Nothing prepared me those words chilling reality "I'm sorry that cancer."
In November 2004, I was diagnosed with short bowel cancer - but it's pure luck that I had cancer when I was about to know.
I remember vividly how the event unfolded - a beautiful, warm spring day and evening my wife and I decided the chicken for lunch, take a couple of gyros.
They went down very well and I Seven channels (Adelaide Australia) headed off to read the news.
Until I got home about 8:00 pm I felt a slight pain in the chest - like indigestion moderate - we have gradually expanded the evening for me was perishable am
In the early hours of the morning to the hospital.
But while all X-rays and examinations were pain had subsided and I was feeling pretty good rate - very long and extremely painful injuries after waiting I was finally seen.
X-rays revealed a severe gastric disturbance and blockage had cleared once I was right.
But the doctor on duty said "I see that you are here and want to test." It is something bad that tests had revealed that there should not be.
A day later, I went for a full colonoscopy
There are few more sobering moment in your life when you are putting your body can be compared to a malignant tumor. A Level 3 cancer.
Although the evening my wife was sitting there next to me and I did not feel alone in my life - much to the body as a battle of mind as was expected.
First test I went into doubt after bad, I thought I was fully prepared for it - but nothing prepares you for the kind of news that is.
After everything was said through the fog - I heard it all but little understood.
That morning as I walked out of the doctor's room was empty I was feeling lost - trust and believe I had cancer at the same time not.
It denied all knowledge of only one count charged emotions of the brain was not a failure.
So the biggest hurdle, how to tell children. 17 and 13 - I was 20 at the time they have three children.
Pain etched on their faces even though they took heroic as we like them in a matter of fact that what was happening
We have decided that they told everything operative recovery as they live through their surgery and had post - saw me over the following 12 months to ensure a slow and painful return to health .
But I doctors and nurses who looked after me in my treatment and recovery is praised for anything.
Their care and concern was of great help.
Luckily for me I had a wonderful support network - my wife and close family friends.
But I was undergoing surgery, the first information craved - the survival rate, methods of treatment - I need to know more about cancer.
Once again I was lucky my wife is a homeopathic doctor and had studied medicine as well - he could explain what the doctor said. After I fog my question I should have said though his surgery was raised.
We are close friends in the medical profession and they call when I had a specific question was at the end and I believe there were plenty.
Advice before choosing the one I consulted with two surgeons act on. I did the same with radiotherapist and I what I thought as I was on the same wavelength before choosing spoke with three oncologists.
I I an oncologist who practices with Western medicine will be used to supplement did not want to admit.
Of course it is not for everyone but it works for me. Treat each person they think will work for them have the right to pursue.
Six-hour operation was successful, but I was left with an ileostomy bag.
That in itself was a big psychological barrier - but hey, I was alive and help me if I beat one that was a small price to pay had to wear bags.
Six months later I was back in the hospital for operation up to me to get off the bag.
5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo I took a course - and with the way homeopathy and natural nutrition played their part in my recovery.
Many people diagnosed with cancer back in his shell as his personal battle was only telling close family.
For me it became quite the opposite - Adelaide, a well known face on TV as I ask how I was going and I get back on the small screen when people can not venture out without stopping.
They often can tell how well I was looking for. In two weeks I had lost 17 kilos now and been through surgery gutbusting - I did not look all that flash.
People who did not know but I felt that I really care about the new - - but for me it did not matter all the well wishers all "then the best friend" purist was like a shot of anti-cancer drug. It invigorated and I am right - it still does not.
Sufferers, carers, friends, family, total strangers - - the human spirit is all powerful, we all have a part to play - if we are to beat cancer.
If you know someone with cancer and spot them in the supermarket do not hold back - they want to do well is tell them they look great - and it can work wonders.
Selection of experts and more discussion after their course of treatment - not my wonderful carers only total participation in decision making but I have to return to health.
I was lucky that I had the right support network - but I have many people who found a similar situation as I write - a lot of people diagnosed with cancer, there is NO support through the most trying time network is to help them.
I suffer from cancer patients through cancer support groups and talk a lot when they hear how I went about it, they often say well that's right for you - whether you are a professional journalist and You know how to research and check the goods.
Some years ago I agree I was right and advantage but with the advent of the Internet - we can all investigative reporters.
Only this week I Google bowel cancer in the second half in more than one million on the case came with three pages typed.
Now I must stress this is not all good news - and life expectancy statistics can give you a negative outlook - but once you know your enemy and defeat his monster eye for the better equipped you are looking at can.
So you have to sift through all the information - for a start you believe that if your statistics and percentages on the positive side you are one of those people will be looking at.
Your doctor / specialist will his or her best, but you are just one of many patients.
You, personally, my form of cancer have become an absolute expert, not a medical sense, but how it is affecting you.
Then and only then you can ask the right questions. This is your life and your body if your not happy then say, if you want a second opinion.
I have an expert has said something that stuck with me - he said you cancer, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, meditation can have the surgery - all of them, or some of them now.
But what matters most is your state of mind - it is the most powerful weapon in the fight against cancer.
He said the ultimate say on the best course of treatment for you and once you do, which is also fully confident that the decision was the right course and it will help you back to full health is .
Doctors there are best carers and support groups do a wonderful job
But more to be done.
Someone who has gone through to get cancer - prevention, detection, treatment and care that look far different institutions as a common man's work is in many cases. Every effort should be an integrated approach.
I told my boys now aged 26 and 23 remember what your dad went through - check regularly when you start reaching 40.
Inconvenience for a half day (who had a colonoscopy knows what I'm taking about) What to avoid a life-threatening cancer and 8 months of agony in my case can.
No one should have to suffer through cancer - but it is common in modern society.
I never wished cancer on anyone he can be cruel, debilitating and life ended all too often.
My life has changed dramatically, my priorities have changed - my family, always important to me is still a lot.
Things I used to agonize and worry not as I see now is very important -
Life is good I love every moment. I'm gone through the cancer experience will be a better person.
During my recovery I cancer patients, their families and carers to hit on the idea of creating a DVD. A source of information about the many questions that come up on a daily basis to answer and you can not constantly have to call your doctor.
Cancer - Now What? Answer many questions that come up. What kind of cancer? What is radiotherapy? What is chemo? Quality health care, complementary therapies to choose. I tell kids how? After the cancer is getting on with their lives.
Of course DVD all the answers but at the end of each chapter there is information telling you what you need to know where to go page.
There is the Cancer Council Helpline, which is a great resource for anyone suffering from cancer are linked to.
Cancer was being punished his life change before your eyes and in my case I felt powerless to stop it sees.
I hope DVD will help cancer patients control of their lives, which in turn will help them to good health, am taking a course a bar chart.
