Probably because I don't know how!  Give me a clue what to do. Caz

I have decided that being hung over for a full  zumba class is not good, perhaps we need to choose another night, as I am definitely NOT giving up wine.  Lovely meal, hubby was lovely and said have a lovely time. Funny story, it was an Italian restaurant and the waiter was waving his hands around and saying "ciao bella" to us all and other Italian phrases, what he didn't know was that Maureen and Alida are half Italian and speak fluently in that language,  so they started talking back to him, he looked bemused, did a runner and when we asked the girl waitress what had happened, it turned out he's Albanian!  Poor guy, he tried his best.  My half brother had phoned whilst I was out, he's over here because of his Mother's cancer treatment .  I haven't heard from him in many months and was hurt that when hubby was diagnosed he never called or face booked me in any way.  Now the boot is on the other foot I get a phone call, still I will be the better person and call him back.  People are weird with cancer relatives, they have no idea how to cope,but as we all know a little thoughtfulness goes a long way.  Still bandaging his heel, the skin is so thin it's going to take time to heal.  See you tomorrow. 

Not a black hole Caz:-) I too like to read your posts cancer vs life balance cos the two do go hand in hand:-) x

Thanks Sandra,  are you the carer or the one having treatment?   It's lovely that I'm not disappearing into the black hole, I sometimes wonder if hubby would notice if I had whilst watching golf

Lol... of course he’d notice... who else would keep him right and going:-)

Im a breast cancer lady. Treatment finished now so fingers crossed it don’t come back!

You carry on keeping it real me dear:-) x

That's good news!  It seems research is reaping rewards for breast cancer, it's a shame nothing has altered in forty years for better prognosis in lung cancer. Xx

My half brother telephones and it's not an easy conversation.   He's not been told hubby is incurable and I'm annoyed that his Mum neglected to tell him.  He's back to Australia on Tuesday as she starts her radiotherapy and is obviously concerned .  But I am past these false catch ups and say goodbye and we'll probably speak again in a few years time!!  So I head off to meet Jean in the wind and rain for coffee.  A girlie catch up and good news about her grandsons fiance aged twenty one who has had cancer of the overies,  spine and around the heart.  She has had to have a full hysterectomy to save her life and can never have children.   We raise our coffee cups in a toast to her having been finally given the all clear.  We take off to T K Maxx and buy her some bargains as she is going to the Isle of White for six weeks in their caravan.   Lisa has landed home but with a horrible sore throat and Faye gets back today .  So we have managed to keep Hubby 's ill health quiet!  It's  amazing how when you are living daily with cancer that you sort the wheat from the chaff.  Life's too short to waste on people not interested in you, concentrating on those who are there for you and truly care is the best thing in life.   Relationships are the true test of living a good life, so love those who care and don't waste time on those who only have thir best interests at heart.  See you tomorrow .

Hubby looked really fed up last night.   I think he copes remarkably well most days but sometimes it must hit him like a brick that he will always have cancer.  Because he has been looking a lot better people have stopped calling round but he won't  make the effort to go and visit them so it's difficult to be sympathetic as you have to give back to receive.  I look back at before the diagnosis and it's  always been the same he expects everyone to make the first move.  I feel that he goes in on himself and I can see this when I talk to him, he's just not listening at all, is this a symptons of having cancer,  does it make you shrink from real life because you can't cope with normal?  It's cold wet and miserable again so very little to report apart from normal daily life,  eating,  sleeping and food shopping!   He asked me what I was up to today, nothing I say, you'll be bored he says, no I won't  I need a day off!!  See you tomorrow 

Hubby is up in the night again coughing badly but I leave him alone as he hates me seeing him like that.  We have an easy morning and once again the weather, although not raining is still not warm.  I try to get hubby to go out for a while so I can hoover and clean the kitchen, he finally goes, under duress letting me know this as he leaves! !He's still missing so I hope he has some fresh air.  Good news yesterday all his blood tests have come back with no further action.  It's taken three months to get him to the correct levels and we are going to carry on with folic acid to keep on top of it.  It's  just a shame that the blood checks aren't done more regularly after radiotherapy,  this might stop  cancer patients getting so low it takes longer to get back on a level footing.   I read a lot of other posts on this forum and I know we are not alone in this, the treatment works but many feel let down by the after care, how can the medical profession not see this.  We are all going through so  much that mamy of us do not have the time or energy to alter these problems, but common sense should prevail so we all are treated properly.  Anyway enough moaning, we are still here to tell the tale and many are not. Xx

Completely agree about the radiotherapy, you walk out of the dept and that’s it. I got a phone call two weeks after I finished and that was the end of it. Nothing. Follow up with the oncologist was two weeks later “ Oh you've  gone back to work so you’re OK then” well actually I’m still knackered. 

It's lack of understanding on our part as you are bombarded with information and don't take it all in.  Surely even follow ups with the GP would be better than nothing.  I hope Rile roo that you are feeling less tired and getting the back up you need.  Take care. Carol

It's lack of understanding on our part as you are bombarded with information and don't take it all in.  Surely even follow ups with the GP would be better than nothing.  I hope Rile roo that you are feeling less tired and getting the back up you need.  Take care. Carol

Any kind of follow up would help in my opinion. 

I wonder how many more feel this Riley roo.   Perhaps we should ask the Administrator on this site why you are left in limbo.  We went from October until January without seeing anyone, unless hubby was ill and the Doctor came.  

I was signed off from oncology on 24 November and apart from a self referral back to the bcu I’ve seen no one. I have no idea whether I need to see some one or not. Guess I’ll have to fall over or end up in a and e before anything happens. My next scheduled appointment is August. 

I know Riley roo, Norman has stage 4 lung cancer and we are not seeing anyone until June, we don't even know if he has another scan so we know if it's growing again.  It's a good job most of us are strong or there could be a lot more patients needing mental support.  Even our Mc Millan nurses disappeared! !

Hi Rileyroo. I agree about radiotherapy. I finished three weeks treatment on the 23rd March. This past week I ve not been at all well. So very tired and low and stomach troubles. I'm not seeing anyone until the 23 rd April. Worried and don't know if this is normal. Hugs xx

It’s not great is it? I’m not saying I want some one holding my hand cos I neither need nor want that but a phone call  or even a text may be once a month would be good. How are we supposed to know what is ‘normal’ after treatment? Yes, I’ve read the leaflets I’ve been given but they are very vague, have to cover all eventualities I suppose but what if mine isn’t covered?

Hi Gloden, I hit rock bottom about two weeks after I finished treatment. Absolutely shattered, felt sick a lot of the time even with the anti nausea meds I was given during treatment so I could tolerate it and complete the treatment schedule. 

Hi Rileyroo. Yes I feel sickly and just not well. Interesting that we both were shattered couple of weeks after radiotherapy. Think I've got bit of cystitis too. Fed up feeling ill all the time. Hope we both start to feel better soon. Thanks for natter. Think it's good to talk on here. Don't feel so alone . Lots hugs x

Well it seems all of you have suffered after effects from radiotherapy and no one has had any back up help.  I think this chat forum gives a more honest insight into how you do feel and not a vague list of what you might feel.  The aches and muscle pain hubby had was due to anemia, I don't remember this being mentioned , in fact our Oncologist shrugged her shoulders when this was mentioned by hubby.  The pain he was in was unbearable to watch.  Acid reflux, tiredness, lack of appetite it's a big shock to the already poorly body.  Stay strong all of you, you deserve better.   Hugs all round.  Carol 

It is normal after treatment to feel like this.  See your GP if it gets worse, have blood checks regularly and don't just put up with it, we found out this the hard way.xx