A couple of people referred to their work. I had stopped full-time teaching at age 47 and often regretted it,but until cancer had done relief work . I worked one day early last year and would have returned after treatment if my facial appearance had not been changed. I returned to other parts of my life after initial withdrawl.I did not have whatever it takes to be a teacher of primary school children any more. At first it upset me deeply as I had enjoyed nearly every day of that 12 years very much. Now I'm over it and think about it less often. If I could look as I did before(normal)I would go back, but that is my past now .I just have fun,enjoying husband,children ,friends and I recently took up zumba. I am guessing that most of us are convinced we will die of cancer but this is not necessarily so.All we really know is that we, like everyone, will eventually die.It's just that having cancer makes you face the fact.In the meantime life is to be lived in the way we each think it should .This may be a little differently to the way we thouht before.We tend to place importance on other things now .At least that is what I think. ... View more

A couple of people referred to their work. I had stopped full-time teaching at age 47 and often regretted it,but until cancer had done relief work . I worked one day early last year and would have returned after treatment if my facial appearance had not been changed. I returned to other parts of my life after initial withdrawl.I did not have whatever it takes to be a teacher of primary school children any more. At first it upset me deeply as I had enjoyed nearly every day of that 12 years very much. Now I'm over it and think about it less often. If I could look as I did before(normal)I would go back, but that is my past now .I just have fun,enjoying husband,children ,friends and I recently took up zumba. I am guessing that most of us are convinced we will die of cancer but this is not necessarily so.All we really know is that we, like everyone, will eventually die.It's just that having cancer makes you face the fact.In the meantime life is to be lived in the way we each think it should .This may be a little differently to the way we thouht before.We tend to place importance on other things now .At least that is what I think. ... View more

A couple of people referred to their work. I had stopped full-time teaching at age 47 and often regretted it,but until cancer had done relief work . I worked one day early last year and would have returned after treatment if my facial appearance had not been changed. I returned to other parts of my life after initial withdrawl.I did not have whatever it takes to be a teacher of primary school children any more. At first it upset me deeply as I had enjoyed nearly every day of that 12 years very much. Now I'm over it and think about it less often. If I could look as I did before(normal)I would go back, but that is my past now .I just have fun,enjoying husband,children ,friends and I recently took up zumba. I am guessing that most of us are convinced we will die of cancer but this is not necessarily so.All we really know is that we, like everyone, will eventually die.It's just that having cancer makes you face the fact.In the meantime life is to be lived in the way we each think it should .This may be a little differently to the way we thouht before.We tend to place importance on other things now .At least that is what I think. ... View more

I missed TT so just caught up here. Wonderful news for the whole family.Wonderful news for Australia as we need more doctors and more good people. ... View more

It isn't so much the doctors as my gp now bulk-bills me,but medications that are called private prescriptions and the mri.I agree some things in our system are reasonable,unlike the USA.Also, specialists are only now and again and radiation was bulk-billed. ... View more

Yes. ... View more

Hi, it sounds to me like the children are looking for attention.This doesn't mean you are not giving it . Their life has changed too. They are not getting the same attention from their dad as before so they will miss it and they probably miss him as he was when he was well. It must be hard being the carer and catering for everyone's needs and they all need you so much . This is probably not very helpful but I just want you to know that I understand your plight.Maybe some friend or family member can take the children out occasionally to give you and your husband some quiet time. Some others have offered some ideas that seem helpful . I hope it gets easier . I also understand that if you are teaching you have a lot of school work to do at home at times and that you want to be with your own little ones as much as possible. I was a primary school teacher and loved school holidays with my children , when some mothers whinged about it. ... View more

Sounds like Centrelink bashing,but justifiable. I applied for a low income health care card and was given a form for the doctor to fill out as I was trying to get it back-dated.I asked the girl what info they needed as the form did not say in one part and she said angrily ''I don't know''. When I left there I was on the verge of tears. I had not been able to work for over a year and a half at that time . The doctor did her best but didn't know what she had to say either. When I returned the form the man whom I saw knew what info was needed.Why didn't the other worker find out for me? I felt that I should have reported that first woman but couldn't go through the drama.I was a teacher so was not used to Centrelink. I think my mri will not cost me next time with this card.Even with our health fund ,this card and Medicare we still spend a lot on medications and if more treatments are needed in the future ,we will spend a lot.I expect to pay but expect whatever I am entitled to also .I did not get it back-dated as I didn't supply the info required. My main problem was the humiliation and unhelpfulness . Sorry to rave. ... View more

Dear Reindeer,I use support groups on line,can't find any off-line ones applicable ,but have used Cancer Council and probably will in the future ,Even on the phone you can say anything you need to and get an understanding person at the other end . Thanks for your advice. ... View more