I think you may find operations canceld seems to be the norm as nhs is so overprescribed with health tourism . My partner had to wait weeks for scans etc ime afraid the drs at the private hospitals are nhs consultants who work for nhs then do work for the private hospitals which is far more lucrative if you can pay private i i would recomend as you jump the queue so the nhs patiants get pushed further back we seem to have two tier health system here now if you pay you have a better chance of surviving . I always thought s.a had top notch drs or is uk better ? Regard

My son turned 13 earlier this year, I am sure the NHS will give us guidance on how to support him, it's upto us to actually do it. Having not been through anything like this there is a lot of anxiety and shedding a few tears alone in the bathroom when reading and thinking about it gets all too much.

8 months back and forth, how do you manage that? Is the travel not a hindrance to your treatment?

I'm not going to talk the health service down when people are not taking the preventable pathway seriously. 

There is so much research that allow health services to promote healthy lifestyles that should mean more people are able to live healthier lives while those that need care like my son get it asap.

His operation is 3 weeks after first consult, I think this was a week or two too long personally, but it is happening and the consultant has cancelled his leave to be able to perform the surgery himself.

There are only finite resources available, people do have to take personal responsibility to ensure those resources are going to people that require it.

13 is so young. But I find reading survivor stories is helpful. You can find lots of books telling of amazing people who have survived the terrible events. These people can be a real inspiration. The important things is to be hopeful and positive. If you are, then your son will be. I feel the battle with cancer is a psychological battle. It doesn’t have to put you in a dark place. You could start to plan a lovely holiday with your son or just some other special treats. It shouldn’t stop you living a happy and fulfilling life with your son. And it shouldn’t stop you enjoying each moment with him.

It is difficult with the traveling but I get regular breaks from treatment when I can fly home. And its less than 7 hours from Heathrow. I tell myself it’s not far.

Yes I agree one must keep a positive outlook when facing this challenge, so he is looking forward to a few excursions we have planned already which involve his school mates.

It's easy to talk now but I hope and pray that we are able to retain the positivity as he goes through his treatment.

I think you should not let cancer take away your happiness. I have had so many happy times with my family and cancer can’t take those away. And when I go back home I’m determined that cancer will not stop me having a wonderful time with my family. I see cancer as an enemy who will not defeat me. In fact the opposite. I want to take strength from this affliction and use it to make me more determined to have a rich and rewarding life. It doesn’t matter if you are on earth ten years or a hundred years it’s what you do with that time. 

I have recently been told of someone who recovered after Three years of chemotherapy. So there is always.

And please dont let cancer destroy the precious things in your life. It doesn’t have to.

Hi ramadan, how are you doing?

My son had his first step yesterday with removal of the tumour. So hope is that they quickly analyse and set his treatment with chemotherapy up.

I am totally unprepared for what it may bring so am avidly researching what I can.

How's your progress? Are you returning to Saudi for Eid?

I would be careful of looking at anything on the Internet. I never do. It can cause worry and stress when you hear some stories. If you want advice, I’d go through your Hospital.

I think chemotherapy is different for everyone. Some people have almost no side effects and others have a range of ailments. I think if your son is young, fit and healthy the outlook is positive. And my advice is to eat healthy and exercise. I heard a nurse today at the hospital talking about the benefits of exercise with chemotherapy. And this is definitely something you can look at on the Internet. So, my advice would be to really look after your son’s heath with lots of clean, fresh heathy food and avoid the junk and sugar. I’m being so health  conscious and it seems to be working for me.

There was a famous cyclist called Lance Armstrong. He had testicular cancer. He recovered and then won the toughest cycle race in the world seven times. There was some cheating involved unfortunately but even so an incredible achievement. Just to enter the Tour de France is an achievement.

Salaam Ramadan, 

Eid Mubarak to you and family.

The chemotherapy has started with my son with Bleomycin, Etopicide and Cisplatin, they call it BEP as a combination.

Started on Friday and the mal effects are being noticed now, with sickness, and some closing feeling in the throat which is being treated with anti nausea and morphine. Some loss of appetite being noticed too.

It will be difficult to exercise while in-patient as he is attached to a series of medical pumps but he will surely have time outside of hospital to engage in some physical activity. It will be for us to organise that with his friends.

Yes a couple of sporting people I am aware of have had this particular cancer type, lance Armstrong is one of those, the other is ex Newcastle player Jonas Gutierrez. The outlook is good, trying to keep spirits up and mind engaged.

His mum and me are taking watching shifts at the hospital day/night.

Hope you are well on the way to recovery, and able to spend time with your family.

Ash