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It is now two years since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and what a journey it has been! On D (for diagnosis) Day, I started a blog so it seemed fitting to update it on the 2nd anniversary. Thankfully, I am fortunate enough that I can post positively: http://tommolloy.com/2013/09/16/the-cancer-dividend/

We have only recently found out that Dad has cancer 2.5 weeks ago. All the signs were there but we didn't want to see what was right in front of our eyes. Dad was in hospital for Two weeks he is home now but he seems so distant there is Mam ,myself 2 sisters and 1 brother we all feel so helpless as my Dad has always been a strong man and in a matter of weeks he has become a shadow of himself. I try to put it all to the back of my mind ( the mind is a marvelous thing) but then when the reality hits it makes it even harder to cope.My father has an Ulcer sitting on top of the liver and he is being given drugs to keep this under control. We had a little glimmer of hope a week or so back when the doc said that he may be a candidate for Chemo but that didn't last long as they then said that the type of tumour that it was the chemo would have no effect. The Docs reckon that he has had the tumour for several years going undetected as Dad has never been one for Doctors or hospitals the very first time he has ever been in hospital was when the cancer was discovered . I feel like I am in this horrible dream and can't wake up from it, I try to talk to my family and boyfriend about this but it is just too upsetting to have to face the fact that the Docs are not treating the cancer at all so I have to face my biggest fear that I may not have dad for much longer and that scares me so much. I feel like I am slowly going insane I don't know how to cope.

My dad died of a heart attack, brought on by a blood clot, caused by pancreatic cancer quickly on the morning of Thursday 21st August 2008. Diagnosed the previous day. So the passing was unexpected. We can be greatful that he didnt have to suffer the final stages of cancer. Im not sure what to say here, so I will just retype the newspaper announcement. Peters, (Santry, Dublin and formally of Callan, Co. Kilkenny) - Aug 21 2008 (suddenly but peacefully) John Anthony, late of Aer Lingus beloved husband of Kay: Very sadly missed by his loving wife, daughters Hazel, Ann and her partner Arthur, son Alan and his partner Cheryl, grandchildren Sarah and Holly brother Michael, relatives and friends. R.I.P. Reposing at Lanigan's Funeral Home, Beaumont Road. Removal on Tuesday morning to the Church of Holy Child, Swords road, Whitehall. arriving at 9.50 o'c for Funeral Mass at 10 o'c. Burial immediately afetrwards in Dardistown Cemetry. No flowers by request please. Donations in lieu if desired to Cancer Research in his name.

My daughter aged 21 was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma on or in her sacrum in June 2008. She lives and is treated in the UK. She was started on Doxrubican and cisplatin for cycle A and Methatrixate for cycles B and C. Last week the cisplatin was reduced by 50% and the Methatrixate was suspended due to the damage being inflicted on her kidneys. In 2005 she was diagnosed with GCT on her sacrum in June and it recurred as an anuerysmal bone cyst. Because of these she had extensive surgery and has been on very strong painkilling drugs since. Osteosarcomas are very aggressive cancers and in our case the outlook seems to be going from bad to worse. Is anybody in a similar position to me not knowing how long you may have left with your child? John

Hi there I was diagnosed with d c i s in march of this year and had a full mastectomy and immediate reconstruction done in april . When my results came back after the op I was told the the pre cancerous cells had not spread out side of the duct and the lymph was also clear. I did not need any chemo or hormone treatment I am still finding it hard to get my head around the fact that I had such a radical opertion done and thats it" go away and get on with your life" is what my surgeon told me. I still worry that maybe I should have had some chemo as an "insurance policy " especially as I have never heard of any one in simalar situation every one I meet ask me when I am stating my chemo and look shocked when I tell them I dont need it. Any body out there with a simalar experience ?

Hi, I am just wondering if there is anyone else out there thinking the same as me. I am a year down the road after my op and chemo from breast cancer, hair etc is back to normal and while it was great to see all of this happening, I seem to have come down with a bang. I was very positive all thru my treatment and now all of a sudden I feel uptight and worried. I can only explain it like panic attacks and when I recall what I have gone thru, I get this sick feeling and have it in my head I am going to get the cancer again and my time is short. I have no medical reason to think this but it is keeping me awake at night. My family and friends all tell me how well I look and I was great etc., but at the back of my mind I keep having this horrible feelings. I do not want to talk to my family about this as they have gone thru enough sleepless nights about me and they now have gone back to believing it is all over. Am I bringing this all of myself, has anyone else out there with breast cancer gone thru this or going thru it. I would be interested to head from you.

have been checking out this website and I dont find anyone talking about how they feel or how they are coping before after or during. I am a member of an American breast cancer.org and everyone their talks quite openly about how they feel, up or down and the community is their for everyone. Is it just an Irish thing that if we dont talk about our feelings they just dont exisit. I often wake up angry that it was me who got BC but then at times I feel okay about it. I dont know what I am suppose to feel some times and people look at me and say "God its great to see you got over your trouble" I didn't get over anything I just got on with living. Do you feel like this at times. Sometimes I still suffer from Chemo Brain even though I'm 2 years on. Is this normal? Do you want to tell me what's happening in your brain. I know mine is not quite up to scratch at times. Sometimes I hide and sometimes I cry for no reason and some times I just get on with it. I feel lonely sometimes wondering what am I suppose to do. Am I weird or What. let me know what you think of when you think of BC. Talk to me. Bevan

Hi Ya Da, It feels like forever since I spoke to you but it’s only been 12 days , the night you left I was in complete shock Da cause I just would not let myself believe that you were leaving me . There are so many thoughts going on in my head at the moment which I am sure you are aware of cause I can feel you around me a lot of the time and I think the times that I am scared you have just gone to check on the rest of the clan to make sure they are ok too. It feels so strange not seeing you Wil , I hope you knew that I was there with you when you had to leave and I hope that you weren’t scared Da and didn’t have any pain. I’m trying to fill my head with happy memories Da and not sad ones Like the baileys coffees god that was so funny Da and when you brought me out for my 10th Birthday and bought me the Snow white and seven dwarfs washing game ye know the little basin and washing line and the little scrubbing board you probably don’t remember it Da but the reason I do was you were swinging my arm and singing and I begged you to stop cause I was scarlet funny how you remember these small things isn’t it. It was so hard to say goodbye to you da and If I seemed distant and quiet it was only because you wouldn’t of wanted me to make a scene in your words ( stop making a show of me ) through gritted teeth ha! Ha! Does it seem that that I act normal a lot of the time Da and I don’t miss you ? cause you do know that , that’s just me trying to block the pain of loosing you out of my head cause I reckon if I let all the emotions in Da I will just go to pieces. We are all looking after Ma for you and doing our best to keep her spirits up and she has been so strong for all of us just as you would have been. I’m gonna sign off now Da but just always remember that I love you so so much and I’ll always be your Kate. I love you always and Forever Love Katie xxxxxx

Hi there! My Dad has been battling cancer for almost 5 years. It originated in the colon but is now very active in the liver, and has lesions in his lungs. I am just wondering what exactly lesions are - sre they cancerous spots in themselves or are the caused from the treatment of the liver cancer? Thanks! :)

My name is Linda and I am 34, in 2006 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy. I have recently discovered a lump in my armpit on the same side which has been diagnosed as malignant. The plan is for an auxilliary node clearance and mastectomy this week followed by more chemo. Still waiting for MRI results to check I don't need a double mastectomy. I am just wondering if anyone else has had to go through this experience after thinking they were in the clear? Especially anyone around my age - I thought early menopause was bad enough!! Also I am planning on persuading the plastic surgeon to go for silicone reconstruction - the other options just sound too traumatic! I'd love to hear from someone who is out the other side of this. I know this sounds mad but a part of me missed all the support during my previous treatment and I can't help but feel that part of me wished this on myself again - am I going mad?? Linda