It was March 23rd, 2005 I was told I had a rare form of inflamatory breast cancer, grade 3.
4 years on, and seeing the likes of young Jade Goody die, makes me feel very grateful to be here, but sad at the same time.
It's changed the way I look at things in life, how can it not.And I know I'm not the only one to have battled this bloody awful disease on the forum, and some are still fighting. Grouphug

Grouphug

There is a saying...''There but for the grace of God go I''

How lucky we are to have survived.

Your so right, LM. Grouphug
Just been for a walk with my dog, took in the scenery, I felt a mixture of guilt for those that haven't been as lucky as me, and a mix of gratitude.
The sad stories make the headlines, but we hardly hear any good news relating to the big 'C'.So, I just wanted to put that right, in our little slice of the internet. ;) wooofee

I agree pr...its not often we hear good news.

Mention the C word and it strikes terror into us. I remember very well what I felt and that was 21 years ago.

I get annoyed with myself when I moan about my life...I am lucky to still be here so really have no right to moan...we still do though. Laughing man

Hey, to moan is to be human.
We are never happier that when we are having a moan after all. :rolleyes: ;)
The weather, state of the economy, the price of fish...... :lol:

Laughing man true.

Grouphug for you ladies. It would be nice if the media did a big spread on people who have fought cancer and won. I will add two people I know of. One the husband of a friend- he had lung cancer and had a part of his lung removed. He went on to work in a quarry and is now well past retirement age - some 32 years on.
The other, a friend of my mum's - has been retired some 15 years and had breast cancer around17 years ago.

Handsup Would be great if the media did regular success stories.Would give more hope to people.

My ex's aunt got breast cancer at the age of 30 and had to have both breasts off.
She lived until she was 90. Handsup

Thank you girls, just the pick-me-up I need. B-lowKiss B-lowKiss
My mother *spits*, even though we don't get on, I'm glad she survived cancer, it's some 25 years ago or more she battled with it.I'm not quite sure what type as a lot was kept from me, but it was *whispers* down there, in her lady bits. w-histle
It's why I have been so open with my kids, they need to know the facts so they can keep an eye on their own health.
And there are survivors out there, quite a few on here in fact. :D Handsup Handsup

Grouphug

It is heartening when we hear of people beating it and living to a ripe old age.

Handsup

Handsup Handsup Handsup Handsup
Me and you'll be around for a long time kid *whispers...if only to annoy the boss* Chortle

Laughing man thats easily done. :D

Great stuff PR, and indeed everyone here that is engaged in beating the sh*t out of 'The Beast'

Keep going guys, cause you all know you're worth it.

B-lowKiss

B-lowKiss 4d544553

Bless your cotton socks Hammer. B-lowKiss thumbsup

on monday i have to go for a mammogram,when i first got the letter i was a bit shoked to say the least,as i am a few years off 50,so i rang them up and it a new GOVERMENT thing that you have it done in your 47th year,that was news to me.

Wow same here Lm, only it was my mums aunt, she had both off years and years ago and she died in the 80's when she was in her 80's..

My mother in law had 1 breast removed in the early 80's and she is still going strong..

:)

I know it probably scared you Sharon, but please go for it.Thing is, at last the government have taken note that many younger woman are getting breast cancer, and when found early there is something that can be done about it.
People like myself (I was 34 when I had both my breasts off) have fought hard to get the government to do something to prevent younger woman dying from a disease that can be controlled if caught early enough.
I had to wait for months before they'd carry out a mammogram on me as I had no lump, but red orange peel effect skin on the breast, this known as inflammatory breast cancer.They only found it was cancer when I asked for a skin biopsy, following the advice of my breast care nurse.Even then I had to kick up a fuss in the clinic to get it done, I was told they were too busy.A kindly doctor took pity on me, and carried out the biopsy, I was told the bad news a few days later.

This is good news Sharon, really good news.Best of luck for your test. B-lowKiss

Fab news Floss, you made me smile. ;) thumbsup

I know I am only a mere male, well in theory at least but I have to echo what PR says Sharon.

Please go and get the test done you know it makes sense, it is only recently that screening tests like these came into being.
People must take them up to convince our health officials that they work, for work they do even if only one person in thousands are saved.

We are fighting to get screening for testicular cancer bought in but it is a fight to get anywhere.

I am sure everything will be well and sorry to be a little blunt.
Good luck and take care.

PR and Hammer,i am going to get the test done,i was just a bit shocked ,that i had heard no mention of the goverment ,bringing down the age for it to be done.

Good girl Sharon. B-lowKiss Have your mind put at rest.You'll be glad you did.

And Hammer, I feel that the men get left behind when it comes to shouting the loudest about getting help with male cancer screening etc.It's grossly unfair, and I hope that we will move in the right direction and get the balance equal for male and female cancer screening.
Even men can get breast cancer, but it's a subject we don't hear much about, maybe men feel uneasy talking about this mainly female cancer.There is support for it, but the men folk must feel shut out when we see things like The Race For Life being advertised on tv and getting such fantastic support.The Breast Cancer Care website were fantastic for me when I needed them for support and advice.I've not been on there for a long time though, I've tried to move on from that.I'd like to think I don't need them now.But I'll always be grateful to them. B-lowKiss

Yes PR I have talked a lot to my Oncologist about male cancer especially the testicular and prostate kind although my sneaky sod is neither and arrived unannounced.

She has always told me that very often men leave it far too late to get some advice or help when they know there is an obvious problem that should not be ignored.
We sign petition after petition but it falls on largely deaf ears but we hopefully will get there in the end.
A while ago I ran a very small private forum for sufferers and their carers who largely go about unlooked for and forgotten.

It was the devils own job to get a membership and then the scum spammers got to it so I have pulled it down for a while.

That was low of them Hammer, to do that to a forum that was to help cancer patients.I hope you won't be put off from returning to it, well done for setting it up.
If your are a regular at your hospital and doctors surgery, why not ask them to display flyers advertising your website? Maybe you could set up a local group and have meetings too.There are groups like this in my hometown of Swansea, and I've noticed one at Brecon.
I ran a forum in the past for tattoo enthusiasts, before I went ill.That attracted some nutters, so I pulled that as I didn't need the hassle.

Tell you what, Yours magazine is good.Lots of health advice etc, you may be able to drum up support for your website group on that too.It's aimed at more mature folks, rather than fashion mad 20-30 somethings.E-mail them Hammer. ;)

http://www.yours.co.uk/

Hammer, just been chatting to my husband.He posts on a Corgi registered gas fitters forum, and the lads on there have been talking about male cancers.
I'd give you a link, but it's for gas fitters that have to be Corgi registered, so I got my hubby to post a link for Keyboard Friends on there instead asking for them to get in touch on here.
Fingers crossed you'll drum up some support for your forum, or even chat on here if you want.
Women tend to talk more openly about illness, while you men try and brave it out, but secretly inside you could do with someone to talk to also.
I really hope this will help you and others out Hammer. B-lowKiss

Thanks for all the tips PR I am really most grateful.

I have put a holding page for the forum back up. I must get it back up again very soon, it would be silly not to as I am paying hosting fees in any event.

I had to ditch the complete database as the spammers got in everywhere despite having a load of blockers in place. I do have a sense of humour but even I thought it a little cynical to have adverts for huge male members and viagra in a chemo support forum.
I might well look at other forum apps instead of PHP which might be safer.
As far as help goes, it is very frustrating. My specialist helped by writing a good article on the whole subject but I could not use it as one of the health trusts said it was a no no.
I have found quite unbelievably that not many cancer depts will even offer advice or direction.
One very famous help organization in the states would only allow me to use their logo as a link to their site if I paid them.

I am looking to revamp all my cancer help pages as well as the forum and I do appreciate any ideas I get.

Many Thanks.

Your most welcome Hammer.
If you need an extra set of eyes on the forum to help you mod it, give me a shout.Obviously, I won't want to post on there (and it would be unsettling for the men on there to have some woman posting) I'd be happy to help.
I think a lot of the problem is that forums become a target when certain words are used, quite harmlessly.The spammers home in on it, and you get bombarded with spam.
Have you noticed the ads that pop up on here when you talk about a topic? No sooner do you menetion a word, no matter what, say a musical artist, or a holiday resort etc, and the ads related to that subject start.I think that may have been your problem.
Let me know if I can be of any help to you. ;)