AWARDS.
YOUNG ADULTS AND CANCER
This page is entirely devoted to the experiences of young people who have cancer, or have recovered from the disease.
It is not a way of preaching on how things should be done. It is intended as a 'swapshop' of ideas on how cancer can be fought. It is about sharing ways individuals have coped. For instance exchanging all the tips and tricks that you have learnt to make the condition and its treatment more bearable. It should also be about the social effects that result from the illness and the effect that these have.
It is also a way of sharing personal experiences, indeed you might find through this exchange somebody who has had a similar encounter and then you might form a relationship.
For teenagers who are lucky enough to have access to computers and the Internet, this will hopefully be a highly useful form of communication between people who have similar conditions. Very often because of our illnesses and treatment we can not participate in normal social activities so to be able to able to talk via E-mail is great.
What I hope the page will contain.
I hope that people will respond to this page and share their tips and tricks, even their humour! For instance I recently had to attend the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for investigations. The doctors could not really figure out what was wrong with me. So, my case was presented in a lecture theatre to many clever medics, on what is known as a 'Grand Round'. Upon hearing that I was going to be presented on this I was inspired to write a poem.
THE GRAND ROUND.
One might think
With a coy wink
That the Grand Round
Is a tray of very expensive drinks!
However it is a jamboree
For the doctors to see
Me in the flesh
And weave their intellectual mesh
They may say, 'Mm.. an interesting case.'
But I ask, 'What is at its base?'
They may come with ideas or never know,
But in medicine's knowledge quest, I will never be a waste.
©TFRG 22/08/98
My Own tips.
When I was on chemotherapy I used a number of strategies to cope with its' nausea-causing effects:
I found that having a fizzy drink or flavoured water nearby to sip, helped with the horrible tastes that I got in my mouth.
It was suggested to me at quite an early stage that I wore 'sea bands' (which are normally worn to stop seasickness). I wore them and the only time I can remember being sick, was when I had too much mint sauce on my Sunday roast!
Throughout my illness I found that not only did I need protecting but also those around me (my family). Cancer is an illness that affects not only the individual with it but also those around them. In consequence I used a couple of methods to cope with this:
I talked regularly to an independent and objective person outside of my family. This allowed me to air my thoughts freely.
As shown above I have used poetry to try and exorcise my feelings. For me poetry was especially good, as the pen and paper became my confidante and unlike people they did not judge me.
The Aims of this Page.
This page will gradually develop into everyone's page, with me as its editor. Please send your submissions to the e-mail address below. I hope that this page can develop and be a useful resource for many people.
IN SUMMARY:
the page should contain your experiences in whatever from you might want to send them (as for example the poem above). I learnt a great deal about coping with cancer by talking with other sufferers. I think that this page could useful in spreading the knowledge that not only I have gained but also that which other people have found.Other People's tips.
I recommend Tea ("regular" tea) when nauseous. I normally don't drink tea, but I found it tasted OK (my taste sense got weird while on chemo) and if you do throw up (which I did) it doesn't taste as bad as other flavoured drinks...
I have noticed that friends find it hard to come and visit because they feel out of place and don't know what to say. It is always useful to give them small chores. It makes them feel good about themselves! I also had games and toys near my bed so we could all do fun things during their visits (puzzles, cards and "executive games").
CONTACT:
Please make sure your Email is included in any response so others and I can contact you.
Other Web Sites and Pages.
The Psychosocial Aspects of Cancer and the Adolescent (October 31, Brisbane, Australia)
http://members.aol.com/ylc1/www/title.html (young adults living with cancer).
Fanlight Productions - Cancer Videos (some dealing with teenage cancer).
(Oncology) Adolescent Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne,UK
Following a recommendation by email this site dealing with alternative therapies is also included.
http://www.livingstonmedcentr.com/index.htm
http://www.dejanews.com/group/dejanews.members.health.tfrg.young-adults-cancer
Click HERE to vote for this page as a Starting Point Hot Site.
Click here to find out about hypnosis and oncology http://wkweb5.cableinet.co.uk/asif/mb.htm
To find out about Breast Cancer information go to the mailing list, 'Swallows' at http://www.flyingcameraco.demon.co.uk/swallows.htm
Connect and converse with others in a forum about Young Adults and Cancer by following the link below.
http://www.dejanews.com/~talkyoungcancer
These are just a few of the sites that are available on the Worldwide Web and serve just as an example of the wealth of material that is available. However, be careful, don't self-diagnose through the web, and use it only as a backup to your doctors.
Personal Experiences.
This is one of the most important areas on this page as with people submitting their stories they can help others and perhaps help themselves. Through this section I have managed to join two families in similar situations. It might be that by putting your experiences here, another individual in the same situation might chose to make contact.
Below are some personal stories if you have any experiences or advice relating to them, send an email to the address shown above.
Peter and Cindy's story.
Hi, my daughter (28) is in the early stages of recovering from radical surgery to remove her stomach due to cancer. She is showing some signs of possible recurrence - we will know better after a biopsy next week. Your page excited us as we are desperate to talk to people recovering. We need to participate in the group strength. Her name is Cindy, mine is Peter
An email I received on 14/11/98.
Hear ye! Hear YE!
Cindy is right now in the recovery room at the hospital. She has just had her lump removed AND IT WAS NOT A LUMP. It was a large cyst - fluid only where her lymph node used to be. So it would appear as if her chemotherapy is working. There is no known recurrence of the cancer at this time. Even small miracles are miracles just the same. She has more tests next week but she just told me she feels good about them now. This is great news everyone.
You all have a great day. WE WILL!!
A Young woman's story of Breast Cancer.
I've just been told I have breast cancer. I found a lump about 2.5 cm while
laying down one night. I didn't take it seriously since my mother has had
problems with cysts. My dr. said it had to come out and thought it was a
fibroidadenoma. But once it came out he said that it was malignant and had spread to near by tissues. Clinically speaking he called it a high grade, poorly differentiated, infiltrating, duct carcinoma. I go for a bone scan and a mammogram and then possibly a cat scan. I'm trying to decide whether I should have a mastectomy or another lumpectomy. Either way I will have to have the maximum chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Please if there is anyone that can let me know how they coped or got through this it would help me so much
Sara's story of cancer.
Almost 10 years ago, while visiting a relative in the United States I
was diagnosed with LUNG CANCER.what do you say to thatĦĦĦ?
I went through an operation and, had my right lung removed. I have since lived
with one lung.
Sometimes its difficult to breathe, but I'm here .I live a normal life; and work
as a high school teacher. There are a few things I can not do like playing
tennis, running and so on and now after 9 years the nightmare has begun again but this time it is my son suffering, and this is the worst part.
In addition as a result of chemotherapy I lost part of my hearing and I also have difficulty in wearing shoes. I've lost the sensitivity in both my hands and feet.(polineuritis)
But I'M ALIVE. Numerically I'm the 5% who survive lung-cancer.
Within the experience of the individual with the condition, it is important to remember the 'family', as they are the 'backup team' and one's chief source of support. So click on the icon below and have a look at the page 'Family Matters'
GUESTBOOK:
please sign it and tell me about your experiences and tips, if you want to, and whether I can put them on the page.View My guestbook 
Sign my guestbook
(Alternatively contact me more privately at tfrg@easynet.co.uk)
NB DISCLAIMER: any information in or resulting from my guest book comes from those who sign it. Therefore I as the page author do not have any responsibility on how that information is acted upon.
TO FIND OUT MORE CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.
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