Hi raindeer, hi everyone.. Raindeer, I just re-read your comment and wanted to say it touched a chored with me - especially this paragraph: "It deeply hurts me, that some of my family have “swept my cancer under the carpet”, so to speak. My attitude has changed towards them; I cannot and probably never will, feel the same connection with them." I cannot begin to go into how "inappropriately" my family, and many friends also, have responded to my cancer. Deep grief is the way I would describe the feelings I carry consequently, and of course, additionally to everything else. The pain and grief runs deep yes, there is also deep confusion that I have stemming from the gap of understanding; they have no idea, and never will ever appreciate the complexities, as they don't/wont stop a minute to consider. I understand what you are saying, and feel that you have the same kind of "omg, I can't believe this" sort of thing going on. We need care and support too, why does it happen the opposite way? ... View more

Here's another that discusses how animals can sense it: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110817194548.htm "This method relies on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of cancer. Although many different technological applications have been developed, this method is still difficult to apply in a clinical setting as patients aren't allowed to smoke or eat before the test, sample analysis can take a long time and there is also a high risk of interference. Because of these reasons, no lung cancer-specific VOCs have yet been identified." ... View more

Here's the cat one in the nursing home: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6919063.stm A cat has apparently "predicted" the deaths of 25 residents in a nursing home in the US. It seems fanciful but can pets detect illness or even death? ... View more

I found this article on the net: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060106002944.htm Can Dogs Smell Cancer? "Researchers reveal scientific evidence that a dog's extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy controls." It doesn't answer why an animal would avoid if they did know however. I was thinking about this last night and had a vague memory of experiencing similar at some stage (cannot remember when), and wondering - perhaps morbidly - whether I was already partly dead, or my aura/soul or whatever, was already seeping from my body to another "level" and that the animal in question maybe couldn't see me clearly anymore. I hope this isn't depressing for anyone. I share with the intelligent assumption that, we have all had thoughts about death on our journey, and in my thinking, it's healthy and more helpful to be open about these thoughts. ... View more

I found this article on the net: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060106002944.htm Can Dogs Smell Cancer? "Researchers reveal scientific evidence that a dog's extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy controls." I still wonder why the would avoid if they did know. Although, I was thinking about this last night and had a vague memory of experiencing similar at some stage (cannot remember when), and wondering - perhaps morbidly - whether I was already partly dead, or my aura/soul or whatever, was already seeping from my body at the animal in question maybe couldn't see me. I hope this isn't depressing for anyone. I share with the intelligent assumption that, we have all had thoughts about death on our journey, and it's healthy and more helpful to be open about these thoughts. ... View more

Hi jsbach, stories like that just blow me away, seriously. There's so much that we don't know what goes on with them probably. I was saying to a friend just last night - considering a child picks up language from exposure to our use of it, it might then be likely that animals too understand our language from their exposure to us, a lot more than we give them credit for. They are just not physically equipt to talk back to us, to confirm this. I always keep this in mind when I talk to my moggie; I don't need to bellow orders at her, or talk down to her, she understands if I simply speak. I try to talk to her often, incase the odds are she can understand. I wouldn't like her to think that I am ignoring her presence. Don't you just love them. ... View more

Hi Jax, I am wondering why this might be. If you are fresh from treatment, maybe your moggie can smell the chemicals? I often wondered how my smell must change after being in hospital. There's also the question of other dimensions that I wonder if animals tune in to - maybe they can "see" that you are not 100%. I would feel a little rejected anyhow, if my moggie "hardly came near me" in such a situation. Maybe it's different with gender too. My cat is female and sticks close by. Males tend to wonder a lot, going by watching my neighbour's cat. Age too must be a factor. Is that a picture of your moggie? If so, he is very photogenic 🙂 ... View more

Hi Tim, I just want to say hang in there.. but, of course, you are. it's probably all you can do. The waiting is very hard. I hope you have company that you can spend time with and keep those nerves down. xx Sarah ... View more

Hi Stace, Hi Tim, What Stace says is true, it is only one step at a time, the mind can race to very far ahead with the what ifs. This can be really painful as speculating on something you cannot know is impossible. One step at a time is the way. Stace, I only discovered this site after treatment also. It would've been a great support throughout treatment as I felt very alone and confused, with a billion questions. Tim, I hope you have support around you, and comfort - lots of hugs right now will do a great thing to keep the body calm, lean as much as you can too. We are hear supporting. Please feel free to open up and lean here. sarah ... View more

Hi Tim, Yes, the hospital n i g h t m a r e .... Completely passive to the system and people that are taking care of you. All you can do is submit yourself to the process, even though - perhaps - all parts of you are screaming inside that "Noooooo... I don't want to do this". It can get rather grueling; the tests and appointments seeming to have no end, and these people blabbering at you stuff that your mind cannot begin to understand. It all happens so fast too. Or so it was, and still is for me. I couldn't believe that this was my life. Such is the stuff of trauma; the mind kind of dissociates. Again, such as it was/is for me. I only share in the hope that you can be assured that we know that what you are going through is no picnic, and people here do recognise this. You can say anything here we understand. Sarah ... View more