Hi Kitty, Actually I haven't heard of Appendix Cancer before, so can't help you specifically there. I have had colorectal cancer and have a permanent ileostomy which was in 2000 due to the cancer. To keep hydrated, you have to drink 2-2.5 litres of fluid a day, i only half of the tea and coffee that I drink (not much), and usually manage the fluids with a little tiny amount of cordial in water. Is your ileostomy permanent? In regards to weight, I do watch what I eat in that I minimise non-soluble fibre. I have my vegetables well cooked, pasta is very good at "thickening up things", mashed potato usually works and bananas are very good (a bit expensive at the moment, though). I don't know if you have been told, but when the large bowel isn't being used or is absent (ileostomy) then the fluids from your food isn't absorbed, especially for at least the first 12 months, so that is why extra fluids are required. Hope that helps a bit, craftyone ... View more

Hi Maddie, how is your boyfriend going? Has he adjusted to the bag at all? He will if he can think positively that if he couldn't have a bag, then he probably would be here anymore. It does take time to adjust to them, but it will become second nature in the future - just tell him to keep in touch with his stomal therapist - he does have one, doesn't he? I have had an ileostomy (no colon or rectum) for the last 10 years and find it much better than what I was like before. I was lucky in that way, as I had had my colon removed in my mid-20's and the bag has made life much easier. Hope you are going okay, take care craftyone ... View more

I am too very sorry to hear your story. Life can be so very, very hard, I lost a niece at 34 and thought that that was young, but how wrong I was. I agree that you could go and see another oncologist, wouldn't hurt, just don't get false hopes, although there is always hope. I will be thinking of you. craftyone ... View more

Hi VLASTA, Glad that you are recovering physically from your op. Just read your earlier posting and although I had colorectal cancer, I had combined chemo and radio 10 years ago and am still going strong. So, hopefully you will have a similar outcome, hope so anyway. Yes, the chemo dosage is lower when combined with radio, but that is because most people probably woudn't cope physically with strong dosages of chemo with radio. If this type of treatment works as well for endometrial cancer as it seems to work for colorectal cancer then it will be the way of the future for certain levels of this cancer. Glad that you have gone into the trial, you can be rest assured that you will get the best medical attention and will be no worse off than not having it, hopefully much bette off. Good luck and keep us informed as to how you are going. craftyone ... View more

I am sorry for not posting earlier. I agree with Rod, it's not easy but yes we do keep a part of them within ourselves which is a comfort down the road. Don't expect too much of yourself and let yourself grieve properly. cratyone ... View more

Hi, Just one comment, don't wait until you get rid of your flu, you may not see him if you do. I agree with Di, just go and see him without asking, you will regret it forever if you don't. Pity about your engagement, but hopefully your life with your fiance will transcend that. Your mother is just doing what she needs to do to cope. She will need you afterwards and you will need her, I know, I lost my mother years ago and then a close brother, it's not easy. I think that you should aim for something, not straight away, but later, and then nothing tooo big. We talk about taking little steps and I think that that applies to you as well. Get through the present first, and just "hang in" there. Enjoy your own family, little ones (I have heard) help make the future brighter and more enjoyable. Take care and make sure you post again, craftyone ... View more

Hi Suel, Hope that the results are all that you are hoping for, yes the waiting is the hardest time. Really hope that amputation is not needed, but if it is, that you learn to cope with it, you shouldn't have to, but life does throw these mean balls at us, doesn't it. Good luck, and let us know how you get on, craftyone ... View more

Hi Harker, Food, it is enjoyment to place something delicious - even a bit naughty - in your mouth and savour it. Cooking food can either be a chore or a joy, I don't do as much at the moment, as my partner has found his favourite recipes and cooks them more than I do, I sometimes miss cooking, but sometimes enjoy the freedom that I have when I don't have to cook. Shopping, now that's the fun bit as well, deciding what to have during the week and after buying the necessary items, the odd titbit somehow finds its way into the shopping trolley. You get called to the pantry when your stomach starts complaing that it's hungry, and of course, some medicines make that even worse. The hard bit is finding things that are yummy but not "bad" for you, as most yummy things are usually bad for cholesterol or sugar and then you feel guilty for consuming them, what a pity. How's that for a reply harker? Hope it gets some more comments moving, Craftyone ... View more

Hi Dianne, Sorry, I am one of those that read and sometimes gets around to respond. We are very busy at the moment shifting house, so time is certainly not available to me at the moment, stealing a couple of mins. now. Also, at times I don't have the "energy" to respond to others or to "troll (goat?)" through the blogs, forums, etc. Sometimes if you are going through a "rough" patch yourself, it is hard to respond to others. Once our move is completed and we are on ADSL (suppose that you are on satellite? like we are at the moment), I will be able to spend a bit more time looking as my partner will be able to use the desktop and I will be able to use the laptop at the same time. Our dog, a border collie, is very stressed at the moment and won't let my partner out of his sight - what is going on? he asks with all the packing and travelling back and forth. Better go and have some breakfast before getting back on the shifting raod again, craftyone ... View more

A bit late to this thread, but I agree with the "blame road". There are probably lots of contributing factors as to why we get cancer, one of those just "bad luck". Why did one of my mother's DNA's warp? Why also did we manage to have such a strong "line" in our family (4 of 4 direct descendents with the gene and 4 of 5 grandchildren with the gene). I just try to accept that this can happen and was "meant" to occur - would not have made any difference with change of lifestyle. Some cancers, such as melanoma can mostly be avoided, a large number of lung cancers can be avoided - but NOT all - with lifestyle choices. I also believe that we have to enjoy ourselves while we are alive, and the things that supposedly have a chance of causing cancer (carcinogens) can change as research is done. So, we have to decide on enjoy life to the fullest and live with the consequences, including other diseases, live stringently along the "safe" lines and hope that we don't get anything bad (impossible to do so), or live in moderation and enjoy the "bad things" now and then to give our lives some "fun". I think that as long as you are happy with your decisions about how you live, and that you accept any consequence, then just go ahead and do so. I find that as long as I try not to "hurt" anyone else, especially deliberately, and try to help others where I can put my energy, then I am happy with my life. craftyone ... View more