Thannks for all of the responses. It's given me a few things to think about. I think that I need to think about what I would like to learn from volunteering and finding a role that suits me. I think that I also need to think about what I feel comfortable disclosing too. Flight ... View more

Your post reminded me of an experience I had at a bank. I was talking to one of the customer service people about savings accounts when he became VERY serious. He stated "I have something VERY important to talk to you about. It is something that EVERYONE SHOULD have...... Life insurance" !!!! I wasn't sure how to react to that one- do I laugh, do I cry or do I get angry. Or do you just say very enthusiastically "Thanks!! You're the first organisation to EVER offer ME life insurance!" Flight ... View more

Hi Samex, I'm glad to hear that you have been able to get support and treatment with your depression. I found it very helpful to talk to my GP too. My GP was able to complete a mental health care plan so that I was able to claim medicare rebates from my psychologist. When the symptoms of depression became more severe I was able to discuss anti depressant medications with her too. I am finding that the medication has helped reduce the severity of the symptoms of depression (and it has also helped improve the quality of my sleep). The psychologist who I work with specialises in cognitive behaviour therapy. I am finding that the combination of both the medication and CBT stragties to be extremely helpful. I have found some excellent resources and links on anxiety and depression on the Beyond Blue website too: www.beyondblue.org.au and their helpline telephone number is 1300 224 636. Hope all is going well with you, Samex. From Flight ... View more

Here is that link I was writing about. The organisation is called the Chronic Illness Alliance. They have a link that covers centrelink, power of attonery and guadianship, super, wills, insurance and discrimination. The can be found at: www.chronicillness.org.au/workwelfarewills/index.htm ... View more

Check out your superannuation fund. Some funds automatcally provide a basic level of insurance coverage for all of their members. My super fund is HESTA and they do this. I would have to disclose my past medical history if I wanted more than the basic coverage, though. There is a disablity web site that gives more information about this. I think the Cancer Council has some resources too. Flight. ... View more

Hi, I agree with these commons. I had a few suggestions too. Would it be possible to have a discussion on developing coping strategies for living with uncertainity, anxiety, depression and creating hope both for people undrgoing treatment and people who are on long term follow up. Would the Cancer Council consider approaching Beyond Blue to run some information sessions (on line or face to face)on dealing with anxiety and depression? There aren't many resources that focus on issues of survivorship, late effects follow up or cancer in young adults developed in Australia. Nikki started a link on this website that asked people to list resources that they found helpful. Would it be possible to provide a list of reputable websites (Australian or oversease) that provide resources on these topics. As more people are now surviving cancer would it be possible to begin providing resources (discussion forums online or face to face)on keeping well once treatment is complete. I think there needs to be a focus on this particulary for younger adults that have completed treatment (perhaps someone from ontrac@petermac or Priscilla Gates who is a clinical nurse consultant at the late effects clinic at Peter Mac might be good people to approach about these topics). While I was undergoning chemo and radiotherapy I decided that I wanted to change careers. I would have liked to have had some information and support on making career changes and returning to tertiary studies. Lastly, would be possible to provide transcripts of forums that are held on this website. I wasn't able to attend the forum on complimentary theapies that was run a few weeks ago. I would have liked to be able access a transcript of the discussion. Cheers, Flight. ... View more