Hiya Jann Not many friends can "deal" is what i have found when it comes to talking to them about cancer. Of course some are just very selfish and others just dont understand. It is important to have someone that you can talk frankly with and i think if i didnt have some people in my life that i could talk that way with, then i would seek out some professional counselling. bfn :) Julie ... View more

Hiya I had amelanotic melanoma many years ago, with no known primary. There is some great things happening in melbourne at the moment as far as research and they are also doing a clinical trial. I am sorry that i dont have a link for that one but am sure it could be found via some sort of news item, perhaps on from news.com.au. cheers Julie ... View more

Hiya Jill, i do empathise with your situation. It must be very incredibly difficult to have to deal with all of this. These issues are something that i have spoken about with my mother, both from her viewpoint and mine. Hopefully, you can get something in place before its too late and sailor as alwways offers some sage advice. The cancer council are wonderful and am sure they would point you in the right direction if they cannot help you directly. Thinking of you. Julie ... View more

Hiya Iain Have been thinking about this post a bit. I sometimes use my anger to "dislike" my cancer. To me that kind of makes a negative emotion turn into a postive. At other times its just ok to be angry, because that is just how i am feeling. I guess in essence i kind of roll with whatever feels right at the time. It is great that you can use your music for "you time" and that it helps you deal with things. Julie ... View more

Hiya Iain Just read your reply. My son has had problems with depression and anxiety over the past 5 years. In the past year or so he has taught himself how to play guitar and now writes music (all by ear, as he cannot read music yet). He has found music such an incredible benefit to him and i was really glad to read you have found something for "you". :) take care Julie ... View more

hugsss larn ... you arent going crazy at all, just being human. Cry all you need to and then you will be ready to come up smiling again. Julie ... View more

Hi Jill Just to let you know that i didnt have radiation through charlie's ... mine was done at royal perth and cassidy was my radio onco guy. Very nice man actually as most are i think, although some have not such a great name. Am sure they are great at what they do despite not having such a great bedside manner as some. I was actually under 3 hospitals for my treatment. Freo and RPH were the main ones though. Charlies for my teeth. No wonder i ended up exhausted!! Hope you are doing ok, which as samex has said sounds trite but it isnt meant that way. Julie ... View more

Hey Jill Thinking of you lots! This is now the edited version ... sorry for confusing everyone. I forgot to add that you husband will most likely be in shock at the moment. The job that you do (being a carer) is such a tough one and yet soooooo admirable. That sounds pretty lame the way i have worded that, it is not intended that way at all. Have been thinking of you all morning and just "wondering". Ok, re the treatment he will most likely experience hair loss around the area that they are treating. It is possible he might get some skin reaction also (some burning). They can give you the appropriate creams to use. I was given some that was very much like vaseline and cannot recall the name of it at the moment. If i think of it i will let you know. As christine mentioned he may get a mask made also, so he will need to know that they fit pretty snug . If he experiences problems with the snugness they can give him something to help with that. The mask is plastic and it gets put in hot water to make it pliable and then it is fitted to his face. Sounds horrid, it is doable and tolerable and certainly not as bad as it sounds or what i thought it was going to be. He will most likely be sent to have a scan after the mask is fitted and they will 'plan' the treatment from that. ie This is where they get all the measurements to make sure they are hitting the correct spot. From then on in he will have to attend the radiation place daily. If it is charlie's they will give you all of your appointments at one time. That is a great thing so you can plan around them or change if needed. I think from what i have seen from my treatment and others that charlie's seem to have the best system! ... View more

hugsss from me also xo ... View more

Hi Jill My thoughts are with you all at this time also. I wish there was more that i could do. Julie ... View more