A cancer doctor has shared one of the biggest end-of-life regrets among his patients, offering a stark insight into what truly matters when time runs out. Drawing on years of experience treating people facing life-limiting diagnoses, Dr Amit Garg said the pattern is consistent - and often surprising, with patients reflecting less on what they earned or saved, and more on what they didn't do while they still had the chance.
'You want to buy those shoes? Go buy them. You want to take that trip? Take it. You think the restaurant is too expensive? Go eat there,' the oncologist said in a video that's now been viewed more than 17 million times. 'No one says at the end of their life that "I wish I saved my money".'
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Garg said the sentiment reflects what he sees firsthand in his work. 'As an oncologist I've seen how quickly life can change with a diagnosis,' he said. 'The biggest regret patients have at the end of life is wishing they lived more. My advice - go take that trip, spend time making memories and live now.'
The message has resonated deeply online, with thousands sharing their own experiences of loss, illness, and shifting priorities. 'My dad died with $67 in his bank account. I was so happy for him,' one shared. 'No point in being the richest person in the cemetery,' another pointed out.
For others, the advice has taken on new meaning after personal diagnoses. 'Coming from a 27-year-old with stage four colon cancer - listen to him,' a woman advised. 'Stage four diagnosis in March. I'll be travelling a lot more and enjoying my life. I totally get it now,' another shared.
Many pointed to missed opportunities as the hardest part. 'My mother saved her whole life to retire. She retired in December and died February. I've learned there is no "special occasion" to wait on, every day of life is special,' a daughter shared. Another recalled a parent who never took a long-planned trip. 'My mum wanted to go back to Aruba on holiday the whole five years she was in treatment but "it was too expensive". I inherited all of her money, she had enough to take the trip. I would have preferred she went on her trip and had a great time.'
The conversation also reflects a broader shift in how people are thinking about spending, particularly in a cost-of-living climate where every dollar feels more significant. While saving and financial security remain important, many say experiences are increasingly being prioritised over material goals.
For some, that means travelling more. For others, it's as simple as wearing their 'good' clothes, using expensive perfume daily, or saying 'yes' to moments they might have once put off. 'Wear your nice things. Use the good perfume daily,' one wrote.
At the same time, some urged a balanced approach, noting that living fully doesn't have to mean abandoning financial responsibility altogether. 'As a cancer survivor, yes, do it - but within your current means,' a woman said. 'Life is uncertain but do not spiral yourself into debt and exhaust your savings. Take your trips, spend $500 on dinner, but make sure you are taking care of your needs like rent and food first. Other than that, I'm playing yes man for the rest of my days.'
In a world where work, savings and long-term plans often take priority, Dr Garg's insight serves as a reminder that time is the one thing you can't earn back. While not every decision needs to be impulsive, the stories shared reveal a clear pattern - people don't regret what they did, they regret what they kept putting off. The trip they never booked, the dinner they decided was too expensive, the moments they saved for 'later' that never came. Taken together, it shifts the focus from spending more to living more intentionally - making time for experiences, relationships, and memories now, rather than waiting for a perfect moment that may never arrive.
