series. What was House hoping to hear the patient say?

Was he hoping for something? Do you think he was expecting her to say that he looks young and handsome and cheery? House knows who he is. But it took him aback that she so accurately saw through fatigue, world-weariness, etc. She saw how he felt about his loss of a friend. While she gained sight, House in some ways lost sight of the things that are actually important to him.

5) What's with the peppermint tea references?

On the one hand we thought it was funny to press the emergency button to order a cup of tea from the waitress I mean nurse. Since peppermint tea has no caffeine, we can also assume that perhaps House was cutting back.