I hear you! Hope and peace coming your way from a carer tonight....... PA ... View more

Hi there Dotty and Rex! It is so hard watching and waiting...... And men can be cantankerous at the best of times..... Keep going....and take time out for yourself...I have written on my mirror, "have you had a bath this week." and "have you been for a bike ride?"..... These are two things I try to build into my week for me!......and it ain't that easy........ But you have to have a goal. Visit here often, it helps! Good luck and hope to you! PA ... View more

Thank you for your suggestions.....Silly, he registered with heard way back when first diagnosed but we haven't been back there in awhile...Thanks for the prompt. Maddi- how are you? Is your man back yet? He has Valium and imovane. He had imovane when he was last in hospital...sent him loopy....he got dressed and told the nurses on night shift that he was off clubbing in surfers paradise.......he had to be restrained by security and doesn't remember a thing about it...... We battle on.....BUT the latest research into his cancer is that it can sometimes go into spontaneous remission.....a good enough reason if any to hope and pray for a miracle I reckon!!! Hope you are traveling well this night! Thanks for the energy! PA ... View more

Hey Wombat! It is raining here and I needed a lift, so I re read your post about Brussels sprouts..... Too funny! It was just the laugh I needed. I have a dear friend who eats them raw at all times of the day and night....... Funny funny people! Hope you have had a good day! PA ... View more

Hi there! My husband had a peritonectomy in dec 08. Since then, he has suffered increasingly with loose motions, lots of them, and gurgling and growling tummy. Recently we have been seeing a fabulous naturopath who suggested he take Bacto Cand GI And Iberogast liquid. This has certainly stopped the growling. I have also been researching other websites and am going to ask his GP about something called Wellchol. Hope this helps! PA ... View more

Hi there! I feel for you. I have a darling stand who has had cancer for the past three years. He is suffering majorly with depression and has been unable to work for this time. I agree that the cancer counselling sessions are a must....my husband has them over the phone and they have been great. Also, the hospital social worker and the clinical nurse consultant (oncology) have been great sounding boards for both of us. I have written elsewhere on this site of two great books that have helped me and my family. When a parent has cancer by Wendy Schlessel Harpham. She is a doctor but also a mother who has had several battles with lymphoma......,SO HELPFUL!!!! And also, "how to help children through a parents serious illness". By Kathleen McHue I found these books on amazon for about four or five dollars each. I have also had amazing help from the cancer council's financial planning people, they can help you get access to your husband's superannuation, sort your mortgage out etc etc etc....and all pro bono. It takes a while but is totally worth the wait. I also recommend being as honest with your kids as you think they can handle......they don't need to know everything, but they do need to know that you have hope for the outcome of any surgery/chemo/radio etc. Also, can I suggest you tell your child's teacher....... As a teacher myself, I had a few misgivings about telling the school, but the local children's psychologist at the hospital suggested I tell the principal. I did, and she has been fabulous!! She even sat me down, held my hand and said "I know what you are going through, my husband died from cancer when my kids were 8 and 6." This proves to me that you will find support in the most unlikely places...... And another piece of advice I have had to remind myself of time and again is "let people help you, it will make them feel good, and they need to". It is hard to delegate sometimes, but you just have to swallow your pride and let people in. Gees- I sound quite overbearing, but unfortunately I have had three years to figure all this stuff out. I am currently exploring the option of some in home care for my kids provided by family day care. This will help to alleviate the pressure I currently put on my parents to help out with child care on days I have meetings or rehearsal after school. Anyway, if you have any questions, please ask.......and good luck and lots of hope coming your way on your single mother journey.......it is hard.........but we are here for you. PA ... View more

Hey wombat! Just read your post on someone's thread about Your beautiful wife. I had tears reading it. I feel for your loss. I am watching my husband wither away little by little. He has a rare cancer that no one quite knows what to do with. He has had surgery, chemo, radio...the surgery got rid of most of it, but it has come back.......and he is living with chronic unexplained pain (doped to the eyeballs on morph) and weird, chronic bowel issues....... He has lost the will to keep going, although his prognosis is (??????) it is so rare no one knows what will happen. I fear most for our children (4 and 6).....how is this affecting them? Will they be okay? He is my soulmate, I miss him even though he is right in front of me.........I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. I am sending you positivity and love........and hope you find hope and peace again. PA ... View more

Hey there! My husband has been in pain for the past three years post surgery. We ended up at the Lismore Pain Management clinic (thank the lord as the wait for the gold coast one was 18 months to two years)....anyway, we saw a clinical psychologist, a physio, a clinical nurse consultant and a pain doctor. They then had a meeting to assess the situation. My husband now takes a nerve drug called Lyrica..... As well as a few other narcotic based meds. These guys have really saved him. The other person wh helped us immensely was the palliative care/ oncology clinical nurse consultant at Tweed heads hospital, who would call my husband's GP with suggestions as to what might help him. He is not totally pain free, spending many weeks at a time in bed sometimes, but he can have good days now. The other thing I am researching HEAPS at the moment is an Indonesian herbal remedy called Anatan. It is a natural pain reliever, it is legal to import into Australia, it is cheap and according to the people I know who have taken it, it is magical!! The other thing that has helped my husband immensely is acupuncture from a Chinese TCM practitioner. It is the answer! Pity it is expensive$50 a time, and not covered by our basic health cover. But SO WORTH IT!!! Hope this helps! PA ... View more

Hey there! Can I suggest you get in contact with Professor David Morris at St George hospital in Sydney. He is the GREATEST!! And a 'liver man'...... My husband has a rare cancer and Prof has been THE BEST, MOST supportive and smart man we have come across on this journey..... PA ... View more

Mmmmmm....yes a big decision.......my husband did not tolerate his chemo, so they took him off it after 6 weeks. I reckon do your research, talk to as many people who have had it as you can, and talk it through with a social worker, or your doctor......good luck and support coming your way! PA ... View more