Hi Joe, everyone has given you great advice and I will just repeat one of those things...DO NOT GOOGLE IT.... We all understand the emotional rollercoaster each day is but trying to live as normally as possible is the best medicine and not worry about things that haven't happened and may never happen is very good advice. It's a waste of a great day! It's sounds as if that is flippant advice but I promise you there is nothing flippant about it. I've got to this stage because I've been through what you're going through, so look after yourself and know that whatever you may be feeling, this is a great place to come and get some support because we can all empathise with how you're feeling. Good luck 🙂 ... View more

Hello Beans, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being a little self obsessed 🙂 With what we have to deal with it's ok for it all to be about US occasionally! I'm happy to know that you're feeling a bit better. I hope your treatment went well. I had radiotherapy six months ago and it has been very successful. It's a long road we're on and I am learning that the mental anguish we go through is a very tough thing to learn to live with, the chemo regime I'm on at the moment plays havoc with my emotional state and each day seems to be a battle to cope with the demons in my head. I'm grateful for feeling as well as I do but each day is a struggle to eliminate the negative voices...mostly I do well. I hope you are finding the strength to cope with what you are going through and know that we all understand whatever you're feeling and it's ok to feel angry and you can certainly post it on here because we'll know where it's coming from. Take care xx ... View more

Hi Mazsa...only just found this post...have you managed to make some contacts to help you through this? I do hope so. I live in Karratha and understand the FIFO way of life....it can be very isolating can't it? I hope you have managed to contact people who will understand how you feel and if you want to contact me then please feel free to do that. take care ... View more

Although I didn't do any preparation for my radiotherapy I was given absolute first rate information and help by the nursing staff during my treatment. My dentist also recommended the bicarb and salt water and it worked really well (toothpaste would have stung too much anyway) I was given sorbolene for my skin but then was changed to white parafin jelly which was just marvellous! I could not even drink meal replacements as they stung my mouth too much but I did find that whey based protein powder in tepid milk with honey did not sting so bear that in mind later down the track. Just follow all advice given by your medical team as they do know their stuff and make sure you ask for good pain relief if you need it. I just rested and looked after me..both physically and mentally. My treatment is successful and after six months I am beginning to get some saliva back and my neck doesn't ache anymore. Good luck and take care. ... View more

Hi Beans....I've just read your post and I can feel every word you say. I do hope that you are feeling better about things by now but the anguish you must have been feeling when you wrote this is so true for so many. I agree with you about the press coverage of celebrities and their cancer treatment and I put the media coverage down to fear. Everyone is frightened of the diagnosis we have been given and to read upbeat stories about 'trivial' radiotherapy (hah!!) gives everyone that reads it...hope; and it stops them being frightened. It's only people like us that can read this drivel and KNOW that it's nothing like that. I hope that the radiotherapy has done it's job for you, and that you are on your way back to doing all the things you want but it's a hard lesson for us all to realise that things will never be the same again because WE are never going to be the same again. I hope you don't feel so angry anymore Take care. ... View more

Good to hear that you are at least enjoying your coffee again...it is quite bizarre how taste buds are affected. A good latte is still my favoured indulgence although it tastes NOTHING like it used to...tea is ok and yet a delicate flavoured herbal tea is absolutely divine! All minor stuff in the broad scheme of things. I was extremely tired and learnt to pace myself and mastered the art of saying NO. I was always the "go to" person if anything needed doing and I just had to learn to gently decline and leave others to sort stuff out for themselves. A lesson for them and a HUGE lesson for me and it's turned out great. I gave up work when I got diagnosed, mainly because I live in rural Australia and my hospital checkups entail a two day trip away from home and at one point that was every two weeks and is still a monthly event. I am extremely lucky that it's not the end of the financial world for us if I don't work but it's an added stress if you do need to work. I wish you all the best in your return to work, I know others on here have started out with a 3 day week and built up from there so maybe you can consider that? Keep in touch and let me know how you're going. ... View more

I had radiation on my throat six months ago and found the only things I could cope with was scrambled eggs. The hospital dietician told me to get as many calories as possible in my food so I made my eggs with cream and butter and also started taking protein powder in warm milk with some honey as meal supplements stung my mouth/throat too much. Once the pain had subsided I just made sure I had 'gravy' type meals and even now I always have to have plenty of water as my salivary glands at the back of my mouth are shot! Taste buds are also gone so food has become more fuel like rather enjoyable to the degree that chocolate taste absolutely revolting!! Can you believe it! It's quite manageable though and I am quite used to it now.....good luck with the eating though, it is a bit of a struggle but soon gets better. ... View more

Dear PA, I am so sorry you feel so knackered, now you know why sleep deprivation is used as a method of torture! I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to go through this, watching your husband and trying to be everything to everyone. Cut yourself some slack and get some time away from everyone if you can. Can you take a day off of work and go to a friends house just to sleep for the day? Try if you can. I can't give you anything else but a sympathetic ear, but I really hope you manage to get some sleep soon. You have to put yourself first sometimes, and getting angry is only natural. Look after yourself xx J ... View more

Hi Loz, I'm new to the site too. I hope you're feeling ok today, we all know the low days and high days, I had a low one yesterday but today...so far so good. I have a wonderful partner but found that a couple of supposedly "good" friends, dropped me like a hot potato after I was diagnosed, but that is their problem, not mine. It's sad nonetheless. We do need to talk to others who can understand where we're coming from. So I'm very pleased to meet you and hopefully we'll be able to help each other through the emotional maze we find ourselves in. Have good day !! J ... View more

I agree with the fact that our health goes a long way to determining who we are perceived as and I also agree that I don't want that to be the case with me. I was listening to a talk the other day where it was discussed why we term an illness as having something "wrong" with us. We go to the doctor and say there is something "wrong" when in actual fact it is perfectly normal to get sick...whatever the severity it is a normal part of life's pattern. So I too am setting about changing my perceptions and working out my new life with whatever it is I've got! Have a great day! J ... View more