Sigh

Today I saw one of my cancer friends for the first time in two or three weeks. The last time I saw him, the side effects of treatment were hitting him hard, but treatment seemed to be working and he was talking about a planned trip.

Today I learned his doctors have stopped all treatment except pain control, transferred him from SCCA based treatment to Swedish Hospital based palliative care, and told him he has anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to live. 

How can things change that fast? Three weeks from planning trips to planning a funeral? It boggles the mind (and is freaking me out).

More frustrating still, I didn't know what to say. What do you say to a person who seemed to love life, had big plans, and is now counting down the days? If anyone should be able to empathize it's me, but words just completely failed. 

On the one hand I was terrified I was getting a view of my future, and on the other I was embarrassed by the fact that nothing I could say would help him.

But I'll note for the record that the world is going to be a lesser place when he passes. I didn't know him well or for very long, but he was a good guy.