Hello Tul, I totally agree with everything you say, you managed to make me laugh and cry all in one go.Being told you are a star for what you have been through, no the Surgeon and all the other NHS staff involved were the stars, my Wife is the star for being there at my side. Being brave for going through what you went through, er no I didn't have a choice, being brave was Landing on the beaches in Normandy on D day.

Ladies 

loving the honesty on this thread , cancer  surely changed my life forever , free now hopefully forever but it’s a bullet that never really leaves us for sure 

good luck to you all love Lara x 

Hi everyone. Just wanting to ask a question . Had stage 2 breast cancer so lumpectomy and total lymph nodes removal then radiotherapy. I know that I am lucky it was caught in time but a year down the line so tired no energy. Fear of it coming back is this normal. I feel like a freak and can't talk to my friends as they were so supportive during the last year xx

Hi Debbie, I am currently completely drained.  My son tells me that I have long Covid.  My response was that I have not had Covid.  He says it is possible to have Covid without realising it.  Back in the Covid days he felt slightly off, maybe a cold, however he dutifully did a Covid test which was positive.  So despite feeling fine he had to take time off work but luckily could work from home.  Earlier this year I had a cold and felt completely drained.  Maybe, despite negligible cough, I had had Covid and now the drained feel could be long Covid.  Have you had a bit of a cold/cough but brushed it aside thinking it was nothing?  Perhaps it was a touch of Covid and your lack of energy is now long Covid.  Plus whatever, your body has taken its toll with the cancer, operation and radiotherapy.  When I growl a friend keeps reminding me that my body has been through a lot and we are not getting younger!!!  (She is a cheeky one)  Another thought has been that I have been very involved in a lot of local organisations, maybe I need a break and just get away from it all.  So am going on a New Scientist long weekend about re-wilding and will be camping, new activities, new people.  I will try and have nearly a week internet free, maybe that will cure all!

Thank you makes me feel that I'm not alone. And I'm not a total freak. I know that I should be grateful for it being caught in time but i.think it's only now hitting me x

Debbie, one thing that those of us with cancer have is that we are not alone.  We are 50% of the population and we have been joined by royalty in the form of King Charles and Kate.  Over the last couple of weeks I have welcomed two more people whom I know to the Cancer Club.  However we do have to put over to the non-cancer 50% that every case is different, different parts of the body affected in different ways, different symptoms, different drugs, different side effects, different stages of recovery.  There is no 'Oh you have had treatment so you should be better now'.  We have to educate others.

Debbie, one thing that those of us with cancer have is that we are not alone.  We are 50% of the population and we have been joined by royalty in the form of King Charles and Kate.  Over the last couple of weeks I have welcomed two more people whom I know to the Cancer Club.  However we do have to put over to the non-cancer 50% that every case is different, different parts of the body affected in different ways, different symptoms, different drugs, different side effects, different stages of recovery.  There is no 'Oh you have had treatment so you should be better now'.  We have to educate others.

So true xxx

So true, and only those who have travelled our journey, or a similar one, can understand even a part of it.