Thanks guys, I am pleased to say that I have had 2 clear cat scans since Sept this year. I feel well and was recently inspired to hear a speech by Dr Chris Obrien and read his book 'Never say die' I thinnk chpt 25-30 are the most significant and powerful for people with fatigue who can't read his whole book. Best wishes to you all. Hugs Rarbie ... View more

Thank alot Mikey, Thanks for this forum-it has helped me alot. See ya in the head and neck room-I will probably be the first person to post there as well!!! 🙂 ... View more

Thanks Gaffo. I think I am all set fro radio now-but I appreciate your advice. I am so tired at the moment and run down from the stress of juggling work and appointments. I came home for a nap today and will do so in future. It is emotionally draining 'waiting to start Rx' Alas next week it is full steam ahead with radio and I am looking forward to getting my first week of treatment under my belt. I am looking forward to shrinking this sucker of a cancer-it picked a tough target (me!) All the best with maintaining your health-it truly is a gift.:-)   ... View more

Hi fellow survivors!It's about a year since I discovered this site when I was a 'cancer virgin'! -initially I posted in the skin cancer room as my cancer was a localised SCC before it turned into an aggressive little bastard (sorry to swear!) and metastasised into my neck lymph nodes.A year ago I was recovering in hospital from a 9 hour operation and i got out on christmas eve. I remember walking my border collie to the river on Xmas day so she could go for a swim. Its been a big year-after cancer Rx I travelled around Australia for 5 months, got married in a beach in Qld and came back to face the fear of followup scans which have so far been clear! YEAH!May I wish everyone a good christmas-revell in the pleasure of the good things in life. I am lucky to be here and feeling a whole lot better than this time last year. I am off to my job this am and so glad to be back working-even if its not a career oriented job like I was in a year ago. I am rebuilding my life and career and hope next year to get back into professional, well paid work-but for now I am happy to be at work-being productive and spreading the news to people tat cancer can be survived and that being healthy is not as hard as I used to think.Thanks guys for your support, especially Gaffo in the skin cancer room who was my first cancer e-pal!Hugs and all the best for living and getting the most life out of today that is available to you.Rarbie 🙂 ... View more

Thanks guys, It has been a crazy week-radiotherapy has been stopped and i have had a CT scan which shows suspicious lymph nodes. I now need a fine needle aspiration, MRI and  PET scan. There is a wait time here of ~ 2weeks to have the tests done in Perth (even in the private system) I am seeing my new oncologist today ( I stopped seeing my first one on Monday when he told me the lump I had found was my carotid artery or hyoid bone: and didn't validate my concern at all) I saw my surgeon on Tues and he agreed that there was the lump and has arranged for all these above tests. i meet my new oncologist today and hope he can speeed up the tests being done-I can't handle waiting for results while the tumour could be metastising down my lymphatic or my facial nerve. ARGH!!!! I didn't go to work for the past 3 days and will try to go next week ( apart from the test appointments) I am reading a book called 'coping well' by Battino which is helpful-but I am feeling overwhelmed-scared and upset that there are so many unknowns about my treatment and prognosis. Please cross your fingers for me that the tests can be done more quickly and that my new oncologist who is a head and neck specilaist is kind and not as arrogant as my previous oncologist who talked down to me on monday when I first found the lump. :o/ I am thinking of flying interstate to get the tests done more quickly so that the ball can get rolling again for treatment-Are there similar wait times in Sydney? ... View more

Thanks heaps Gaffo - you are the only other young person who has had a SCC I have met so far. Your strength gives me some and I will keep in touch via this site. Technology is amazing at helping people connect. Thanks also to the Cancer foundation for this site! I have got alittle 'shaky knees' about radio starting on Monday 26th, but have a 2 hour pampering session at my beautician this arvo to prepare myself. After a massage and an eyelash tint I can face pretty much anything that life throws my way. Have a fun weekend Carpe Diem! ... View more

Hi Mark and fellow head and neck cancer survivors. I just wanted to lt you know that I have been back from my runaway from cancer trip around australia' and have had 2 clear cat scans since my return! Hoorah!!!!!! All the meditating, organic vegetarian food (with the occasional KFC zinger burger-I am human!!) must be helping my immune system. I have a lousy chest infection at the moment-but am using the time in bed to re-listen to my meditation CD's I bought during my post surgery recovery and radiotherapy endurance event of 39 fractions in Feb-April this year. I just want to thank this site for existing and helping us survivors share how we make it thru this tough patch in our lives. I am back working part time and starting a meditation and massage business to share the insights I have learned from my Cancer experience with the healthy and sick. If people spent more time focussing on eating well, meditating, having fun with friends and exercising this may very well stop them from geting cancer in the first place-or if they do get it-they will be better placed to beat/fight it. I only wish that I had counted my vitamin and stress reduction intake rather than calories in food before  I got cancer!!!  Now I see what health and wellbeing is about and its not aiming for a size 12! All the best to you all,  hugs rarbie   ... View more

Hi Gaffo Unfortunately the news yesterday was pretty crappy. the SCC has metatasised into my lymph nodes so now I am a 'head and neck' cancer person now!! Next monday I see the head and neck team who will swiftly send me off for a parotidectomy and neck dissection of my lymph nodes with radiotherapy to follow. It is a scary time, thanks for your support-please don't worry about yours metatasising: I am a very rare case and my scc is acting more like  a melanoma than a scc the dr's said. I am no textbook case at all. From now on I wil post in the head and neck room-as I don't want to scare any skin cancer patients. Thanks for your support and please cross your fingers for me/pray/send poisitive vibes/meditate or whatever that I am going to beat this sucker of a cancer for good. 🐵 ... View more

Thanks gaffo So you managed to avoid the face BBQ?! I fear that because mine has deeply inflitrating into the nerves, that the surgery could be too radical. I do recall now the surgeon saying that if I wasn't a candidate for radiation (due to a blood disorder I also have) that he would consider more radical surgery (perhaps your type)involving 3 months off work and major skin grafts with the cosmetic results being 'disfiguirng' is that the surgery you have had? How big was your SCC-mine was ~ 1cm circumference and 'aggressive'! I am quite a passive/chilled out person who happens to grow aggressive scc's!!!! ... View more

Thanks Gaffo, My new oncologiust fast tracked my FNA of lymph nodes and MRI yesterday, here in Perth-I get the results on Tuesday. (only 3 sleeps) The PET will take 2 weeks as only one machine in Perth. I do have a great partner who is so kind (but I think he is also very stressed about the possible prognosis as well) I am getting great support from the cancer helpline nurses, coz they understand my fears and stress about waiting for results and advocating for the new oncologist I saw yesterday. He is better and less arrogant (thank goodness) I am trying to live in the moment as much as I can. It is great being able to post my fears here and I hope that by Tuesday I know alittle more about what is next for me. Thanks a lot guys 🐵 ... View more