New Here

cmarti15
Occasional Contributor

New Here

Hi all Hope you all had great Xmas's and are 'armed & dangerous' for the new year.  I've decided that by the end of 2008 I am going to be a new woman (my husband will probably overjoyed - finally a new woman!) cancer free and ready to take on the rest of my long life. Nikki - is there any Petrea King type centres in Qld. I looked at her website - sounds great. It's hard to read strategies (like meditation) etc and then try to put them into place on your own. Kevin - promise I won't tell Donna that I know babies gender. Can you sit etc with your sore butt - I had a great donut cushion in the hospital when I had my kids - might be just what you need if you can't sit. Butterfly - I hope you've got your legs up and having lots of rests to help with swelling etc. How are you going Annie and your partner - keep strong. I saw a segment on the ABC and the doctors said that "people with the same cancers who have a positive attitude have much better outcomes, like longer life expectancy. They can't explain why but it is seen over and over that positive patients do much better than negative patients".  I was watching this show at an all time low and got really freaked out - so after some time to gain control of myself, I decided I have to learn to be positive and search for ways to keep positivity. So any ideas would be appreciated - don't get me wrong most of the time I'm cruzin along great but some days (usually about day 5 after chemo) I get quite low. I really don't like being sick. 
Reply
0 Kudos
Nikki_YAC
Frequent Contributor

New Here

Hi, I think Petrea use to visit the Rainbow Centre In Brissy for day seminars, not sure if she still does. I just had a quick look at her website and saw that she is speaking on ABC radio on the 30th Jan at 5:30pm. here is the link to that inof... http://www.questforlife.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=145 But I would encourage you to go to her centre in Bundanoon, just south of Sydney and do a live in course. I honesty can say that the 5 day course I did with her was a turining point in my mental recovery from my cancer. best, nikki
Reply
0 Kudos
Nikki_YAC
Frequent Contributor

New Here

Hi Kev, sorry i have not posted back earlier... back on board now after a nice holiday away from technology. Thanks for telling me my story helped you...i was a bit worried it was going to scare the cr...p out of you. please feel free to ask me anything anytime. if i don't answer your postings, it just means that i have forgotten to look on this wonderful site more often. one downfall of my treatment is a really bad memory...it lets me down at times, but I also have some fun with using the chemo brain thing when I need to. anyway... how are you? how was your holiday? how you feeling about your op coming up on the 29th? You are probably on some dietary recommendations because of your type of cancer.... but i was told to eat lots of good qaulity protein like legumes, eggs & lean meat before my ops (i had 6 operations in total, got some cool scars too!), as it helps speed up the cellular process for healing. maybe you could run this past your doc? email me if I don't answer your post on nshipard@bigpond.net.au all my best, nikki
Reply
0 Kudos
Nikki_YAC
Frequent Contributor

New Here

Hi Butterfly, thanks for your reply and kind words. I see your diagnosis is very recent. You seem to be doing an awesome job of dealing with it... what have you found the best ways to help you cope with it all? Interested to know if you have found many adults with cancer around your age to become friends with or talk to?   best, nikki
Reply
0 Kudos
Not applicable

New Here

Hi Nikki, I try and and check in here every day or 2. You sound like you have been through such a lot and managed to turn your life and health around, it is an inspirational story! I dont know that I am that strong, I do have my moments, many moments actually where I feel angry and  a bit sad but I just try 2 remind myself that those feelings are normal. I know my family just want to move on and kind of forget it has ever happened but its not really that simple. They think that chemo + radiation is over & I guess they look at me & think she looks okay so she must be! I was fortunate enough to make a great friend when I was diagnosed, we went through surgery on the same day, same treatments etc. We would not have met had it not been for our specialist, I think he set the whole thing up. Being able to share the experience with someone who understands has been really great, and has probably kept me sane. I think it is hard being young, I was only 31 when I was diagnosed & people dont really talk about womens cancers. I would like to try to take better care of myself, I dont really mean physically although I could do with more sleep.. I find it hard with a family to get that me time that I feel I really need to just be calm, rest and recover. The whole experience has really made me appreciate life and especially my beautiful boys and partner. I get happiness from the simple things now that I probably didnt even notice before. How are you going with your follow ups; are you finished with all that now? I dont know much about the type of cancer you had, did you have symptoms that sent you to the doctor? Anyway thanks for the message; I will stay in touch
Reply
0 Kudos
Nikki_YAC
Frequent Contributor

New Here

Hi Butterfly, yes my life is good now, but remember I am 6 years this Australia day since my diagnosis and you are barely 2 years!!! I had the common childhood form of luekaemia called Acute Lymphoblastic Luekaemia (ALL). this type of luek is much rarer in kids over the age of 16. it also subtypes in various complicated and understucied forms. with my sub type, there were only 10 other recorded cases in the world. i have some stuff to hare with you as your posting brings back memories for me... memories of the tough times i had after my treatment finished.... when my emotions caught up with me. its a wierd phase of cancer.... that part of finishing my treatment and fitting back into society BUT i was a different person with new values and a new way of looking at life - ie life is precious! basically during this time i drove my family and friends crazy, as i often felt angry, lonlely, misunderstood, nervous and depressed. i searched for a some sort of counselling health professional to talk to about my emotions, but could not find one on regional NSW who had a background and knowledge of cancer issues. this difficult time seemed to drag on and on and i was so worried that my bad state of mind would bring back my cancer. But i got through it and i am now amazingly happy to the point that my family and i can look back at this time and laugh at how nuts I was. I think it was my greiving period of loosing the life i had and having the confidence to grow  into my new life ahead. it must be hard for you also being a mum and going through the recovery phase of cancer. enough sleep is so very important... especially for us patients who have had chemo/radio/surgery etc. this is when your body heals and your fragment mind gets put back together to face another day in a more positive mind set. try to get enough sleep, whether that is taking nana naps during the day or speaking to your hubby to support you with the weekends to have a sleep in until your body is ready to awaken you, not the kids etc. if these are not an option, mini meditiation sessions are an awesome way to clear the mind and re-energise. i used mediation alot, and still do. have you dabbled in it? i also had 2 male friends with ALL at the RMH hospital i was being treated at. i loved their company. they were my mentors. one was 18 and admitted 3 days before me and the other 40+ and was 3 months ahead of me in treatment. our treatment protocol was 54 weeks of intensive chemo administerd in hospital. we would get o go home for a day here and their but spent alot of time fighting various infections in varoius wards in hosptial. unfortunatley both men died about 9 months into my treatment and i was alone and very scared. but i had my amazing family and a female haematologist who was so compasionate. at the time that my mates passed away i was also extremeley sick with menengitis caused from the chemo, and was on massive doses of morphine. i was basiaclly in and out of a dreamy conciousness for 4 months. my treatment was stopped and i was sent home 1 and a half years after my initial diagnosis. I remained on morphine for another 9 months. when ever i think about these 2 men i feel so sad. sad that they had to go through such a horrible treatment and did not make it. but it is also these men who give me my strength to find better ways to help the young adult age group - like us.   ...you are so right in saying that its hard to move on, even when your family want to forget about it because yout treatment has finished and you look better- BUT they need to realise that our cancer is going to be a part of us for the rest of our lives, and our family and us - combined must deal with it and not push it aside. they/we need to realise that our emotions - post cancer (not just the physical effects) are also a part of the journey! so keep your head held up high and communicate as much as you can about the way you feel. I found this to be the best way forward for me. i hope this helps best,nikki  
Reply
0 Kudos
Nikki_YAC
Frequent Contributor

New Here

so sorry about the spelling and grammer... i am going to try and use spell check from now on... please let me know if you can not understand anything i have written.
Reply
0 Kudos
Not applicable

New Here

Hi Joy1, This forum has been really helpful for me to be in touch with others going through the drama that is cancer. Hopefully you will find it that it will be good for you too. I am post treatment by about 14 months now and going for my checkups every 3 months. Hope you are doing well. Regards Butterfly
Reply
0 Kudos
mikey
Contributor

New Here

Hi Natalie, welcome to the forums. Don't feel shy about inviting yourself in to our lives, that's what we're all here for.Sounds like you've had a real rough trot. Cancer is a coward of a disease you're right, I wish it didn't affect people who've lived the healthy lifestyle and don't smoke etc. I wish it didn't affect anyone to be perfectally honest. There are lots of people here who're going through similiar situations to yours - nobody's story is the same though. Looking forward to chatting with you.What's your favourite singstar song?
Reply
0 Kudos
mikey
Contributor

New Here

Hi Nataly,I saw your question about radiation. I'm not sure how to answer it from my own knowledge but I will endeavour to find out for you.
Reply
0 Kudos
Post new topic
Talk to a health professional
Cancer Council support and information 13 11 20Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
Cancer Information and Support

Online resources and support

Access information about support services, online resources and a range of other materials.

Caring for someone with cancer?

Find out what resources and support services are available to assist you.