Hi Dan, I'm also a Dan and live in Northern NSW,but I'm 45! I had an SCC in the throat/lymph nodes in November last year. And yes had chemo and radiation. Like you,the first thing i did(and this is just my way of dealing with the whole box and dice of fears and feelings)was to decide that it was just a speed hump and that i'd come flying out the other side with flying colours...i reckon staying as positive as you can(not always possible and completely human to not be all the time by the way) helps in a whole range of ways. The other thing i decided was to not take any of those percentages seriously...prove the buggers wrong! I didn't even tell anyone about the doom and gloom such and such percentage of survival blah blah blah...why give it any more energy?!?! How is your support network? Are you at home or in hosi? Where are you doing the treatment, do you have anyone besides your family (and us) to talk to? How's your appetite,any pain in the throat? Sounds like you are doing a great job,and although it is a bit of a medical conveyor belt,you are the most important part of that system and can do the most for your recovery. You have a new road to follow and you are not alone.one step at a time Dan. cheers Dano ... View more

Hi Aussieboone, I couldn't eat due to the chemo stripping my throat so i had to get a naso gastric feeding tube. I's a thin tube that connects to a pump that delivers nutrients to the stomach via the nasal passage. I was in hospital at the time and it was pretty non negotaible. Is your wife at home? What does her Oncologist think? my thoughts are with you in this tough time. cheers irdano ... View more

Work...hmmmmmmmmmm..... When i was still really sick,straight of Hosi,weak and skinny from the 8 weeks of fun with chemicals and big white machines that hum, it was kind of nice not having to worry about work (Worry?-couldn't even contemplate it) but now,8 months later it's back to the-what am i going to do with my life-drawing board. I've had 101 careers with the latest right before i found the lump, gardening.....loved it. fit. fun. outdoors. Just not physically able right now to tote that barge and lift that bale. And then there's the energy levels..am i imaging it or am I a bit like an old computer...battery dosn't last so long any more and takes a lot longer to recharge?!?!?!? Would i go back to a high level stressful job (if i had one before) absolutely not.Even in this short time I've come way to far to destroy my health for someone else! Do i need to find something i can to do to make a quid... yup. Soooooooo........ To Be Continued. ... View more

Flight,I just read your post to my long carer/girlfriend and she asked if i had written it.... Glad to hear i'm not alone in my fears, feelings and frustrations. peace dano ... View more