He was on dialysis for kidney failure for over a year and diagnosed and being treated for a liver tumor. He had received his second treatment of hepatic artery Infusion chemo and died not long after. He also suffered heart disease and with his cardiac function compromised from dialysis the chemo was too much for his weakened body to handle.
Yes. Chemotherapy and dialysis is way too much for a body to handle. Derek had already had a massive heart attack the previous year so he definitely could not have taken another one. He prob insisted on the chemo against doctor's wishes so he could get the kidney.
If it was me, I would have not fooled with the chemo....would not have save him but it would have given him a few more years of life in which new options could have been available such as the artifical kidney that's being developed for example
But like I said before....I was hoping people would learn from his mistakes. Then came Bostin Lloyd.