Fill in the Blanks LL Chapter 57 GapfillOnline version A gapfill for Chapter 57 of The Last Lecture by John E 1 acquaintances doctors late appointments important stage poster convertible cancer doctors future realism treatments situation optimism surgeon optimistic AFTER I learned I had cancer , one of my gave me some advice . " It's , " he said , " to behave as if you're going to be around awhile . " I was already way ahead of him . " Doc , I just bought a new and got a vasectomy . What more do you want from me ? " Look , I'm not in denial about my . I am maintaining my clear - eyed sense of the inevitable . I'm living like I'm dying . But at the same time , I'm very much living like I'm still living . Some oncologists' offices will schedule for patients six months out . For the patients , it's an optimistic signal that the expect . ? Herbert Zeh , my in Pittsburgh , says he worries about patients who are inappropriately or ill - informed . At the same time , he is upset when patients are told by friends and that they have to be optimistic or . ? My personal take on is that as a mental state , it can enable you to do tangible things to improve your physical state . If you're optimistic , you're better able to endure brutal chemo , or keep searching for late - breaking medical . Dr . Zeh calls me his boy for " the healthy balance between optimism and . " ? But I love that my vasectomy doubled as both appropriate birth control and an optimistic gesture about my . I love driving around in my new convertible . I love thinking I might find a way to become the one - in - a - million guy who beats this - . ?