Terry's radiation is a bigger deal than mine I think .Mine didn't involve the neck or eating issues. I went for a check-up with my ent today and he was happy. I asked if anything inside or outside will change (I meant improve) and he said no.I asked him if anything can be done to improve my appearance and he said yes and gave me 2 plastic surgeons' names . He added that considering what was done I looked good . I'll check them out and consider the situation. ... View more

Welcome to the site ,Jane. It looks as though you and your partner are going through an especially bad time . The cancer seems to be in so many parts of his body. I think you will get support here. ... View more

I think I will always be sad about having cancer whether I live for a short time or a long time.Like you CJF,I cope .Offline mostpeople wouldn't know this. I said to a friend last week that I think I have changed since cancer but she said she hadn't noticed a difference. I feel in myself that I have developed a hardness .On the other hand at times I do feel a lot of compassion for others who are suffering. It's hard to explain. ... View more

I hope you have a great trip overseas. My husband and I did a 6 week trip to Europe 10 years ago and a 6 week driving trip to and around T asmania before. Otherwise we have had a few short holidays overseas. F riends who go overseas about once a year must be sick of us saying no thanks , since they are in Cambodia now and we weren't asked this time. We have done some trips with them before. I have enjoyed every trip immensely but would rather get my house and garden "perfect" these days. I am scared of having a home that cannot be maintained by either one of us alone. I felt this even BC. In Fiji we did some sightseeing .The Fijians are a happy,friendly people and yet so poor . ... View more

Not planning any travel ,lost interest since cancer.Did go to Fiji between surgery and radiation. Interesting to know about insurance in case we decide to go overseas in the future. Jules, it's sad about your mum and sister but understandable.You are making the most of your life so good on you. ... View more

Hi,it seems to me you are sad if you can cry. I know at times I was sad but have not cried ,only teared up once and stopped. That time I was angry too because the doctor's opinion was that I should lose my eye and end up with a stick on one. I think I was mostly scared. I just wanted this thing out of me in a hurry .That was going on for 2 months as treatment was being planned. After surgery I was a bit shocked at my appearance. Even as it slowly improved I was at times sad,depressed and angry . My diagnosis was 1 year and 8 months ago so I may not remember all the emptions I was experiencing. When you were told about how you handle "sad" it reminded me I sometimes become angry if very scared. I think I either don't want to feel scared or don't want to admit that I am scared. It's as if that person has succeeded in scaring me,overpowered me and I don't like it so I get angry instead. I figured this out in my long ago past and it's not usual these days. So I think your counsellor may be right and that the emotion of sadness has been re-introduced to you as something you are allowed to feel. That could explain the crying. I am not a counsellor so this is just my own thought on the matter. It's been a big year for you and it's not one you can get over easily. Over 20 years ago a counsellor told me I was probably lonely. That had not entered my mind till then but it made me think, and I decided that perhaps I was as times. I wish you a great year which you can write about in a years's time . ... View more

P.S. I hope your experience was not too bad.Chemotherapy seems to be horrible, to say the least,for most people. ... View more

None of this applies to me as there is no chemo for my cancer(except experimental in some patients) but I do like to understand it. Again you exlpained things clearly. ... View more

Your sister doesn't sound very compassionate or is she just using humour to deal with it? ... View more

I saw on tv where a dog could detect epileptic seizures in a boy, before they occurred. It was helpful to the family . ... View more