Dearest Steve... I also had no support during chemo and after. I've lost nearly all my friends. Not one has asked how I am and how I'm doing. Not only did my friends desert me my parents also did. Kicked me out of the apartment they had for me while going through chemo...they said I complained to much and  shunned me even more for taking pain pills. I had become a junkie to them. Why can people not understand this horrible disease? I am 6 months out of chemo and still feel i haven't gotten a clear answer if is gone. every time i went to dr. It was everything looks great only to go into the hospital for SOB and be told there were three lymph nodes they were still looking at. My symptoms have started again. I feel abandoned from every corner. Dealing with cancer i thought would be the worst..no..now i have neuropathy and absolutley miserable. I'm scared and fed up that i may never get back to normal.  ... View more

Hey Kym I have kept a diary of sorts, mainly dates of when what happened. My friend bought me a diary when i was hospitalised and its been fantastic although its rather large and heavy to carry around. I have looked back and pulled out some relevant dates which was helpful in me being able to get my peg removed. Some of the dates i found quite incredible that the amount of time had passed in between. Good luck with it and i hope you find it useful and helpful. Julie ... View more

Hi Kym, If your wife is anything like me (and we've already established that we have some things in common!) then she may appear less positive because it is a way of protecting herself. I am a person who is tentative about getting my hopes up too high in case they are dashed. It all stems from years ago, when we were trying to start a family and I had a number of miscarriages, after 6 miscarriages and 3 ectopic pregnancies I couldn't allow myself to get my hopes up too high, the history (and odds) didn't appear in my favour. I became a realist after that experience, I always am hopeful about things AND I am also aware that reality doesn't always mean our hopes come true. It is a really tricky tightrope walk, keeping the balance! Jill. ... View more

Kym, I hope you are feeling better today. Your world has been turned upside down. Your nearest and dearest can help only in their usual way. Only someone who has had prostate cancer can understand what you are going through. I found what helped me was lowering my expectations of myself and others, either by communicating/managing them - bummer I know (it would be great if someone could do this for us)! Initially, I had a lot of anger - I felt victimised by the disease - it ruined my holiday plans, my husband plans possibly my fertility and I was out of work. I wanted to be around people but on my terms not theirs incl my husband. It's about control and power struggle. It is really hard for people to see it that way because on the outside you appear ok. On this forum you can have a "whinge" with us - that's what we are here for because "we get it". Empathy is hard to find these days. You have been through a lot (and still are) so your feelings/reactions are a moving target and adapting to your new life. Some things will be same but you also need to see it as a time for change - eg. work hrs, alone time with your wife and spending quality time with the children. Perhaps you need some quality time for yourself. ... View more

ohhh lol @ the change joke ... thats a goodie!! ... View more