Hi @Freddy123, Ask your onc or GP for a referral to a dietitian. They can then prescribe you some nutritional drinks. Budgie ... View more

Hi @mensana ,   I don't think using Dr Google is that much of a bad thing.  It's better to have as much knowledge of what your facing as you can get, & as long as you read from reputable sites & have common sense, I think its a good thing.  Just remember that everyone is different & doctors CAN be wrong!  Using the internet can awaken you to things that doctors may neglect to mention, therefore you can ask questions relating to your specific needs.   I understand your patience wearing thin, & your mental health seems good.  Attitude plays a very big part in coping with cancer.  It's when people give up hope & have a defeatist attitude that the 'battle' is lost.  Chin up, suck it up & get on with living. 😉   Take care    Budgie  ... View more

Thank you for sharing your story with us.  I very much like your attitude.   I was living in Darwin when I was diagnosed in August 2012, then moved down to Canberra at the end of that year.  That was our fourth time living in Darwin (hubby is in Defence), but I must say, each time we went up there the heat was harder to live with.  I'm glad we moved away as I can't handle the heat anymore.   Budgie ... View more

I feel for you.  The incompetence of some people really doesn't astound me anymore, simply because it appears to be everywhere, all the time.   Budgie  ... View more

Hi Jaynie86, I'm very sorry to hear of your Mum's diagnosis.   I hope she has positive outcomes with the immunotherapy.   One reason why they wait 3 months to do scans is because there can be alot of psuedogrowth  within the first couple of months of any treatment.   Its like the tumours are putting their all into staying in the body, so they grow a bit quite rapidly, before they shrink. With your Mum having difficulty eating  food, a dietitian can prescibe fortified drinks similar to Sustagen, to help her keep up a nutritional intake.   Her oncologist can give her a referral to a dietitian, along with referrals to others she may need to see eg social worker, palliative care nurse etc.  It wouldn't hurt you to speak with  a social worker as well, or someone from the Cancer Council on 131120.  Talk with your Mum too, & the rest of your family.   Talking helps alot. There are lots of info booklets on this website - a valuable source of info.  I've included links to a couple I think you could benefit from looking at.  The End of Life stage is where the body starts shutting down,  the person sleeps more, breathing becomes slower etc; you'll definitely know when that time comes, but your Mum has alot of living to do before she gets to that point.  And, depending on her attitude,  she could live for quite a while yet.  All the best Budgie https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/treatment/immunotherapy https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/facing-end-of-life#_ga=2.166501246.1352426235.1615526432-1752630685.1602836830     ... View more

Solugel is amazing stuff! ... View more

Hi Penelope, I know waiting is the hardest thing. Easier said than done, but TRY NOT TO WORRY. Worrying will only make things worse, stress you out, make you anxious. What good can worrying do? Instead, if the weather is good, get out of the house & go for a walk, read a book, paint a picture...do something else to take your mind away. Try listening to some relaxation music just before you go to bed/sleep. If you must, read up on bladder/urological cancers in case it is cancer & write down some questions ready to ask the doc when you see them next. The doctors all say not to use Dr Google, but I think its better to be well educated on a topic, & as long as you research reputable sources & understand that everyone is different & people will suffer/cope differently with each disease/treatment, that there is a vast difference in outcomes for everyone. I wish your husband the best of outcomes. Budgie ... View more

Great idea to post your journal. 😉 ... View more

Hi @Liz9088, This is one for your GP. Make an appt to see him/her asap (if you haven'talready), & get them to go thru the report with you. Try not to worry. All the big words they use in reports can quite often mean that things are normal. But do talk it over with your GP. All the best Budgie ... View more

Hi @OzStu, I'm sorry you've had a falling out with your son. Don't give up on trying to reconcile. Life is all too short to quarrel over something that, in the scheme of things, is probably quite small. I learned too late not to sweat the small things in life, & its too late for me to reconcile with my father (he died the day before my youngest son was born); but you still have time. Even if your son keeps refusing to receive your attempts, at least you can know that you tried your best. I hope you both can start talking again soon. 🧡 Budgie ... View more