Hi Tashie I suffered from short term memory loss. With time and persistence it has improved. I have found that doing small and easy brain teasers to be helpful. The first book I read was a very easy read and not overly long. I was incredibly worried and embarrassed about what was happening to me. I think this is now my 5th year since treatment and the most noticeable improvement in my stml. Good luck with it all. Julie ... View more

Hiya Carlie So sorry to read about your dad. He most likely is just trying to get his head around his diagnosis and I hope that he can come out the other end and start to feel a bit better. Never give up hope. 25 years ago I was given the possibility of a month to live with amelanotic melanoma. NOt trying to offer false hope but not everyone dies from cancer. I am now heading towards 5 years clearance from my 2nd diagnosis with cancer. The cancer council offers a help line and often groups that people can attend. Even if your dad wont go it may be beneficial for yourself and your mum. Take care Julie ... View more

Hi Bev Another head and neck cancer person here. Welcome to cancer connections and as felix has pointed out there is a head and neck group that you can join. :) Hope you are travelling ok at the moment. Julie ... View more

Hi Jupiter I am from west aus also and not far from where you live. I have had a base of the tongue tumour and subsequent treatment and this November will be 5 years for me. So far I have been NED but believe that the odds get greater of having cancer again the longer we go. Get past two and you will supposedly make five ... then its whoknows? Nice to read that you have your furbabies. This is just to touch base and I will write more another evening ... work tomorrow so will be heading to bed shortly. Julie ... View more

Hiya Not sure I can help re what is available in qld for counselling, perhaps someone from there is able to?? Don't feel guilty for your feelings. As someone who has suffered from cancer aswell as being a carer of my mother and son (he suffers depression) I know how hard it gets and we do resent people and the situation that we are in. THe good thing is that you are able to identify what is going on for you and having someone to talk to that can understand would be really helpful for you. Cancer is one tough gig for the person diagnosed and also the carers. It is tough when you get recurrences and having to deal with those each time. Especially so when you think life is just about on a new normal track of some sort and then whammo! I hope that you find something close to you that you can attend and am sure you will get lots of support on here. Take care Julie ... View more

Hi All The cancer council has a site that provides some comments on gumbi,gumbi - I just googled it and had a read. Might be worthwhile reading if anyone is considering using this as an option. :) Julie ... View more

Hi Rachel I cannot comment on your particular situation but I can share with you the path that I have taken with both my cancers. It is incredibly overwhelming when we are first diagnosed and handed out treatment regimes. My first cancer was amelanotic melanoma with no known primary, secondaries in my right lymph glands under my arm. They operated and radically removed a lot of my lymph glands under my arm. I now get some lymphodema on that shoulder blade and arm and some problems with the right shoulder aswell as the arm. However, I am now 25 years later instead of living the 1 month that was intially suggested as my survival. My second cancer was Squamous cell carcinoma on the base of my tongue and I was diagnosed with a T4 N2 involvement. For that I had 3 rounds of cisplatin, 39 hits of radiation and 6 doses of monoclonal therapy in conjunction with the radiation. Once again I am left with side effects, but I am still alive and heading towards a 5 year NED. Life is challenging at times living with the side effects of my treatment; which I would do all over again if given the same options. I am alive and can live a reasonable quality of life and am still in the mode of accepting and creating my new normal - work in progress! :) Good luck with your treatment if that is what you choose to do. If you do decide on treatment, keep in constant contact with your cancer nurse or oncologist as they can and do help with side effects. Julie ... View more

I have only ever been a public patient but I have always received a private room - largely I guess due to the fact they thought I was going to die. I have never experienced delays, although, once again both my cancers were rather urgent in nature once they were discovered and probably fair to say that both had not a great prognosis intially attached to either cancer. 25 years later for my first cancer and going on 5 years for the 2nd cancer. For my first cancer I also had a young baby at the time and I am sure that was part of why they gave me a private room. I was able to keep my son with me and actively encouraged to do so, prior to my surgery. ... View more

Hiya Rbx What you are feeling is quite common for someone diagnosed with cancer. IT can get a little tough as we try and protect those closest to us, so yes it is hard and probably not terribly healthy for us to do it. I hope you can find some comfort on this site or even through the cancer council as they have people who can help. There are many support groups around also which can be helpful as you can share with others who are going through similar. Hope you are travelling ok at the moment. Julie ... View more

Hi Ian I had reiki whilst having treatment. I also can do reiki, having done a course in it. It is such a beautiful experience to receive and give reiki. I must mention to you that I listened to your song (from the link in another post) and really enjoyed it, so kudos to you both! Julie ... View more