hi Jules, Sorry, but have just been jumping on and off here and aven't really been keeping up. My diagnosis was stage 3 bowel cancer in August 2007. I had an emergency hemi-colectomy as my bowel had completely shut down and then 6 months of chemo. I returned to work in April 2008. I have had a struggle with depression and anxiety but I am being weaned off the anti-d's at the moement and while I still struggle at times, things are looking much brighter. My long term prognosis is very good as I have made it to this point with no recurrence. I have 18 months to go before(bloods, scans etc) before I am given the all clear. In saying that, I'm sure that it will never go away completely - at least in my head. I have an amzing yoga teacher who helped me through the chemo and beyond. With my cazy job and looking after a family, it is the only me time that I get - twice a week. I love it. It's a pity that your GP isn't more helpful - mine has been fantastic and laughs with me when I come in about something minor that I would never have gone to him about before.He is very compassionate but constantly at me (in the nicest way) about exercising and weight.Ho Hum. I hope that you are feeling well and if you have Insurance, take all the time you need. One thing I learned is that no-one is indespensible and that we eed to learn to care for ourselves more. Samex. ... View more

First I've heard about it. Does anyone know of anything similar except for the Survivors lap at Relay for Life in Sydney? Will be interested to hear yur thoughts Silly. S ... View more

Ditto Harker. Superwoman, when I returned to work after chemo, I had a meltdown one day and my Principal told me that I didn't need to be Superwoman and she sent me home for 2 days. Mind you while she hasn't had cancer she has a family and is a Principal of a large secondary school. I did point out her irony. Jump on here on the bad moments and then sometimes feel free to share the good ones. No judging here. Take care. Samex ... View more

In our self absorption at times(I know I am guilty of this) we do forget about others or at least wonder why they don't ask about the test results or the visits to the oncologist. I have learned to realise that the lives of others have merely continud on their merry path and while they have been a part of the journey, for them the bumps have stopped and life is continuing as normal.For us, the road keeps twisting and turning and sometimes we just love it if someone asked how we were going. I go crosswords - badly! Samex ... View more

Ahh memories! Harker you remind me of my brother who at 5 years older than me was a ravenous teenager when I was but a little tyke. He would hover over the plate"Are you going to finish that?" To spite him I would eat everything but a very polite friend was so intimidated that she would pass her half eaten plate to him. 45 years later she still rememebrs the time and the trauma! Sailor I too rememeber the Sunday roast and leftovers and sandwiches. The legs must have been huge in those days. There is certainly not much left in my house these days! We also always had dessert but my Dad is 85 and my Mum 84 so we must have found the balance between the cream and the ice cream and the fruit! S ... View more

This seems an awful way to receive this type opf news. I am a teacher as well and it is amazing how sometimes we fall into routine and just continue until the reality sets in.Not delusional - just struggling with the grim reality. I hope that you find the correct answer for your family. Samex ... View more

Hi jules, i believe that we all react differently so I guess this doesn't help at all! I thought that I would be able to work on and off while on treatment (as a teacher) but after 2 attempts I gave up. I was fortunate that had loads of accumulated sick leave so finance wasn't a problem. When I returned I went back I feel, about a month too early. I think I was keen to get back to "normal' without fully realising that normal was no longer there. My Principal was great and she actually suggested that I work part time after watching me struggle for a term. This I continued for 2 years and I am very grateful to her for allowing it. Even now, 3 years out of treatment, I still struggle with the full time workload and the pressure. Are you able to work part time when you are ready? I'm not sure what your surgery was but you need to give your body time to recuperate fully and you also need time to process emotionally and intellectually what has happened to you. Do you have a good GP that you can chat to? The Cancer Helpline may also be able to help. i guess my general advice is not to rush it. Take time to smell the roses. Samex ... View more

Hi Allicat, i think you may be surprised just how many "survivors" feel similarly to you in a variety of ways. i agree with the otheres, that the being "special' allows us to deal with the crap a little better. My brother and sister-in-law are world class athletes and often the family conversation revolves around their successes. I will openly admit that wehn I was sick, the focus shifted to me for a bit and this helped me to cope with the chemo and the fear and everything that goes with cancer. I often experinecd survivor guilt as well, but fortunately many of the sage contributors here, helped to deal with that as well. Yake care and perhaps the help that you can offer your sister will help you both to recover. Take care, Samex ... View more

This is a terrible story. I'm so sorry for you and your daughter. You may find some help for both you and your daughter through the Cancer Council Helpline or perhaps through the Social worker at your hospital? Are there any other family members of friends who may be able to help out with the other kids? They must also be very scared and not really understanding as well. Take care and rememeber that you can alwaysput you thoughts on "paper" here. there is always someone to listen. Samex ... View more

It's interesting that you ask "How much of you was work"? This is something that I have really changed about myself recently. I am a secondary teacher who works way too hard and spends way too much extra time giving extra classes etc, especially to HSC students.This is who I am. BUT what has changed, is that , while I still care deeply about my students and see that what I am paid to do is to maximise their education, it is no longer merely who I am. Before cancer, I believe, that my family and school were all important to me - my job defined my purpose in life to a great extent.After diagnosis, I could have walked away without a backward glance. My recognition of who I was had altered considerably. My problem has been as you stated, oldhippy, the sense of disconnection. I no longer view myself and the world in the same way and this has caused a lot of difficulties with some of my relationships. Very different world views and views of what is important in life. Facing one's mortality will do that to you. A freind died last night 3 months after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She was unhappy in her job as a teacher and only did it for the income. She had a large house and all the "things" that money could buy.She had a good heart and lived for husband and son and was a loyal friend, but this evening I have again stopped to wonder about what is important. I am fortunate that I will retire in about 18 months. I will still be in a position to need to work casually, but I am looking forward to working on my own terms, not someone else's.It will certainly not worry me that after a few weeks no-one will even remember that I had been a teacher at the school! Yes Harker, I am looking forward to the future and just hope that I can maintain the clarity. Sorry about the rave - didn't intend for it to be like that!!! Samex ... View more