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has anybody in Ireland received a 'vanishing cancer' diagnosis after having a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer? Jack

hi - i was diagnosed with stage 2b adenocarcinoma at end June 2010 and treatment started August. I had chemo-radio-brachytherapy and have been doing ok since then thankfully, there has been nothing found to date to cause anyone any concerns. I've been feeling a bit miserable these days though. I do have my public 'face'...positive mental attitude and all that but really i am feeling a bit plagued in the headspace and like I am the only one in the world like me. I am not sure why I am sharing here on this space. I thought of going to the support centre I went to after treatment but I think I have moved on from there really and I am thinking that even though there is so very little activity here ...well, perhaps there is another survivor out there a little further down the road than me who can identify with how it is for me right now. It is amazing to me that there is no-one out there talking about their experiences after the treatment. I am still doing the 3-monthly consults. I wake up every morning absolutely aware that I still have this mad adventure going on... I have to keep a check that lymphadema is not happening to me, I've to be a little hypochondriac about myself with aches, new pains and so on, and as for the bathroom chasing...maybe talking about that might be a step too far, but really...I know that these things are a small price to pay for survival and I appreciate that there are those who have to deal with way worse. But this is my own hell and I feel like I am dealing with it alone. And then there is the poor memory, tiredness and alll that goes with the now new menopausal me! Before my adventures started I was madly active, chasing about living my life at a great pace...although I've gotten back to the gym it is such a struggle energy-wise in the efforts get myself back to where I was 18 months ago that I have failed so far to get back running and wonder will I ever! I am not giving up but if there was anyone out there who could tell me if life ever returns to anything near normal that would be great. I know that I am not unusual, either with the things my poor body is experiencing nor how I feel about it all but feedback from someone in the same boat as me could help with the feeling of being alone in the world. I am not dealing with this adventure alone. I do have support. But no matter how good that support is they have no real appreciation for how my world has changed. They have moved on now and I am apparently returned to my life. If nothing else I have gotten this off my chest though so if you have stayed with me until now you deserve a cuppa and a biscuit, so thanks.

I finish my radiation therapy soon. Oncologist tells me all is going well,had dcis, good margins, lymph nodes clear, ER neg. should i be worried that i have not been prescribed medication? Anyone else in the same boat?

Hi all Having a really bad day can't stop crying scaring hubbie. Don't know where to turn. Finished TCH surgery and radio still on herceptin outlook positive but feeling so low have nobody to talk to and even harder to find someone who understands cant figure out how to get into Chatroom so decided to rant here. Have obnoxious sulky 15 year old son who has turned into a monster I don't recognise not sure how much of this is normal teenage stuff and how much is influenced by my BC his friends mother died recently from cancer which really shook him. Other children acting up too but seem to be able to cope with them ok. Best friend is finding it difficult to acknowledge cancer easier to pretend its not there, sister great but doesn't understand. Don't know what I am writing but it's stopping me crying!!!!! Hope mood passes and I can function better for the weekend. Thanks for letting me vent. Love to everyone x

hi im new to this was diagnosed with breast cancer in may 2008 had lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiotherepy.was told i was treble negative.all was well until last may when i was diagnosed in other breast had lumpectomy followed by mastectomy started chemo again but had to be stopped after 2rounds because of side effects no radiotherapy offered as i was told it would do no good .at present i am on no treatment but told because i was treble negative both times likelyhood of it coming back is greater .is there anyone that has similar experience as i feel i am living under death sentence.

I am writing this on behalf of my mother who has Stage 1 Small-Cell localised Lung Cancer. I am looking for advice and information regarding alternative cancer treatments abroad. My mother has come to the end of her Chemotherapy and unfortunately Radiology is not an option due the size of the tumour (although the tumour has decreased by two thirds from the original scan last year). The treatment received in Ireland has been fantastic but it looks like we have come to the end of the road in terms of future treatment besides the possibility of further Chemotherapy in the future. Any advice would be very gratefully received, especially information regarding alternative and complimentary treatment in Scandinavia.

My mother passed away almost 3 years ago.Obvioulsy Ive been very sad and cried alot but the last month or so,Ive gotten very emotional over it.I cry most nights and I havent slept properly in 4 weeks.I wake up 3 or 4 times a night.Ive had 4 nightmares within these 4 sleepless weeks,twice about my mam and the other 2 times that other friends and family were telling me they have terminal cancer.If someone asked me to cry on the spot,I can easily do it now(Id make a great actress at the moment!).Counselling has been suggested last year to me but I fear going into a room and talking about her.She was my best friend and I cant see myself pouring my heart out to a stranger.I fear that if I start crying in a counselling session,I may never stop. Does anyone know if theres an online counselling forum??I would find it much easier to talk online than face to face with someone.

Hi all Finished 6 rounds of chemo TCH on thursday,and the happiness i thought i would feel at having chemo behind me just hasnt come quite the opposite!!!Is this normal? I feel i shouldnt complain as i got though it with not too many side effects,worst being not able to eat for week after.Im not one to ask for help as i feel id be giving in.Have a month to get sorted before mastectomy and reconstruction in early may,need to have my positive head on but just cant seem to find it. Has anyone else felt like this Help

Hi everyone, I'm Aidan, I'm 51, single male, live in West Cork and have recently been diagnosed with lung cancer (dont ask me which one, I cant pronounce it let alone spell it, haha). I've just joined the site today and have been having a quick look around and whilst there are very good sections devoted to specifics, I'm somewhat surprised there is no "New member introduction" or "General Lounge/ General Chat" section,,,, unless I haven't found it yet. I'm specificly interested in finding out if there are any support groups in my area, particularly along the lines of something where there are regular get togethers with people who have cancer, or have lost someone from cancer etc, something where people can meet in person and get to know each other. If you know of any such groups I would be very interested in hearing about them, thanks and best wishes to you all, Aidan.

Hi all, I am new to this, and to be honest I'm not quite sure what I am hoping to gain from posting...maybe a little understanding and support from people going through something similar! My wonderful hubby was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in November 2011 after being very ill since June 2011 with breathlessness, coughing, night sweats, weight loss. He underwent an unsuccessful biopsy in June 2011 (he was coughing too much to remove a biopsy) and at this time he was misdiagnosed & told he had Sarcoidosis. He began steroid treatment for Sarcoid, but steadily went down hill. When he collapsed and was hospitalised in October, it was discovered that there was a lot more going on! After A LOT of testing, biopsies and scopes, it turned out my hubby had stage 3 Non Hodgkin’s mediastinal lymphoma with a tracheoesophageal fistula thrown into the mix for fun! He was sent home from hosp to await chemo but was re-admitted as a critical patient after his lungs flooded at home due to the fistula. He underwent 6 rounds of R-CHOP and was hospitalised for 2 months. Due to the fistula he needed a PEG and JEG tube fitted to decompress his stomach and was on liquid feed almost 2 months. It wasn't believed he would make it through 3 nights during his hospital stay as he developed severe infections and went into resp. failure. I slept on the floor beside him in the hosp for 2 weeks! But, Thank God, he pulled through and we began to see improvements slowly. He was discharged from hospital on the 18th of December, was told his fistula had sealed on the 21st of December (and he was allowed to eat again) and he finished his last chemo on the 29th of Feb. We just received his PET scan results...and they are clear! It has been a rollercoaster of a journey! We will be married two years in July...this has definitely been a test of our vows! He is doing wonderfully, his energy is almost back to pre-sickness, and his hair is growing back.. I have my husband and best friend back. I guess I'm just finding it hard to get my head around all that has happened. It has been very fast moving and we have had a lot to deal with! We have been told that his PET scan was clear and 100% normal...can I ask..does this put him into the remission category? I was in such shock when we received the results via the phone that I forgot to ask! We are seeing the oncologist on Monday, but just wanted to test the waters here first! Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? I believe the type of lymphoma my hub has in a rarer type? I'd love some feed back! God Bless. xx