Hi Jennifer,  I'm glad you had a nice little holiday,  yes, Lakes Entrance is a very nice place for a holiday, and so good you can go for a swim too , do you live in Victoria ? Sally and I are planning a trip to Bali in October or maybe it could be Singapore we're not sure yet but it'll be good to go OS for a little holiday. Sally is much like your Peter, with all that has happened to me in these last 12 months, Sally has been there for me all of the time. Finally I'm off the medication for sjorgens syndrome, recent blood tests has proved it is not present anymore which is a massive relief and no more symptoms, GP thinks it could have been the BCG treatment that has fixed it ??, so now I'm really getting there, my nose has healed together with where he took the graft from too. I not being too complacent though, I will take life one day at a time, but right now I'm the fittest I've been in a few years, working out most days for an hour. I'm so pleased you have adjusted to using a bag, and that's your new normal, and life is once again good, we all just have to press on no matter what life presents to us, I'm proud of you 🙂. Another BCG tomorrow,  then I'm going to Sally's for a couple of days, then she will going to Qld to visit her son for a couple of weeks.  Take good care Jennifer, thinking about you. Richard,  😘 xxoo ... View more

Hi Cindi, Just checking in to see how you are doing ? , are you on a break or still having treatment atm ?, I hope your tiredness has eased and you're able to do things, what is your next step of treatment.  My week has been quite good apart from the tiredness from my treatment, although the oncologist said I would be in a lot of burning pain, I really haven't had it that bad, a bit of pain just only for a day and a half then ok, another BCG treatment tomorrow , maybe the side effects might compound as each week goes on, but I can deal with that. I'm so pleased that my nose has healed and looks so good, the plastic surgeon has done an amazing job.  My partner goes away next week for 2 weeks visiting her son in Qld, I really wish I was going too, not to worry. Hoping you're ok Hugs to you, Richard 😘xxoo ... View more

Hi Jennifer,  Thank you so much for your message, it means so much to me. Your right, it is a good sign, in a couple of days I'll be feeling quite normal i hope, now I'm feeling tired, its probably because of the number of stresses regarding my health as well, I'm ok though and will battle on, I'm really pleased on how my nose is coming along too, the other skin cancers have scabbed up and fallen off, there is some more to do, but they're not urgent, my skin cancer specialist who I saw back in Aug 24 couldn't believe that all these skin cancer's presented themselves in such a short time especially when i always wear a wide brim hat and sunscreen outside,  I will now see him every 4 months and my skin surgeon wants to see me in 4 weeks time to review my nose. I think about you and what you've been through, you're a very courageous woman, I'm so proud of you.  How are you going now, are you getting some peace in life ? I really hope so, it's so good that your husband is so very loving and supportive , I hope you can go on a nice holiday together.  Take care, Richard 😘xx ... View more

Hi Cindi,  Thank you so much for your wishes and thinking about me today, it was an early start this morning,  today I was treated with a new type of BCG, the nurse said, with this new type it cuts the treatment time in half, to just over 1 hour, the time went quickly . The Oncologist came in and saw me half way through and again said to be prepared for burning sensation and pain as early as directly after the treatment, I've been home 3hrs and he was right, I've had at least 10 wee's or more, each time it really hurts (burns) and my bladder is now getting sore, I'm drinking plenty also with Ural, so it's entirely different this time around as he did say, that's ok, I'll be fine and it's only for 3 weeks, we'll see if it makes me really tired as well. My nose is healing up really good and the stitches are out now too, I just have to keep the area moist with Vaseline.  How have you been and how are you feeling ? I think about you too. 😘xx   ... View more

Hi Rob, Thanks for reaching out, here we are all affected by cancer to different degrees and the location of the cancer,  and we are here to support you via this forum. I am so glad your GP has prescribed meds to help with your depression, I am so sorry that you are isolated too, does that mean you live at a remote location ?. What has helped me was trying to keep fit no matter what, for you that could mean simple exercises at home due to your seizures, keeping your mind active by perhaps reading books etc. So what is your next step after your diagnosis, what treatment has been offered ? What has your specialist surgeon suggested ? Sending you positive thoughts  Cheers, Richard  ... View more

Hi Cindi, Glad you're ok and pushing through regardles, that's my motto now, just don't stop, push on ahead no matter what and I do. I saw the oncologist this morning, the next round of treatment starts on the 24th, a bit over a weeks time, 3 treatments over 3 weeks, then a break until mid June, he warned me that these 3 treatments will be intense and may put me out of action for a bit, no matter, just have to wait n see but i wont stop my training. My face looks quite nasty since the plastic surgery, I have to leave it undressed now and I'll see the surgeon next week, I'll send you a couple of pics via messaging. Now having a colonoscopy and gasoscopy in April 24th,  Dr has some concerns, " Bring it on i say" haha. Take care and I hope the tiredness goes soon. Lots of hugs, Richard xxx ... View more

Hi Cindi, Jennifer  I'm doing ok, its been 6 days since my nose surgery,  the surgeon removed 25% of my nose with skin grafts to repair and fill the huge gap left by the cancer removed, its certainly been painful and challenging, however I've been taking moderate pain relief to get me through,  2 anesthetics in one week was also a challenge,  I've been very washed out but today has been good and i feel quite normal, had a 4 km walk this morning and had a workout with light weights. The dressing is driving me nuts, there is tape all over my face and with the humidity here it hasn't been pleasant,  i can't wait to have the dressing changed on Thursday. Tomorrow i see another specialist skin surgeon for the removal of the SCC's near my eyes and hairline, just local anesthetic for these then Friday back to the Oncologist to work out a start date for my next treatment immunotherapy,  not as intense this time though. I hope you and Jennifer are well,  I've been thinking about you both. Wishing this year will be great for us. Take good care, Talk soon. Richard 😘😘xxoo ... View more

Hi Jennifer,  Wow, I am so so pleased to hear that news, time to celebrate 🎉🎉🎉, its like such a huge weight lifted from your shoulders, time to relax now without the worry, go for that swim 🙂, its been a great week for both of us, and so much to look forward to now. We'll keep in contact.  Take care and you will still be in my thoughts.  Richard 😘😘 ... View more

Hi Cindi, Well its Fantastic news for me, the results from the cystoscopy on Monday were cancer free, no visual cancer in the bladder at all, together with the 3 separate urine tests done 2 weeks ago, no cancer cells in the urine tests. Its crazy though I'm still getting bladder pain, the Urologist thinks it could be from the immunotherapy that I've had, but I'm so so happy, my next immunotherapy starts in 2 weeks for 3 treatments over 6 weeks, then 6 weeks after that another cystoscopy. Tomorrow its my nose surgery and next week it's the SCC's to be frozen off, then hopefully I'll be cancer free for the moment. How are you ? and how are you both feeling ?. I've been thinking about you and Jennifer wishing you both to be well. Sending you both hugs. Richard xx ... View more

Hi Cindi, I am going ok, trying to keep it all together and press on forward,  the skin cancer surgeon operates on me on the 6th feb, a 1 inch section of my nose needs to be removed because of the BCC  that is quite deep, these things have roots that extend down, anyway some plastic surgery and I should have some sort of a nose, which will take about 6 weeks to heal and about a year and it won't be noticeable, a number of scc's which I will need to have frozen off by another skin specialist  a week later. My bladder is really sore, I've rang my urologist and oncologist to talk about it, however I just have to wait till the cystoscopy on the 3rd of Feb,  I'm not confident now as both have said I shouldn't have pain by now, and no meds reduce the pain either !. Just wondering what's going to be next. I push on with my walking and gym work irrespective of the pain. It all takes so long to get answers,  you're right about the waiting , anyway I just have to be patient.  I really hope the biopsy they took from you is nothing sinister, but keep me informed.  Take care, I'll be thinking about you. Richard xx ... View more