How about an e ... View more

Hi ag2019,   I'm sorry your Mum is going through this.  If there was a met in one of the ribs, it would have shown on the scan.   It is very possible to develop a reaction to something even after you've been on it for a long time.  In fact, having been on it for a long time could be why it's happened.   Is there another drug the oncologist can put her on if she has to stop the current treatment?   I hope everything goes well for her.   Budgie  ... View more

Hi Lisa2,   Definitely take up the offers of help.  How each of them could help would largely depend on how much time each of them have, & how much trust you have in them.  Cooking & cleaning, babysitting, taxi-ing etc are just a few things they can help with.  Don't be afraid of asking for what you need, although, it's a time when you'll find out who your true friends are. Also, maybe talk with someone at the hospital after your surgery to see if they will allow some extended visiting hours for your hubby & kids.  It may ease your 5 year olds anxiety a little.  Maybe she might even be allowed to sleep there one or two nights? Re your hubby, has he had any counselling? because it sounds like he could do with some.  I hope it all goes smoothly for you anyway.   Budgie        ... View more

Your visitor should be waiting on you Lampwork54, hand & foot 😉 . Don't exhausted yourself- I'm sure they wouldn't mind taking care of you. ... View more

Hi Lisa2,   Good old lemon, garlic, ginger & honey mixed together in a cup of hot water & sip while hot.  Have a couple of these every day.  Actually, if you want to avoid getting a cold - have a clove of raw garlic every day.  It's very hot, but it does work.  My hubby has 2 cloves every night, along with a glass of kefir to soothe the heat, & he hasn't had a cold all year.  He works in a busy environment where people continue to come to work while they're sick, so he wants to protect me by protecting himself from getting a cold.   All the best Budgie ... View more

I was diagnosed terminal, & I'm grateful for every day that I've had.  But there's a good side to knowing you will die sooner rather than later; actually a couple of good things. 1) You can design exactly how you want your funeral.  I already have my bespoke coffin - sitting in my lounge room (you can see a pic of it on my home page if you go into my photos).  Whereas if you die suddenly, your remaining family are in a position where they have to make all these pressing decisions about your funeral, trying to decide what you would have wanted, etc.  If you get it all done now, you can sit back & relax, & your family won't have to go through all that turmoil when they will be upset & quite often, not in the frame of mind to make all the required decisions. 2) It changes you - you don't sweat the small stuff.  It's quite liberating to not worry about things anymore.  These days I just go along with the flow.   I am very fortunate, also, in that I tend not to worry about things, especially if I can't control them.  I have a fabulous husband.  He and I are both very realistic, but we talk & joke about everything, including my impending death.  Talking, I think, is one of the best ways of coping.  If you don't have a partner or family member/close friend who you can talk to about this, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a Social Worker or Counsellor, Pastor, someone from Lifeline, Beyond Blue or the Cancer Council.  There are plenty of people who can help with depression, stress, anxiety etc, or if you just want to talk.  You can be referred by your GP or Oncologist to see a Community Social Worker.  They can be very helpful;  & you can, of course, talk here as much as you need or want to.   New treatments are coming out all the time.  If you happen to need treatment, "normal" chemo & radio therapy doesn't work on kidney cancer, so they use what's called targeted therapy.   It's still a chemo, but it won't kill normal cells like the regular chemo does.  It's targeted at the mutated cells. You may be given Immunotherapy in the first instance, as it seems to have become the most beneficial of what is available.  If that doesn't work, it will be an oral chemo where you take a tablet or two every day (depending on what they give you).  But I'm jumping the gun a bit here - you might not need any treatment at all.  🙂   The muscle spasms must be horrible.  I haven't suffered with any.  What part of the body are they happening in?  Are you working at the moment?  Try to keep busy & exercise each day if you can.  Exercise is very important, especially if you have treatment.  It doesn't have to be strenuous, just keep moving.    Keep your water intake up as well.  Because your kidney is impaired, it won't be flushing the toxins from your body as it should.  Try to drink 2-3 ltrs of water every day.  Warm water is better as it is digested quicker.   Sorry for the rather long post - sometimes I do tend to ramble a bit.  😏   Budgie       ... View more

Hi Lampwork,   Sorry to hear you've been feeling crappy lately.  This weather certainly doesn't help.  It's as windy as anything on the west side of the bay, & now it's just started raining again.    Don't wear yourself out with all the cooking & running around you'll be doing.   Remember to take it easy, & that things will get better.  😊 ... View more

Hi Kriddell, Welcome to this club, though I'm very sorry that you're here. I have terminal kidney cancer, have been living with it for who knows how long, but was diagnosed in August of 2012. You are lucky to have found it, as more often than not, it grows without any noticeable symptoms.  As with your case, it is most often discovered while looking at or for something else.  I don't know how or if they can test it specifically to see if it has progressed into the blood stream, but I know that once kidney cancer has moved to the blood & metastasized it is terminal.  There is no remission or cure for it.  Having said that, you are very young to have this particular cancer, & that alone is a good thing as you are strong, & people can live for quite a long time on the drugs that are available.  If it hasn't yet metastasized, the surgeon will probably remove the tumour & that will be it.   In regard to how you cope - you just do.  The human mind is a marvellous thing, & can overcome an enormous amount of things.  It all depends on your  outlook & attitude.   If you have any other questions please feel free to ask, & I'll answer as best I can . Budgie        ... View more

Hi BJO67,   I'm very sorry for your loss.  There is a big void after loosing someone you're looking after 24/7. You asked when will the pain become bearable....  My thought's on that may come across as a bit harsh, but, they're not meant to be...... I think you will only start to begin healing when you decide to get on with living.  Unfortunately, when someone dies, the world keeps going.  Everything keeps moving, & you need to as well.  I'm not saying you can't spend time grieving, but don't dwell on the grief.  Let it come & happen as it needs to, then move on.   You have my best wishes.   Budgie ... View more

Hi Debru,   I can only assume it's because something had changed since they did the initial markings, or perhaps they didn't get all of them done at the first instance.  The only real way of knowing would be to ask them in your next session.     All the best Budgie ... View more