To Watch or Not…
I’ve been told by no less than 4 people that Patrick Swayze is giving his first interview since it was discovered that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Tonight (10p), on ABC, Patrick (he and I are on a first name basis ’cause of our shared illness — I hope he doesn’t mind) sits down with Barbara Walters to discuss his experiences with pancreatic cancer. The question people have been asking me is whether I will watch or not.
I don’t think I will take the time to watch the show; I just don’t feel like it’ll be particularly helpful for me. Whether Patrick is able to work grueling 12+ hour days while filming his new series has little to do with whether I am able to make it through the day at work (which, I’m pleased to say I am able to do). Call it the cynic in me, but I find it suspect that the interview is airing just a week before his new series. That is, I wonder whether this is more about getting Patrick’s name back into the media so people will be more likely to check out his new series. If this is the intent, that’s fine; however, I would be more inclined to watch if I felt that Patrick was going to be more of an advocate for pancreas cancer. I guess I’m just not enough of a fan to want to know the story.
I do take something away from Patrick’s battle with pancreatic cancer, though. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 PC (meaning that the tumor had metastasized to another organ, in his case the liver). Doctors did not expect Patrick to live beyond 6 months and here, more than a year later, he is still doing his thing. This simply highlights for me that with this (as with all disease) an individual’s chances of surviving beyond a certain amount of time is 0 or 1. Who knows how long any of us have? What’s important is that we continue to live our lives. We need to define ourselves by who we are and not whatever condition we may or may not have.
Right now, my cancer is relatively unobtrusive, so I am more likely to define myself as a father, a husband, a scout leader, a karate instructor, a sex educator. Who knows, I may not even have cancer anymore (my bloodwork suggests that I do not currently have any detectable cancer). So, while I wait for the next test, I continue to work as much as I can; spend time with my family (who knew the Wii Fit would bring us together as much as it has); function as a leader in both the boy scout and cub scout units with which I am associated (in fact, I’m going caving this weekend); teaching karate (I’m so looking forward to getting back to the school tonight, as the school has been closed for the last 2 weeks and I miss it); and teach adolescents at my church about health sexuality (last week we talked about masturbation).
Take a moment to think how you define yourself and then ask yourself if you are living your life in accordance with that definition. Maybe, in this time of resolutions, you might find something to change or adjust.
Merle