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
When you stepped on the Wii fit, did your little avatar change sizes? We laughed so hard when our avatars suddenly ballooned out. And of course, when we stepped on it and it said, “ug”
Sorry, you were being profound. Continue…
Sex educator? Masterbation? Merle, I thought you were so pure. I had no idea you knew about these things. Mikey.
Having now watched the interview, I agree with your assessment of Barbara Walter’s questions and the suspect timing. Although it is likely the network wanted to him to do publicity for the show and not talking about the cancer would be the elephant in the room. I did find a few of his comments to be interesting; I liked his take on the smoking–it likely contributed, but stopping smoking is not going to change things and he’s taking on what’s trying to kill him in the order they’re coming! But asking his wife about life without him…that was low.
I’ve always disliked the concept of “x weeks/months/years to live”. It feels like an expiration date. Or can consume some people…like the pregnant women who obsess about their due date, not figuring in that they were given an average based on a fairly common occurence and yet virtually no woman I know gave birth on her due date. Factor in a disease that is diagnosed at different stages in patients with different ages/sexes/health and then the variability of the cancer itself…who can feel like there’s an “average” there?!