Hi @Richard56 , Oh I can imagine how annoying it is for you having to to the loo so much, hopefully that will improve. Did you go to see your specialist? what happened? I've been ok the last few days but was sick last Thursday and in hospital a few days to get an infection in my kidney under control, I'm fine today. This Thursday I see my Oncologist before I have the chemo, I think they are changing things with the chemo and steroid amounts I have, because my kidney was getting affected. But I'll be right, I trust my Onc completely. I'm sorry you are depressed, it's not fun, but I hope you try to be a bit positive on your outcome, hope you had a good weekend with your partner, that should've cheered you up a little? The depression thing I know isn't good, but the fear of the unknown is probably contributing to it, hope by now you have a few questions answered? Hope to hear back soon, Take care, Cindi xx ... View more

hI @YelenaVSH , I'm so sorry this has happened to you, I know it's such a shock, as I had breast cancer last year, I wanted to let you know that it may not be as bad as you imagine. Mine was in both breasts and I had lumpectomies done but the margin in one was no good, so I had a double mastectomy, and they removed some lymph nodes, which were free of cancer. I actually recovered quite quickly and didn't need chemo or radiation luckily. But I do need to take hormone blockers for a few years, but that's not too bad. Unfortunately this year I have a completely different cancer, unrelated to the breast cancer, so don't you worry about that. Please try not to panic as it may turn out not too bad. If the lymph nodes are clear you probably wont need chemo. Although I have a friend who had lymph nodes involved so she went through chemo and is very healthy and cancer free now 😊 So wait to hear all results before panicking too much, I know one of the hardest thing is the waiting, but try to trust in your medical team, and the outcome may be much better than you fear. You're not alone, sending you a big hug, Cindi ... View more

Hi @greg57 , Oh Greg I'm sorry, it sounds like you need someone with you to give you the push you need. I wish you lived closer to me and I'd go with you , please don't give up, you're not old, 57 ISN'T old!!  you have so much more time to enjoy this world, please , I know its so hard to face everything. Is it possible for your partner to go with you to appointments? You're thinking the worst and it may not be bad, I don't know what the biopsy involves or the mapping? How does that work? are you sedated?.. I'll look it up. Oh I've just seen that you'd be put to sleep so that's good! I wish you would re schedule? What did your specialist say? Last year I had biopsies with my breast cancer and I was sedated, so no pain, all ok. But I've also had big needle things pushed in via ultrasound to take bits of cancer from my breasts, while awake, which wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Can you try to think "it could be good news " when you need to get things done? Try to grab a bit of the positive, everything is usually not as bad as we imagine, they are so advanced in everything these days, and even with chemo they have so much to offer you for any side affects, not like say 10 years ago. Try to find the strength to go forward with this, write down your fears, get it out of you, do it for your partner, do it for yourself, Please don't bail again,  please go on Wednesday, 8am is GOOD, you'll get it all over and done with early. I think you need to talk to a therapist, that could really help you. You never know, things might be better than you feared , it often is. I'm scared of this coming Thursday when I have my big chemo day, but I WILL go because the side affects can mostly be treated, and having the chemo is better than doing nothing. I want to get as well as I can so I can do things I dream of, like going up to the Daintree and walking the rain forests, seeing all the wonderful birds and native flora and fauna. Lots of things I still want to do. I INTEND to do. With such advanced medicine available now, you have a much better chance of success. Try to concentrate on the things you love and want to do when all this is over and done with. Sending you big hugs, Cindi xx ... View more

Hi @greg57 , I'm sorry for not writing sooner, I just got out of Nth Shore hospital. I had such bad pain that my chemo team made me go to emergency and I was admitted. It turned out I had an infection in my kidney and was put on intravenous antibiotics, now home at last after 3 nights there, and feeling ok. I have to have anti- biotics for a week now, I have to try to keep away from anyone sick as the chemo is affecting my immune system, which isn't easy. Guess I'll have to wear a mask when out places like the supermarket. It's good you're going away. I hope you take it easy, sorry about you needing to race to the loo so much, hopefully that improves. I have to drink 2 litres of water a day now, so I will be needing the loo a lot too I guess. Hope you have a great holiday, I'll be thinking of you. This coming Thursday I have the double chemo, hope I'm well enough. Talk soon, Cindi x ... View more

Hi @greg57 , How are you today? Which hospital do you go to? I thought you were in Victoria, I must've got that wrong. Anyway, that's not good if you have to walk so far, I know how it feels to get tired quickly, frustrating isn't it after being so fit and now feel this way, I feel the same. I think the chemo is affecting my liver as the blood work shows very high LDH, I've contacted my chemo nurse as I've had bad pains yesterday and today, hope she gets back to me soon. Like you I'll soldier on, but it's not easy. I'll talk later. xx   ... View more

Hi@Greg57, Yes the unknown is daunting isn't it but often not as bad as we imagine, so try to think that you are on the way to being cured. I don't have access to a beach, I'm not too far from the coast but around my area is lovely bush land where I enjoy walks. I used to live in a beach suburb and I used to love walking on the beach and swimming. Have you got access to a beach? Hope each day you feel a little better and soon you'll be able to start walking again😊 xx     ... View more

Hi @Richard56 , Yes I did enjoy the walk, but got a bit breathless now and then, we just went slowly and I saw a few lovely tiny birds, one was a wren and I saw some whip birds and others I'm not sure what they were, but made me happy.So many have disappeared from backyards. I'm glad you have a supportive partner, but shame she can't be closer. At least you could speak to her😊 Yes it's good to be able to talk to those going through the same journey. I am looking forward to hear what your Onc says about the outcome of your surgery, and what the plan is. Hope you have a good book to read, I like my kindle as I can go online and search out books then get them on the kindle site, it's fun researching what I'd like. Take care and I HOPE the weather down there clears up for you soon xx   ... View more

Hi @Mary60 , maybe you could ask your nurse if she knows of anyone else who is in the same boat as you around the Orange area? Sorry I'm in Sydney. xx ... View more

Hi again @Jennifer66 , I believe they think mine hasn't spread as a large margin was taken from the involved muscle & fat ( as well as the ureter etc.) and the spread finished well before margin. I'm not 100% sure, and will definitely bring this up at my next appointment in 2 weeks. I believed I was lucky and got it in time.... but maybe not.🙁 I guess they don't know everything, and therefore my chemo  (i thought) was a mop up for "in case"? I'll find out more and let you know. I'm sorry your tumor's come back. xx ... View more

Hi @Jennifer66 , Oh my oncologist said that mine hadn't reached lymph nodes, doesn't it have to do that to spread? x ... View more