Hi Pinkeye -  I am new to this site and only joined after attending the Living Well After Cancer talk at Coffs Harbour today.  I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia 5/6/07 and had a stem cell transplant 18/10/07.  I am returning to work this Monday to see how I go.  I am a legal secretary and work for a sole practitioner - who is the best boss in the world.  If all goes well I plan to work up to 3 days a week but shall take a day at a time.  I just know that my boss (Susan) will be telling me to have an early mark when I still have petrol in the tank and want to work the whole day.  Like you - I am keen as mustard to get back into it but if I feel I'm not coping shall try again a little later. I have not had any sign of GVH which I am a little worried about as they say a little is good and have heard that chronic GVH is not fun.  My doctor is not worried about it though and is slowly reducing my cyclosporin and am down to 50mg twice daily.  As my sister was a perfect match may be I might not get any GVH - who knows.  Will let you know how my first day back at work goes. Lisa   ... View more

Hi Nikki Thank goodness I didn't get the flu.  Hope you recover quickly and it didn't take too much out of you.  From my tests I had in Sydney they have found I have an underactive thyroid.  It has been passed down to me from my sister's stem cells.  She has suffered with an underactive thyroid on and off for many years.  So have started taking medication for that about a week ago but it takes about 4 weeks for it to start working.  Am very tired, a little down in the dumps and the old brain is all over the shop but am managing to stay positive and have a laugh.  Kev's been for a few surfs but no fishing.  Kev started back at work last week and is enjoying it.  I can't wait until summer.  I went to a garage sale the other weekend here at Corindi and got talking to the lady who was running it.  She is a nurse and she offered me the use of her big inground backyard pool.  She lives over the back from us so as soon as it gets a bit warmer I'm there with my flippers, kick board and pool noodle.  We have had some wild surf lately.  A Korean fellow was washed off the rocks at Red Rock and they found his body yesterday at Pebbly Beach just north of Red Rock.  Hope your research is going well and look forward to getting a report.  The support group is going well.  We always have a laugh and the conversation always seems to end up discussing wine.  We have made friends with Margaret and Anne.  Margaret was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and Anne is her carer.  They are amazing people.  Margaret is just a bundle of energy and always up for a laugh.  They are going to Wooli for holidays and Kev and I are meeting them for lunch so our dogs can have a run on the beach.  My sister is coming down next week for a few weeks holidays so I am taking her along to the support group.  She gets really emotional and will be a blubbering mess but as I said to her if that's what's in your heart let it out.  You will be with other people who totally understand.  Hope all is well in Byron. Take care LisaXXXX   ... View more