Hi Maggie, I am just wondering if you are still with us? My family member from overseas is going through the same as you and would like to know the results. Hope you are here ! ... View more

Thanks so much for joining, Claire, it's so good to hear from people who want to offer support. It it really hard, too, because I think we all want to wave a magic wand for the people we love, and make everything better. It's hard to accept that this isn't possible. It's also hard to accept that we can't say anything to make people feel better; most of the time, with cancer, there is no 'feeling better'. But as careers and supporters, I don't think that's our job. The best and most helpful thing we can do is just to be there, and listen if the person feels like talking. This sounds simple, but it's really hard, because it emphasizes just how little we can do to help (but worrying about that is concentrating on our needs, not the needs of the people we're trying to help). You could also ask your friend how you could help them, or, alternatively, offer a couple of suggestions of things you could do for them. Mundane stuff like housework and administration still has to go ahead at such times, so doing something that you may even think is too dull or small to be useful can actually be a godsend. While my husband was going through chemotherapy, a group of church friends got together and supplied us with a couple of reheatable meals a week. 2 years later, I still appeciate it, and remember what a difference it made to a bad day. I think the main thing, though, is just to let them know that you care, in whatever way you think is best. Dealing with cancer can be very lonely, so having friends express their love is amazingly uplifting. ... View more

Hi lnvs, hi all, this has been an area of special attention for me. I have wondered continually about the connection, and have viewed many a paper and article to support this connection. The connection goes something like this: Trauma=disruption/interference to nervous system=breakdown/exhaustion of immune system. Cancer begins as a virus, something that lives as a potential for all people. It is the immune system's ability to fight the virus that is key to "getting" cancer. If the immune system is in some way challenged in cannot do this. But, there are other things that can compromise the immune system too, such as digested toxins - ie poisons (food), electrical charges (wi fi and the like), microwaves... etc, etc. These all, in someway, provide the same results to the nervous system as a traumatic experience - essentially they are all traumas, all disturbing the nervous system, and thus immunity. Please keep in mind that this is a simple explanation of something more complex. ... View more

Even your riding a motor bike is impressive to me . ... View more

All the best to you and your wife . You will probably hear from others with the same cancer as you wife's and also from other care givers. I don't know about Yahoo groups but do know that with some Facebook groups it can take from a couple of days to a few weeks to be approved when you ask to join. You may still hear from them but now you have a group where you are already welcome. ... View more

Hi, I too was glad to find this place. If people from your church are willing to help in any way, just let them. Our church have also said the same thing and a number of people have visited to see what I needed. So far, just their company has been a blessing. Through prayer I am able to deal with the good days and the not so good days. As someone else said, the hospital should be able to give you information on services that could benefit you and your mother in law. If possible don't let the rest of the family stick you with all of the work. It is too much for one person with their own immediate family to look after. I also know that is easier said than done. If you wear out you wont be any good to anyone, so if needed, put your foot down. Take Care and God bless Elayne ... View more

It is interesting that sometimes the test gives a false negative. Hopefully a better test will be devised in the future. ... View more

Thanks for the info Glenys 0. I have a;so joined another group that meet locally every few weeks. It is specifically for sufferers and carers who have got, or have had a family member with bowel cancer. wombat4 ... View more

Dont live your life thinking of, if and when it may come back. Enjoy your life in the sunshine. wombat ... View more

Hi Andrew, You are so right when you say your world turns upside down. One day you are cruising along, the next you are staring into the abyss where once your dreams were. I used to dream of going back to the pre cancer days, what a beautiful life and future we had. I always remember that day that day 2 yrs ago in the GPs surgery, when he said to my wife, "its cancer". My world turned upside down and never righted itself. 2yrs of palliative care, frantic treatment, nightmares. Be with your mum and do what you can for her, you will not regret it. wombat4 ... View more