help needed to find top cancer specialist...
- for information on how to cope with the disease it was priceless
- for support again priceless
- for somewhere to vent anguish, pain and frustration in a relatively anonymous way it helped me no end when I was needed to be strong at home
- for understanding that we arent all muppets all the time and we are real people it makes me proud of the ScoobyNet community. Sure there are some that wonder why this thread gets bumped up every few days or so, but they havent read it.
hi Leslie, my dads mate isn't looking to good atm, he also has cancer of the bowel as well as the liver and blood. tomorrow he gets told the nitty gritty. its really got me down as i know what to expect. i cant believe that i only lost my mum 8 months ago and already we are going to be going through it again 
how are you Les anyway, keeping well?

how are you Les anyway, keeping well?

I feel fine thanks, I was clear on my last scan and will be going for more checks soon. Like anyone who has had this awful disease, I have no illusions but the best thing is just to carry on and not to think about it.
I hope that your dad's friend has success with the chemo. You can only hope for the best and that it might go into remission as has been known to happen in the past.
Best wishes Sara, I will get a chance to visit my mum's grave at Easter when we stay with my sister for a long weekend. I am looking forward to that because it is somehow possible to find a bit of comfort by doing that.
Les
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 55,952
Likes: 4
From: Selling the scoob to buy a CTR
still waiting for the results today, thats basically to tell him (Brian) how long he has left
his cancer was only discovered in Feburary, 5 days before he was due to fly to mexico. he had a full medical check 6 months earlier and everything was well. i feel like i want to run away from this one as i know whats coming.
i love going to my mums grave, it was difficult for a while but i now look forward to going. i always have a chat and tell her the gossip when i am there
i am glad you are over your nightmare Leslie

his cancer was only discovered in Feburary, 5 days before he was due to fly to mexico. he had a full medical check 6 months earlier and everything was well. i feel like i want to run away from this one as i know whats coming.
i love going to my mums grave, it was difficult for a while but i now look forward to going. i always have a chat and tell her the gossip when i am there

i am glad you are over your nightmare Leslie
Like many I have lost people I love. Some at a young age. Some through Cancer.
I think this thread is a reminder to us all that every day is precious and we need to live life to full. As well as treating those that we come into contact with on a day to day basis with respect.
My thoughts are with you all during this difficult time.
My mum who is getting on a bit - had a suspected tumor cut out of her leg last week - so now we need to wait and see.
Chin up everybody
Steve
I think this thread is a reminder to us all that every day is precious and we need to live life to full. As well as treating those that we come into contact with on a day to day basis with respect.
My thoughts are with you all during this difficult time.
My mum who is getting on a bit - had a suspected tumor cut out of her leg last week - so now we need to wait and see.
Chin up everybody
Steve
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 55,952
Likes: 4
From: Selling the scoob to buy a CTR
thanks steve, hope your mums biopsy goes ok 
i had a lump on my wrist removed and tested years ago, it left a massive horrible scar but it was benign. i didnt even think it could have been cancer at the time, but if it happened now i would be terrified after watching my mums struggle.
fingers crossed for your mum
i had a lump on my wrist removed and tested years ago, it left a massive horrible scar but it was benign. i didnt even think it could have been cancer at the time, but if it happened now i would be terrified after watching my mums struggle.
fingers crossed for your mum
I hope your all doing well and im very sorry to hear about all the problems everyone is facing at the moment we should be greatful to sara that she made this thread its been a big help to all of us at some time
Been catching up on the thread, sorry about what people are going through right now.
I'm feeling down recently, I know it's a long way off yet but I'm not looking forward to Fathers Day one bit, I have a picture of my Dad in my bedroom and my daughter has just started asking who it is
before I could say anything she said 'is that your friend', I didn't know what to say to her to be honest she sounded so sweet and innocent and it really choked me, I try to explain to her but she doesn't understand.
I'm trying to book a holiday to go away in May or June coz I need the space of being somewhere else, I havent been away since my Dad was ill and that was when we cut our honeymoon short and came home after he was taken in to hospital, I'm climbing the walls sometimes.
I'm feeling down recently, I know it's a long way off yet but I'm not looking forward to Fathers Day one bit, I have a picture of my Dad in my bedroom and my daughter has just started asking who it is
before I could say anything she said 'is that your friend', I didn't know what to say to her to be honest she sounded so sweet and innocent and it really choked me, I try to explain to her but she doesn't understand. I'm trying to book a holiday to go away in May or June coz I need the space of being somewhere else, I havent been away since my Dad was ill and that was when we cut our honeymoon short and came home after he was taken in to hospital, I'm climbing the walls sometimes.
i find fathers day hard too my dad walked out and left us when i was 7 never really seen him since dont want to either he was that bad i do have a step dad but its not quite the same he tries yeah but because he has his own daughter i never call him dad i always call him john but my mum has been married to him for the last 7 years and was engaged for a few years before that so he did bring me up really i just feel like the odd one out. with my real dad i know the area he lives in not sure what house or anything but he's not the sort of bloke i want to know.
but im sure you can make fathers day special do something nice with your kids and your husband make it a great day out so you aren't sat thinking of your dad all the time.
take care
Steph x
but im sure you can make fathers day special do something nice with your kids and your husband make it a great day out so you aren't sat thinking of your dad all the time.
take care
Steph x
I haven't been sitting dwelling on things and will probably treat Fathers Day like any other day to be honest.
I had the most strangest dream lastnight, which is making me not want to go to sleep tonight.
I dreamt that I was in a room with my Dad sitting infront of me looking really ill, but telling me all over again that he was ill and not going to make it, it was so real, I could control it coz I knew I was about to wake up but made sure I kept my eyes closed to stay asleep, I remember crying and him telling me to go ahead with what I had planned etc and just to do it then I woke up.
You're all going to think I'm a raving loon now! I've felt weird all day since getting up this morning, kept playing it through my head wondering about it, sounds stupid now like, I haven't just thought about that though, just now and again it keeps popping into my mind, wondering what the hell it was about.
I hope I'm not the only one who gets a dream like that otherwise I might think I'm going mad.
I had the most strangest dream lastnight, which is making me not want to go to sleep tonight.
I dreamt that I was in a room with my Dad sitting infront of me looking really ill, but telling me all over again that he was ill and not going to make it, it was so real, I could control it coz I knew I was about to wake up but made sure I kept my eyes closed to stay asleep, I remember crying and him telling me to go ahead with what I had planned etc and just to do it then I woke up.
You're all going to think I'm a raving loon now! I've felt weird all day since getting up this morning, kept playing it through my head wondering about it, sounds stupid now like, I haven't just thought about that though, just now and again it keeps popping into my mind, wondering what the hell it was about.
I hope I'm not the only one who gets a dream like that otherwise I might think I'm going mad.
Of course you are not the only one Julz. Its on your mind all the time and it sets off such a dream. As usual it emobdies all the worst things because we all worry in that way.
It will pass and it is also important that you do what you have to in order to keep yourself strong.
It was inspired of Sara to start this thread and so many of us have been helped very much by the help that we have received on it.
Best wishes
Les
It will pass and it is also important that you do what you have to in order to keep yourself strong.
It was inspired of Sara to start this thread and so many of us have been helped very much by the help that we have received on it.
Best wishes
Les
I'd like to briefly post why this thread has been inspiring for me too, I haven't had anything as serious as most of what some people have and are going through but it is still nerving to handle.
I had an abnormal pap smear showing high grade abnormalities. These turned out to be CIS (carcinoma in situ) as was explained to me there were cancer cells present but not in a tumour type state (can anyone medically qualified verify or further explain) quite extensively across my cervix.
Next step was a surgical procedure called LLETZ which cuts out the offending items. This went well, but I was called back as everything had not gone so this turned into a cone biopsy which I am still waiting for the results back (10/04/07).
Secondly I had problems with my bladder so have had a cystoscopy and something else to investigate, again I am waiting for pathology to come back and won't know for a couple more weeks.
After that particular op I was very sick and hit with the flu and pnuemonia so they didn't want to go ahead but after a few goes on the nebuliser I was under. I returned to A&E after I had abnormal bleeding, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Discharged a few hours later under observation from my flat mate who has been caring for me since.
I want to emphasise to any female and any males to emphasise to female friends how important it is to get pap smear tests done, I could have avoided this, but my last pap smear test was only 4 years ago (still too long I know) so to reach the cancerous stage so quickly is frightening. My mum had had it too and was successfully treated so I am very positive that I will be ok too. Ironically enough she was the same age as me when hers was diagnosed.
I have been bluntly told that this has a chance of returning as I have serveral high risk factors including family history and the HPV which is the cancer causing variant present. So the gyno has said that the best option would be to have a hysterectomy and although I have never wanted kids, it made me realise that I had always taken it for granted that I could change my mind anytime.
I am also dealing with the fact that my grandmother is currently dying of cancer and it is certainly a trialling time and cancer is such a cruel thing at times. Other members of my family have died of cancer too.
My thoughts go to all of you having to deal with this evil thing and I wish everyone the best.
This thread has helped incredibly and I am positive that everything is going to be ok. I am due for another operation soon and hoefully the last otherwise I may be looking at further types of treatment. I, in my own mind and confident that I won't need it and I will deal with things that come along if that is the case.
Please, ladies, keep your pap smears up to date, this type of cancer is very curable but don't ever let it get to this stage or further. If I can help prevent others going through this by catching it in very early stages then I will feel like this has been for something.
Don't ignore it, get it treated.
All the best,
Michelle.
I had an abnormal pap smear showing high grade abnormalities. These turned out to be CIS (carcinoma in situ) as was explained to me there were cancer cells present but not in a tumour type state (can anyone medically qualified verify or further explain) quite extensively across my cervix.
Next step was a surgical procedure called LLETZ which cuts out the offending items. This went well, but I was called back as everything had not gone so this turned into a cone biopsy which I am still waiting for the results back (10/04/07).
Secondly I had problems with my bladder so have had a cystoscopy and something else to investigate, again I am waiting for pathology to come back and won't know for a couple more weeks.
After that particular op I was very sick and hit with the flu and pnuemonia so they didn't want to go ahead but after a few goes on the nebuliser I was under. I returned to A&E after I had abnormal bleeding, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Discharged a few hours later under observation from my flat mate who has been caring for me since.
I want to emphasise to any female and any males to emphasise to female friends how important it is to get pap smear tests done, I could have avoided this, but my last pap smear test was only 4 years ago (still too long I know) so to reach the cancerous stage so quickly is frightening. My mum had had it too and was successfully treated so I am very positive that I will be ok too. Ironically enough she was the same age as me when hers was diagnosed.
I have been bluntly told that this has a chance of returning as I have serveral high risk factors including family history and the HPV which is the cancer causing variant present. So the gyno has said that the best option would be to have a hysterectomy and although I have never wanted kids, it made me realise that I had always taken it for granted that I could change my mind anytime.
I am also dealing with the fact that my grandmother is currently dying of cancer and it is certainly a trialling time and cancer is such a cruel thing at times. Other members of my family have died of cancer too.
My thoughts go to all of you having to deal with this evil thing and I wish everyone the best.
This thread has helped incredibly and I am positive that everything is going to be ok. I am due for another operation soon and hoefully the last otherwise I may be looking at further types of treatment. I, in my own mind and confident that I won't need it and I will deal with things that come along if that is the case.
Please, ladies, keep your pap smears up to date, this type of cancer is very curable but don't ever let it get to this stage or further. If I can help prevent others going through this by catching it in very early stages then I will feel like this has been for something.
Don't ignore it, get it treated.
All the best,
Michelle.
Last edited by Little Miss WRX; Apr 4, 2007 at 12:21 AM.
Michelle, you brave girl! Hats off to you for fighting it all by yourself on a strange land
:
You are far too young to face what you have faced. You will come out fine, babe. Your positivity is very admirable. Look after yourself and be strong
:You are far too young to face what you have faced. You will come out fine, babe. Your positivity is very admirable. Look after yourself and be strong
Hey Michelle, stay strong. Its easy to get to feeling low, but you sound a sensible person. I hope it all goes well for you.
I'm off this morning for my routine 3 monthly visit to the oncologist, news has been good at the last few, so I'm hopefull.
Keep us informed of your progress.
Good luck and God bless.
I'm off this morning for my routine 3 monthly visit to the oncologist, news has been good at the last few, so I'm hopefull.
Keep us informed of your progress.
Good luck and God bless.
i hope it goes well for you Michelle. As already said you sound strong but dont feel about yourself if some days you are feeling low - it is normal for this thing to be a rollercoaster.
Thanks guys, there are days when you just hang your head and think it's all too much specially with my family back in the UK. Sometimes I want to just get a hug off my mum or have a chat with my dad and I can't.
But in times like that I tell myself that even though I need to prepare for bad news, I can't think like that all the time and I'll be worrying all for nothing if it comes back that everything was successful.
The time off work is the killer as I am now taking leave unpaid but hope to return to work next week until the next operation.
All the best to all of you too and thank you again for your well wishes, we'll get through all of it together.
But in times like that I tell myself that even though I need to prepare for bad news, I can't think like that all the time and I'll be worrying all for nothing if it comes back that everything was successful.
The time off work is the killer as I am now taking leave unpaid but hope to return to work next week until the next operation.
All the best to all of you too and thank you again for your well wishes, we'll get through all of it together.
good luck michelle i hope it works out for you 
ive never had a smear test and im 21 soon i was told i didnt have to have one till i was 25 dont know how true that is but its made me think so thanks

ive never had a smear test and im 21 soon i was told i didnt have to have one till i was 25 dont know how true that is but its made me think so thanks
As soon as you become sexually active just do it, most of the time everything is ok, but on those occasions where something comes up the treatments available are easy to do and are successful.
Over here we have a pap smear register, I think there is one similar in the UK? they'll send you reminders.
Once everything is complete with me I will have to go every three-six months till they are happy and then it gets extended to every 12 months for the rest of my life unless I decide to have a hysterectomy.
Go get one.
Over here we have a pap smear register, I think there is one similar in the UK? they'll send you reminders.
Once everything is complete with me I will have to go every three-six months till they are happy and then it gets extended to every 12 months for the rest of my life unless I decide to have a hysterectomy.
Go get one.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 55,952
Likes: 4
From: Selling the scoob to buy a CTR
I'd like to briefly post why this thread has been inspiring for me too, I haven't had anything as serious as most of what some people have and are going through but it is still nerving to handle.
I had an abnormal pap smear showing high grade abnormalities. These turned out to be CIS (carcinoma in situ) as was explained to me there were cancer cells present but not in a tumour type state (can anyone medically qualified verify or further explain) quite extensively across my cervix.
Next step was a surgical procedure called LLETZ which cuts out the offending items. This went well, but I was called back as everything had not gone so this turned into a cone biopsy which I am still waiting for the results back (10/04/07).
Secondly I had problems with my bladder so have had a cystoscopy and something else to investigate, again I am waiting for pathology to come back and won't know for a couple more weeks.
After that particular op I was very sick and hit with the flu and pnuemonia so they didn't want to go ahead but after a few goes on the nebuliser I was under. I returned to A&E after I had abnormal bleeding, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Discharged a few hours later under observation from my flat mate who has been caring for me since.
I want to emphasise to any female and any males to emphasise to female friends how important it is to get pap smear tests done, I could have avoided this, but my last pap smear test was only 4 years ago (still too long I know) so to reach the cancerous stage so quickly is frightening. My mum had had it too and was successfully treated so I am very positive that I will be ok too. Ironically enough she was the same age as me when hers was diagnosed.
I have been bluntly told that this has a chance of returning as I have serveral high risk factors including family history and the HPV which is the cancer causing variant present. So the gyno has said that the best option would be to have a hysterectomy and although I have never wanted kids, it made me realise that I had always taken it for granted that I could change my mind anytime.
I am also dealing with the fact that my grandmother is currently dying of cancer and it is certainly a trialling time and cancer is such a cruel thing at times. Other members of my family have died of cancer too.
My thoughts go to all of you having to deal with this evil thing and I wish everyone the best.
This thread has helped incredibly and I am positive that everything is going to be ok. I am due for another operation soon and hoefully the last otherwise I may be looking at further types of treatment. I, in my own mind and confident that I won't need it and I will deal with things that come along if that is the case.
Please, ladies, keep your pap smears up to date, this type of cancer is very curable but don't ever let it get to this stage or further. If I can help prevent others going through this by catching it in very early stages then I will feel like this has been for something.
Don't ignore it, get it treated.
All the best,
Michelle.
I had an abnormal pap smear showing high grade abnormalities. These turned out to be CIS (carcinoma in situ) as was explained to me there were cancer cells present but not in a tumour type state (can anyone medically qualified verify or further explain) quite extensively across my cervix.
Next step was a surgical procedure called LLETZ which cuts out the offending items. This went well, but I was called back as everything had not gone so this turned into a cone biopsy which I am still waiting for the results back (10/04/07).
Secondly I had problems with my bladder so have had a cystoscopy and something else to investigate, again I am waiting for pathology to come back and won't know for a couple more weeks.
After that particular op I was very sick and hit with the flu and pnuemonia so they didn't want to go ahead but after a few goes on the nebuliser I was under. I returned to A&E after I had abnormal bleeding, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Discharged a few hours later under observation from my flat mate who has been caring for me since.
I want to emphasise to any female and any males to emphasise to female friends how important it is to get pap smear tests done, I could have avoided this, but my last pap smear test was only 4 years ago (still too long I know) so to reach the cancerous stage so quickly is frightening. My mum had had it too and was successfully treated so I am very positive that I will be ok too. Ironically enough she was the same age as me when hers was diagnosed.
I have been bluntly told that this has a chance of returning as I have serveral high risk factors including family history and the HPV which is the cancer causing variant present. So the gyno has said that the best option would be to have a hysterectomy and although I have never wanted kids, it made me realise that I had always taken it for granted that I could change my mind anytime.
I am also dealing with the fact that my grandmother is currently dying of cancer and it is certainly a trialling time and cancer is such a cruel thing at times. Other members of my family have died of cancer too.
My thoughts go to all of you having to deal with this evil thing and I wish everyone the best.
This thread has helped incredibly and I am positive that everything is going to be ok. I am due for another operation soon and hoefully the last otherwise I may be looking at further types of treatment. I, in my own mind and confident that I won't need it and I will deal with things that come along if that is the case.
Please, ladies, keep your pap smears up to date, this type of cancer is very curable but don't ever let it get to this stage or further. If I can help prevent others going through this by catching it in very early stages then I will feel like this has been for something.
Don't ignore it, get it treated.
All the best,
Michelle.
really happy that everything seems to be sorting itself out
Had some great news, the pathology from my last operation came back that the area cut away had no signs of stray cancer cells, but did have high grade pre-cancerous cells present so just another minor procedure and I will be all clear.
Its a huge relief, so I go back in 6 weeks to get that finished off - the treatment won't be as invasive as before. I'll have another pathology thing, but I won't be fretting over this one!
Then the gyno told me I would have 6 monthly pap smears for 3 years, then revert to yearly as I have the high risk HPV for the rest of my life as there is a small chance that it may return, however with as regular pap smears as I have scheduled any return should be dealt with earlier rather than later.
One less thing to worry about and I am so relieved.
Just need to get the pathology back from my bladder operation, but I am sure now that will be fine too.
Thanks for all the thoughts and support people, you guys got me through it.
Its a huge relief, so I go back in 6 weeks to get that finished off - the treatment won't be as invasive as before. I'll have another pathology thing, but I won't be fretting over this one!
Then the gyno told me I would have 6 monthly pap smears for 3 years, then revert to yearly as I have the high risk HPV for the rest of my life as there is a small chance that it may return, however with as regular pap smears as I have scheduled any return should be dealt with earlier rather than later.
One less thing to worry about and I am so relieved.
Just need to get the pathology back from my bladder operation, but I am sure now that will be fine too.

Thanks for all the thoughts and support people, you guys got me through it.
Looking forward to returning to the football pitch for sure!
Have been awarded first gade games on the inagural NSW Women's Premier League which is the highest level of women's soccer in NSW.
Two great things to happen so close together, thing are looking up, up, up.
Have been awarded first gade games on the inagural NSW Women's Premier League which is the highest level of women's soccer in NSW.
Two great things to happen so close together, thing are looking up, up, up.
First of all, great news for Michelle
Sorry I haven`t posted for a while, I hope everyone is ok. Its just so hard trying to address everyone in here as we are all going through different phases of this.
I do struggle to find the words sometimes. But we are all here together. Can I just reiterate how thankful we must be to Sara for starting this thread once again.
Personally I see it as a retreat where I can come and share my emotions when I feel like it and people will understand. And I hope we all feel the same.
Best Regards & Big Hugs

Anthony
xx
Sorry I haven`t posted for a while, I hope everyone is ok. Its just so hard trying to address everyone in here as we are all going through different phases of this.
I do struggle to find the words sometimes. But we are all here together. Can I just reiterate how thankful we must be to Sara for starting this thread once again.
Personally I see it as a retreat where I can come and share my emotions when I feel like it and people will understand. And I hope we all feel the same.
Best Regards & Big Hugs

Anthony
xx
Last edited by Bug Eyed Peas; May 5, 2007 at 06:45 PM.
Scooby Regular
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From: It's like finding a cocktail sausage, when what you really wanted was a rather large saveloy.
Fabulous news, michelle
It doesn't even have to be someone that you are related to, or know for it to hit you. My fiance and I adopt primates every year from Monkey World in Dorest, and just having a brief glance at their webiste for an update today, found out that the founder, Jim Cronin died aged 55 in March from liver cancer - apparently it was a brief illness.
It's amazing how sad it makes you even when you didn't personally know the person.. it can hit any body, at any time of life.. if you find something or are feeling unwell, get yourself checked, don't leave it... it could be nothing, it could be something - my dad is a prime example...thankfully he is in the recovery stages - still not had the all clear, but if it had been caught sooner...
Take care of yourselves, and live life to the full....
It doesn't even have to be someone that you are related to, or know for it to hit you. My fiance and I adopt primates every year from Monkey World in Dorest, and just having a brief glance at their webiste for an update today, found out that the founder, Jim Cronin died aged 55 in March from liver cancer - apparently it was a brief illness.
It's amazing how sad it makes you even when you didn't personally know the person.. it can hit any body, at any time of life.. if you find something or are feeling unwell, get yourself checked, don't leave it... it could be nothing, it could be something - my dad is a prime example...thankfully he is in the recovery stages - still not had the all clear, but if it had been caught sooner...
Take care of yourselves, and live life to the full....




