Blogs - Page 168

Have been in remission for a few months and have started doing Liberal Art course at TAFE as well as some part time work. Sometimes I feel like I have taken on too much, but other days feel good. Being a single parent and to have gone through what I have been (twice), when I see others in my course who have no health issues, and hear them talking about parties and going out drinking and then whinging they have no time to do the course work and handing in work late or not at all. I am keeping up with the work and my last essay earned a high distinction which Im proud of.

Had my last dose of chemo today. Twenty four weeks. All done. They will look down their glasses and across the table at me and say "Are you ready to rejoin society?" I'll think to myself: "I know that's a trick question. I've been waiting for it". Don't know what I'll say, though. Don't care, really. Not now. H

Hi All, I am now at home recovering from surgery to remove a recurrence of cervical cancer. Before the surgery the Dr's were hopeful that it would be fairly simple surgery and that I may have part of my bladder removed, however it should repair well and go back to normal. So I went ahead and signed all the paperwork, including the waiver for bowel resection in the event my bowel was involved (which was highly unlikely).

The Whipples surgery is performed where a tumor is found in the pancreas. It involves the removal of the pancreas, bile duct, gall bladder and spleen. It can also involves the removal of of part of the stomach and part of the jejunum. and attaching the stomach to the jejunum (gastrojejunostomy) to allow food to pass through. For more info, refer to: http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdiseases/web%20pages/pancreas%20resection/whipple%20operation.html http://www.laparoscopicsurgeon.net.au/pancreas_resection.html

In the last month we have found out our step Dad has cancer, despite him being sick the shock of finding out firstly that he has a cancerous tumor on his windpipe to now finding out the cancer has spread to his shoulders back and spine has knocked us all for a 6. The doctor has been fantastic and is sending off a biopsy to see whether he is suitable for a treatment out of the US and well we are clinging to that hope.