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Hi jan, I have just PM'd you but thought I would write here as well. I am now 2 years out from treatment and it all seems just a distant memory. The cancer is gone and it just isn't game to come back 🙂 I have just had my 2 year check and it's all clear. Xylocaine is great - I think it's just over the counter from the chemist???? If that isn't strong enough then there is another one available thru the doctor but I can't remember the name...push your doctor for it if you need it. I bought salt by the kilo (literally!)and almost lived in the salt baths thru treatment, it seemed to dull the pain for the time I sat in the water. I know it sounds like the salt would sting but it was sooo soothing. A sitz bath really. I'm sorry to say that it may get worse before it gets better but treatment effects everyone so differently and you could cruise thru. You will look back in 3 months and think "wow! I've done it!" The skin does heal reasonably quickly so keep focused on the light at the end of the tunnel...it is there however dim it might seem at times. Keep in touch. We are here if you need to talk. Best wishes Sharon xxxxx ... View more

You go girl! I am so happy for you to have the all clear. Wishing you many more years of health and happiness. You are right in your words though - cancer does definitely bring perspective and it makes us appreciate what we have and who we have to share it with. Best wishes, Sharon ... View more

Oh DaphneRose, as much as I hate that you have been stuffed around and it should never have happened I am soooo glad that it's all ok. Go girl!!! Best wishes Sharon xxxxx ... View more

I do feel your pain sister!!! It's such a brutal, horrible and barbaric treatment but it's the best we have and it WILL cure you - you really have to think that. I was diagnosed with anal cancer in Nov 08 and like you I was 40. I had a T3 tumour which means it was pretty big but it has disappeared completely and I am almost coming up to my 2 year survivor party date. Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving and I have been told that it can keep working for up to 6 months after treatment has finished so even if you can still feel tumour try not to panic too much as it is possible that it will continue to shrink for a long time. And believe it or not the burns heal very quickly but I did spend a lot of time during treatment in salt baths and walking very funnily 🙂 Although the burns heal quickly the emotions and fear can take a long time to diminish but it too comes with time...very slowly.... and I'm not sure that it ever gets back to normal. There is an option if the cancer comes back.... I can talk to you about it if you need to as I too have lived in fear of it coming back and have looked at what would happen. Every itch, every pain, every odd thing that happens makes me think it has returned so please don't think you are alone... I'm sure it's the same with most cancer survivors. Enough of my prattle, I could go on for pages with little bits of info that might make the next few months easier but maybe you aren't ready for the bombardment yet. Stay strong and know that the treatment has proved to be effective for many many people. Would love to chat to you some time Best wishes Sharon xxxxx ... View more

Dear Linda, Sending you love and courage. Sharon xxxxx ... View more

Hi Loretta, You're right, cancer just sucks regardless of where it festers. I had my thyroid out in December last year and then radioactive iodine in Feb this year and although it is a bit daunting and the emotional implications of cancer are horrible the actual operation isn't too bad at all. Yes...don't get me wrong, it's an operation and my neck and throat were stiff and sore but not unbearably so. I think I took a couple of panadol and that was enough BUT I did lots of neck exercises even though they did hurt lots. It took a couple of months to get the oroxine dose right but it too wasn't that tough.Yes...I felt really tired at times, a real bone weary can't move off the lounge type of tired but I did keep going. I take my oroxine as soon as I wake up with a cup of tea....like Katie says, it's finding the time that works for you. The first thing I do when I get up is a cuppa so the tablets sit next to the kettle to remind me. I then have to wait at least half an hour ( I think it's meant to be an hour but.....) to eat something. My endo said that as long as what I eat and drink with the tablets is a constant then it will all be ok. It's no drama really. So now I am 6 months out from the thyroidectomy and I feel pretty good. I play soccer 4 times a week, I run around after 3 young kids and I have lots of coffees with friend - energy levels are fine. The scar is not even noticeable (massaging works really well) and it really doesn't have any impact on my life. Maybe the only thing I notice is that if I stretch my neck it still is a tad tender Sooooo I don't stretch my neck :-) I hope this helps you a bit and feel free to drop me a line anytime. Yes, it is very scary and life changing but you will get thru it and I am sure that in 6 months you will be on a new phase of your new life. Sharon xxxxx ... View more

Hi landerson, I have no experience of your drug but during treatment the doctors prescribed lomitol (sp?) and that helped a lot to control the diarrhoea. Maybe that could help???? I have IBS now due to radiation and it is a real trial and error process with food but I too have found that porridge and bananas are wonderful and very "soothing". There is an IBS diet that my dietitian has recommended and there are so many foods that can trigger the IBS and many of them I would never have thought of. If you can't get access to a dietitian maybe even google IBS diet and see what comes up, I think from memory its called a FODMAP diet and it's meant to relieve the symptoms of IBS. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Thinking of you. Sharon ... View more

Dear Jill, Words just seem so inadequate. Deepest sympathies to you and your sons. Sending you love, keeping you in my heart, Sharon xxxxx ... View more

Good on you willow. Thinking of you. ... View more