I occasionally find some situations (work and social) can be isolating because many people I work with around my age are married already have children. Also, some single people are much younger than me, so there are few people I have anything in common. Sometimes, it is easier to stick to topics like - hobbies, travel, music, news etc which isn't age or family related. It is hard to figure out how to respond to a tricky question - like, "have you done something to your hair" or you look different compared to last year. It helped me to have some answers "pre-prepared" and only disclose info to people that I felt ok with. It gets better with time. ... View more

Hi Moshe That is rough that you have few friends and family at a time when you need that support. Do you have treatment with others? Sit in a waiting room to see oncologists etc where there's others? Maybe you'll meet a couple of friends that way. Are there cancer support groups near where you live as that's another option. What about through your religion? Anyhow I'm sure you'll meet some people on these boards as well. Take care Deejjay ... View more

Hi Playwriter Glad you gave the public system a go. I do agree that in relation to the oncology department public is the way to go as they have a whole multidisciplinary team working together where one can be referred to other health professionals as required. They also have regular meetings where they discuss patients, their progress, their issues which has got to improve treatment even if we are only needing to see the oncologist as that person is more aware of us holistically. I was given a book on chemotherapy which included a summary of all the allied health professionals on the unit and what their role was. A friend of a friend has mestatic breast cancer and is being treated by a private oncologist. She has no breast care nurse because there aren't any in many of the private hospitals and thus no support or someone who can co-ordinate which other health professionals you need to see. Some people mention that in a public oncology department one may need to wait a while to see the oncologist as they often run late, sometimes because of things that come up with patients with appointments prior to you. Ie if a patient becomes very distressed or needs to ask questions or is not understanding something an oncologist does need to spend that extra time. But the upside is that conversations start up in the waiting room and friends are made especially as often it's the same people coming at the same time (ie morning) Deejjay ... View more

Thank you for that Don, I have recently been contacted by the Vic Palliative care in my area and they will be coming to see me soon. ... View more

I'd also check out the Australian Human Rights Commission website section on insurance http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/insurance.htm in relation to disability discrimination. Cases and conciliations seem to confirm the below. My understanding is that most insurance including TPI and income protection won't cover pre existing medical conditions but should cover unrelated future conditions and situations, ie being hit by the proverbial bus. But one has to be honest about everything when asked, say in their questionnaire, ie past any condition to ensure the insurance is valid. However some insurance cover will still cover cancer. For example a past work place I worked at where their superannuation also offered TPI and income protection they actually did not ask questions about pre existing conditions and did cover claims. Their rationale was that the organisation was large with 14,000 employees of working age (15-65) which statistically this population in general has a low level of disability (10%) and thus the risk of covering an employee with a pre existing condition was was spread over a large range of low risk employees. There was also a 3 month wait for income protection to kick in and many conditions although serious are too short term ie heart bypass, minor heart attack, even major surgery without ongoing complications or treatment where most are back at work after 3 months. Cheers DJ ... View more

Wondering how you are going Joanna as you would have had more chemo and perhaps even surgery. Hang in there. Hugs Deejjay ... View more

Hi Cats, love the picture of your cat as well. A real tabby and very cuddly looking. My cat is called Millie and is a female, around 10 years old, got her from the pound just before she turned 6 and she is very affectionate and very eccentric. She has a whole lot of varying miaows from greetings (she always miaows a greeting when we come into the room), purry happy miaows to loud indignant ones usually when one finally has to push her off our laps to get up. I have no kids as well so Millie is like our child. My hair is slowly starting to grow back inspite of 2 weeks left of taxol chemo to go (less strong but weekly), it's fluff as well but pretty much spread over but to my horror is looking grey and white so I will be semi permanently dying it soon especially as a guy I worked with had his hair cut shorter than what mine is so I want to show him and compare hair lengths. But yes it is hard when it falls out even when it starts to. I agree if it's doing that to our hair and appearance may it be permanently killing the cancer cells. When do you finish chemo? Do you have radiotherapy? I'm starting that 3 weeks after chemo finishes (nice to have a little break) Anyhow cheers for now and take care Deejjay ... View more

Welcome MiniDriver, sorry to hear of your partner's diagnosis and best of luck with finding out more about the planned treatment schedule. It is not an easy time for both of you. My partner is naturally finding the same thing. Best of luck with everything. ... View more

Welcome Milaroo, I hope that you have received some updated information on the planned treatment. I have a different form of cancer but have known of people with a similar cancer to yours and had radio active iodine treatment. I do wish you the best of luck and hope to speak more to you. Take care Deejjay ... View more