What would you do if you found out you were really sick...

[crestofwaves]

I watched a movie yesterday called One Week about a young man who found out he had cancer and his odds for treatment were not very good, but there was hope.

Instead of wanting to be close to people around him, he put off his decision for treatment, hopped on his motor cycle, and took a road trip through Canada.  I love road trip movies, so I watched, and it made me think what I would do if faced with such news.

I think I would do exactly as he did.  I would take some time, take off, see things and meet people--probably alone, something I have always wanted to do. I might take one of those Parillo tours to Italy or a river cruise on the Mississippi where they make stops along the way.  I would definitely be moving around.

At the end of the movie, he went home and started treatment.  His whole family and fiance were distraught that he took off instead of immediately starting treatment, and the fiance asked him if his trip was worth it.  He said, unequivocally, YES!

What would you do if faced with such news?

[AmerikinWmn]

1. This is something I've thought about over the years; my Dad passed at 42 from an illness he'd fought for 5 yrs so early death was no stranger in our family. I think I'd probably do something I've feared, like bungee jumping or sky diving. Go see things I've put off doing all these years, waiting for the "right" time which usually never comes. And spend quality time with family and friends instead of always being in a hurry.

[Mickchick]

I've thought about it, too, and I've vacillated between doing as much as I could while I could and spending as much time as possible with family and getting affairs in order.  I'm really not sure what I'd do - depends on what is happening at the time, I suppose, and in the meantime ... I'm doing those things that I want to do that I'd regret if I didn't get to do them, and I need to start getting my affairs in order NOW instead of waiting!

[Marianne Kiendl]

I would do what a good friend of mine did after being diagnosed with a very bad cancer, travel and see all the parts of the world I haven't got to yet.  Take one day at a time and just enjoy every day.  Set up my funeral arrangements so no one would have to worry.

[crestofwaves]

The kid in the movie said something that stuck with me.  He made love to a woman he met on a hike in the woods.  When she asked him why he wanted to, he said, "I'm just trying to make a moment."  Yup.

My family has had me enough.  I've been with them through thick and thin, and I would return to them before I died, but I would certainly take those few days for myself, and make some moments, for sure.

[Karin M Fichtner]

Tim McGraw sings a song that says,

"I went sky-diving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I spent 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu

And I loved deeper

And I spoke sweeter

And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying

Someday I hope you get the chance

To live like you were dying".

That's what I would do.  Spend time with friends and family and go places and see things I always wanted to.....provided finances allowed. 

[frenchy]

i think i'd try to get all my affairs in order and say all my goodbys while i still felt and looked like i do ..i don't think i'd tell anyone tho at first ..if i hadn't already then i'd try and put all the songs i wrote on tape or cd .. after that i'd probably just try and make myself as comfortable as i could while i waited for the inevitable .. say some prayers and do some private inflection .. maybe write some letters to the ones that were the most important to me that they could open after i'm gone .. and of course try to enjoy the time i had left .. 

[uno,dos,3]

As it happens I'm on the other side of this........a close woman friend told me she found a lump on her breast.

I said early detection was important (who knows how long ago she found it before she talked to me?). I urged her to go to the doctor and she replied that she was afraid of doctors...... to which I offered to go with her to the doctor....she just repeated that she was too afraid to go to the doctor. Two days later I took her to lunch and once again urged her to go to the doctor....without success. I told her that I wouldn't mention it again. About 3 months passed and she called me to say that she was going to the doctor. She then found out that her cancer is now stage 4.

I am a mix of emotions. I feel terrible about her diagnosis, angry at her for telling me about the lump if she wasn't going to go to a doctor, confused  about whether I did the right thing in respecting her decision, and wondering if I should have been more persistant.......and life goes on, for some of us.

[crestofwaves]

You couldn't have dragged her to the doctor.  People will do what they need to do for themselves when and if they want to. Man, that's surely one thing I can say I learned in this life.

Sorry about your friend.

[crestofwaves]

Karin, I had forgotten about this song you posted, but, yes.  And he ended up living and had all those things in his magic bag of moments.

[dwalt]

I was faced with this in 2007..  Really  didn't know how sick I was until I (luckily)got better.  It is VERY scary but I am a very spiritual person and I was ok with what ever happened.  I have had a great life and have been very forunate. I did scare the hell out of some of my dearest friends and family (and me) but it made me a stronger person.  So, you never know, just live life as if each day is all you get, treat people kind and love what you have.

[Lifesighs]

I'm just one month past this, I had some symptoms that pointed to ovarian or cervical cancer. My doctor had me go to specialists who ordered tests, all this took over a month. I stayed calm thinking this would be my last Christmas holiday I made a notebook with instructions for my husband for lots of financial and retirement things so it would be easier for him, I planned a visit to see my son. I was going to make my last year very pleasant and keep it to myself as much as possible.

It turned out that the biopsy was negative and the ultrasound pointed to another problem easily fixed. I was of course delighted. It could have gone the other way I was prepared and I was also glad to know that I wasn't fearful at all. I'll be appreciating life a little more and having lots more fun this year. Who knows, might be run over by a tank or something.

[uno,dos,3]

Run over by a tank? Are you planning to move to Egypt?