Hello, Amy, I won't say welcome to the club, but I will say that you have definitely come to a great place for support. Many of us are fighting all different types of cancer, and sometimes it's good just to talk outside of family and friends.   I don't know anything about brain cancer (mine is advanced pancreatic), but it does seem like a good sign their having successfully treated the cancer the first time around. I'm sure the treatment this time will go just as well.   The anxiety thing, I can relate to, for sure, and also the uncertainty. One thing I've done constantly since being diagnosed four months ago, is to tell myself, and my loved ones, that at least I know what is wrong with me and that everything that can be done to help me is being done. Just being able to do that makes me feel better, because the uncertainty of life, when you really think about it, is something that is forever present from the moment we're born. I suppose what I'm saying is that any of us can be taken at any time, without warning; in a car accident, for example.   I don't know if that's any comfort to you, but like I said, at least you know what you're dealing with and are in good hands with your medical staff who will again do all they can to help you. In the meantime, stay positive, and on behalf of everyone here (you'll get to know everyone better with every post) rest assured that you're communicating with people, just like you, who wish you nothing but absolute success in destroying what you're dealing with. My personal advice? Be angry at it. Cancer has no right to be in our bodies. Just kill it. Destroy it. Forever. As I'm sure you will this time around.   Colin      ... View more

Definitely. Hang on, I'll try to use some substitute words to see if this gets through okay. I'll throw in a bit of Spanish as well.   I was commenting on the abysmal situation here in WA with the sistema de la salud publica, where six-hour or more waiting times in ER are now the norm due to so many health workers having abandonado la industria  after refusing to go to Maxine’s house, and how recently out of escuela de medicina medicos are being thrown into the deep end.   It seems that there are things no estamos permitidos to talk about. 😳   Colin ... View more

Thanks, Linda 😎 ... View more

Marking one's chair. Yes, I can certainly relate to that one. I noticed many years ago, that the same thing happens on buses and trains, especially on train carriages. Everyone takes the exact same train every day, and sits in the exact same carriage, on the exact same chair, me included.   It got to the stage where we even started to know each other, despite never having been formally introduced. Head nods became common, and even a few 'how ya doin' buddy' comments started to become common, as we all sat down.   On occasions, I saw someone else sitting in my chair, and was close to saying 'hey, that's my chair, buddy,' but I didn't, of course. But let' face it, how dare someone else take the seat I'd been sitting in for years! 'It's my chair! Mine! Move, Goddamitt!'   Seriously, the nerve of some people.   Colin ... View more

Thanks, Stirling. I actually enjoy rambling, especially when I've just taken some strong painkiller meds 🙂   I wish you all the best with your own battle. The Big C sure is one hell of an opponent, but a fight is a fight, and all any of can do, is to fight back with all that we have.    That your persistent tumors will eventually give up, is a likely outcome that I wish for you to experience. And when you do win the battle, celebrate big time. In the meantime, just keep fighting the fight. You've got this.   Colin   ... View more

That's great to hear, wegotthis, and I'm sure your kids are proud of you. Communication with our kids is more important than some people realise. I don't ever remember having a full-on conversation with either of my parents, especially with my dad, and now that he's long gone, of course it will never happen.   I love the conversations I have with my grown up kids who are now in their thirties. We're more like mates, and we speak in a contemporary language, which includes using any type of words. They even tell me to F off occasionally, in jest, of course, and I love that type of openness, just as they know that they can be completely open about anything with me, and nothing is taboo.   Again, congrats on your relationship with your kids. Later in life, they'll all remember it.   JD       ... View more

Thanks, beekubee, I'll keep you all posted.   JD ... View more

I will, thanks, he's beautiful.    JD ... View more