Hi Tania, Thank you for reaching out, I can see you are feeling overwhelmed and frustated, a cancer diagnosis and treatment is not easy, life does change and everything  turns upside down. I am glad to hear that you have completed your treatment and now are in recover phase.  At the moment life is not the same for you, but I am sure that with a bit of patience and the love and support of your loved ones you will be able to catch up with life.  Just take one day at a time although it sounds like a boring cliche but it is a good option to cope with the anxiety of getting back to the life you had before.  Keep looking after yourself, avoiding anxiety and stress if possible, so you can be the mum you want to be for your beautiful children. I hope someone else in this community could share their own experience of recovery and trying to get their life back. If you are an Australian resident, please call 131120 to talk to one of our nurses about your experience, perhaps you would like to talk to one of our counsellors.   Kind regards Susana Cancer Council Online Community ... View more

Hello Michelle, Thank you very much for reaching out, I would like to share with you information about one of our group supports for those between the ages of 25 and 40, who have completed cancer treatment. If this group is suitable for you please call our Supportive Care Team on 1300 755 632.   Kind regards Susana Cancer Council Online Community   ... View more

Feeling helpless is normal. It's can be very stressful, especially if you care about him and want to "fix" things. All you can really do is comfort him. When dad was sick, I used to make cups of soup for him and watch TV. Just keeping him company kept his thoughts from becoming so despairing. My dad was more "human" in a sense when he deteriorated. It was like all the emotional walls of abruptness, business, etc crumbled and deep within was this beautiful but vulnerable soul who just enjoyed life. We watched motor racing, he had plans for building a model yacht, which never eventuated. He would quote facts about the RAAF in which he served and loved. And above all, he had no regrets.   Hope this helps. ... View more

Hello AB, Thank you very much for joining our community and for reaching out. I am very sorry about your diagnosis, and I can notice how this has affected you emotionally. If you reside in Australia I would like to suggest to call our information and support line on 131120 to find out if any of our services are suitable for you. You can also call this number to talk to one of our oncologist nurses who can answer any clinical questions you may have. I am leaving you below some information about bladder cancer which I hope you find helpful.   Warm regards Susana Cancer Council Online Community   Understanding bladder cancer https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Understanding-Bladder-Cancer-2022.pdf   What is bladder cancer https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/bladder-cancer/about-bladder-cancer/   More https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/?s=bladder+cancer       ... View more

I join this group thinking they would be more about partner (married for 40yrs) having problem to cope. Being new maybe i havent found the post. My husband is a "tuffy". Stiff upper lip. He told our daughter he was fine and was coping. He will be there for support and caring. He has been there for support in a way: drive me to chemo, visit in hospital for 20 minutes, pay for what have to be paid, new aircon during the summer, go to chemists but when it comes to my domain he won't or can't do. i told him ex. buy firm green grapes, came back with grapes full of yellow drooping fruits; can you please buy this brand of pasta sauce, comes back with no brand jar.  I laugh at time that i didn't train him well enough when the kids were growing and before i got sick ( pancreatic cancer). There is no acknowledgement of my illness, my fear. Will not listen to my suggestions for meal, cleaning house or stocking the frig,etc... I can do it he says but does it ALL his way. I am split between him being there and him bringing me closer to tears and frustrations. I do not have the energy to cope with this. Is this trivia, a concern, a way of hiding his very guarded feelings. Please give feedback. ... View more

Hi Karen, Very sorry to hear about your husband. I don't really feel qualified to give you advice but I am going to share that I have lung cancer also and it is also in my trachea. Recently when I was going through chemo and radiation I found it very hard to eat. The Doctors and nurses kept impressing upon me to have a high protein diet in small quantities. Luckily, I like yoghurt and dairy products and I found that there are some very high protein yoghurts and deserts in the supermarket. I also turned to high protein shakes found in the chemist, plus I have an egg salad recipe made with cream and corn relish which I love at the best of times and all mushed up, it became a favourite. Another favourite was smoked oysters, again high in protein and cheap enough. Plus, there was vege mash.  Overall the high protein helped with my fatigue, and everything was a little bit at a time but as frequent as I could manage. I was on pain killers for my throat and believe or not strepsils helped too. Anyway, I hope maybe you can get something out of this and it helps in some small way. Take care and the best to you both. ... View more

Hi Sam19, Please call our information and support line on 13 11 20, Cancer Council provides counselling service for you and your daughter, our oncologist nurses can also give you some information about hair loss or any other clinical questions you may have.   Kind regards Susana  Cancer Council Online Community ... View more

I hear ya.. similar thing going on ( has gone on ) with ,my husband ( he had a gr 4 glioblastoma) but now he’s almost back to normal, physically and mentally.. A therapist or counselor could help you sort out things and this might help you feel much better . They could help you on dealing with this situation.. Hope you get to a better place…don’t forget, you matter, too, ... View more