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Hi again
Thanks Alster for your reply. Your reply is extremely welcome and it also shows that I have followed the instructions correctly. Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable forms and I consider myself lucky for it not to be worse.

Thanks Sheila for the advice. I have filled in some details in the profile. I have also looked at the links you kindly suggested. My current problem (apart from cancer & treatment) is that I feel that my employer is attempting to get rid of me. Many thanks for answering and pointing me in the right direction. I have been asking for help and guidance for many months now. Simply getting a reply can sometimes be a lifesaver. Again many thanks.

I am a newbie. My husband was diagnosed with a lung tumour early in April this year. He is 71. His physical health has gone down alarmingly, and he now has a secondary tumour in the cerebellum part of the brain. He is waiting (optimistically, I feel) for either radiotheraphy on the brain or the originally promised chemo for the primary tumour. I fear he is too weak for either. His consultant will review his case on 4th june. It feels like limbo.
Any advice anyone? That's of course assuming I can navigate this website again!
Celiah

dear celiah, im so sorry that you have had to come to this site, but glad you have, theres lots of people ready to help you, and support you, if you go to the left hand side of the page, and click on cancer types it will take you to others in a sinmilar situation to yours, or you can start your own thread by clicking on create your own topic, which will bring others to you, good luck in your search, jackie

Hi Cliffhes. Work can be a problem when its a long term condition, my colleague has felt the need to struggle in to, although feels drained from the current radiation treatment she is enduring. Surely they would not be able to just get rid of you from work. Do you belong to any kind of Union at work, as they could maybe advise you. Sorry, I do not know what line of work you are actually in. If not, I am wondering if the Citizens Advice Bureau would be able to offer you some free advice. I am so sorry you are having to go through this, I mean its tough enough having to deal with your cancer, let alone having the stress of work issues on top. Try seeing if a tag for work related problems has been started, and you may get an answer. Good luck

Hi Celiah
Welcome to the site.
I am new myself and only just beginning to find my way around. So far several people have pointed me in the right direction and I am very grateful to them for this. Keep persisting with using the site and don't be afraid of making mistakes or asking questions.

Thanks again Alstar
I typed in 'work' in the tabs bit and several things came up which were useful. So again many thanks for the advice. The 'work' situation is beginning to become a little clearer. I am so used to dealing and being involved in other peoples problems and difficulties at work that I flounder when it comes to my own. If it's of any interest I am a psychriatric nurse.

Hi ... I'm new to this forum ... My name's Georgie and I live in London ...I never expected to be joining or writing on a forum like this, it feels weird and I feel out of place. I have a few questions that I wanted to try and get answers too and I'm not sure where I should post them. Basically, my Nan is 86 years of age and last year she found a lump on her breast which turned out to be cancerous. There is a history of cancer in our family: both my Nan's sister and mother died of it. My Nan had the lump removed but then at Easter-time she found another lump. It was also cancerous and she had that one removed. The night before the operation she found yet another lump next to the one due to be removed. She told the doctor and they agreed to remove both lumps and the same time just to be on the safe side. After this last operation she took longer to recover and felt quite poorly. She seemed to be doing ok though and was back at home when, last week, she collapsed. Her legs gave way beneath her but she was able to call an ambulance herself. They did lots of tests at the hospital and she said she had pain in her lower back and was very short of breath. At first they thought the cancer might've spread to her back but the results came back that the pain there was just a result of general wear and tear, caused by old age and her arthritus. They said that was the good news but that there was some bad news too: they said the cancer has spread to her lungs.
That was two days ago. I don't live in the same part of the UK as my Nan or my parents or other immediate family so I am having to ring my parents all the time for information. I'm wondering what will happen next. Will they operate on my Nan? What is the likely outlook or prognosis? I've always thought that lung cancer was bad: one of the worst cancers and that it was all doom and gloom. Is that the case?
I read something earlier online that because the cancer my Nan has got has spread from her breasts, then it's not actually lung-cancer she has, rather it's breast cancer cells that have spread to her lungs and should be treated as breast cancer. It's all very confusing.
Should my Nan need/have chemotherapy? Or an operation? Is her age a factor? I also got told that cancer spread very slowly in old people so sometimes they can live with it a long time. Is that true?
Sorry if i've posted in the wrong place, but any advice or information would be very much appreciated.

Hello

I'm new to this site. My reasons for being here . . . . I'm not really sure.

Dad's been diagnosed with Cancer which is now terminal. Prostate, Lymph Nodes and now abdominal. The specialists have said that we are talking months and treatment is turning more towards TLC and pain control.

Right now, I'm feeling a huge amount of anger. Dad's a lovely bloke who's worked all his life to provide for us all. A very honest and genuine family Man with five grand kids . . . my own child being 18 months old.

My 18mth old will never remember my Dad - her Grandad. This is all so unfair.

I myself ran out of grandparents as a child. My Dad's own parents died back in the 1960's so I never knew them or was about at the time.

The situation turns more ugly for me.

In my day to day life, I'm a Funeral Director. I'm used to dealing with countless families who have lost someone to Cancer, aften after a long and brave fight. At work, I've the Professional ability to switch on and off . . . . I'm able to say the right words. I'm able to sort my families issues and worries out.

But that is at work . . . .

Right now, I'm not sure of how I can continue in my work . . . . Especially when Dad one day loses his fight.

I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to talk to my families without my own personal emotions coming out. I'm not sure if I'll be able to switch on and off.

It is one thing to go to work . . . . do my job . . . switch off and come home. At the moment, I'm coming home to my parents house where I live (I'm back at Mam and Dads due to divorce). When I arrive home, I face my Mam. She's tooing and froing to the hospital visits. Puts a positive and brave face on in front of Dad and then returns back in tears.

I can't cry about things. I am so so scared and worried about the health of my Mam who will not last long herself after Dad has gone.

When visiting Dad, I try to act normal . . . . read his papers . . . joke . . . smile and share humerous stories with my Dad of what has gone on in my job. Dad is so so proud of my job and of what I do. I am very well known in the town for what I do and my Dad has always loved that. It is going to be so so hard to do my job in the future whilst handling my grief at the same time.

Presently at work, I'm telling my own families who have lost someone to cancer that I do truly share their thoughts and that I really DO understand. I tell them of my own Dad and that I can understand the fight they they witnessed and of the sadness at their loss. Somehow, I feel that this helps them. I suppose it's called empathy.

Yet the pressure that I am feeling inside is huge. I want to cry - scream - hide away . . . . yet I can't !

The hospital staff have said that they are putting the MacMillan nurses in contact with the family. I really don't feel that I can face them.

I've never lost anyone myself before and this is going to be hell. I face death everyday, Day in - Day out . . . but only at work. I just don't know what to do as this may make it impossible for me to work in what I do for the future.

I have met countless MacMillan nurses in the past . . . . each of them are real angels. I regard them as Professional colleagues who not just care for the lost ones but for those who remain behind. May God Bless them all.

XXX