is the legal relevance of a preexisting condition [see, e.g., the Cates report, § 19.08(a)]. As a general rule, employers are said to take employees as they find them; a history of either physical or mental problems or a preexisting sensitivity to them will not in itself result in a denial of compensation.40 Thus, if a workplace injury aggravates an existing disease or infirmity or accelerates its course, compensation is due.41 “Aggravation” of a disease might include situations in which a preexisting cancer spread as a result of the
