I could not agree more with the idea of mind, body and soul being out of sync. At times they seem to match up but more often I see it as me being on the outside looking in when I am around people who really don't understand.It is not there fault. A friend who didn't make it once said when we were both having chemo, that no-one really understands unless they've been there. The concept of letting go is interesting. Samex ... View more

Thank you for allowing us into your lives. You and Wazza must be very proud to have such a son.I'm pleased that his passing was peaceful. I'm sure that Wazza is sharing a beer with the friends that I have lost in the last few years. Take care Samex ... View more

Hi teacher mum, I am a teacher mum too and also experience that duality of worlds. My treatment finished 18 months ago and I'm still feeling a little odd at times especially at school. Fractured is a great word for how we feel. I found this site really helpful at a number of levels. Welcome! Samex ... View more

Hi Jules, Welcome. There are lots of interesting discussions here. I've only been around a few months but I have found it really useful. Samex ... View more

Hi there, Cannot agree more about the dex. We all have had different cancers ( mine was bowel) but this seems to common. I was wondering when I was going to be the wasted away chemo patient. Lost 7 kilos after surgery and put on 10 on chemo!! Still trying to lose it 18 months later. The nausea was bearable but the fatigue really got me down. I am a teacher and I tried to work for a while but it was impossible. By round 9 of 12 i could hardly do the shopping and then bring it inside in one go. I found "nanna naps" almost mandatory. This is maybe where you could help if this is what's needed - giving him some quiet time in the afternoon may help. I feel that the mere fact that you are asking for advice here indicates that you will be very supportive and an enormous help. Although very cliched, it is really one day at a time. Take care, Samex ... View more

Ahh yes. I had a wonderful view of the car park so was able to ascertain whether I was going to have any visitors that day or not (when I was well enough to sit up and look out of the window of course). After nearly three weeks in the one spot I did say to the nurse that if I was having to stay any longer they would have to swap the painting opposite my bed with one from another room. It also had pink if I recall. Samex ... View more

Ah Sailor, You have a much greater gift than I methinks but I will struggle on. I take heart from the positive images as well. Lots of daffodils tomorrow! Thanks, Samex ... View more

Saying how sorry I am seems so ineffective but please believe that it is from my heart. My thoughts to you and your family. Take care, Samex ... View more

Hi, I only found this post today - don't know why. I remember the time of my diagnosis. I had undergone an emergency hemicolectomy after my bowel had completely shut down. Needless to say I was pretty ill. When I came to, I remember my surgeon and gastoenterologist sitting at the end of my bed looking very serious. However, next to me was the morphine pump which was having a significant effect on my reactions to things. They talked to me about the size and extent of my tumour and what the possible repercussions were of it. I remember the conversation but no tears or fears at that stage. The morphine was doing its job. 4 weeks later I saw my oncologist and we decided to go forward with treatment. I began to be scared as I had already lost one good friend and had another who was going through chemo. Still, I hadn't realised the extent of what I was about to embark on. A week later, all by myself I went to the hospital to have a picc line put in and then I started to think that this was ,maybe, really serious as I hadn't relased that the line would be so big. This was going to be attached to me for 6 months. I then walked around to the oncology ward - all by myself- and as I saw the sign "oncology" and the Lazy Boy chairs, I realised that I was no longer someone who had had an operation and would recover in about 6 weeks, that I was now a cancer patient and that all the people I had known who had cancer at my age (50) had died or were dieing.Then I got really scared but have never told anybody how scared until now. I put on the brave face that we all do and just got on with beating this thing. That was 2 years ago next week. I am still here and fighting fit, but I will never forget how my perspective changed from being someone who had a tumour removed to a cancer patient. That was when life changed I think. I agree with Quijote that only us cancer people understand. My "chemo buddy" who was undergioing treatment at the same time as me used to say that as well. We lived very far apart but chatted often on the phone. He helped me so much when we'd talk and he said just that, "nobody can ever really understand unless you've been there". He didn't make it, though. Let's keep up the good fight!! Samex ... View more