My beautiful 3 year old boy lost his battle with neuroblastoma in mid-August. We are busy planning his funeral celebration and it is surprising how joyful it has been to simply talk about his favourite music, share photos and memories. Every day is rough, but there are bright spots of joy.

To all of you still fighting, or fighting for one you love, our hearts go out to you. Fill your days with brightness if you can and keep loving each other xx

I’m 20 years old and horribly lost right now. Funeral was very recent. Just Dad, brother and I now. It feels like a chunk of my heart was ripped out and so much just does not make sense right now. This illness took everything from us and then some. My life feels like it is on hold still and maybe it will continue to feel like that over time; like I’m waiting for what my life was supposed to be. I know time heals and I have heard it over and over again but because of this illness my life is just never going to be the same without her. She had so much more to give and I had so much more I wanted to give back to her. I pray in the future the manner in which the disease is stalled, treated and maybe even cured becomes better. I think you never really understand until the disease touches you directly.

Had a mate and his Mrs come over today to help us assemble our garden shed. I’d started it with the mrs but it ended up overwhelming us, primarily me. I get worn out in half an hour and we had shed panels around the yard for about a month.

Friends in need are friends indeed, we’ve been so well supported by our family, friends and local community. Like the local pool comp we play in gave us a very much appreciated cheque at the last presentation. We live well but frugally, our income is the Australian government’s disability support pension (DSP) which isn’t a hardship for us as home owners free of rent.

It’s funny, we’d always been home and Netflix people but made a conscious decision to put ourselves out there a few years back when we moved to build a house somewhere we could afford. When we built our house we decided to get a pool table and be a part of the local pool and snooker scene. We’ve got lifelong friends as a result and right at the time such relationships are needed.

We have great lives but the good is great because of other people. Friends that turn up.

Hello. So my mom is in remission for lung and brain cancer. Although she’s been dealing with her pancreatic cancer since fall. She’s been doing good. Except recently things have been really bad.

She doesn’t want to eat or drink. We’ve been getting her to drink ensure drinks and little meals. She fainted on Sunday.. stopped breathing for a bit. We took her to the ER at a Sanford location. They took her labs and everything was normal.. so they said they can’t admit her. Same thing happened yesterday too. Their excuse was “it’s a side effect of chemo.” I know this is not that.

She has lost about 30-40lbs in the last 6 weeks. She now has a hard time walking, going to the bathroom, etc. She is sleeping a lot. She threw up yesterday at the ER. All liquids, no chunks. I’m very scared that this is resembling end stage pancreatic cancer/failure. I don’t want her to die. I’m only 22. I need my mom.

Is there any way to get her admitted? Is there anything I can do for her to help her more than getting her to eat? Please help me.

Good afternoon all! I am starting to feel the effects of my cancer taking over my body. I get tired easily. I get nauseous often and I am easily light headed or dizzy. Soon I will be bed ridden but until then you can’t stop me! F*** YOU CANCER. I

Today was a good news day. I received my MRI scan results for my GBM and there was no significant change in size inthe past 3 months! I never thought I would ever be excited for no change, but the chemo is doing its job and keeping it from growing and that is fine by me.

First course of chemo & radio treatment appears to have failed, moving me from an 80+% survival rate category to < 20% (radio & chemo resistant oropharyngeal cancer). I made a living by talking, so being mute isn’t an option. I tried my first speaking heavy event early this month and it was a disaster.

As I was being put under this week for another biopsy, I found myself praying that I wouldn’t wake up. I was pretty disappointed when I did.

My ex wives have taken almost all of my savings. I’m in my 50s. I have no insurance. I’m unable to work consistently because of issues with my throat, pain & pain med side effects. My last remnants of retirement savings are rapidly being drained.

I really don’t want to spend the next 5 years living like this. I probably only have savings for 2 years anyway.

It may be selfish of me but “living for my kids” or “living for my girlfriend” isn’t motivating. It just feels like another burden.

How do you keep going?

Exciting Announcement:

Finally pregnant! It’s a Girl! Yay!

Ladies freeze your eggs before treatments it is so worth it!

I’m finally pregnant after wanting to be for 9 years! It was just one trauma after another for awhile. When my hubby and I first wanted a bab, my sister tragically died by suicide and I got PTSD because I found her with my mom and was in no healthy mental state to take care of a baby. Then I got brain cancer after that, and obviously wasn’t healthy then. Did IVF before treatments, and the 1st one didn’t implant and I was devastated because we only had 2 more chances (2 embryos left) and my husband didn’t want to adopt for silly reasons, so I was so devastated and depressed. Then I started doing my prayers and devotion everyday. Had two churches and family and friends pray for me, then I started having dreams from God and Jesus that I was pregnant and then not long after I had dreams of holding a baby girl!

Pregnant at 35! Been in remission for 1-2 years now. Left hand is still screwed up so I’m praying I can hold the baby safely and that the baby will make it through delivery.

Thank you Jesus! God is good l!

Hey guys,

I just wanted to say at the start of this, i’m really not posting this to ask for sympathy or anyone to feel sorry for me etc. I’ve just turned 21, and I got over the fact I was diagnosed with cancer about 2 days in, and my mindset has just been getting through the treatment and staying positive throughout.

I’ve now completed the treatment, and am due to have a scan to get the official “cancer-free” in a few weeks, which i’m sure will be positive.

My problem is this. A lot of my self worth comes from my ability to play footy to a good level, I play at uni and in quite a good saturday team (not pro or anything but with a good group of players). The cancer has absolutely ravaged my body to be honest, i’ve put on about 8kgs of weight, lost all my muscle and pretty much all my fitness and ability on the ball after 6 months of no exercise and fighting this disease.

What this whole ordeal has given me is motivation, and a different level of it. I can’t explain how badly I want to get back to the fitness/ athleticism levels I was at pre-cancer, but I also really want to go above and beyond and push myself to play football to as high a standard as possible whilst i’m young and able to physically do so.

I guess what i’m really asking for is advice, or anyone with knowledge of recovering from an illness like this or just getting unfit players back in shape in both the most efficient and effective way possible. Whether it’s nutrition advice, advice to fix my body composition, advice for getting my technique back, anything AT ALL is welcome.

I will not let this beat me, but that doesn’t mean the recovery is going to be easy, so any advice/help at all is appreciated - even if it’s just pointing me towards the right people. I was tempted to reach out to some high level coaches on things like linkedin for some advice but thought this might be a bit unrealistic.

Just as a final note, i’m a centre-back who is 5’10, so I used to rely on my athletic ability and strength a lot in battles with taller strikers. My coach has been enquiring about converting me to a right back because he thought I had more to offer further up the pitch but not sure whether this will happen for a while now.

cheers lads - really really means a lot

So, 16 days ago i came back. It has been a busy few weeks since. But we have PROGRESS!

I have progressed from "well this sucks rocks" to "THIS F'N SUCKS ROCKS"....

Saw my surgeon monday. He has me on top of the cancellation list and slated for surgery in about 6 weeks. Saw my gyn tuesday since all of a sudden post menopausal me has a need for panty liners and i completely freaked. Had my PET wednesday.

My new onco doc thursday morning, she is nice. Found out that YEP, this cancer is fiesty, on the move, and got a referral to radiation onco doc.

So this a.m. they called me, and i got appointment an hour later.

I like this dude. I told him there was zero reason to be delicate or rely on duckbilled platitudes with me. So he was absolutely blunt about what radiation post surgery will entail.

And, he does believe it is in the lymph nodes. But not in the bone (yet).

Meanwhile, the 2 nurse navigators are seeing about a backup referral to Huntsman in Salt Lake if something crazy happens. Frankly i most definitely do not want a new surgeon at this stage.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, a friend sent prayers and a nice super soft oversized hoodie out of the blue.

And the nurse navigator cut some red tape and got me a dental appointment about the sudden and very ridiculous tooth infection. So i got antibiotics for that at least. Nothing like having a random tooth infection show up. Both me and my radiationonco are really side eying this, because literally in less than three weeks the part ofmy lower gum that still has teeth is getting way way sketchy.

The social worker lady is meeting with me about options for getting my hair chopped and made into a wig (just in case, ya know. They are now making noises about chemo/immunotherapy along with radiation depending on what my surgeon finds).

In the middke of all this madness we had company. And the mouth is disintegrating fast enough it will be puree and liquid time again shortly.

Thank god i have lots of magic mouthwash.

27F. Found a tumour about in July that grew from a tiny mosquito bite sized growth to a large 2.5cm growth near my toe webs within 1 month.

Along the way, initially thought was a cyst, debunked as a nerve tumour. Then, initially thought as schwannoma based on stats and probability.. went for surgery and turns out to be malignant tumour. Today, preliminary result was small blue round cell tumour but still ongoing tests at the pathology side. Said to be aggressive.

today they also tell me they got to remove my toes (>1) for R0 excision. Then they can’t stitch it up so they need to replace the area with my meat from my thigh. Long surgery and long recovery. Toes gonna be gone, foot gonna look like shrek swollen ugly feet. My thigh gonna have a big ass scar - no more short dresses, no more heels cus how to balance? No more open toe shoes or sandals.

After that, there’s still risk of recurrence, and also maybe require chemo means no hair.

Job on the line, money depleting, everyone is sad and frustrated over the news. Money will become an issue sooner or later.

Just feel so sad and defeated, thinking maybe i should just forgo the surgery and live my life to the fullest till the cancer consumes me. Just live like all these news never been heard and yolo?

tomorrow is the PETCT scan to check whether it has spread anywhere else. but idk if it will make any difference cus my toes and foot gonna be wrecked anyway. and i’m gonna die anyway.

—— Edit: I wrote this post on the night I first received the news. I was sad, shocked, and probably in denial. But when I woke up this morning to see so many heartfelt comments from strangers, I was so so surprised from the support and love i got. Some even slapped me back to reality (e.g. death by cancer is painful / on grand scheme of things it’s just a foot). I just want to thank all of you for your perspectives and support. Whenever my mind drifts to giving up, I find myself going back to read all your comments :’) Thank you.

I am currently 120 days post stem cell transplant. I have absolutely no appetite. When I try to force myself to eat I end up feeling ill. I’ve lost about 20 lbs in the last month. At this point I’m not sure what to do? My oncologist believes that it’s all mental. I simply do not agree as I literally have no appetite even though I want to eat. Has anyone else experienced this?

Stage 4 nsclc w brain mets, diagnosed a few weeks ago, the thing i have learned so far is that the worst impact for me is teh loss of energy. I can live with pain, i can live with shortness of breath but days were i can barely get out of bed and prepare some food are the worst.

Life without energy is no life.

So what are your life hacks to maximize energy?

Today sucked, this week sucked, life generally sucks. I never thought life would look like this and neither did any of you. Just a note to say I’m proud of you for getting through the week and overcoming whatever challenges you had. You’re not alone. 🤍

Anyone else thankful but also get annoyed when people call you a fighter or this cancer a fight or that you are so brave? I don’t think I am any of those things. I am doing what I need to do to get better. It doesn’t feel like anything I’m really doing is “fighting” or “brave” or even changing the situation aside from making decisions. It feels like these steps I take either work or they don’t but not through much conscious fault of my own. To me it just feels like this shitty thing to hopefully get through.

I'm 60 something days out from my second HDCT and stem cell transplant, and my AFP numbers went up again, in the low 100's. Did 4xBEP, 1xTIP and then the 2xHDCT+SCT. Looking at options. Every time it responds well, and then goes back up. I'm not interested im just giving up; they're looking at clinical trials, i'm willing to do that and more chemo. Anyone else experience this? If it responds and goes down, but then goes back up, does that still mean it's "refractive" or not? Because I thought that when it doesn't respond at all. I will say, that after it went back up after the initial 4xBEP, and went up to the 700 range, with just ONE round of VIP it went back down to the 100 range. We have some friends that are in the medical field and they suggested I tell my oncologist to reach out to Dr. Einhorn. I'm 24 years old. I'm not gonna give up this easily because it seems like that the treatments are working but just not completely enough. My pathology is 80% yolk sac, 10% seminoma and 10% teratoma. I was told several times that my pathology was very responsive to chemo and very curable, and it HAS been very responsive to chemo, but it just goes back up again. I don't understand.

Hi everyone, my father (55) was just diagnosed with lymphoma. I don’t know much but I know it’s in his lung and spleen. The first lump he noticed was in his neck. It grew. Then his armpit. He did not go to the doctor for months. He has always been irresponsible. He is an alcoholic and smokes 2 packs a day. Stage 2 diabetic 6 feet tall and around 270 or more. Eats like crap and treats his body like crap. No exercise at all.

I’m upset. I’m upset because for 7 years, since my daughter was born and I chose sobriety I have tried to get him on board. I help them go to rehab. I helped them with money and rides. I did everything I could and he made zero effort. I even asked to take out a life insurance policy years ago so we could bury him, he told me “your f***** for trying to profit off my death” which I understand was projection and something he would clearly do.

I’m just, upset. Sad sure, mad for sure. I don’t know what or if this will kill him. I’m not sure how to feel. I just needed to vent. Sorry if this is not the place for that.

My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer 3 years ago, she was holding up very well, still is…. More or less.

My father just got diagnosed with prostate cancer. Yesterday. I hope and pray it’s only stage 1. From the mri that’s all they can see.

This has taken a huge toll on my mother. She has lost all hope at life and is in huge depression.

My father right now has just blocked off anything to do with cancer. And is living like it never happened.

I am 21. I don’t know what to do anymore. I am trying my hardest to look after both of them. Organise appointments, consultations.

I will continue to try and do my hardest, but this honestly feels like a breaking point. Feels like rock bottom. I don’t know how to push through.

My wife is loosing hair during her chemo even with cold capping. She is absolutely traumatized and said she would rather die than loose her hair. She is blaming me loosing her hair by her temples because I put the tape to protect her scalp from frost bite, on the exposed scalp with thin hair and it all came out when she removed it. She is devastated beyond reason. I have no idea how to support her through this part? I love her more than anything in this world and I feel hopeless hearing her say she wants to die. I don't know what to do or how to support her, I am speechless other than I can say I'm sorry. This whole thing sux for everyone involved, it sux the worst for her. When I tell her she is still beautiful, my words mean nothing to her. How can I help when my words are empty to her even though I mean what I say? I try to make her laugh and that does not work. Nothing I do or say works. Sorry for the rant I just need to vent, I can't vent to my only friend, the love of my life , because she is fighting cancer.

I been having some nodes in my right breast and took 4 mammograms and 3 biopsies to realize that's its cancer. I just barely got the call and I thought I was prepared for this call. I wasn't, I dont even know how to react or what to say. I mean reading through the test results it seems to be aggressive and growing fast,but I dont know what that means. What hurts me most is that I have 2 children, 15 and 13. Like how did you or someone you know react and what was next steps? Please I just want to know or hear even though my outcome can be different

I’m so overwhelmed and new to all of the acronyms that I see being used on here. My father was just diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Unless radiology accepts him we are being told that he has no treatment options. There is a 14 cm lesion so he is not a candidate for surgery or a transplant. He has cirrhosis but nothing history of drinking so they are assuming that it is non alcoholic fatty liver disease if that helps. Every diagnosis we received is new to us as he has had 0 symptoms thus far. Does this all sound right? Should we get a second opinion? They are giving him months to weeks. He was jaundiced when he came in but they can’t explain how his numbers went down so rapidly. Any help or advice is much needed and appreciated.

I (25m) was just today diagnosed with testicular cancer. I’m still waiting for my test results to get back, but I understand that testicular cancer generally has a pretty good prognosis. That said, death is a possibility, and it’s hitting my girlfriend very hard. Anyone have any advice for helping her get through this?

Hi

I posted on here about a month ago, I had ended up in the hospital with fluid around my heart and my oncologist told me I had maybe 6 months-1 year to live. Well, on Saturday I wound up in the hospital again thinking it was the same problem. Turns out, the tumor next to my heart grew from 4cm to 13cm in the month I’ve been home, and it’s pushing on my heart & causing a lot of strain. The oncologist then explained that he had tried to be optimistic about my prognosis in July, but because of this development he thinks I have a few weeks left at most.

I’ve just been crying since I got home. I wanted more time with my family and friends. I feel so rushed now, all the plans I had just went down the toilet. Thank you to everyone who read my rants and gave me advice, I wish you all the best.