Introduce yourself on Cancer Chat

Hello everyone

Today marks a year since we launched the new Cancer Chat, how time flies! In the last 12 months we've shared our stories, laughed and cried and become a real community so I thought it was about time that  we introduced ourselves to you properly.

I'm Sarah and I'm the Cancer Chat manager. I have managed other online communities before coming to Cancer Research UK and am a cancer survivor myself. I went through my treatment in 2009, and so I know how helpful and supportive Cancer Chat can be from personal experience.

There are three moderators who work with me, Renata, Jane and Lucie. All three moderators juggle their Cancer Chat duties with their roles as busy mums and work different shifts throughout the week to ensure that Cancer Chat is appropriately moderated. They help direct members to appropriate information on our main Cancer Research UK website and liaise closely with the specialist nurse team to help answer questions or offer support. Above all, they ensure that Cancer Chat is a safe, secure and welcoming place where anyone affected by cancer can come and ask questions, share experiences and meet people who are also affected by cancer.

We thought it would be fun to tell you a few interesting facts and also share our new avatars which you'll be seeing whenever we are online.

Sarah - is a 70s music addict

Renata - is a mad George Michael fan

Jane -  is a journalist

Lucie - is French

Now it's your turn! We'd love to know more about you, so we've set up this new topic area where you can introduce yourselves and say hello to new members. Don't forget everything is public so don't disclose anything too personal!!

Best Wishes

Sarah

  • Hi, Jane

    I see she is busy, because she has many other responsibilities.

  • Hi,I am so happy that I joined the chat room.  I am looking forward to writing and receiving messages from you.  Next week I go for my second treatment.  I had my first one in the hospital on January 9th, and it went well.  I am still terrified about losing my hair I know it is not the worst thing, but for me it scares me.  Thank you so much for your support.

    Love,

    Laura

  • Laura

    If you get in contact with a moderator they will let you send and receive private mail ? It just makes things easier ? Marian x 

  • hi everyone im nicky and im 39 have 5 children and im in a stable relationship i had a smear 4 months ago and it came back abnormal it said moderate dyskaryosis so then went and had a colposcopy they were very good with me talked me through the whole thing also see it on a screen while ther had a biopsy and had loop treatment finally got my results after waiting  many weeks it came back as CIN1 and now last week went for a follow up smear have had results very quick and its come back again as abnormal saying moderate dyskaryosis again got to go for a colposcopy now im really scared even more than i was the first time feel very emotional just need to know as anyone else gone through the same thing many thanks x

  • Hi dolphinlover999

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. Feel free to start a new discussion setting out your concerns so others can easily see it and offer you their support. There is another lady who has recently received smear test results she is worried about. Here is her thread. I leave it entirely up to you as to whether you decide to go and chat to her or not. Sometimes it helps to buddy up with others undergoing treatment. Sometimes not.

    Our nurses do a weekly Q&A session on a Thursday afternoon, so you could also post any questions you may have for them here.

    I hope this helps.

    Jane

  • Hi my name is Karen and this is the first time on this site .I was diagnosed in november 2009 with Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast I under went a lumpectomy followed with chemotherapy ,and radoitherapy and finished my treatment in July 2010 .I felt another lump in fact 2 lumps in the same year I went back to the hospital and had the test done and was told it was scar tissue but I knew it was back ,I went back to the hospital and got them to agree to do a biopsy which they did in August ,results showed in September 3rd that it had come back a reacurance .

    I am now under going more chemo and have been quite ill this time resulting in 2 admittances in to hospital with infections ,i didn't even make it to a year it was ten months and three days .

    I have now had a mastectomy and lymph nodes disection ,this type of cancer I have is very rare and is usuall found in the mouth behind the eye in the ear and is an oral cancer it is rare to be in the breast if anyone of you know about this type of cancer known as ACC (Adenoid cystic carcinoma ) please get in touch .I would also like to talk to other cancer patients ,sorry to go on karen x

  • Karen

    You weren't going on !

    Im so sorry to hear your story. Ive just had my first chemo, yesterday after breast cancer that was diagnosed in October. I can't imagine what it would be like to find it again so soon. Must have been devastating for you. Youve come to the right site there will be someone along that can give you advice.

    Come back anytime,

    Love Marian x

  • Hi Karen and welcome,

    Sorry you've had such a time of it, but they've caught it and you're getting treated again, so keep your chin up.  No experience of your type, mine was breast cancer, and had mastectomy, chemo, radio and go next week for reconstruction.

    Hope you are keeping well and i'm sure someone will be along soon that might know more of what you're experiencing, feel free to come and chat anytime.


    S x 

  • Hi Karen,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm pleased to see that you've already had some replies.

    There's a very friendly bunch of people on here - never worry that you are 'going on'!

    Best wishes

    Renata

    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thankyou marian for your kind words its nice to get replies ,ive tried on other sites and have never got a reply xxxx