I have a unique combination of a philosophy undergrad degree, coupled with an MBA. After earning the MBA from University of Washington, I spent several years in various marketing roles. Given my background, it’s perhaps no surprise that this article, published today, deeply resonated with me: Creative directing my cancer.

The author, Nathan Phillips, explores how a cancer diagnosis can open one up to deep insights, which I agree with:

Cancer connects us to our values, to what’s important and ultimately can shift our perspective so we appreciate living. Without cancer, it’s easy to forget. Cancer doesn’t just kill you, it makes you live. It increases your life experience by reducing your life expectancy. 

One key difference between this author’s situation and my own is that he received a “death timeline” of one year (maximum!) which he has now exceeded. To be clear, I received no such timeline; in my own kickoff discussion with my cancer care team, back on May 2, the message was upbeat: this is Stage 3 and it’s treatable.

But still, I think any cancer diagnosis, including the less extreme (stage 1, 2, or 3) forces one to contemplate life, and how there may be less of it remaining than previously assumed. Paradoxically, this realization can be a gift, and I love how Nathan Phillips proposes a full-fledged brand strategy to convey this.

This brings to mind my experience in the Fred Hutch parking garage, where I talked with a cancer patient who had also exceeded her estimated death timeline. I actually think about her every day, as I was astounded by how much joy and generosity she radiated. She seemed to inhabit some zone of peace and wisdom that is far beyond simple acceptance of death — where life is actively, zestfully celebrated. No idea how she accomplished that (I’m curious), but I assume her own cancer experience has played a role.

Way back when I started to explore philosophy in high school, I recall my life goal was simply to become wise. I eventually embraced practicality and layered on the standard career goals, but the pursuit of wisdom has always been there, in the back of my mind. Maybe this cancer thing is helping out with that.