I was super touched by your reply to my "I am scared" message, and now realise like many here we are all struggling, all I can do is send you a big hug just like you sent me one Love Simon

Hi Simon,

I spotted your update on your thread and you were going to be my next port of call when suddenly, here you are, responding on mine. 

Thanks for the hug - you're right - we all need plenty of them! 

Take care, Simon and  I'll see you on your thread soon, 

love Jo xx

Dearest friend Jo,

I am sorry I have not been around recently. Have had a bit of a rollercoaster experience of life which rather took over for a while. Nothing to do with illness. If you are up to it would love to catch up with you in private if I can find your email address and you are up to it.

April was a bit busy for me as I decided to celebrate the fact that I reached 60 so had a lunch party in one of the local pubs for family and local friends and husband took me away for a couple of days beforehand to one of our favourite hotels. Just managed to finish my thank you letters this morning. 

Let me know how you feel friend. 

Annabel. xx

Hi Annabel

Just seen your post to Jo (think of you all often  and hope all is well with you both just now). Just wanted to welcome you to the 60's club (that was me last year!) and glad you were able to celebrate. Sending best wishes and hope all is well with you and the family.  Best regards Jules x

Hi Annabel

Just seen your post to Jo (think of you all often  and hope all is well with you both just now). Just wanted to welcome you to the 60's club (that was me last year!) and glad you were able to celebrate. Sending best wishes and hope all is well with you and the family.  Best regards Jules x

Hi Annabel and Jules,

Annabel, I've emailed you and Jules I really wish private messaging was available. 

My latest news isn't too groovy! I've a recurrent tumour in my bowel, and sadly, treatment options are limited. I'm meeting the oncologist next week to explore chemo options, but I was intolerant to chemo last time, so I'm not sure what we will discuss and Surgery isn't an option due to the tumour position in my pelvis

Think I'm in denial about it all! Especially as I look and feel fine! I've asked 'the question' but the consultant quoted global figures as he felt that 'personal' timescales are impossible to predict! 

Meanwhile, I'm continuing to work as I welcome the routine and 'normality' of it! 

Sorry to bear bad news - really miss the PM facility! (Hence the 'low profile' just lately!) 

Sending hugs to you both, Jo xxxx

Thanks for responding Jo. Can appreciate you would rather PM(of course the newbies who are reading this must think we are all barmy to keep harping on about it not being available but for those who used it on the old site its a much missed facility) and thoroughly respect your privacy when you having to come to terms with so much.  As always my thoughts are with you and the family and its good that you can keep working at present as I know how it helps to keep occupied. All the  very best  with your next appointment. Virtual hugs are small consolation but sent anyway my forum buddy. Jules x 

Dear Jo, sending you a massive virtual hug my dear friend!

I just did an online/phone testing session of the new website  (not sure I was much help as I had forgotten all the things I thought were bad after the changeover - but you have reminded me of one, i.e. the loss of the PM facility, which I will now flag up in an email).  

So I was just thinking back over the past 18 months, reading back through my (or rather Nicola's) thread to try and remind myself of some of those technical problems, and then wondering how you are getting along. After learning a bit more today about looking at other threads,  I thought I would look you up and say hello.  I'm sick to read your 'ungroovy' latest news but you are one very strong lady and I'm sure that routine and normality are the very best treatment, so keep up the good work girl! Looking and feeling fine must surely speak volumes.

Don't know if you saw that I met up the other week with some pals from Nicola's thread - it was just wonderful!  A few emotional moments but we had fun too and am so glad that we did it.  Can't rate this forum highly enough (apart from the technical glitches and loss of PM!).

Keep positive, keep smiling, keep that wonderful sense of humour and keep in touch.

Lots of love, Irene x

Sending heartfelt hugs Jo. I hope your appointment this week will/has given you some options to explore lovely lady.  Kindest regards  Jules xx

Hi Irene,

How lovely to hear from you (thank you for dropping by)

I did spot on Nicola's thread about your plans to meet up (and your very kind invitation including me!) Wish I could have made it - put faces to names etc. I can understand there being some emotional moments - we've  all shared so many details, highs and lows, advice etc over the months. I was a bit of an imposter on Nicola's thread really, totally different area of the body affected (literally from one end to the other!) ;) 

I'm sure your input into the online / phone testing will be very useful. I'm having probs posting (unpredictable cursor!) hey ho! 

I haven't been on the forum very much - certainly don't want to bring the newbies down! I saw my oncologist earlier this week and there is a chemo that I could have (may cause diarrhoea and hair thinning) but as I feel ok, we've agreed to hold it in reserve for now. Meanwhile, I'm just getting on with it! In fact, I'm off out with some colleagues this evening so I'd better get my skates on - this sow's ear takes a bit longer to transform into a silk purse these days haha! 

Thanks for the hug chick! I'll drop onto Nic's thread to see how you're doing; ok I hope? 

Big hug to you, much love, Jo xxx

Hi Jo, just came across your thread and caught your latest news. No shortage of downers in this business is there. I sort of chuckled when I read your line where you look and feel fine because I'm in that boat with you.I've had so many surgeries, various treatments, etc. that I've lost count and every time I go in to the hospital, medical staff are stymied because of how well I look. And, most days I don't really feel too bad either. Of course, I'm dealing with challenges every day and some days are worse than others, but I'm managing to have some good times too. I believe my friends are thinking I'm putting on with this cancer thing sometimes, but they do know what's been going on with me. I just offer to show them the surgery scars all over my body just to prove it, but they all declined, I can't imagine why?? 

On a more serious note, I really think I've reached the point where I'm on the downhill slide, but no one is saying too much. I'm just waiting for the next set of "procedures" scans, etc. and then I intend to get to the point with my medical team.

Jo, I hope someone comes up with some answers for you that can help. In the meantime friend, take care of yourself and whenever possible, enjoy life to the fullest.

Hugs

Lorraine

Hi Jo - I am glad you are still on the forum asi missed you. I have to fly off to work soon but let me tell you that we hope and wish you all the jolly best

Steve xx

Great post Lorraine - OMG you two - how right you are, there is no shortage of downers in this game but I can't help remembering when my sister was diagnosed with Lymphoma 10 years ago, all I could think was "OMG my lovely sister is going to die"!  Of course we are all going there one day, but despite her being told and believing her time might be limited (also working as a medical secretary in that same department with full knowledge of  "the averages') she is  going strong and enjoying her grandchildren which she thought she may never meet.    When I got my diagnosis she said she felt worse about me than she did about herself, which is exactly how it was for me when it happened to her! Somehow we all find things in our inner depths that make us cope when we surely never imagined we could or would?  What I think I'm trying to say is that to keep on fighting this f***** with all your might and refusing to lie down to it is the way forward - so please don't give into that downhill slide too easily. Hope this doesn't sound crass - I am very aware that 'there but for the grace of God go I" but hopefully this will come across as sincere and well-meaning.  Go girls, just you keep fighting and keep the experts stymied with your good looks!  Lots of love x

Lorraine and Jo ...

What I want to know is how do you both look so well when I am looking such a minger!  Cant wear make-up cos my eyes stream (even with a bit of foundation on) and i am useless at drawing in eyebrows - seem to get one up and one down and,  as for sticking a false eyelash on - how is that possible with one eye shut haha!,  Maybe you are both just stunners anyway and I got the short-straw when looks were given out!  Wedding tomorrow and rain and high winds are forecast - best get the velcro out for the wig.

You take good care of yourselves and i will email soon.  Might even send you some pictures to cheer you up.

Loads of love to you both - keep smiling ladies.          Max x

ps.  Hi Irene, not sure we have talked before but I am another mad forum friend of Jo & Lorraines and look forward to talking to you in the future x

Good morning lovely ladies and lovely Steven! 

Max, you certainly didn't draw the short straw in the looks dept. I saw your original profile pic! As for drawing on any pencil lines (eyebrows or eye liner) I'm in the same league as you! My daughter manages to get that perfect 'feline' effect with a swish of the pencil - meanwhile, all I manage is 'panda' :) 

Irene, your post comes across as sincere and well meaning - and I'm going to keep moving forward and foxing those doctors with my stunning good looks haha, but I can appreciate the everyday struggles that Lorraine mentions in her post. Fantastic to read about your sister too. 

Lorraine, your comment about showing your pals your scars made me chuckle - seems we are similar there too with no outward physical signs of illness. As most sufferers are, really. I've got a 3 month wait until my next investigations/scans. However, I can contact the hospital if my symptoms worsen or alter and then we can talk chemo. Let us know how you go on with your next consultations when they come round. 

Well, this lounging around in pj's isn't getting the dog walked - and as there is a break in the rain I'd better get my best foot forward.

I hope the weather is kind to you today Max and I look forward to seeing some pics in my inbox. 

Jules, will email you soon x

Love and hugs to you all, Jo xx