Thanks guys! My family are great and they do support me it's just they are not given to displays of emotion or affection. Last Sunday evening I went over to my parents' house when they weren't expecting me and I felt really happy because I saw the smile that my mum gave when she saw me. I did get one hug today from a friend who I have known for 10 years and has never hugged me before. So that was nice. ... View more

Hi Suzie I haven't had zolodex but it was mentioned to me as a possiblity as measure to protect my ovaries during chemo. I would guess that for females it is taken monthly due to the monthly menstrual cycle. I am on triptorelin for 5 years which is a monthly injection to turn my ovaries off which I imagine to be somewhat similar. When I started it in November 2010 I got menopausal symptoms - in particular hot flushes. They faded after a while but then when I started tamoxifen in April 2011 they started up again and I still have them. Best Wishes ... View more

Hi Gwenneth It's weird isn't it, when they tell you that you're sick but you only have their word for it. And then they give you treatment that actually makes you feel sick. It's backwards. I do remember being interested in the upside-down light switches when I was on holiday in America several years ago. And they all seemed to be in an old-fashioned style as well which I thought was odd. Being diagnosed with cancer is hard enough without the added dislocation of being in a new country. I hope everyone will look after you well - I'm sure they will. All the nurses in my chemo room were lovely and friendly and made the experience much better than it could have been. I have been thinking lately about how I would answer the question "what's it like having breast cancer?". The first part of the answer is that it was terrifying, but the second part of the answer is that it was all manageable and doable and people helped me through it and it was not as bad as I would have imagined. I had 4 months of chemo and a unilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. What treatment are you having? Best wishes ... View more

Hi Jenny Sorry, I don't know anything about anal cancer. Welcome to the site. I hope you can find it helpful here to share thoughts with others who will have some understanding even though we all have different situations. Best Wishes ... View more

Thanks Silly ... View more

My eldest sister and I are going to Chicago to stay with our sister who lives there for a week in mid-September. Then the 3 of us are doing a tour up and down the east coast of America & Canada for a month. I am nervous but also excited! I am relieved that the injection is organised and that makes it start to seem real. The second anniversary of my diagnosis will be while we are on the tour. Last year the anniversary freaked me out a little bit but hopefully that will get less each year and also I will be busy having fun so will have other things to think about. ... View more

Good luck with your fundraising. That's great to support your friend. Best Wishes for your friends recovery from surgery and forthcoming chemo. Everybody will have a different experience but I found that with my chemo and mastectomy (single with immed reconctruction) none of it was as bad as I imagined it would be. It was just a matter of dealing with one step at a time and getting through it. ... View more

That's ok Glenys, I'm all sorted out now. I have made an appointment with a Chicago cancer hospital for while I'm there - it is a monthly injection that I need. Luckily we get back home the day the following one is due. ... View more

Hi Glenys, The GP thinks it is the inner ear problem again. He gave me some tablets which he says should fix it by next week. I hope he is right. I did feel better this afternoon so that's a good sign. I hope the surgeon is able to fix your knees. Knees are very troublesome when they go wrong. My dad had a knee replacement last year and he is really happy with it and can walk without pain now. Allicat ... View more