Hi ladies,

lovely to hear from you Christine and hope all is good with you Sam.

Isnt that just bizarre about your lack of folic acid! I know it is something you need to take when trying to get pregnant but then falls off the radar! But hopefully it will sort everything out. I'm still terrible with medication. I'm better at taking my tamoxifen but my adcal pills get forgotten on a regular basis. 
Me and hubby are off down to Corfe this weekend, in the camper van and I have to say I am looking forward to it but also feeling slightly anxious. I think we both need a break from the busy household we live in and spend some time on our own, together. We are taking both dogs so it will be Eddie's first trip away from home! The weather is looking beautiful - sunshine but chilly so lots of walks and we are planning on going into Swanage for the day. 
I had my appointment with the BC nurse on April 1st. Typically my rib pain had got so much better but I did have a tenderness in my right hand abdomen. The nurse said she couldn't feel anything and wasn't worried but would send me for a CT scan as reassurance. She has also referred me to the gynae dept as some issues down there too but they come and go. I had my scan a week ago, but not heard anything back yet. I am pretty sure everything will be fine but the odd doubt creeps into my brain every now and then. 
A lady on our team has just told us that she has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She's only a year older than me. It always tends to wind you a bit when you hears that someone you know has got to tread the path.  All you can do is offer support. I always found people who had been or were going through something similar, easier to talk to, as they understand your worries and fears to a greater degree.

Sam, how is your dad doing? And how is work? We haven't heard from you for a while, so hope everything is ok?

Ive now had both my Covid jabs - felt pretty rough after the 2nd one but only for a day. 
Anyway, I'm sat at my desk, not working and have shed loads to do, so better crack on. Take care!!

Caroline xx

Hi Christine & Caroline,

Glad the niece is settled and that your checking out of boob related issues was OK so far and hope outstanding stuff comes back with no issues, I've got consultation with plastic surgeon Thurs for symmetry, nipple creation and other delightful gubbins...yay! Never heard of Corfe but am imagining it just like Corfu!!

The father is ok but is getting very tired and is lacking a bit of enthusiasm this week but he did go out for a Sunday roast and then a trip to Harrogate so has probably overdone it, the silly fool.  Am going up for a long weekend May and hopefully the sister is coming over from Taiwan June (no idea what the covid situation will be but we'll see) so will see him then too.

Good news re the folic acid, who knew a deficiency could cause so many issues, like many I suspect they only associate it with pregnant women.  And good news re your spooky iPad that knew you wanted to get in touch, I'm a big believer in fate...

I am sooo busy, been back at work 4 weeks now and though still on a phased return I am super busy all the time, but busy on my terms! Very important...
Am loving being back at the gym, had to leave the new bike all alone in the car park, think 3 padlocks (and CCTV) will be sufficient to deter any would be thief, seems to be working so far!  Also had my hair sorted out Saturday, what a relief...I decided a change was in order so am now bleach blond and resemble a young Bridget Neilson according to my pals (better than looking like Vera/Boris that I did previously and that was despite my cutting it!)
Isn't it nice to be able to see people again?  I've had a few meet ups in gardens and walks with pals which has been bloody lovely.  
My training for the MacMillan hike is going well although I did nearly kill myself near Caroline.  Went to visit the mother down there and thought I'd get down early to go for a walk/avoid the traffic. I'd planned a 4 hr walk and was fine up until hr 3 and the last hr took me 2 as I was so knackered and kept going the wrong way (brain would not work despite the technology at hand re an app telling me where to go) so suffered the day after. Learnt not to overdo it too soon and am now sticking to 3 hrs and building up gradually....sounds like your daughter thinks she's super-woman too eh Christine?
I've my 2nd covid jab Monday so am expecting to feel delightful (!!) for 2 days after as I did with 1st shot...much more preferable to having the real thing though.
I've also been busy making plans to get back up north to see the father so planning to go up the weekend before end May bank hol...can't wait.  He's doing fine but getting more tired as time passes, only to be expected I guess.  And the sister from Taiwan is hopefully due to get jab soon so hopefully (fingers crossed) coming over June so another trip oop north for me...yay!
Drafted the above earlier in the week and then my week went somewhat unexpectedly so am now in Southampton as the mother down here is not well and am sooo annoyed that it took her gardener to call me and tell me that she was under the weather, when I arrived she was clearly not well and very confused so after discussion with 111 an ambulance and hospital admission occurred.  Whilst the change of scenery is nice (!) I would rather it were under different circumstances!!!  I am however LOVING early morning training walks & runs in the new forest (2 mins from where I am), amazing to look round and see NO-ONE, never get that in bl00dy Surrey! Those ponies are not very talkative though...damn them.

She is ok but is very slow mentally & physically, the thinking so far (awaiting MRI results) is that she's had another stroke (she had some mini ones years ago that went unnoticed until a visit to the opticians). So many what-ifs run through my head but let's see what happens eh?  So am in her house looking after her cats and poor Adrian is looking in on mine twice a day and I've got to go back 'up north' for the jab so minimising travel is a wee bit challenging at the moment (sorry Boris).
I do hope your weeks aren't quite as eventful as mine, bl00dy parents eh? (I'd insert a smiley face if I wasn't such a Luddite).  

Stay well both of you XX

You sound so like me, the doer and fixer. I don't even know how to do being an invalid!. "free fall and wanting to run describe me perfectly too. This week I have been diagnosed with secondary breat cancer. I have no idea whether it's treaable, although I undrestand it's not curable. Iam terrified and just want a bit more time. It's awful how many of us are in the same situaton. xx

I am so sorry to hear that. But I have read that treatment today means people can survive secondary breast cancer for many years. Can I ask how long ago it was since you first had breast cancer? We are always here for a chat and support 

xx

Oh Sam!!

im so sorry to hear that your mum is so unwell but lovely that you have gone to help. The New Forest is such a beautiful area. We go camping down near Lymington so travel down there quite a bit. I hope your mum improves soon. At least she's in the hospital and being looked after.

Take it easy on those training walks! I've done many Moonwalks (walking a marathon, through London, at night, in your bra). Build up slowly! Although I know the lost/long walk wasn't planned :laugh:

Good to hear your dad is doing ok but sad to hear he is tiring. Hopefully your sister will get her jab and be able to come over in June.

Your comment about Corfe being like Corfu made me chuckle!! If only! Corfe is in Dorset. It's famous for its ruined castle. The weather is beautiful but chilly. We are off to Swanage on the bus today. That's a seaside town not far away. Might even dip my toes in the sea!!

Well, I need to get my *** in the shower!! So have a wonderful weekend all!!

Caroline xx

Thank you,of course I don't mind you asking, I have never been diagosed with cancer before, it's such a bolt from the blue. 

Hi girls,

How nice to get such speedy replies. Sam, I'm sorry you've got two parents to worry about, now, especially when you have so much to do, yourself.  You sound like a superwoman to me with your hiking and cycling.  You need to pace yourself, though. Like my daughter, you grab life by the scruff of the neck and try to beat it into submission despite all it throws at you. She is crashing at the moment, so I took her to the pub on Thursday, we took the dogs and had a lovely couple of hours in the garden enjoying the buzz of people's voices in the evening sun. It got flipping cold, though, after the sun had dipped out of sight.  I am  becoming quite the gadabout, because on Tuesday, my Tuesday at Two Facetime friends and I are going OUT for lunch, weather permitting. My weather app is promising 70% rain, so there may be a change of plan, although I think there might be a marquee to shelter us.

I had my second Covid jab yesterday and had no reaction this time. My arm is a bit sore but that isn't necessarily from the jab as I've been having physio for torn tendons. I hope things are still on track for opening up more when your sister is due to arrive, Sam.

I hope your scan results are reassuring,  Caroline. Even if you think things are ok it is still good to have it confirmed.  You are both busy girls, these  days. I have almost forgotten what it was to have to work for a living. I must say retirement is the best job I've ever had but for the low pay!  Because of all the years we were abroad I have only partial state pension and an equally low work pension.  It's amazing how easy it is to adjust, though, especially when you have no rent/mortgage to pay. My son bought me this bungalow and I just pay running costs, and like many people have found, lockdown has been a great money saver.

I still haven't heard anything from the doc about my blood tests. I have to have another one in a few weeks to see if my folic acid levels have improved  I really think it is conflicting medications that have caused the deficiency.  I did my research,         ( otherwise known as Dr. Google) and found that the lansoprazole which I take for acid reflux can impede the absorption of folate from food. But the Amitriptyline I take for pain can reduce the effect of the Lansoprazole! Are you still with me?  Recently I have been having reflux breakthrough, which I can't cope with, so my Lansoprazole dose was doubled, ergo low folic acid levels! So now I'm juggling my meds times to find a balance between them. It would have been nice to hear this from the horse's mouth, so to speak, I just hope my increasing senility improves with the folic acid enough to keep me on schedule!

Good luck with your impending delightful gubbins, Sam.

I hope you are having a great weekend in Corfe, Caroline. 

Catch you later.

Christine xxx

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. But this forum can be great  for support and talking to people going through similar journeys. Xx

Hi [@surreygal]‍ 

I'm a temporary Surrey gal too (Epsom) so you're in good company.  The cancer nonsense can be a lot to get your head around but all of us on here have seen it off and I know you can too...and if I can add I have the whole kit & kaboddle of treatments and it is very doable, I was lucky that I had few side effects and recovered well after surgeries and you may well be the same...don't assume you'll be in the minority of those who really suffer as they really are a very small percentage.

As Caroline says we're here if you have any queries (practical stuff is my speciality!!).

Good luck.

Sam