Hi how are you doing? Really sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with liver cancer.

How is the treatment going? 

You're right, that mental fortitude has to be preserved that you will beat this, for yourself and the young family.

We live in an age where cancers can be recognised and treated, with support groups that we can rely and depend on.

I look forward to keeping in touch. Is there like a diary page on this forum where one can share how feeling and how the day has been and what happened?

Thank you so much for your reply. My family are in Saudi Arabia and I’m in London having treatment. The hardest thing is being away from them. The treatment itself is okay but I feel so much for my family. My wife is so strong and has such faith but I feel so bad putting her through this. And my daughter is so lovely and young and innocent. Is there anything you want to say about yourself?

My son was diagnosed with testicular cancer, I have started a thread on here as after his operation to remove the one testicle he will have chemotherapy.

It is the first time I will have experienced a family member suffering from cancer and I really do not know how it will affect him or his life going forward.

I am very sorry to hear about your son. I am glad that I have the cancer and not one of my children. However, I believe it is not what happens to us in life that matters but how we respond to what happens. You may find something positive and your relationship with your son becomes stronger. I can recommend a very good book on this subject.

Hello, how are you feeling today? What are the treatments you are having?

Absolutely agree that I wish that it was me going through it rather than my son.

It is summer time in England and I am really doing all I can to ensure he is occupied  it is difficult when his friends are of course going to enjoy the summer so we have to make a special plan for my son.

Yes please, which book are you looking to recommend?

Hope you are feeling ok, but more importantly that you are getting better.

Peace be with you

I’m having chemotherapy and luckily I’m not having any side effects at the moment. The hardest thing is being away from my family. I miss them terribly. Today I printed out some photos of myself and my daughter. We had the wonderful summer holiday in England last year. It made me think that I am blessed to have had such wonderful moments. Some people never have such moments with their children. And I thought that whatever we have Allah has given us. And even if these wonderful moments with our children are short they are so precious and we should value them. The book I can recommend is called What doesn’t kill us The new psychology of post traumatic growth and is by professor stephen Joseph. You can find it on amazon or in any good bookshop. He shows that even the most traumatic events can bring about positive change. As I said before, you may find your relationship with your son becomes deeper and stronger. I hope you find the book useful.

Thanks for the recommendation I'll look it up and view it.

I agree with the principle, and it is very apt adage that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, if you are to review every event and circumstance and find the good and/or benefit in there it will make you stronger and more appreciative.

How long is your treatment going to last for in London?

It seems we share a similar point of view. At the moment my treatment seems uncertain and complicated. However I feel I cannot stay away from my family much longer. It is too painful to be away. So, I will have to continue treatment in Saudi if I the treatment has to be extended long into the future.

Ive not seen it we are on a par with poland on cancer diagnosis . My partner died  because of wrong diagnosis slow treatment ive seen so many mistakes the list is endless . The nhs is in a terrible mess and i used to think it was the jewle in the british crown not any more but wish you well 

How long have you been away already? 

I think having family around is a good thing. Of course you have to balance with the level of care.

The private hospitals of the UK would be providing the top end of care.

My son will be in a specialist paediatric facility on the NHS which has been ok so far, they could have operated two weeks earlier but I'm trying to focus on what is actual and getting him through it.