Trust your gut!! every other test and scan didn’t show any cancer including blood tests.  The only thing that picked it up was the PET scan.  If they tell you one thing and you feel in your gut they have it wrong, trust your gut and push for answers.  That’s my best advice.  Good luck happy dancer 💙🙏 ... View more

Thank you for your response.  I have now finished the radiation and for me it was truly horrible.  Not the actual radiation itself, that was 35 seconds with no pain at all.  It was the position of my tumour on my spine that made it near impossible to lay on my back perfectly still for the 15 minutes it took to prep me for the radiaion.  I ended up needing to be on Happy Gas to get through it, and then be monitored for half an hour afterwards.  I know it has worked on the pain factor, as the amount of pain killers I need had decreased significantly, but whether or not it has put the tumour back to sleep (so to speak) I will find out next week when I get the results of my PET scan.  It has been 6 years this Australia Day weekend, and I am tired, really tired.  I think getting on with life helps the mind if nothing else.  My next bout of treatment though will be the test for me personally.  I just wish all my fellow survivors that please know you are never alone in this battle, and there are always others going through the same thing, that we can call on and chat.  Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who really understands.  Have strength  xxx ... View more

Well i've so much chemo over the years.  I have bowel cancer.  My histoy has been this 1 Jan 2013 - First bowel cancer operation which they got it all, seemingly followed by 6 months of chemo but I can remember what type 2. Jan 2015 - Second bout.  I had what they call a HIPEC which is where you get opened up from breast to pelvis, they take out the tumour and anything non essential, including overies, gall bladder, apendix, omentum, and i had 2 hours of internal heated chemo which is supposed to get into evey knook and cranny to prevent any future cancer cells. 3. Feb 2016 - third bout - surgery and chemo 4. Jan 2017 - fourth bout - surgery ( they were able to get most tumours but the main one was around my leg arteries so they couldn't touch it. )  I then started fortnightly chemo since April 2017 -  now.  This is when i was classed as terminal.  Currently i'm on Avastin and Folfox.  This made the tumour go to sleep, so it just has not been active for some time. 5.  Oct 2018 - the tumour has decided it didn't want to be asleep any more so now I need to look at a different type of chemo or radiation.  I think i said earlier that unless the dr tells me something that freaks me out, i will try radiation.  My boss actually had radiation about 2 years ago and breezed through it.  I guess it depends on the strength, the frequency and each individual as to what side effects I will actually get.  its just a complete buggar of a thing really.    ... View more

I'm not 100% sure of what i will do next.  My oncologist has given me 2 weeks of chemo which i am so grateful for.  After 18 months worth of chemo every 2 weeks i'm glad for the break.  I have another chemo option but it will make me lose my hair which i'm not too happy about or Radiation.  I haven't had it before and have no idea what to expect.  I am meeting with the Radiation Ocologist shortly to get the run down and then i can decide which treament course i will take.  Both options are pretty crappy really but I need to choose one i guess.  After 6 years its hard to imagine life without treatment.  Hopefully your 3 years worth of fighting will pay off.  Its such a horrible thing and no one can understand unless they have experienced it.  I only take advice from people that have sadly had cancer as they are really the only ones who can understand even just a bit of what is happening and how we feel.  Sometimes friends and family try to give advice but they really have no idea.  Its nice that they are there for support though. Hugs Roselee ... View more

Hi Im at the Mater.  I am really happy with my team there.  My surgeon is the only one in Qld who does the type of surgery i needed and my oncologist is very high in his field.  I researched the hell out of chosing an ocologist and i landed on a great one.  I guess I have had my team for the last 6 years, and i put all my faith in them - right or wrong.  I feel so comfortable with them and i think that goes a long way.  I don't feel like a number.  I am so glad to hear you have found a good team, as its important to have that connection.  I so hope you get the desired results from them. Hugs Roselee ... View more

Hi Yes you are now in my club of Bowel Cancer.  Its a horrible club to be in but there is lots of support out there. I have been battling for the past 6 years and yes its draining and your life certainly does change, sadly. I am not the norm though as everything that should work hasn't for me, and my specialist team of 6 can't explain me medically.  It has come back every 12 months requiring both surgery and chemo.  Surgery is no longer an option for me and my chemo is no longer working.  I have been on fortnighlty chemo for the last 18 months.  Its been hard but the alternative is out of the question.  I have just now been offered to have Radiation to try and make the tumour go back to sleep (not active) as they say so fingers crossed.  Its scary as i have never had it but sometimes we all have to be brave, put our big girl knickers on, and take the plunge.  My team say they also can't explain how i am now.  I was told that 18 months ago when i received my Terminal diagnosis, that now they would not think that i should look healthy and I do, my bloodwork is that of a normal healthy person and it shouldn't be, and that they would have thought that by now I would not be working at all and I am working 4 days a week.  The only thing i can say is that I have the most positive of attitudes and a shear determination that this bastered of a thing isn't going to stop me.  I truly believe that a positive strong attitude goes a long long way.  Be strong. Be a fighter. And dont think for a minute that this horrible thing can stop  you.  Its just a bump in the road.  I say this to myself each time it comes back.  Take care you strong woman.  Roselee ... View more

HI I am certainly no expert in this field but from my experience of dealing with terminal cancer for the last 6 years is this.  For family I have decided to just be upfront and explain everything.  The first time I kept alot to myself and I found it only made it more difficult for me.  I had to watch what i said all the time.  I found that eventhough its hard and there are normally lots of tears, that in the long run it was better.  Your family can't fully help you if they are not fully informed.  I know my family were quite hurt when i kept things from them.  Hard conversations but better in the long run. For smaller family members we name my portable chemo bottle "Libby" and Libby comes to visit each fortnight and is medicine to help me stay healthy.  Thats all they really needed to know and they accept that.  Hope this helps Roselee ... View more

Hi My name is Roselee and after a five year battle I'm only now finding that I am comfortable talking about my cancer to other people who know exactly what I'm going through.  Friends and family can show empathy but they really have no idea what its like, which is why I thought I would put out feelers for some kind of group where I can feel like everyone else. I'm the "out there" patient that my drs use as a Case Study, and I have the trainee drs hovering whenever I go back into hospital.  Nothing that should work, works.  Outside of cancer I work in the city (which can be a struggle each day just commuting in) but my employers are simply the best.  They have supported me over the last 5 years with a "Whatever i need they will help with" attitude.  I couldn't still be working 4 days without their friendship and support.  I live with my partner and his two small boys (challenging in itself).  I have 2 nephews that I love to death and 8 God children that I adore each and every day.  Other than that my life is pretty quiet.  All have great days! Roselee ... View more