This cancer does suck hey. I guess all cancers do tho. I'm not happy at the moment, I've been doing pretty well and haven't had chemo since August last year waiting for trials to start and in the mean time my tumours have been growing. I finally get the call to come in & sign up but wouldn't you know it - CT showed a lymph node in my neck has squashed my jugular vein and caused a blood clot. Not eligible for the trial and I have to self inject a blood thinner twice a day for 3 months. I cannot express how much I dislike injections now I have to give them to myself. I have had severe abdominal pain for over a month & they can't tell me why plus I still can't eat following the latest round of radiotherapy. Chemo starts again next week.   And that is the end of my whinge session. On the bright side, I will save money on hairdressers (my hair has finally grown long enough to cut again) & I won't have to shave my legs again.   I'm sorry I didn't cheer you up - I hope you are having a better time today.   Smiles Carmel   ... View more

Hi Penelope   Always here to chat whenever you want or need. I live on the West Coast of SA so know what you mean about not being able to attend support groups. We were living in Coffs Harbour when I was diagnosed, if you are there they have a great bunch of people at the cancer clinic. I have terminal Stage IV Upper GI, 2 years on & still plodding along. It's a tough road but there up heaps of us out there. I've also joined a Face Book group - The Esophageal Cancer Patient and Caregiver Support Group, lots of people on there treading the same path as us.  Take care Carmel ... View more

Hey AnthonyKnox sorry for late reply, we have been busy relocating to home state & transferring treatment - it was suggested I return to be around family so here we are. I'm good, bit apprehensive about my upcoming 1st scan since chemo tho - trying to stay positive that chemo is doing it's job & I can continue with my 10 year plan. How are you doing? Hopefully doing well 🙂     ... View more

Hey PhilPepper   I know what you mean about needing time alone to sort out emotions etc. I have had a major fallout with my sister due to her 'need' to be with me. It ended up with her shaking me (physically), yelling at me about how selfish I am and accusing me of being angry with everyone. Not the case, this was the day after my diagnosis, my husband and I were in shock and just asked her to leave us to cry and digest this. But no, she had to be there to 'support' me.    I agree with you that getting the diagnosis was a relief - at least we knew for sure what we were dealing with. We have worked through the seven stages of grief and at the moment we are still in stage 6. It was hard having to leave my job (but also a relief - however I intend on returning to work eventually). Like you, I don't know how long I have, docs say anywhere from 6 months to 10 years so I am aiming for 15 years. I have faith that I will survive this, many have and I am going to be on that list.  We have vowed to keep our sense of humour, not take on board others negativity (like my sister who had me dead and buried because this apparently is the path I have chosen!!) & spend time with our children, grandchildren and supportive family & friends.  It's all about priorities at the moment       ... View more

I'm currently having chemo & not sure if radiation is on my treatment plan. In the mean time I have been talking to people re gumbo gumbo (traditional bush medicine which I am told has a high success rate of reducing / removing cancer but can't have it while on chemo), benefits of tumeric (including Curcumin Plus capsules), ginger, Resveratrol capsules, benefits of keto & paleo eating plans along with only eating natural / organic / don't eat it if factory produced - my mind is overflowing with do this do that eat this don't eat that........ ... View more

Another ginger fan! I drink dry ginger ale and ginger tea (Asian food shops stock sweetened & unsweetened versions) along with the occasional dry Jatz and much prefer this to taking more medicine. I'm now going to find ginger tablets - health food shops?? Cheers 🙂 ... View more

Hi Granny. I'm good thank you, only 2 weeks in to treatment but have a positive outlook however being told I have stage 4 still has the ability to reduce me to tears at times.  Theres nothing one can say or do, we just have to make the most of our time hey & pray more treatment options become available. I never realised how many people are living with cancer, we saw a program on Today Tonight that said 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed, what an awful disease this is.  We can now only create happy memories for others and make the most of our time with them. Thank you for chatting with me 🙂   ... View more