2: Who is in this group?
What is relevant to my situation?
Though we have a few health professionals in this group, they are not here in any capacity to provide personal diagnosis or prescription. Those tasks – legally and sensibly – are to be done in proper clinical settings.
No one, over the internet, can know your situation and tell you what is happening or what is to be done, specifically for your situation.
Some of us have lots of experience, all of us have some experience — gems of advice may come from a person who chooses to write to you in the first email they have ever written to this group and it may be the best advice you ever get.
There is no one in charge of this advice business or any other messages... no one checks them, they come straight through.
You are in charge of your own situation, the idea here is that the learning and support and friendship with people who share your situation may give you strength and confidence to deal with your own situation... You may be one of those who writes straight away, writes later or simply reads. No rules about that.
Fortunately NOT everyone writes all the time. Everyone MAY write and we encourage people who have not written before and who think they have something helpful to say, to say it. Or, especially, a question to ask. There are no wrong questions!
Are there wrong answers? Good question... If you use eBay, you will know that people get reputations as good sellers or good buyers over time. It's a bit like that here. So while you may modestly wish to write privately to someone, it really is best if we all write advice notes within the public group, for all to see and assess, to add to collective knowledge and confidence. Of course people build friendship via emails off the group, but that is different from the advice matter.
When you write, make clear your situation, especially what kind of tumour you are dealing with. When you read, consider the same things, check for relevance. Never assume something is right for you or for the other person as you read or write. For this reason a longer description of a situation, an idea, a possible solution, is generally of much greater value than a short and modest note.
There are a number of people who join with unusual types of tumour, for whom the mainstream of discussion may seem less relevant. We have no central record of what tumours people have and we encourage all new arrivals to send a message to the group introducing themselves and their situation... Or, if you are uncomfortable about doing that please go to our web site and browse the archives...
BUT, if you think you should not write, remember there may be one or two other readers in your situation, equally shy, who have not written anything either and who may need to know your view and your message may in turn prompt them to write which in turn may benefit you.