Hi Mary60,   You can also call our Cancer Nurses and Cancer Social Workers on our 13 11 20 line to get some more information if you need some more guidance, but talking to your GP as stated in the previous comment is a great first step.   Reach out if you need us. All the best Ashley ... View more

Hi Greg57   The cancer diagnosis and all the tests, scans, results, treatment process can be so overwhelming, it makes sense that you would be struggling emotionally and physically right now. I'm really hoping it's all treatable for you and you can get through the treatment easefully. If you're finding that you need some more support, please call our 13 11 20 line and we can link you in to either a counsellor, or some peer support with others with an experience of cancer. Reach out if you need us. I'm thinking of you.   Ashley CCNSW ... View more

Hi ElroyJ   That sounds heartbreaking. I'm so sorry to read this. The waiting is always the hardest part. If you or your wife need any emotional support during this time, please reach out to our 13 11 20 phoneline and we can always organise some counselling support or a telephone support group for each of you.   Thinking of you Ashley CCNSW ... View more

Hi Leslie,   Thank you for reaching out to the community. It can be such an overwhelming time with a new cancer diagnosis, and the side effects can really hit people in a variety of ways. I hope you get some responses to your query, and find other information on other threads. We also have the Cancer Connect service here at Cancer Council NSW. It's a peer support program where we link you in with a volunteer who has had their own experience with cancer and treatment. That may be another alternative for you to ask questions about side effects if that would be useful for you. If you'd like to follow that up, please give us a call on 13 11 20 and we can sort that referral out for you.   All the best   Ashley CCNSW ... View more

Hi Jodie77,   This sounds like such a challenging and difficult time for you. We're all thinking of you during this painful experience. We've heard similar experiences by so many partners and carers, it's heartbreaking. In terms of support, you're always welcome to contact the Cancer Council on 13 11 20 and get a referral to our counselling service, or we also have sporadic telephone grief support groups for those who have lost a loved one to cancer called Life After Loss. We're here if you need us. Please take care of yourself.   Ashley CCNSW ... View more

Hi Mary60,   In that case I'll leave that with you, but if you need us, please call 13 11 20 and we can figure out what supports would be best.   All the best Ashley ... View more

Hi Mary60   This is Ashley from the Cancer Council. I'm so glad you reached out the community to get some support and perspective, and it seems like Bianca's wisdom has also really helped you. In terms of any additional supports, I just wanted to let you know that we have a counselling service, and depending on the staging of the cancer, we also have options for our Cancer Connect service where you can talk to a volunteer who has gone through the same thing to get some peer support, or we also have Telephone Support Groups as well. If you would like any information about this please call our 13 11 20 line and we can talk with you and assist.   Wishing you well for your treatment journey. Ashley ... View more

Hi Seanix,   Thank you so much for sharing this. And what a way to for you to express everything via a creative outlet. That final all clear is always so scary for many of our clients and CCNSW community. Outside of your creative expressions and processing, if you need any support to help you through this waiting period you can always have a debrief with our 13 11 20 support line staff, or even get a referral to our counselling service. Wishing you the best for your results, and thank you for sharing your story, music and well wishes to everyone on the forums.   Ashley CCNSW ... View more

Hi Richard56,   The cancer journey can be deeply impactful, lonely and isolating at times. It's terribly unfortunate, but this can be a common experience. However, many people have found it useful to talk to someone professional about all of this. We have our 13 11 20 line if you need to debrief or get clinical information from an oncology social worker or nurse, we also have our counselling service if you need some deeper emotional support, and depending on your staging we also have our Cancer Connect service or Telephone Support Groups where you can speak to those with a lived experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Please reach out if you need us. We're here to help.   All the best and thinking of you, Ashley ... View more

Hi Emma1987,   I'm so sorry to hear about your father's diagnosis and the changes occurring. It sounds like a deeply impactful time for you and the family. If you, your family, or anyone on this thread need further support, please reach out to us at 13 11 20 for additional emotional support.   Ashley. CCNSW ... View more