Hi and welcome to the forum which I hope you will find supportive.  My story is more that of my late husband as I joined when he was diagnosed and the support of the forum for nearly three years during his illness helped me considerably.  Since he passed away in January 2015  the virtual friends I made here continue to chat and show me kindness just by listening to me rabbit on!!

You are more than welcome to post on my thread but it may also be worth starting a thread of your own and perhaps mentioning the kind of cancer you have in the title.  This way others who may relate to your own personal journey can respond and I am sure there are many who will definitely understand the sleepless nights along with all the emotions you go through as you undergo treatment and wish you all the best with your treatment plan and hope you have family and friends who can also be there for a support network. Jules

Hi Brian,

You have been a vey busy boy the last few days. I too managed several hours in the garden over the weekend and lawn is mowed/edged and borders weeded. I also moved one of my bird's feeding stations.  The daffs are still coming through and the front garden has a good show of the miniature vesions in bloom though with the workman's rubbish piling up around them!  Today or tomorrow should see this collected and it will look a lot better then.

Bathroom just awaiting a couple of bits (shower dial replacement being picked up  today) and cupboard doors and then  they will be back to finish off.

My daughter and grandsons were down for a few hours yesterday as they already broken up for Easter.  They were going to their old school at the end of day to see old friends and apparently there were lots of hugs going around.  I will see them all again Easter Monday all  being well when the all the family meet up for a pub lucnch followed by a walk.

Mum once again slept through my visit but there appears to be little change and she is comfortable and still having her meals. I continue to enjoy the gym and will be back there on Friday once my two work days are done and dusted.

Wishing you, Mrs B and the family a peaceful and pleasant week. Jules

Hi George

Pleased to hear you were well looked after during your hospital visit and hopefully you will have not too long to wait for the appointment for the computed tomography and fingers crossed your GP can help with your neck pain.  I am sure Ann was pleased to have you back home and the lovely RIA too.  Take care and keep enjoying your strolls.  Jules

Hi Jules,

Spent most of yesterday afternoon on the phone gathering information and have now spent most of the morning writing and re-writing a form for our wood club to do with THE DATA PROTECTION ACT. 

Have now sent the form together with an explanatary text to our committee members for their approval/amemndment before sending it out to our members for their signature/s if approved.

I know the act is well meant but it has meant a whole lot of work for me and I have still not finnished yet.

As once i have got the signed forms back, I will have to file them and maybe chase those who have not replied.

Also have a fourty page spiral folder with clear pages to put photos of our members work in. We will then take this to our exhibitions so try and make our club stand a bit more customer friendly. Have put white paper in each of the clear pages ready for when the clear photo corners arrive tommorrow. Will also print out some more colour photos, some in A4 size. There are five clear seperators included so may seperate it into turning, carving, pyrography, toys and misc sections. Will have to trim some of the photos to get good fits but have a cutter for doing this.

I'm sorry your mum slept through your visit but at least she is still eating and is holding her own. Glad you have now got the extra bit for your renovations you needed and can see light at the end of the tunnel ha ha. 

Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian 

Hi,Jules,Had a shock today got a letter from nhs telling me they have made a  apointment for me to have a flexible sigmoidoscopy on sat 7th april at 3pm.I do not need this one at all and it is from endoscopy unit .So I have tried to cancet that one ,confused .com.regards george 

Hi Brianm

There certainly has been a lot of admin work for you to do on behalf of the WoodClub but hopefully the end is in sight and once finalised you can rest easy that everything is up to date.  I have had no end of 'notifications' regarding the Data Protection Act and several alterations to make on a personal level to make sure all is well recorded/privacy protected etc.

Mum sleeping through visits is preferable to her being anxious or in pain so in some ways a relief. The staff, doctor and I are all pretty amazed at her body's resilience though she is a shadow of her former self.  The pain patches are so much easier than her having to take oral medicine. She is now off all her other medications and appears to still enjoy her small meals especially breakfast.  The staff go in and chat regularly but she rarely chats back.  There is however one young carer she has taken a shine to and does answer her questions.  They even placed music in her room (tried the tv but she waved it away and has not shown any interest in her surroundings for a while now).  I will always be grateful for the support the residential care home gives despite ongoing staffing changes which is pretty common in this industry.

Good news yesterday in that my bathroom is coming towards the end of its renovations and thankfully the issue with the 'technology' involved with the shower/bath was resolved by 7pm. Painter/workman in on Friday which should put the finishing touches to it (and get the door back on!!). The only thing outstanding is the delivery of the vanity unit doors which will be a quick fix once in stock.  In the end only a couple of days over the estimated 3 weeks planned.

Very frosty here this morning and I have been watching a beautiful thrush trying to get something out of the ground to no avial.  Took pity on it and put out suet bites and some dried meal worms and it got tucking in before the starlings sussed!!

Stay warm and regards to you both and the family.  Hope you get to see the grandchildren over the Easter break too.

Jules

Hi George,

How annoying to have the wrong kind of appointment come through.  Good job you have your wits about you (you sound far from confused,com to me) and hopefully this will all  be sorted and the correct scan appointment will soon follow. 

Wishing you, Ann and the family a pleasant Easter though the weather here is not looking too  bright. Will make the most of any gaps in the rain and have a family pub lunch on Easter Monday to look forward to.

Stay warm my friend.  Jules

Hi.Jules. Spoke to Mr Baraza,s clinic lady and she said I do have to go through both test,s they need a full picture of just what is going on in my bowel,but i have no pain there but lots a pain in my upper spine,and that is down to Cervical Spondylosis or neck Arthriits as the case may be.But the last few days Anne,s left knee is a mess swollen and sore she can hardly wallk at all .And off her food I am doing her a fishermans pie she likes those  so I hope she will eat it .We are putting down to our age she is 82 I am nearly 85 come july .Well thats me for today .happy easter regards to all .george

Happy Easter to you and Anne  George.  Sorry for late response but notifications not getting through to me at present....some pesky rabbit gremlins may be!

So you have to have both tests but at least now you know why and good they are keeping an eye on you. Poor Anne, no fun having a painful knee and with the Easter break a delay in getting it looked at too.  You made my mouth water with the thoughts of that fisherman's pie so hope she was able to manage some and that she will soon be feeling better.

Would have been my  hubby's birthday tomorrow (67).  I am going out to a pub lunch in Worburn with the children/grandchildren tomorrow and we will raise a glass (or two).  As it is dry here at the moment am planning on going to the Farmers'Market after visiting hubby's resting place this morning and with a bit of luck will enjoy a freshly cooked lunch from one of the many stalls.

Take care of yourselves. Happy Easter Day.  Jules

Hi Jules,Back into hospital at 10am tomorrow for the big scan I am full  of dye  and stuff ready to go

But as I have said in the past the team looking after me are fantastic Anne was in today for 5 hours having scans etc on her knee it is a mess but she had our Bev with her looking after her .Regards for now speak soon .regards george .

Hi George

Poor Anne; that was a long day for her at the hospital but lucky to have the company of your daughter Bev (hope she is keeping well too now).  Really hope the scan shows what is going on with her knee and she can receive quick treatment/relief.

Wishing you all the best for your scan appointment today and no doubt you are taking it all in your stride and keeping the staff happy too. I can still remember well the time my Dad was in hospital just before his bypass and we arrived for visiting hours to find him making toast in the nurse's kitchen because he said they did not have time and he was bored!!!!  Such a character and I think they missed him when he moved hospitals for his op ha ha.

Do let us know how you both are when you have a spare moment my friend.  Hugs from Jules

Hi George

Poor Anne; that was a long day for her at the hospital but lucky to have the company of your daughter Bev (hope she is keeping well too now).  Really hope the scan shows what is going on with her knee and she can receive quick treatment/relief.

Wishing you all the best for your scan appointment today and no doubt you are taking it all in your stride and keeping the staff happy too. I can still remember well the time my Dad was in hospital just before his bypass and we arrived for visiting hours to find him making toast in the nurse's kitchen because he said they did not have time and he was bored!!!!  Such a character and I think they missed him when he moved hospitals for his op ha ha.

Do let us know how you both are when you have a spare moment my friend.  Hugs from Jules

HI Flower.I think all went well with the scan just have to wait now for the results from the lab ,yesterday I went to our local blood clinic in Altrincham hospital they took some blood so again waiting for results .But its all down to diverteculites ? or something hole or pockets in the colon/bowel.Anne is a bit better we did the big shop this morning at our local tesco she used the trolly as a walker and she did well ,the swelling is down a bit but still in pain .And as I said we are both waiting for results for blood and such.As for weather up here in timperley very cold but  dry had RIA out twice  and two more to go,she is on water  tablets and has to wee a lot to take the urin away we are both on the same tablet but I have to pay for hers .Well that is it for now regards  to all ,george anne and ria .

Hi George,

Just back from a short break and glad to hear that the scan and blood tests are done and dusted.  Waiting is frustrating but hope the news is good for you when the results come in.  Pleased that Anne is showing progress and fingers cross the pain/swelling clears up fully soon.

Weather in Middlesex slowly warming up and it seems the next few days could be a bonus at this time of year.  I am hoping to get into the garden after visiting Mum tomorrow (lawn really needs mowing now) but here is a shot from my trip which can far outweigh anything I could produce  ha ha.  Take care.Jules

Hi Jules,

Hope you enjoyed your long weekend trip. Well done to you for ticking another box. Thanks for sharing your great photos. 

Since Monday I have laid several paving slabs in our back garden  The turf I had to lift to make way for them was so heavy but I did it and have taken it plus sawdust and other rubbish to the tip as well. There was so much I had to make two trips but at least they did let me back out. Have also cut the hedge and mowed the lawns  so feeling rather weary now. Garden looks so much better now but just have a few gaps between the slabs whice I need to fill with cement so will try and do this tommorow. 

I also took Mrs B to a local farm shop/garden centre this afternoon and went through the country lanes. It was a lovely drive and with the car windows opens we could hear  the birds singing and saw lots of primroses decorating the hedgerows.and we both thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

This week is going by very quickly. Hope you mun was okay and did you show her your photos? Glad you managed to get your lawns mowed.

My china rose radishs are growing well now and nearly every seed I planted has come up so had to thin them out and cant wait for them to be ready. Havent been able to buy any for many years now.

Hope you manage to fiend some time to relax in your garden. Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian,

It was a lovely few days away and so well organised; stayed dry throughout and beautiful surroundings.

You have been busy outside and do not envy you the lugging of paving slabs let alone the  turf removal but am sure you were shattered but satisfied by the time it was all done and bet it looks lovely too.  I never get tired of wandering round a garden centre but it is hard to resist the temptation of spending just a little too much.  I need compost for my new hanging basket and also more bird food so may well have to fit in a trip this weekend.  Have both blackbird and sparrows nesting in the ivy at the end of my garden and they are forever hungry.

Visited Mum though no response to my visit so did not get the chance this week to show my photos but as I have some on social media and am friends with the activity lady at the residential home she talks with Mum about them (though again no response back).  Must be so hard for Mum to be feeling this way though she is in no pain and still eating at meal times.

Glad you radishes are growing well and it will be great for you to taste them when ready.  Funny, I have never been a fan of any kind of radish and can only think must have been put off them at some point as a child.  It is one of the few things I dont eat as far as salad goes.

The evening before I went away my sister in law phone to let me know she had been diagnosed with breast cancer (very early and caught through Mammogram screening).  She  has her op next week and the consultant surgeon is expecting it to be straightforward.  Will have my fingers crossed for her.  He has told her that her planned visit over here in May should be no problem.  She is coming to stay with me for a week  mid May and then my summer holiday is booked in June when I will go to the Isle of Man and catch up with her plus my brother in law and his wife (have booked flight and a B&B so I can be independent and also, despite them having been there over three years there is still work going on with the house and that is not my idea of 'a rest'.

Spent this morning weeding and dead heading in the front garden as cannot go out as have a parcel due to be delivered.  Tempted to put a chair out there as cannot sit in the back garden as would not hear the bell (extension unit is useless ha ha).

Look after yourself and hope Mrs B and the family are doing well.  Jules

Hi Jules, 

Just a quick post to let you know I should be posting as normal from now

The garden is now finished (and so am I ha ha). After that rain yesterday afternoon, the lawn squelches when you walk on it but I mananged to finnish the last few bits this morning. I can now get back to my woodturning. Our back lawn sloped up to my garargeand was akward to mow. So now I havw two rows of paving slabs set at differnt levels tp work as steps.

I have recieved confirmation our 3 day August show is going ahead so I can now conform it to our members. Still in contact withmy late friend and club members widow. She is coping better but reading between the line dont think finacially she is in a very good place. 

This afternoon I have taken Mrs B to a couple of garden centres to see what plants she wants to put in the new extra bit of garden. She has chosen a tall fushia for the first item. It will be in the shade all day

Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian..

Hi Jules,,

Forgot the mention while at the garden centre, I bought some books, some by Cliive Cussler and some by Stephen Leather so will look forward to reading the,, Brian.

Hi Brian

Just reading what you had been up to in your garden made me feel tired!  I do love it when a project comes to an end and you can just stand back and enjoy the results.  Think the few lovely days we had kind of spurred people on to get outside.Now temperatures and April showers are back so your new planting may be like a game of 'dodgems'.  I always love visits to a garden centre (even have a loyalty card for the local one which really helps!!) and these days they are like minefield of lovely things and ideal for gifts too.

Good news that the August 3rd show can go ahead and so you will be busy advising the Club members and getting plans in place for your own stall I am sure.  Look forward to seeing the results of your 'shed time' and hope that leak gets sorted too.  Always take's a time to make those day to day adjustments as we go through the grieving process and worrying when the financial sums do not add up. Unfortunately these days there is no widow's pension, just benefit for a year and a small lump sum which is supposed to help with funeral expenses (does  not even meet the most basic costs).I was fortunate indeed that hubby had death benefit pension plan otherwise I would be  back out working full time (when in my head I should have retired at 60!!).  Hope your friend's widow has someone to help her with the financial minefield (with my hubby often working away when he was alive I was used to dealing with day to day stuff but also chose to use professionals to deal with his Estate as my head just could not take it all in).  Not easy at all.

No plans in plaace this weekend so far but will no doubt be out walking once the showers stop and must get some fruit and veg in too.Have a good weekend. Take care and enjoy your new reading material. I like Stephen Leather and my Dad used to like Cussler though I have never read him myself. Have a new novel to start by Baldacci at some point. Jules

Hi all,

Just wanted to share that my sister in law has just had her results following a lumpectomy for the removal of malignant breast cancer. So relieved to say that the 'nasty' was fully removed and no spread to lymph nodes.  She is now on a course of tablets to be followed by three monthly injections and some radiotherapy (no timeline for the latter yet) as well as physio.  At 70 years of age she is delighted that her mammogram picked this up as even the consultant could not 'feel it'.  Ladies please keep those appointments.  From intial mammogram to this conclusion ...............just four weeks. Amazing service NHS.  She is coming to stay (pre planned before this news) next weekend for a week and it will be good to see her.

Hope everyone staying dry whilst it is currently chucking it down with rain where I live.  Jules

Hi Jules.good new for you and yours as for rain I have watered my gardens every day for a week no problem I like to spend time out there .And as for me I got two letters in the post yesterday,the top man said no sinister symptoms but he needs to reassess me again to see if he can improve my symptoms .The second was  to  confirman a appointment for tuesday 5th of June ,so i feel a lot better .

Take care lol george 

Hi George,

Very pleased that yo have learnt that no sinister 'goings on' and do hope that once re-assessed they can make you feel  more comfortable.  All the best with your next appointment which is not too far away.  Not sure where the time goes recently as the days quickly passing by.

Beautiful start here this morning and I have purple alliums and white poppies doing well in the  back garden with bright pink peonies and my ground cover flowers bringing colour between the 'grasses'in my front space.  Just my work shift to get through today and then can relax for a few days. Sister in law arrives later today and weather looking good so feet up in the garden should help her recovery though she has quite a few plans visiting friends whilst she is over from the Isle of Man (I am her B&B ha ha).

Hope Anne's knee problems have been improving and best regards to you both. Jules