Time has lost its meaning. The oncologist will not give a predicted expiry date. Even the Bible has faltered in this modern age with the old ‘three score and ten’ being a redundant figure for most. Cancer isn’t an exact science. It moves of its own accord having never accepted clocks and schedules. The oncologist, therefore, doesn’t predict. He’s fairly certain of the nature, type and progress but a date, a time, an hour from his lips could easily become far too predictive and force the patient to conform to a timetable for which, in this case, my mother is not ready.