It seems to me you are doing the best thing for the family . At least the family know . It is difficult to know what to do about friends .Your mum has the right to decide whom to tell but I agree that she has made a " wrong "decision. I don't know what I would do in your situation. I suppose you have tried to tell her that her friends would care and would be happy to visit her and enjoy her company . ... View more

Sorry I can't help. In this day and age one would expect that your doctors have solutions to ease your pain. ... View more

I was sent for my first mammogram at age 45 just because I was starting menopause .After the mammogram they did an ultrasound straight away because they said at that young age the breast tissue is best checked by an ultrasound. Sometime in my thirties a doctor checked me over and said sometimes it can feel "ropey" at certain times of the month. This may explain why you felt a lump only sometimes. ... View more

Lioness, I have thought about such a questionnaire too. My cancer has been known for over 150 years and today they still cannot link it to any environmental factors. They do know that a genetic fusion occurs but not what causes this. As it is a rare cancer less is known . Often it has been studied but sometimes grouped with other head and neck cancers ,with a small number representing this cancer. Many studies have been done by researching records when a lot of of patients are dead . I am in contact with others ,a few Australians ,many from the USA and a few in Europe with the same cancer and some have been discussing what could be the cause ,wondering what we have in common. ... View more

Well said,Sam. ... View more

To Smelling the Roses, some of my siblings were like that,I have 9 sisters and 2 brothers .My mum is alive and my dad died in 1973. Some of my siblings were very supportive, some have never had a conversation with me about it ,some one conversation only. It is 2 years since my diagnosis .I have accepted their reactions for the most part . I decided that if they don't ask I won't say anything and if they do I answer openly ,telling some more than others. It's similar with friends. I am ok about this. ... View more

I am ok. I see my rad/onc. on Thursday .The last 2 times I saw him I had an MRI first but he doesn't require one this time. I talked to my surgeon about this as he answered my email by phoning me . He had contacted the rad/onc. and they talked about it. I was told I can have one if I want so he sent me the request form .I said I may have one before I see him next which should be in June unless the onc. says later. I see the 2 doctors in turn for check ups. I have no new symptoms but an MRI is the only sure way of checking for a recurrence. Since I was told that they will not check for metasteses (nearly always in the lungs) my gp sent me for a chest xray. These can occur with no symptoms until it is bad. No cancer was found .They did say it showed asthma or bronchitis but on further investigation I had neither. I had thought that I didn't have either. So ,I am well and happy . I so hope that both you and your husband are improving. I read on the net that a generic for Lyrica may be available in late 2113.I don't know if this means we get it in Australia then.It will make it cheaper. I suspect that I may still be taking it then,but hope it won't be necessary. ... View more

I am speechless . I saw a different gp last time I went to the doctor. I said I know I am going to die of lung cancer (not exactly true)as my cancer nearly alwasys metastesises to the lungs. Like you,if I understood you,it is the pain that's scary ,not the dying. That's what I think now anyway but when it's close I may also be scared of dying . I just don't know. All of this is still unknown until it happens. I wish you did not have to go through this. ... View more

What about all the auto-immune diseases? The body thinks it's being attacked and fights back but it is fighting its own healthy cells . Crazy. We won't find an answer to these questions. ... View more

I agree with all that has been said . I was diagnosed 2 years ago with cancer and have not cried once,nearly a few times,but only tears in my eyes. We all grieve in different ways .Don't think that whatever you feel or how you react is not normal. It is most probably very normal. It's ok to tell people that you don't know how you feel yet. Tell only what you want to ,to whomever you want . Most will understand. ... View more