Before the Blackout

About a year before the blackout, Bryce learned he had renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). ("Believe") By four weeks before the blackout, the cancer had progressed to stage 4. ("Believe")

Varley, believing that his cancer was terminal, began contemplating suicide. On the day prior to the flashforward, he missed morning rounds at the hospital, prompting three worried calls from Olivia. Traveling out to the Venice Pier with a handgun, Varley prepared to kill himself, but was interrupted by the flashforward.

Flash

It was initially unknown what exactly Varley saw in his flash, though it did show a positive future for him involving an unknown woman. Most likely they were romantically involved. ("White to Play") ("Black Swan") Later, it was revealed that the woman was associated with the Japanese kanji 信. ("The Gift") The woman is eventually revealed to be Keiko Arahida, who has the character 信 tattooed to her left wrist.

After the Blackout

After the GBO, Varley abandoned all thoughts of suicide and helped those around him who had been injured. He later returned to the hospital, helping Olivia save the life of Dylan Simcoe, a young boy who had been hit by a car. After saving Dylan, Varley confided to Olivia that he had been contemplating suicide, but that he had lost all intentions of doing so after the flashforward. Varley remained at the hospital for the remainder of the day, and that night met Lloyd Simcoe as he came to check on Dylan.

Because his hopeful flashforward saved him from committing suicide, Bryce embraces the future while most others are skeptical or in denial. This is advantageous for him when he uses his patient Ned's flashforward to diagnose an unknown illness and save his life.("Black Swan")

Bryce travels to Tokyo to try to find Keiko Arahida but is unsuccessful. ("Believe") Ironically, he returns to Los Angeles on the same flight as Keiko, with neither aware that the other is on the flight. ("Believe")