How Long Have I Got Left?
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How Long Have I Got Left?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › How Long Have I Got Left?

  • Post
    • January 26, 2014 at 12:27 pm
    Mat
    Participant

    My wonderful wife left a copy of this article out for me.  I haven't seen a better description of my day to day mental state.  Spoiler alert–the Samuel Beckett at the end (while simple) is priceless.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • January 26, 2014 at 12:56 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Wow! What an honest and insighful essay!

      My favorite part is:

      "Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when… The angst of facing mortality has no remedy in probability."

      Thank you for sharing this, Mat.

       

      • January 26, 2014 at 12:56 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Wow! What an honest and insighful essay!

      My favorite part is:

      "Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when… The angst of facing mortality has no remedy in probability."

      Thank you for sharing this, Mat.

       

      • January 26, 2014 at 12:56 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Wow! What an honest and insighful essay!

      My favorite part is:

      "Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when… The angst of facing mortality has no remedy in probability."

      Thank you for sharing this, Mat.

       

        • January 26, 2014 at 3:41 pm
        shanemcdonald99
        Participant

        excellent !

        thanks

         

        shane

        • January 26, 2014 at 3:41 pm
        shanemcdonald99
        Participant

        excellent !

        thanks

         

        shane

        • January 26, 2014 at 3:41 pm
        shanemcdonald99
        Participant

        excellent !

        thanks

         

        shane

        • January 26, 2014 at 6:04 pm
        Brendan
        Participant

        Thanks, Mat.

        Beckett's quote was perfect; you are right.  Every day I read myself a similar line from Churchill that is posted on my refrigerator :

        If you're going through hell, keep going.

        Good luck to us all.

         

        • January 26, 2014 at 6:04 pm
        Brendan
        Participant

        Thanks, Mat.

        Beckett's quote was perfect; you are right.  Every day I read myself a similar line from Churchill that is posted on my refrigerator :

        If you're going through hell, keep going.

        Good luck to us all.

         

        • January 26, 2014 at 6:04 pm
        Brendan
        Participant

        Thanks, Mat.

        Beckett's quote was perfect; you are right.  Every day I read myself a similar line from Churchill that is posted on my refrigerator :

        If you're going through hell, keep going.

        Good luck to us all.

         

        • January 26, 2014 at 11:36 pm
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great Essay!…wonder if I can remember this why'll I'm going through IL2?

        • January 26, 2014 at 11:36 pm
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great Essay!…wonder if I can remember this why'll I'm going through IL2?

        • January 26, 2014 at 11:36 pm
        tschmith
        Participant

        Great Essay!…wonder if I can remember this why'll I'm going through IL2?

        • January 27, 2014 at 4:25 am
        JerryfromFauq
        Participant

        You WILL.   !

        • January 27, 2014 at 4:25 am
        JerryfromFauq
        Participant

        You WILL.   !

        • January 27, 2014 at 4:25 am
        JerryfromFauq
        Participant

        You WILL.   !

      • January 26, 2014 at 9:56 pm
      BrianP
      Participant

      Great Mat. Thanks to you and your wonderful wife for finding and posting it. "I'll go on."

      Brian

      • January 26, 2014 at 9:56 pm
      BrianP
      Participant

      Great Mat. Thanks to you and your wonderful wife for finding and posting it. "I'll go on."

      Brian

      • January 26, 2014 at 9:56 pm
      BrianP
      Participant

      Great Mat. Thanks to you and your wonderful wife for finding and posting it. "I'll go on."

      Brian

      • January 27, 2014 at 7:11 am
      Socks
      Participant

      Thank you for sharing this. I may not be a neurosurgeon (or any sort of doctor), but I'm almost 36, and while I figured I'd get some sort of cancer someday, given my genetic background, I just didn't expect it this soon. Reading this was very helpful. 🙂 Thank you again.

      • January 27, 2014 at 7:11 am
      Socks
      Participant

      Thank you for sharing this. I may not be a neurosurgeon (or any sort of doctor), but I'm almost 36, and while I figured I'd get some sort of cancer someday, given my genetic background, I just didn't expect it this soon. Reading this was very helpful. 🙂 Thank you again.

      • January 27, 2014 at 7:11 am
      Socks
      Participant

      Thank you for sharing this. I may not be a neurosurgeon (or any sort of doctor), but I'm almost 36, and while I figured I'd get some sort of cancer someday, given my genetic background, I just didn't expect it this soon. Reading this was very helpful. 🙂 Thank you again.

      • January 27, 2014 at 9:52 pm
      Swanee
      Participant

      I have had the good fortune of having a hypochondriac Aunt who has been dying for as long as I've known her.  When I was diagnosed with stage IV mel and told the grim news, my first thought was of her and how she had wasted her life dying every day. I made a vow to myself, however much time I have in this earthly life, I don't want to waste a moment giving death any of my precious time, it will get it's share when the time comes.  I have spent the last 4 years living life to the fullest and engaging in anything I want to and it truly has been a remarkable time for me and my family and I think I'll go on a very long time like this!  My husband and I always try to keep our humor in tact, often reminding ourselves and others…..it's an expensive way to live!  The song by Tim McGraw states it so well "Live life like your dying" sadly, most of us don't understand this phrase until we are facing a head on collision with death.  We all have the capacity to give ourselves the gift of  hope and happiness. In the end, nobody can say with any certainty what will be, so cling to what you hope your life will be and who knows, it just might be what you hoped!

      I hope all who read this takeaway renewed hope for a long and well lived life.

      Swanee

      p.s. My Aunt is 79 and still dying 🙂 

      • January 27, 2014 at 9:52 pm
      Swanee
      Participant

      I have had the good fortune of having a hypochondriac Aunt who has been dying for as long as I've known her.  When I was diagnosed with stage IV mel and told the grim news, my first thought was of her and how she had wasted her life dying every day. I made a vow to myself, however much time I have in this earthly life, I don't want to waste a moment giving death any of my precious time, it will get it's share when the time comes.  I have spent the last 4 years living life to the fullest and engaging in anything I want to and it truly has been a remarkable time for me and my family and I think I'll go on a very long time like this!  My husband and I always try to keep our humor in tact, often reminding ourselves and others…..it's an expensive way to live!  The song by Tim McGraw states it so well "Live life like your dying" sadly, most of us don't understand this phrase until we are facing a head on collision with death.  We all have the capacity to give ourselves the gift of  hope and happiness. In the end, nobody can say with any certainty what will be, so cling to what you hope your life will be and who knows, it just might be what you hoped!

      I hope all who read this takeaway renewed hope for a long and well lived life.

      Swanee

      p.s. My Aunt is 79 and still dying 🙂 

      • January 27, 2014 at 9:52 pm
      Swanee
      Participant

      I have had the good fortune of having a hypochondriac Aunt who has been dying for as long as I've known her.  When I was diagnosed with stage IV mel and told the grim news, my first thought was of her and how she had wasted her life dying every day. I made a vow to myself, however much time I have in this earthly life, I don't want to waste a moment giving death any of my precious time, it will get it's share when the time comes.  I have spent the last 4 years living life to the fullest and engaging in anything I want to and it truly has been a remarkable time for me and my family and I think I'll go on a very long time like this!  My husband and I always try to keep our humor in tact, often reminding ourselves and others…..it's an expensive way to live!  The song by Tim McGraw states it so well "Live life like your dying" sadly, most of us don't understand this phrase until we are facing a head on collision with death.  We all have the capacity to give ourselves the gift of  hope and happiness. In the end, nobody can say with any certainty what will be, so cling to what you hope your life will be and who knows, it just might be what you hoped!

      I hope all who read this takeaway renewed hope for a long and well lived life.

      Swanee

      p.s. My Aunt is 79 and still dying 🙂 

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