I posted a letter some time ago about my brother with Multiple Myeloma and suffering.
I am still looking for someone with this decease to chat to.
He has been in and out of hospital for pain control. Now on chemo again (thalidimide) and strong pain killers at home. He just lies in bed all day and even though we have asked him to get up more, he says he is in too much pain.
Surely he cant just lie there and deteriorate. Even though he eats well, he is loosing weight every day.
I am so worried. Seeing his doctor Thursday to discuss again.
As a caregiver, it has become very difficult for me

Hi, I personally feel that these notice boards are a very good thing. I have been ready these article for a while now and there is one on a website called Can-Sir too and the stories are very heart warming and makes you realise that your problems are but small compared to others. They are truly inspirational and also helps to get things off your own chest. I am a Prostate Cancer "&" Testicular Cancer survivor. My road with cancer started at age 33 and I am now 57 and widow. When I was diagnosed with Testical Cancer and that in itself was devistating, I thought my world was coming to an end. I was then told that I could not have anymore children but lucky for me my wife and I had already 2 kids but... we wanted more. I went for treatment etc. but at the age of 37, yes 37... I was also diagnosed with Prostate cancer. I had to have 1 of my testicles removed but luckly for me my Prostate cancer was only at the biggining stages and it was treated. My wife died last year from lymphoma and all the time we thought that I would die first. I will never marry again because I miss her and still cry at night when I think about her and those days we would fast together during Ramadaan.

I am going to tell two stories today...

The first story is about my dear mom who I lost to Cancer last year September at the age of 48(3 days before her 49th birthday). In 2008 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer which had spread secondary to her lymph nodes.

When we as a family of 5 - Mom, Dad & 3 daughters heard this news we were devastated, BUT we all stayed positive and were going to fight as a family. My mom had a lumpectomy and then a strong course of Chemo as well as radiation. Finally in the beginning 2009 the battle was over, and the doctors said the cancer was gone.

In May 2009 we went to the USA for my sister's wedding, and after the trip my mom had pain in her breast and went to get it checked, only to find out that there was another lump in her breast and the Cancer was actually not gone! Upon finding out this news, we realised that the Doctor who told my mom she was Clear of Cancer had only done blood tests and no scans to actually see - So please everyone insist on all the tests you want until you are satisfied with the answer!

So once again my mom started chemo... she had a choice of either intravenous treatment or tablets with bad side effects, but because of her hate for needles and drips she opted for the tablets. Still on this, she lost all her again, and suffered other bad symptoms... but she still lived life to the best that she could, and always had a smile on her face:)

In the early months of 2010 things began to change, she became different and wasn't the same person. We all didn't know what was wrong and thought it was just depression. In June 2010 she had her check up scan, and when she went we asked them to extend the scan over her full body, and not just the abdomen. On June 30th we found out that the cancer had spread to both her Lungs and her Brains. We were shocked, how could this be happening to us???

She was so weak, but still had fight in her, and carried on with more and more chemo. On the 30th of September, exactly 3 months to the day she was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer, she passed away.

My mom was a truly amazing woman, and inspired so many people. When she was in Unitas hospital with two broken femurs, and in an extremely weak state, she still managed to worry about the children in the cancer ward, one specific young boy named Micheal... On the day of her memorial we went to see Micheal and his mother, and they were so sad too.

I miss my Mom everyday, but I know she is now in a better place with no suffering.

My second story is a happier one, as well as a shorter one. It is the story of My dad.

Although I was too young to remember my Dad was diagnosed with bone marrow Cancer during his twenties. The doctors put him on Chemo, but told him he only had 18 months to live. After a long hard fight, and being the first South African to have a bone marrow transplant, My Dad is still here at the age of 50 years old!

So although my first story is rather a Sad one, I would just like to let all of those who are fighting the battle of Cancer at the moment to NEVER give up hope. Some Wont Survive this horrible disease but others will - the proof is in the pudding.

And even for those who may not make it, let them still fight for their lives and live every moment that they have to the fullest. If you have a family member who is fighting Cancer, please support them in every way, and Never undermine what they are capable of.

Even though my mom didn't make it, she still had a strong motto! She always used to say "I HAVE CANCER, CANCER DOESN'T HAVE ME". I urge people who are fighting to live by a motto such as this, because although it is the hardest struggle someone can ever go through, it is what you make of it.

I send my prayers to all those who are suffering, and Urge you to never give up Hope. Thank you for letting me share my story!

Goeie more,

My naam is Roelien Smith. Ek is 'n 43jarige mamma van 2 tiener meisies en baie dankbaar vir die genade van ons hemelse Vader dat ek vandag nog hierdie briefie kan skryf.
Ek is Januarie 2009 met kolon kanker gediagnosee en vroeg in Februarie 2009 is my hele kolon verwyder. Ek wag geseend genoeg dar daar geen kanker in my rektum was nie en die awesome spesialis Dr Thomas Gunning kon a "J-Pouch" maak met my dunderm sodat ek nie 'n sakkie hoef te dra uitwendig nie. Die operasie van 5 ure het goed verloop siende dat 'n 'birthdefect" in my regter nierpyp ontdek is en die ander spesialis dit ook eers gou 'gefix' het voordat my kolon verwyder is. Saam met die toetse het dit 2 kolle op my lewer gewys op die plate. Die dr sou 'n biopsie doen wanneer hy die kolon verwyder het. Toe hul oopsny was daar niks op my lewer nie. Ek prys die Here daarvoor.
Ek het daarna 6 maande se chemo gehad en my hare verloor en 'n stryd gehad met diahree agv die chemo en die feit dat ek nie meer 'n kolon gehad het nie.
Ek het gedurende my chemo deelgeneem aan die 2009 Relay for Life in Centurion en al moes ek kort kort badkamer toe "draf" was dit 'n amazing experience om heel nag wakker te kon bly en saam met ander op te staan en 'n verskil te kon maak.
My broer, Johan, is op 24 Augustus aan Burkitts Lymphoma oorlede na hy slegs 10 maande voor sy dood uitgevind het dat hy kanker het. Maar steeds is God se genade groot in sy lewe. Ook het helpers hom en sy gesin bygestaan in hul tyd van nood en onsekerheid.Dankie aan almal wat hul bygestaan en gehelp het.
Ek het vandag 'n bos hare en is nog steeds 1 jaar en 8 maande kankervry.Die tye was rof en dae was onseker maar om aan die Here vas te hou en woorde van bemoediging van ander cancer survivors te kry en te weet waar my hulp vandaan kom het al die verskil gemaak om positief te bly.
Ek sien uit na 2011 se Relay for Life event in Centurion!

Ek het die laaste keer geskryf toe ek net begin het met chemo en die pad nog duister was! Wel, my chemo is 7 weke terug klaar en ek begin weer mens voel. Ek lyk ook al weer amper soos die ou ek - nie meer die "rockstar look" met die kaalkop soos my kinders graag daarna verwys het nie. My hare groei teen 'n spoed en in Nov word die eerste operaise van so 3/4 gedoen vir my rekonstruksie. Ons glo dit nie en terwyl ons so siek is met chemo behandeling dink ons dit gaan nooit beter word nie. maar vdg kan niks of niemand sien ek het kanker gehad nie, my uiterlike verklap niks want ek is positief en gelukkig. So geseend om nog daar te wees om my 3 seuntjies groot te maak. Wat 'n voorreg om in die week my oudste een in te skryf vir sy Hoërskool loopbaan. jou uitkyk op die lewe verander drasties en klein dingetjies maak nou saak. Ek was bevoorreg genoeg om my chemo tydperk met my tannie (my pa se ma) te deel, sy was al bietjie verder in haar proses en saam het ons gelag en geklets oor als. Ongelukkig was die pad net te lank vir haar en is sy gister oggend by die Sungarden Hospice oorlede op die ouderdom van 61. Ons gaan haar vreeslik mis en sy was 'n ware voorbeeld vir almal. Waar ek soms wou skree en kwaad raak het sy nooit kwaad geraak oor haar situasie nie en het altyd gese dit gaan goed met haar. Na gister was ek weer baie emosioneel want die besef was daar dat ek met die kanker sluier oor my kop sal loop vir altyd. maar dis my besluit of ek wil he dit moet my lewe oorneem en of ek hierdie siekte met al sy vrese sal oorwin en nie sal toe laat dat dit my onderkry nie. Wel, as julle die mense om my sal vra, dan sal hulle se ek is een vd positiefse mense, ek lag altyd en is 'n regte ekstrovert (soms lekker loud). Daarom wil ek so graag betrokke raak by CANSA, aktief betrokke om mense te inspireer en motiveer. Die liewe Heer het my nie verniet op hierdie paadjie geplaas nie. Kontak my asb. RIP Thea Kotze

Recently I received my 10-year all clear from my doctor. Still, I don't feel like a cancer survivor as it's something I live with everyday. For me, the trick lies in incorporating it into my life in positive ways.

When I was 21, my first nasophyrangeal tumour was found and surgically removed. Three years later, it returned more aggressively so more surgery and 6 weeks of radiotherapy. Two years later, there it was again so more surgery and more radiotherapy. Yet again, two years later, it was back. More surgery. But something also changed within me. I decided that although medicine was doing what it could, surely I had a part to play as well. That initiated my journey to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual recovery.

By then I had begun to look like a battered woman as they'd been cutting away at my face little by little, and the radiotherapy on my facial areas left me with noticeable blemishes. I had also had half my neck removed along with 32 lymph nodes. I couldn't smile the way I used to because the nerves in my face were damaged. My battle with cancer was literally written across my face.

10 years on, this face has become part of who I am. Have I accepted the way I look? I'm working on it. Have I accepted the many blessings that come along with having had a life-threatening disease? Definitely! Every day is a blessing. My decisions are driven by what feels right and I strive to be true to myself even if the world frowns on it. I believe that cancer gives you this right because it changes you. It creates a new "normal" where your rules are different to those around you. For me, this has been my biggest challenge but it comes with the biggest rewards.

10 years on, I have finally embraced what my mind, body and spirit has been telling me... To try in every way possible to be a beacon of hope for those who need it. This, my first step, is an invitation to those affected by cancer to get in touch with me. I would like to tell your story. My story - along with the many others that I would now like to write a book about - may give you and others hope.

Link could not be accessed.

i have had a major colon cancer operation on the 22nd oct 2009.i was told there was little hope of surviving the operation.told the doctors at tygerberg hospital,the lord gave you the talent and gift,so remove all the canser.the lord will then do the healling.will be admitted on the 29th may 2011 for the stoma reversal operation.remember,the lord heals.trust,have faith and fight,we can be healed.my operation lasted for 8 hours,removing 35cm of my colon,left tube of my kidney and reparing my vistula of the bladder.praise the lord