'My last 51 hours': Terminally ill cancer patient posts anonymous blog before taking fatal overdose



A terminal cancer patient who has vowed to kill himself has been answering questions from the public over the Internet during his final days.

The unnamed man stopped taking his medication and invited other people to ‘ask me anything’ about his decision and he would answer.

According to his postings, he is due to kill himself tomorrow, on March 8.

Aged 39, he has spoken candidly and movingly of his deepest fears and greatest achievements as the clock ticks down on his remaining hours.

Mystery: The man, who is dying of cancer, has kept his identity secret. he is due to take the fatal overdose tomorrow

The man’s announcement sparked a wave of support including songs on YouTube and a photo gallery designed to give him a virtual ‘world tour’ before he dies.

Despite the apparent sincerity of his appeal, however, it is still not clear if the story is true or if it is a elaborate hoax designed to elicit sympathy from the public.

The patient lives in Oregon where under the 1997 Death with Dignity act, he can legally buy a prescription for a lethal dose of medication he can administer himself.

On Saturday under the heading ‘51 hours to live’ he wrote on

FINAL THOUGHTS OF A DYING MAN

Greatest moment: 'Finishing my masters degree, from a hospital bed.'

'Finishing my masters degree, from a hospital bed.' Fondest memory: 'Seeing my nephew beat cancer.'

'Seeing my nephew beat cancer.' Regrets: Only one - that he bought an engagement ring for his high school sweetheart but never gave it to her, then joined the Army. He added: 'I have a letter for her that she will get Monday morning.'

Only one - that he bought an engagement ring for his high school sweetheart but never gave it to her, then joined the Army. He added: 'I have a letter for her that she will get Monday morning.' Words of wisdom: 'That nothing we have is worth hurting anyone else for.'

Reddit.com: ‘On Tuesday I'll finally end my battle with cancer thanks to Oregon's Death with dignity act.

‘As part of my preparations I've ended my pain medication and am trying to regain what little dignity and clarity I can.

‘Who I was doesn't matter. I'm in pain, I'm tired and I'm finally being granted a small shred of respect. Feel free to AMA if you're so inclined.’

AMA means ‘ask me anything’ and in response to a series of questions he has revealed a lot about who he is - but not his name.

He revealed that he was diagnosed with lymphoma six years ago and that it has now spread to his brain.

The patient said that he ‘just can’t do more surgeries’ and stopped taking his painkillers ‘to regain what little dignity and clarity I can’.

He said his fondest memory was seeing his nephew beat cancer and that his greatest moment was ‘finishing my masters degree, from a hospital bed’.

His only regret is that he bought an engagement ring for his high school sweetheart but never gave it to her.

The patient said he would be sending her a letter that should arrive the day before he was due to kill himself, but did not reveal the contents.

Page: Reddit users can ask the mystery man questions about his last few hours, his life and anything else that they wish on the website

'I'm not watching the clock yet. My fears are all over the place, but really focus on two things,’ he writes.

‘Please don't let it hurt, and whatever happens let my family move on to happier times.

I don't want more pain for myself or anyone else.

‘Nothing we have is worth hurting anyone else for.’

In response to other questions the patient revealed that his care had left him ‘consumed in medical bills’ and that it had been a ‘huge burden’ on his family.

He also reveals that he does not have any children, is not religious and that he has already decided on his last meal - Jell-O.

One of his final acts will be to make a YouTube video, but he does not reveal what he plans the contents to be.

Asked why he is answering questions from the public, the patient writes: ‘I'm going to live.



This is as close to travel and meeting new people as I can get now. I'm sorry if that sounds dumb but this is my world tour.’

The patient has been posting under the name Lucidending but has not responded to private messages through Reddit.

The website’s editor Erik Martin told USA Today they have not way of knowing if the claims are real.

According to a January report by the Oregon Public Health Division, 96 prescriptions were written under the provisions of the Death with Dignity law last year, compared to 95 in 2009.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255



