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Living with DyingArrow
Age 61-70
Interview 21  

Interview 21

Age at Interview: 66
Sex: Male
Age at Diagnosis: 66
Background: Head of ship hydrodynamics research, married, 2 children
Brief outline:Developed symptoms in December 2001, diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in December 2002, treated with chemotherapy to shrink the tumour, followed by surgery in May 2003.


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He doesn't believe in life after death and feels at peace with the idea that his body will decay and contribute to new life as part of a natural process.

 



My views are very simplistic. As a person with a scientific background I know about conservation of energy. Energy is never lost within the Universe and I'm content to believe that I'm all part of a much bigger thing. When I say bigger thing I don't mean any supernatural being, I don't know how the Universe started. I do believe that sometime there will be a scientific explanation for it and I find that I'm sufficiently fulfilled to think that okay, I will die and as I said earlier, I will be recycled. I will go onto be a part of something else.  Whatever it is, it doesn't really matter. I'm not thinking of reincarnation or anything like that. I don't believe I have another life hereafter. In fact, I don't want to go into this too much. I don't want to upset anybody. 

These are very much my personal views which satisfy me, but the thought of a life hereafter makes me shudder to be honest.

I don't want a life hereafter. No, no. I certainly don't want that.

But from what you've said, because of your beliefs and because of the fulfilled life you've had, you can view the future with some sort of equanimity.

Yes I enjoy life. I don't want to die, who does? But I enjoy life very much. I'd like somebody to wave a magic wand and say to me 'Your illness has gone away. You've got another ten, fifteen years …'
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