Hi Scott,

So sorry you’re going through this.

I too am a software engineer, and I too was also diagnosed with cancer last year, but mine was a rare massive brain tumor, and it was quite the miracle the way it was found and was taken out just 2 days later.

Then 6 months of chemo, and dealing with all the consequences of interrupted work etc also sucked. And now it seems that there is 2.5cm cubed tumor still in there, that either was missed in the original surgery or it’s something new, but either way I’m having it out on the 7th of December 2018. You can read more about my experience in my medium post if you wish.

But I wanted to answer your question about work : should one invest in something new risking that one might won’t be around to see it though, as it’s something I’ve had to contemplate myself as well.

I had my tumor out 10 November 2017, and was forced to go back to work 3rd January 2018 since it turned out my disability insurance only covered permanent disability not temporary. I continued to work until end of September 2018, but I got very frustrated about the direction of the project and that I didn’t have control of it to make it go in the direction I knew it should.

So I ended the contract and have started a project for my new business that I’ve been wanting to do since I sold my previous business end of 2014. Interestingly it seems now is the right time because technology has finally caught up with what is necessary to get it done.

I have been so happy working on it, seeing it “come alive” finally, and I am doing by utmost to get it out there. I have gained a business partner to handle the “everything other than development” side of running the business, and I have completely architected the entire system prior to starting writing the code so that if anything does happen to me in this surgery, or in the future, that he can hire someone and carry on with the business.

It’s actually exhilarating working on a passion project, and I have read online that keeping focused and having goals helps cancer patients live longer on average, so there's that too.

Anyway, hope you continue to get good scans, and I hope you and your family enjoy your smallholding, it looks like a lovely place.

Matt