Joanna - I am so so sorry to hear of your news - for me you are the little bright spark on this site. You are always thinking of others which I will speak for all of us - we really appreciate. Now is your time with your darling gorgeous little daughter and your partner and family. Think of yourself and them and just know that they love you and always will. Everyone who has had the pleasure of speaking to you on the various sites find you to be such an inspiration and a truly lovely woman- no one can ever take that away. Hey you never know - some super scientist may just be finishing his toast and think - yes if I do this,then this, and maybe that- Y E S I think I have the cure for cancer! Now wouldn't that be wonderful - I'm sure you don't feel overly positive at the moment - but keep your sense of humour, keep laughing, find something funny everyday and above all get that little bub of yours giggling. Take care my dear and remember sooo many people are thinking of you and some of us are praying for you too. Talk soon Joanna take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxmeeeeow ... View more

I am feeling the best I have since before diagnosis- since about May last year, I think that's when "it" first made it's presence felt. A lot has happened to my body since then including chemo. I am feeling good because I have been given a break (2 weeks) from oral chemo. It is really amazing what that stuff does to your mind and body - after a week I can think clearly - the fog has disappeared and I don't feel disgustingly ill. I know that having chemo is essential to my recovery but I wish I could handle the side effects a little more graciously!! Enough about that - I wanted this to be a normal cheerful blog and it will be. My sister and her husband have just bought me a house 5 minutes walk from their house - we have been looking for nearly 2 years for somewhere closer - this was long before I found out I had cancer - it was after I had a bad fall in their front yard and fractured my cheekbone, eyebrow and knee - beautiful. My sister wanted me closer as I couldn't go anywhere unassisted for a while. Anyway I move into my new house at the end of this month as there are a few things that have to be done there AND as I am a chronic hoarder - clearing out my place is an absolute nightmare. I also had my first BIG foray into the outside world on Saturday - I went to see The Jersey Boys - absolutely fantastic. I really didn't think I would like it as there were a lot of love songs and I am not the slightest bit romantic - I used to be - but I had all of that beaten and tortured out of me over the years by different partners. That's a story (novel) in itself! One day.... It was a great afternoon (I decided on a matinee as I don't do nights in Melbourne very well) too damn violent. For those of you (who are still reading this and haven't fallen asleep)and do not live in Victoria - Saturday afternoon in dear old Melbourne was a wet one - I am sure you would have seen the news. We could hear the rain in the theatre but had no idea the devastation it was causing until we left - flooded roads, footpaths, tree branches over the roads and the hail stones - it was a history making afternoon and I missed it all, thanks to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Oh well, pretty appropriate - Melbourne is known for it's four seasons in one day !! Ok I've finally resurfaced I hope others will too - I really miss reading your stories and blogs - take care everyone meeow! ... View more

Good luck for Thursday Teach and don't let them get you down. I will be thinking of you along with every one who knows you. Don't stress (yeah!). xxxxxxx ... View more

margc thanks for replying - I am so glad you have finished chemo, it really sounded unbearably full-on. My dreaded Tuesday was nothing like last time - I asked for the full doses of anti-nausea steroids - nothing untoward happened except I was lying awake all pop eyed and bushy tailed until about 3.00 am -then the wonderful usual side effects started-upset stomach on and on and on despite the gastro-stop that I practically live on now!! Totally buggered today but will have a sleep a bit later. In answer to your question, I have no idea how long I have to continue with chemo. I think they originally said 13 cycles but can't really be sure. I had my 7th cycle yesterday then the nurses got the doctor to have a look at my feet- red, peeling - I am off the oral chemo Xeloda for this cycle and have to use sorbolene 3 times a day until I see him again - also the upset stomachs caused him a bit of concern-what about me - it's happening to me not him!!! (trying to be funny but brain not sure whats going on). I started chemo on 20 October 2009 - every three weeks I have blood tests,urine test then on the drip, after an hour of that they hook me up to the Avastin drip, which is an adjunct therapy to target my liver tumors- takes about 1/2 hour. The next day(Wed), I normally go on the xeloda tablets for 2 weeks then 1 week off then back on the merry-go-round again! Well I bet you're glad you asked me only 1 question - I hope you haven't fallen asleep reading my reply! Anyway I will just have to see what happens over the next 2 weeks, hopefully everything clears up (including the cancers)yeah sure! ... View more

keepontruckin contact Kate at Cancer Council helpline - 13 11 20 she will be able to give you all the details. ... View more

margc congratulations on finishing chemo - it really is horrible, I absolutely hate and dread the chemo Tuesdays. As a matter of curiosity - how many cycles did you have? I start my 7th tomorrow, God I was so sick last time I thought I was going to die. I am going to ask if there is anything apart from the steroids that will stop the nausea and the runs - bloody embarrassing apart from everything else aaaaaggggghhhhhhhh hate it hate it. Good on you and keep well. ... View more

Chris, I can't add anymore to what has been said - Julie has said exactly what I was going to say - and if your Dad needs any further incentive to move - tell him his grand kids and great grand kids want to see more of him as it is far too difficult at the moment being so far away. Also tell him that it will improve your health - you won't need to travel so far and be worried so much because he will be 'here'. Good good good luck - gee Dad's can be troublesome - as I used to tell mine!!! He used to say it was 'parent's revenge'. Yeah - very funny - NOT!! ... View more

Great news Jo and Rob - a new job A N D no more chemo yaaaaay. God help me I am so waiting desperately for my oncologist to say those words to me. I have still only had 4 months of chemo and I start my 7th cycle (HAVE IT EVERY 3 WEEKS) this coming Tuesday - I hate Tuesdays!!! Excellent news for you both and I am really privileged that I have been able to share in your journey.Keep your spirits up- its nearly over! ... View more

wifeyb- You have just said everything I thought of and felt 19 years ago when I was my Dads sole carer - God I hated myself for not being more caring and considerate - or so I thought at the time. I was worried about his meals - was I giving him nourishing foods, did he like what I was giving him etc etc..Was he comfortable - of course not - he had terminal prostate cancer - but I didn't want to think like that. When I was not with Dad I felt very guilty - especially if I was out self-medicating - or so a counsellor-said that's what I was doing to cope - (seems extremely selfish now since I don't drink anymore) at the local pub with my friends. I used to cry a lot too especially when there really was nothing more I could do to make Dad smile/comfortable and when one day he said to me he was so unhappy - I just sat on his bed and cried and cried - that was the saddest thing that Dad had ever said. Do not feel guilty or that you are not doing what you think you should be doing -old cliche- we are only human - we do what we think is the right thing for those we love and we really cannot do any better. As Pete (keepontruckin) said 'Keep your chins up'. Take care of yourself xx ... View more

Teach you are brave and please keep on being brave. There will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Tests are the pits I personally HATE them especially the ones where you have to drink a litre of this muck then 2 litres of this abominable crap, then an injection of some colourless liquid - but be sure to drink 20 litres of fluid to flush it out even though it's harmless- yeah sure pull the other one!!! A little bit of humour to break thus up - a friend of mine emailed me and said how proud she was of me going through all of this, then she said 'you are in the tunnel'. I thought "what". What on earth did that mean? in the tunnel - she thinks my time is up! Then when the old chemo brain dissipated slightly I realised she meant I was in the tunnel nearing the end - where there is light!!!! Bugger me - I would have to be the world's worst panic merchant - it even brought on a bout of - yes you guessed it- diarrhoea!!! I hope that made someone laugh or at least smile or grin!!! Anyway Teach all the best and don't do a me - worry 'till you get sick. Thinking of you and yes I have to say it- my 'sensitive' cat sends her love too. ... View more