I'm glad things worked for you. A friend tried all of the things you mentioned but unfortunately nothing worked. He died 6 months after diagnosis. I think while for many all of these things may be an effective way of dealing wiht overall health, we also need to recognise that evryone responds to cancer differently. S ... View more

Well done on the weight loss! Keep it going. The surgery isn't a walk in the park(or it wasn't for me, but I had other complications) but you do recover quite well if you do get up as soon as you can. Don't worry if you aren't allowed to eat for a number of adays after the surgery - for me it took nearly a week. Everyone is different of course. Let us know how you get on and rememeber that there is always someone to talk to here. good luck. Samex ... View more

Couldn't agree more. This site in all of its guises has definitely helped me realise that I wasn't crazy. The support and on-line friendship was definitely out of my confort zone prior to finding(by accident) this site. It has become a true safety net for me. Thanks to the team, S ... View more

Ahh Harker, Nothing like bringing back my memeories of October last year when I took the plunge and jetted off to New York. I too, remember stumbling across Maddison Ave but when you walk with the friend I was with there is no easy ambling! She is nearly 6 ft and i am 5ft 3 on a good day! Nevertheless, it was a grand day. Thanks for reminding me. S ... View more

Sorry - that should be MUST. ... View more

I'm sorry that I may not be much help as while I had the surgery (hemi-colectomy) I didn't need a stoma. I was in hospital for 3 weeks even though because my system just didn't like taking any food for 2 and half weeks. I then experienced severe constipation again when relaesed from hospital and had to go back to outpatients for another enemma. It's been Ok since then. As Craftyone says, we are all so different and you MSR ask questions all the time. I hope things begin to improve. Samex ... View more

I was excited when I heard this on the ABC last night. I just wish that there was something in Sydney. IS the new centre at RPA going to address this I wonder? S ... View more

Sorry - my only response is Hmmmmm? S ... View more

Hi Jill, As usual Sailor has sage advice. My friend who dealt with (is dealing with?) the loss of her husband to cancer 5 and a half years ago sought help and this allowed her and her daughters to try to manage their grief. We always come back to concept of normal for both survivors and their loved ones. I can't begin to imagine how that normal is for you and your boys. To you and wifeb, I send hugs and hope that coming here from time to time allows you some peace or at least a place where you don't have to explain yourselves. Take care, S ... View more

Sounds like a lovely lunch Sailor. Today I also had lunch with a friend. I had tutored her daughter last year with her HSC. I didn't ask for payment then as they were friends etc,etc. Today was the time when we were finally able to meet for the lunch that she wished to give me for payment. After I had enjoyed such a lovely time, I contacted school and went up after school to check on what had happened for the 2 weeks that i had been away at HSC marking. My Ht informed me that the principal wasn't happy with the casual who had replaced me and how my yr 12 class had responded to her. I was told that I would probably be not allowed to do marking next year.(Mind you the casual that I had organised became unavailable - long boring story) Again, giving to others, trying to improve my knowledge to better the chances of my students has backfired because other people cannot do their job effectively. While this has little to do with my cancer it has a lot to do with how I view life these days. As a teacher my students always come first and it hurts to have it thrown back at me. As a survivor, I wonder why I don't just look after myself from now on. The dilemma continues. S ... View more