And squeaky cheese.   Hail halloumi!   I believe in miracles   ... View more

Here is a laugh for your weekend.   We have a new robot vacuum cleaner we call Weebo. Sally seems unsure of its purpose.   Watch "Sally and weebo playing" on YouTube Sally and Weebo   I lost Weebo. She ran away. When her battery is flat, she could be hiding anywhere in the house. Eventually found her under a recliner chair. Hiding from Sally no doubt.   ... View more

Lampwork!   250 sit ups? There goes my manhood. I'm not allowed to do one in case I pop out that hernia. I should give my wife-beaters to her. Sounds like she'd easily hand me my arse on a silver platter.   250 sit ups! OMG!   I was reading Rick's comments on hair loss. He has taken that path and took the shave. I may not have to but I got my haircut recently. I was growing my hair and beard as a coping mechanism for my cancer journey. However, if I got a job interview along the way, I would cut my hair short... and I did.   I think I scrubbed up alright for a guy on chemo. At least if my hair thins, I won't have such a drastic change looking like a thinning hippy. (Sorry, I can't smile in selfies when I'm trying not to make it look like a selfie)   I've tried not to stare, but I've been observing the women at the chemo unit with hats and scarves. or is it scarfs?  Dr Google says both are acceptable. Now I did say observing, not perving. My wife accompanies me to so I'm on my best behaviour at the chemo unit. Unfortunately, it's Canberra and still winter so none of the girls are out and proud, but I haven't noticed any wigs. Now I am not saying I watch sex in the city, but I saw this episode which I thought was inspiring.      Dawn has arrived now but I've been awake for a while, since Pepper's last alarm went off. If you are not sleeping, this really is our weekend together.   250? Claire probably couldn't tap that many steps in her post surgery state. 💃   Don't feel you have to run to the finishing line. One day at a time, One dance step at a time. Remember How it goes in a marathon. You don't have to be first. Crawl across the line if you must.  🏃‍♀️   I hope you found some rest time overnight.   250? Take her dogs on your run. They can drag you over the finish line.   Ciao ... View more

Hey Claire, Lampwork,    If we put peer pressure on RJG, he may post cow photos. They are cute. He doesn't have a dog.   Thoughts?   🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂 🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃 🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄 🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮 ... View more

Hi Lampwork    I am having your weekend this weekend. I've asked for no visitors. It's my chemo doldrums, but it's started early. I will be in my pajamas mostly, but I am planning to try harder to exercise and fight the fatigue. I let it beat me last time. I'm determined to be stronger, despite the side effects being stronger this time around.   I get your reluctance to go out in public. I am quite embarrassed to go out since I have an ostomy bag. I've researched with my personal psychologists, Dr Google and Dr YouTube. I've found a lot of people who are out and proud. They don't let it get them down. They own it and flaunt it. That's not me. I hide it. I'm embarrassed. I go to public disabled toilets to have more privacy. I have taken to wearing a pregnancy belly band, covered by a singlet (aka a wife-beater), then my shirt, then a vest (which has sort have become my trademark recently). It flattens my bag and other unnatural post-surgery shapes. Then the vest breaks up my shape just a bit more. Is it too much? It allows me to face public life with a little face saving dignity. Should I be braver? I'm reasonably making an effort.   And speaking of hiccups, chemo causes me to have frequent hiccups. Weird?   I'm jealous, and probably Claire is too. 10 hours sleep is divine. Unfortunately, Pepper needs attention through the night. Sometimes 2 to 3 times a night. I've gotten a little use to waking to a soft alarm and working out if I can drift off or if I have to force myself out of bed. I actually have some nausea drugs. I can only have them at breakfast and lunch to avoid insomnia. It probably wouldn't hurt me.   Trauma? I guess. It's not a word I'd thought of. Well done. Yes. I can see the finish line ahead and I'm clinging to it.   But wouldn't you know it... I just got the hiccups again.   Take care. Keep the finish line in sight. Send some more puppy photos 🐶           ... View more

Hi Ginger Rogers   It sounds like you need to slip on those taps again. I get the barrel of nothing. I hate it. That line describes my darkest times on my journey. Our journeys may be different but cross over on many points.   Vouchie is correct. Cheese. It's a winner. In fact, I could just append your list to mine. I'll wait until you're up on the dance floor and I'll pinch them while you're not looking 😈   But.... but... seriously... I can't have soft cheese while on chemo. The second darkest tragedy on my journey. No brie. Only hard cheese until November. 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 And no wine! Until November. But then... Only wine that doesn't set off my anaphylaxis. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 Talk about a snow flake. ❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄   It would be nice to go out for a meal and order anything from the menu, but reality bites.   #3. Still going with the Clexane injections? I'm glad mine were in the thighs, but I've got a few lumps and blood spots that don't seem to be healing. Never mind. I tend to wear longer shorts these days. I left the Warrick Capper look behind in high school. Good thing rather. A mankini is more tastefull than Warrick's shorts.   But don't give up on the abs. I have some wierd bumps and scars, but i'm doing some exercise therapy to try to rejuvenate my core so I don't pop a hernia out. Geez! I made it sound like child birth. Bad enough I've got Pepper there as my unwanted appendage. Can't wait for December, when they lock the little bugger away again. Strange thought... I wonder if I'll miss him.   Now... here is a  funny thought. Pepper is somewhat gender neutral. Sometimes I refer to Pepper as "her". I think i've seen too many Ironman movies.   Strange segue... no? Back to abs... I'm trying to keep my weight on, but make it muscle weight. I've only lost 4kg overall, but it is fluctuating down and back up over my treatment. If I make it down to 84, i'll be my ideal weight, but with my new outlook on life, I need it to be muscle. Live a healthier life moving forward. Not too bad so far, as my love handles have receded somewhat.   So don't give up on the abs. Us special people, with that wonderful gift of cancer (intense sarcasm intended), deserve to be wise and have a rockin' bod. Or a one piece swim suit in case it's just a pipe dream. 🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️🤽‍♀️   Interesting about sleeping with the light on. I've had to do it sometimes if feeling nausea or pepper's needing extra attention. Just want to make sure I don't encounter the jutting corner that comes adjacent to the ensuite door. But let me quote your words from your first response to me. "Am I nuts? I bloody well hope so! Everyone has their own way to process this I suppose". Leave the lights on and enjoy seeing the light when you wake up. And I'll leave the lights on so I don't end up with a nasty big bruise down my face and a big lump on the back of my head. People will be calling spousal abuse and I'll say I just walked into the door.   Here is some irony. I've not worn singlets under my shirt since childhood, but they are keeping the chemo cold away and helps hide Peppers so it doesn't look like I'm shoplifting. My wife started calling them my wife-beaters. If I run into the door, we can call them husband-beaters instead.   But take back your wish. You don't want to feel chemo. Honestly, surgery hurts more and you've experienced that. I don't get a lot of pain. Most of my chemo pain is manageable via avoidance. You know... don't pick up the frozen food from the freezer... don't go outside in light clothing on a cold day. Only other pain is in my jaw when I start chewing, but subsides in about 30 seconds; or when I'm having pain in the tummy from gastro issues. The worst parts are fatigue, making you feel useless and allowing depression to kick in; and nausea and lack of appetite, which contributes to fatigue, weight loss and reluctance to take medication. Essentially, it makes you feel shite for a few weeks, starting with side effects that fade eventually over the cycle, only to have new ones kick in and fade later. Thankfully the rest period in the final week is awesome by comparison, but you still feel it. I can only sum it up by saying that chemo sucks balls.   🙋‍♂️well wishes for you 🤦‍♀️ 🙍‍♀️my dark mortality 😷🤢🤮🧟‍♀️☠👻 Satisfaction 🚶‍♂️🤺 (Sorry. No karate emoticon) Alternative 👫(Sorry. No hugging emoticon)   Ginger, I wish you well. Please don't stab me. Send me a virtual hug. At least I'm on the same side of the cancer coin.    Don't be a stranger. Slip on those taps and dance on, one step at a time. No time for being a wall flower. 💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃                 ... View more

Hi Albundy   I started cycle 2 chemo yesterday afternoon. I was really anxious leading into because I knew what to expect. I did a lot of mental preparation but couldn't turn it into a positive vibe.   They tried finding a vein in my left arm. Reluctantly went right arm, but suffered no pain in my right arm, where my left arm ached for a week.   Other than that, all my side effects were at least doubled and a whole bunch of new ones which scared the crap out of me. Having an ileostomy, I could actually see it happening (sorry pooh jokes lighten my burden).   On the good side, my wife has been very supportive, talking me through my anxiety, keeping me comfortable and stressing over things so I don't have to. Now I'm just waiting for the side effects to subside so I can look after her a bit. After all, this is her journey too.   Thanks for your update. It's good to compare notes. I'll be adding more detail to my blog. Please stay in touch.   Take care and stay strong.   Cheers   Phil ... View more

Hi Jerry   Let me start by saying, i'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Welcome to the site. No matter what outcomes you have, I think you can benefit from being on this forum.   I am with SCH on your diagnosis. Time is critical and you need to decide on a course of action. While there are alternative treatments, if someone directs you to surgery without considering options, a second opinion is a valid approach.   I think for my cancer, surgery was the best option, but a similar experience to you, I wasn't provided options. They pointed me towards a surgeon first. It all sort of happened before I could process what was going on. I had to catch up on my new reality.   I have heard of optional treatment for prostate cancer, but I won't pretend to be an expert. A friend of mine was diagnosed about the same time as one of his other mates. One had surgery and the other took a different path. One of them is still here and happy he chose surgery.    With that said, everyone's cancer story is different. My friend recommend surgery but it doesn't mean it's right for you. Ensure you've considered your options but don't waste time. At the end of the day, it's your treatment, your choice.   I hope that helps. Not really advice but just digging into some other people's experiences. However, I must protest. Treating our family members like humans is not a mistake. It's a must. And since you've brought it up; and in such great detail, we need a photo. I've started a trend of posting my family members on this site and you need to join the party.   It is my personal opinion the dogs help cure cancer.   This is my Bonnie.   Cheers   Phil   ... View more

Hi Rach    My catch cry is... Chemo sucks balls. You'll probably find that little rant on about 20 odd threads on this site. However, you make me feel like a sook. I'm about to start cycle 2 of 4. I decided chemo suck balls after one day. Having 18 cycles is tough. Stick to it. I hope you've getting the most you can from it.   Thank you for sharing your story. You've made me rethink some things I should have put more thought into. I've got a healthy and positive frame of mind to my cancer and treatment plan, but who's to say I won't be hit by a bus tomorrow. We are kind of lucky in a way, by having a time limit thrown in our faces, it kind of pushes us into getting our affairs in order. Maybe being too positive has made me complacent in this area.   I hope your oncologist appointment went well. I am seeing mine this morning. I need to focus on all the questions I need to ask. I'm feeling quite unprepared.   I've been lying awake for 4 hours. The alarm clock just went off. Now I feel like sleeping. I've not spent a lot of time on this site in the last few weeks, but I've been making up for it this morning. I worry more about starting my 2nd round of chemo than I do about cancer. I feel the effects of chemo. Didn't really feel cancer at all. Except when they cut the bugger out of me. Still feeling that actually.   Good luck with your treatment. Take one day at a time and get the most out of each one.   Cheers   Phil ... View more

Hi Madass   I recommend going to a GP and tell them you are concerned about cancer and ask for a colonoscopy. If they don't send you, demand it or find another GP. The sooner you catch cancer, the less treatment you'll need.   I was under the impression that blood tests will detect bowel cancer and I'd been getting regular blood tests for several years to keep it in check. As it turns out, if you detect in your blood, it's no longer just bowel cancer. Colonoscopies don't hurt and are life saving.   A number of cancers will slip through blood tests including anal cancer. Check your dignity at the door and do what you must. Timing really matters.   I hope you've already had a check up and it was good news. Don't be afraid to come back to this site and share your experience, even if it is a positive outcome. People here like happy ending stories too.   All the best   Phil ... View more