Anyone from Townsville QLD & newly diagnosed

[Kiri]

Um hi, I'm kiri and I'm 26. I have just been confirmed diagnosed with bladder cancer. I don't have any friends or family that even remotely knows anything about cancer or has been through this with someone else. I just would like to be able to talk to someone really. Someone who doesn't think I'm diseased or broken or well anything different from what I was 3 weeks ago. I don't have any friends in townsville either so I would like to meet new people. If there was any meetings in townsville or north queensland I would definately make the time to go. I would take in what anyone has to say about cancer and what I'm supposed to be feeling. I'm 26 years old and 3 weeks ago I was planning my wedding and getting my house repairs down after the tornado that went through here. Now I'm preparing for my third surgery and first chemotheraphy next wed-thurs-fri. SO thats why I am here. I don't want to be judged like I am contagious or broken or people telling me what I should do and eat. And new people that are just at the stages I am. I just found out my celebrant has bladder cancer as well but whenever I see her it was about my wedding. So I don't know why I'm not feeling like I could talk to her about it I guess I just don't want this to be a part of my wedding. I random obviously. So please drop a line, I would really like to chat to some people. Thanks Kiri

[Kiri]

If anyone knows of any good real time chatrooms that would be really good as well.

[kasianne]

Hi Kiri I am in Townsville and have just been through the cancer journey and not entirely sure whether I am about to embark on it again but hopefully will find out in the next week or so but hopefully it will all just be my body playing up like the oncologist says he thinks it may be. It is very difficult for those around you to comprehend your diagnosis and at such a young age and it is going to be a difficult time for you but take the time and opportunity whilst going through your chemo to talk to the nurses and other patients it is an amazing chance to talk about being yourself and not broken. The oncology nurses (well all the staff) there are great and full of advice. I am 20 years older than you but quite happy to help if I can Kasianne

[Kiri]

Hi Kasianne, Thank you for replying. I don't even have the basics of what I am supposed to have - you mentioned an oncologist - no one has said anything about having an oncologist to me (should I ask this?). I have a Urologist that's planning everything and this is the second specialist I have swapped from after the last one being less than desirable. I'm really lost. I honestly feel like I'm going mad. All of my family is in the gold coast and I keep getting messages from them saying "Don't forget, there's always someone worse", and my personal favorite was "Throw out all your sugar, you're feeding your cancer." So low and behold 3am last night I was throwing splenda out on my front lawn. I have no idea why I just put that into this message. I guess just to show how random I really am thinking.. The only thing I do know is that I am very young to have this and the specialist has only treated women over 40. Is it normal to have such scattered thoughts? And I just can't stop shaking not to mention I can hardly get any sleep but I am so incredibly tired. Did you use any support networks here in Townsville? Is there some kind of center I can call or visit? I've heard that the oncology nurses up at the private hospital are really nice, one of my work colleagues is friends with them and gave me her number but I just don't know whether to call or not. I certainly hope you are still in remission and your body is just playing tricks on you. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Was there anything you found or did that was helpful in the beginning that would be of some benefit? I have to try and get half an hours sleep before getting ready for work but I will check back later this afternoon. Kiri

[kasianne]

Hi Kiri Where are you being treated? The oncologist is the person who should be organising your chemo and working alongside your other specialist in order to make sure you are receiving the right treatment. They are the experts on the combinations of drugs for your particular cancer.I had a surgeon, oncologist and dietitians working with me. It is difficult for people who have not had much experience of cancer or had it themselves to understand your emotions and you have to remember that the comments they make are only them trying to be helpful and supportive throughout your journey. You may not find them beneficial and they may provoke some behaviours you don't understand like throwing out the splenda but hey in this situation you will try anything that may help. They are right their is always someone worse off than ourselves but that does not make our own situation any easier to deal with and another persons battle does not affect how we are coping with the diagnosis. I never really found any support networks here in Townsville but to be honest did not look very hard, I am very lucky to have a supportive family two daughters, a step son and a wonderful husband who were all there for me and an aunty who helped out a lot with the chemo runs and keeping me entertained whilst everyone else was out at work. I was in very bad shape by the time I was diagnosed as they struggled to find out what was wrong with me as like you I am young to have the cancer I had and also it is not very often found in women so I was a bit of a surprise diagnosis to the doctors as well. The rest of my family is still in the UK where we moved from 3 years ago and they did their bit by phone and skype. I am not surprised your thoughts are everywhere as you are given loads of information and it becomes hard to process what is happening hence why I always took someone with me to my appointments so they could make sure I had the treatment plan sorted in my head. Not sure what else I can say but add me as a friend and then I can give you my email address and we could type in real time either on msn or facebook or some other media. Kasianne