Thanks everyone for the great comments. And, of course, feel free to promote it!!!! (Myeloma Australia gets 40% of revenue.) Harker. ... View more

I think you did the right thing. I can see both sides of this, too. Your position is the more substantial one. The 'right' to control information is not unlimited, or unmoderated. Targeting people to 'tell' is unfair and contravenes other 'rights'. ... View more

Hi ashes I have had two treatments with Velcade; one very good remission and one partial remission. Each bought me a year or so in which I was not in treatment. I am about to start a different treatment as Velcade is seen to be progressively less effective in my case. I don't know what I will be on. I am seeing the specialist who collected my stem cells and I may be having a transplant if other treatments are not successful. I was pretty comfortable with Velcade. I did not experience many side effects at all. Early on maybe, but by the second or third course we had adjusted the dex and it was all okay. The last treatment I had was without dex altogether. It's quick to administer, there is no hanging around with drip lines . All I can say is that compared to the chemo and the thalidomide I had before it, Velcade was comparatively easy to manage. I am 58, was 53 when I first had Velcade. Good luck with it. ... View more

Hi Geraldine I remember similar things happening to me around the time of diagnosis. I have realised that it it really important for me to ask all the questions I need to ask in a consultation. Now I prepare by writing them down and taking the list with me. It makes it easier for me and my oncologist if I do that, because we can talk without feeling we're forgetting something or not covering something important. Your boyfriend has to manage the fear (which is very real) by making sure he has good information. That may mean asking more questions in the consultation, even if it makes the oncologist uncomfortable. They need to deal with him as a whole person, not a paper record of a single aspect of his life. You don't have to be aggressive about it, just stick to your guns and ask. H ... View more

"shared not extracted". nice. ... View more

It is still early days for him. I was surrounded by family and friends when I was diagnosed with a blood cancer and I still went into a very private space for some months. I was using all my energy dealing with it. I had so little left over for my wife and others. It was hard for her. It is better now and we have both learned a bit about the way each of us reacts to changes. All I can say is be patient. Maybe send a card? Or drop in? It may be that he is feeling he should let you off the hook? I felt guilty for having cancer for a long long time. Many months. H ... View more

I think he is quite pathetic and I feel sorry for him. He 'confessed' to Oprah that it was his competitiveness that drove him on and into dubious territory. Then he says he wants to be forgiven so he can compete again! You can't unscramble an egg, Lance. You need a new egg. H ... View more

Wow. Deni 55 that is a truly beautiful piece of writing. Well done for getting it down the way you did. I found it uplifting in all sorts of ways, too many to go into here. I guess that's the value of good writing. The reader can take it where they want to. I'll do that but I'll say "thank you" first. H ... View more