Hello Ellad, I am sorry to hear about the struggles through your earlier days, it sounds like your only starting to really process and become aware of your feelings quite recently. I think suppressing those feelings and thoughts in your youth has caused the panic attacks and anxiety, especially if the event happened during a impressionable period, where self emotional intelligence hasn't quite evolved completely yet. All those feelings were bottled up. Grieving may have stages but those stages do not have timescales, a person only passes through those stages with self development and realization. (From my side it will take years for me but that's okay, we have the time). It's fantastic that your seeking counselling, you have already taken the first step into healing. Please keep us updated, do you have a pet that brings you smiles for example? ... View more

I don't know if it helps but my colleague had slight ringing in the left ear after an brain session. ... View more

Hi David50,   Please do continue your posts on here, we all wish to be by your side as you endeavour throughout  your long journey. Maybe some stories about your day or little adventures that you took?? Do you have any pets? If so, maybe you can share some with us??  ... View more

Hi Debbie2,   Feeling guilty and frustrated is absolutely expected and a normal response to such events, emotions tend to run high especially when there are others individuals affected. I’m happy to hear that your partner is in remission that is fantastic news.   Have you sat down with your partner and discussed these issues at length - Informed him how his actions are affecting others? Maybe a councilor could act as a third party media?   Cancer  and it’s treatment can change a way someone’s perceives themselves and thus affects their self-esteem as well. It’s common to feel less confident about who you are and what you can do, add to the mix the consist fear of the future and what that may bring to your loved ones. Helpless breeds frustration. It's quite an stressful recipe.   But either way communication is the key.     May I recommend the following link? Around page 40 might be helpful.   https://www.mylifehouse.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/mutiple_myeloma.pdf   Please let me know how it goes? ... View more

Hi Jsmc,   You’re both doing the best you can together while being pulled from multiple directions. As Budgie previously suggested – have you sort additional help just yet? Either with child minding or emotional?   Are the grandparents from either side able to assist or maybe childcare could be considered for the older one? You could speak with the hospital’s guidance councilor or the cancer council regarding potential child minding programs? Can a friend maybe babysit for a night?   (Behind those worried eyes for the future. There is joy, joy for every moment she spends with her children and you. It’s not lost, it’s just simply covered for now). ... View more

If you don't mind me asking - How was your treatment? ... View more

That's understandable.   May I confirm just in case that you have also checked the IWMF Australia registry too? I was unsure; they might be able to recommend additional local services? There’s contact person for each state.   Adelaide Peter Diamond, Leukaemia Foundation +61 8 8169 6035 [email protected]   Brisbane Peter Carr, WMozzies +61 7 5529 0518 [email protected]   Nicole Douglas, Leukaemia Foundation +61 7 3259 1000 [email protected]   Melbourne Steve Higgs, Leukaemia Foundation +61 3 9949 5800 [email protected]   Karen Matoga, Leukaemia Foundation +61 3 9949 5800 [email protected]   Perth Peter Marfleet, WMozzies +61 4 1043 6666 [email protected]   Frankie Bird, Leukaemia Foundation +61 8 6241 1000 [email protected]   Sydney Andrew Warden, WMozzies +61 2 9974 2277 [email protected]   Madeleine Thompson, Leukaemia Foundation +61 2 9902 2222 [email protected] ... View more

Hi Maryfrancis3,   Welcome to our forums! Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia is quite a specific condition; I have no doubt that there are a few people on here that can definitely relate but unfortunately have yet to discover the post itself. In the meanwhile may I recommend these sites that focus on Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia primarily?   https://www.iwmf.com/get-support - IWMF - International Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.  Overall main page of general information about Support available.   https://www.iwmf.com/get-support/us-and-international-support-groups ­- IWMF - International Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia – US and International Support Groups – You can contact and request for Local Support groups information etc. (Just go down to International Support Groups and Regional Contacts then select Australia. The appropriate listed individual’s contact information will display).   http://www.wmozzies.com.au/index.php/get-support - WMOZZIES - Australia patient support group for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. – Overall main page of general information about Support available.   https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wmozzies/info?guccounter=1 – WMOZZIES Yahoo support Group – You probably need a Yahoo account and request to join for this one.   https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/f/non-hodgkin-lymphoma-forum/144728/lymphoplasmacytic-lymphoma-waldenstrom-s-macroglobulinemia ­- MacMillan Cancer Support ­– Another forum site that has Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia patients and journeys.   I hope these sites will assist in someway or maybe someone in the future. ... View more

Hi Bianca,   Your feelings and fears are absolutely universally felt with thousands of others going through a similar experience. Chemotherapy and the unknown is a naturally scary thought, especially when reading or hearing about the potential side-effects but everyone reacts differently. Some barely feel the effects while others will receive some form of degree of it.   Some of the story - My loved one went for a few rounds of chemotherapy for some months; the effects seemed to stay steady but had gotten easier for her over time. She experienced some hair loss, slight feet ache (which was eased with an ice pack), upset stomach and general tiredness. The doctors and nurses were there to provide assistances and recommendations during the chemotherapy treatment. Everything was a step-by-step process for us but we knew that it was a necessary remedy to remove/shrink them. Radiotherapy is also another effective way.   Like you, she was frightened about the lasting effects of chemotherapy to her body. But once the chemo was completed and about 6 weeks had gone by. She started to become more herself again, she had more energy and experienced less tiredness. She started to recover from the effects. The rest of the story isn’t related as it’s completely different from there.   Take it one step at a time, don’t over Google the side-effects as some or maybe even more probably won’t apply to you and if you ever have questions, please ask your treating doctors or even get a second opinion. They are there for you, like we are there for you.   Here are some suggested articles:   https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/mis-cancer-news-102/most-cancer-survivors-say-chemo-fears-unfounded-614208.html - Health Day - Most cancer survivors say Chemo fears unfounded. Survey polled US Adults who had undergone cancer chemotherapy within the last 5 years.  Everyone is different.   Around eight out of 10 cancer survivors said they had been fearful prior to starting chemotherapy, with most (76 percent) worried primarily about side effects such as hair loss, nausea and fatigue. Looking back, almost two-thirds (62 percent) said those fears were unjustified. Just 14 percent described their side effects as "very difficult," and about a third (32 percent) had a "somewhat easy" or "very easy" experience with treatment.  http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/anxiety-and-cancer.aspx - Chemocare - Anxiety and Cancer tips https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/fears - Dealing with chemotherapy fears -  suggestions at the bottom  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/10-tips-to-survive-chemotherapy.html - What’s it really like going through chemotherapy – Their experience     For additional supportive services: https://cancerqld.org.au/get-support/cancer-emotional-support/cancer-counselling-service/ - List of supportive services via the cancer council.   Ph: 13 11 20 – You can even contact the Cancer Council directly for supportive assistance or recommendations in your area.    https://www.cancervic.org.au/get-support/connect-and-learn/ask-a-nurse - The Cancer Council Victoria (AUS) – You can speak with a nurse or even e- mail one your general questions, if you like.   1300MHCALL (1300 64 22 55) - Mental Health Services Access. They are able to provide information regarding supportive services and etc. Anyone can use them.   https://coloncancercoalition.org/community/stories/survivor-stories/ - Bowel cancer journeys.    Please do keep us updated regarding your journey! ... View more

Hi Tania,   I’m sorry for everything that has occurred within such a short amount of time, it must seem simply so surreal. My family decided to look after my loved one at home as well, I was the primary Carer but I wasn’t alone in providing support.   Blood transfusions will assist in the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and organs, plus it will support clotting if cuts or wounds suddenly occur. Some studies such as the PublMed.gov 2010 – 2011 have suggested that patients with advanced cancer, who received blood transfusions, lived longer than others who did not receive the same treatment. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24935379   The hematologist suggests that research into this, regarding advanced cancer patients has not been fully explored. But it does state the following:   “For example, in one of the largest studies to date (101 patients), 78 percent of patients receiving red cell transfusions had improvement in one of their target symptoms (fatigue, breathlessness, weakness or dizziness).” https://www.hematology.org/Thehematologist/Features/8762.aspx   But blood transfusions also come with the low risk of infections as well. I suppose it comes down to quality of life and what you define that to be. ... View more