Calling all triple negative breast cancer patients in the UK
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Hello Marymargarethope,
I am glad that I have been of some help. Your updated treatment will probably appear eventually but the system does appear to be very slow.
With your double mastectomy being so recent I would think there are bound to be some aches and pains. The removal of both breasts would have been a big shock to your body and it will take time for everything to settle down. It could well be that the swelling under the scar is fluid (oedema) and that it will disappear. It is something that you should definitely point out to your oncologist and breast cancer consultant surgeon as they will know what it is and how to deal with it. I am no doctor but I would think that any stretching after such surgery would be a strain. Have you had any trouble with swelling in the arms as this can also happen, as you probably know and is known as lymphoedema, which is also fluid accumulation.
I am so glad you made that call and I hope you get to see the breast cancer surgeon soon. I am sure he can explain things to you in terms that you can understand. We all seem to be in a no win situation. We get anxious if we are kept in the dark about our treatment and we get anxious when we go researching or read or pathology reports or reports coming to us and our GPs. I remember my breast cancer consultant being surprised that I asked so many questions about my treatment at my second appointment with her after diagnosis. In fact, I read a book back in 2005 after diagnosis and my first appointment with her, entitled "The Cancer Directory" by Dr Rosy Daniels and then I typed out all my questions and sent them to the consultant so that she had them when I arrived for that second appointment. She answered all of my questions and congratulated me on such a methodical, scientific approach and said that most of her patients asked no questions and just accepted the treatment. Of course, that must have changed now with more and more information on the internet. I think there are probably still patients out there who just know they have breast cancer, but not what kind or what receptor status etc. and will have surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It could still be as vague as that, especially in the UK.
Please keep us informed.
I do hope all will go well with the prosthesis fitting on Monday. Just make sure that you get a proper fitting and that you are comfortable with it. It will take some getting used to. If it is the same system as at my hospital in Exeter, you will probably just see a breast care cancer nurse. In my case I saw the same nurse as I had been given to phone when needed throughout my treatment.
Try not to worry. Everything will get sorted out in the end. You need to get through your radiotherapy.
Thinking of you.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello everyone,
I am just popping in to make sure all is fine with the few of you that we have not heard from in a little while.
To Jackpot (Gill), I hope you are making a good recovery from your surgery and that your blood count is getting back to normal.
To Suewirral, I hope your days are getting better. I think you may have gone for that sunny holiday with your daughter.
To linali (Lindsay), I hope all is well with you and your family. Are you making progress on your pain treatment?
To Jacqueline1963, I hope all is going well with you and that your radiotherapy will go well.
To Carolben, I hope you are coping as best you can. Are you back on chemotherapy?
To InspiredbyDolce (Debra), how are you getting on? I hope all is well.
I hope I have not forgotten anyone. Thank you all for making the thread what it is.
Best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hi Sylvia
Matthew, my stepson, is the chief Labour whip for Lambeth council. I reckon he will be an MP within 10 years. He won't be standing in this election.
I think the problem we have, not only in the country, but in most of the world, is that politicians have bought into the Thatcher doctrine of small government. I know the good lady is revered by many but in my opinion her government raped the UK. All of the problems we face now such as lack of affordable housing, structural economic problems and lack of services are direct result of her government policies. I have some sympathy for people who are constantly going to the GP for trivial problems because for many it is the only support and social service that they can rely on.
It is a very sad situation. We grew up believing that things could only improve but much of the progress has been reversed, we are gradually moving back to how things were at the start of the 20th century.
Dog still hobbling but doesn't seem to bothered by it as she keeps wanting to play and I am busy trying to stop her.
Michael
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Hi Sylvia,
I have an appointment with the breast surgeon on wednesday and I can ask her all the questions I have in my head!! Also, one of the Mums at my children's school was an onco nurse and then pain management, she was able to alleviate my fears about the pain and said it looked like it was fluid. She has dealt a lot with bone cancer and said that the pain would be there all the time. Mine is only there when I stretch! Feel much better today. Funny how that one word just totally floored me, but I am so rare, hardly any recent studies have been completed.
As always Syliva, thank you.
Marymargaret xx
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Hello Michael,
I was very interested to read what you said about your stepson, Matthew. I would think he has a very busy time as the chief Labour whip for Lambeth Council. I do wish him well and hope that he does become an MP. He must be very dedicated. How is your other stepson getting on, the one in Northern Ireland?
I do agree with you that our country has bought into the Thatcher doctrine of small government and yet common sense dictates that public services are the backbone of a civilised country and that the profit motive should not come into it. I think you are right that she ruined this country, made it one for the rich and we are still suffering from it. Blair continued it and he was rightly named as heir to Thatcher.
I have no idea what will happen in the fast approaching general election but I fear the Blairites are coming out of their holes to mess it up for Labour and hand it to the Tories. That fellow Milburn is forever spouting nonsense. This morning he was saying that Labour needs to get back to left-wing Thatcherism.
I do understand what you are saying about people constantly going to the GP. For some it probably breaks their isolation and gives them a chance to have a conversation.
I have just been watching Dateline London, which I think is very professional and an important source of information from journalists from around the world who are based here. Owen Jones was one of the guests this morning and he does speak a lot of sense. I really enjoyed the two books that I read by him and very recently. They are Chavs: the demonisation of the working class and The Establishment - and how they get away with it. Have you read these by any chance and do you watch Dateline London? It is on BBC News 24 at 11:30 am on Saturdays, for half an hour. It needs to be much longer.
I agree with you 100% that we are in a bad situation and we are going backwards. I do not know how it can be stopped. Ordinary people seem powerless. Perhaps Greece will be a turning point and that throughout the EU people will start to say they have had enough of austerity. It looks as though Spain might be the next to say they have had enough.
I am concerned about what the future might be for breast cancer treatment and cancer in general in the UK. Everything I read seems to indicate that the UK is way behind the western world with the treatment of cancer. I saw an article one of the papers this week with ten ways to deal with cancer in a better way. It was either in the Daily Express or the i paper. You might be able to find it on line. I meant to try to post it on the thread but I somehow seem to have recycled the papers. Karol Sikora is someone whose opinions I do respect and I did write to him quite a few years ago about my own breast cancer. I had a response from him and I found him very informal and down to earth.
I do hope your dog will get back to normal walking sometime soon.
It is a nice sunny day here but oh so cold.
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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Hello Mary,
I was glad to know that you have an appointment with your breast cancer surgeon on Wednesday. Make sure you have your questions prepared. You might want to write them down as it is easy for them to slip your mind if not.
I was also glad to know that you had been able to speak with the oncology nurse at your children's school. I am pretty sure that you have a problem with fluid but you have to know this definitely and the breast cancer surgeon is the one to hear it from.
It makes sense that any cancer in the bones would result in constant pain, but again you need to hear that from your breast cancer surgeon. If there is any doubt you will be referred for scans.
I do hope you will manage to have a relaxing time this weekend with your husband and children and put all of this out of your mind until Wednesday.
Keep positive and live every day to the full.
Fond thoughts.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello Michael again,
I have just located the article in the Daily Express of Tuesday January 27th. It was entitled "Top specialist unveils 10-point plan to cut cancer deaths in Britain by thousands. I am pasting the link here.
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/554445/Cancer-deaths-cut-thousands-10-ways-plan
Please read and tell me what you think.
I am going to have another read of it later. It has been a hectic week for me in my role as a volunteer director in the apartment complex where I live. I feel as if I have not had time to breathe.
I am now going to listen to Any Questions (Repeated from Friday evening 8pm Radio 4), followed by Any Answers, where listeners phone in. I am usually more impressed by the listeners than the panel!
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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Hello everyone,
I have just noticed the following on latest news on bc.org about a gene present in a lot of triple negative breast cancer tumours and a way of dealing with it that could eventually open up the way for treating this particular breast cancer. Please have a look and read the article. The gene is BCL11A. Remember, lots more research needs to be done.
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/new-gene-active-in-triple-negative
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia & everybody, it's been a long time since I posted anything, but things have been a bit crazy. Finished wbr on 31st of Dec (my son came out to SA to be with me). But I've been struggling with side effects even after wbr, headaches, nausea, dizziness, unsteady on my feet, extreme fatigue etc. after the rads the symptoms have been easier, but living alone was getting a little hard. So I had to re home my dogs, pack up everything and come live with my sister in Johannesburg.
So life has been crazy and am now settling down here. The nurse from Hospice is coming by later, they have all my files, but I'm not going to have any more chemo or rads, it's palliative care now.
It's good to be back on the boards and now I'll be ableto read all the posts and keep in touch
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Hello Carolben,
I was so thrilled to have you back with us. You have never been out of my thoughts and I have kept wondering how you were doing. I hope you will be able to stay with us and that you will write about anything you like that helps you to relax.
I can tell that you have been having a very difficult time and I think that the whole brain radiotherapy must have been very stressful and a great challenge. I am so glad that your son was able to come out to South Africa to be with you.
Is there any thing that you can take to relieve all those nasty symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, unsteadiness and extreme fatigue. This is the sad thing about all this cancer treatment. It takes such a toll on the body.
It must have been awful for you to have to re-home your dogs, pack up everything and go to live with your sister in Johannesburg. I think it was a good move for you to go and live with your sister, who will be able to help you. Coping alone with cancer must be very difficult and stressful.
At least you have now made the move and are settling down. I hope all goes well with the nurse from Hospice and that she will be able to make you feel more comfortable.
I do understand that you have decided not to have any more chemotherapy or radiotherapy. There is pnly so much that the body can take. Are you taking anything to build up your strength and help your immune system to fight? I know that astragalus powder is a good immune booster. You can get it in capsules that you can open and make into a tea.
I imagine that you are resting a lot.
Remember that all of us that have been through all of this with you are sending you our very best wishes.
Love.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello everyone,
I do hope you will all pop in to support Carolben and others on the thread still going through treatment.
I have finally found the time to post the ten point plan by Professor Karol Sikora, consultant oncologist at Buckingham University. He said that about 10,000 cancer deaths a year in the UK were caused by the failure of the NHS to treat patients fast enough.
This plan encourages lifestyle changes and I think we all know about eating healthily, keeping to our ideal weight and body fat for our height, being physically active, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes etc.
He mentioned allowing GPs to fast track CT scans within two days. I must admit that with the state of the NHS I cannot see that happening any time soon.
He also mentioned developing hospice home care services.
I was concerned to read that he said that the problem is not with complex cancers but with the most common ones and I think we should all now know that these are breast, lung, colon and prostate. He said that these were where the problems were and that they resulted in excess deaths equivalent to one jumbo jet crashing every two weeks.
He further said that "no other Western European country has such a haphazard referral pattern. Carers, patients, GPs, practice nurses, and specialists need to work together seamlessly. This plan will revolutionise the speed of detection and treatment of cancer – and save lives."
I do not think any of us can argue with this, but I still think the big challenge is with cancer that comes back and spreads. There is an urgent need to prevent the spread, which seems to be unpredictable.
I hope this will be a good week for all of you and that February will be a good month for everyone.
Please remember that Marymargarethope and Jacquleline1963 are starting radiotherapy in February and that they need our support.
Please remember also that breastcancerhusband – Tom's wife has finished FEC and will be beginning paclitaxel (Taxol) and that the birth of her baby draws ever closer.
All those of you who have finished treatment, please be there for others and help through your own experiences, tips and information.
Best wishes to everyone.
Sylvia
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Hello sam52,
I am posting to say that I am wondering if all is alright with you. I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Sylvia.xxxx.
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Carolben - it was so lovely to hear from you. What a brave woman you are to have gone through all of the trials of moving, having to say good-bye to your dogs and resettling in a new home with your sister. I agree with Sylvia that it is a good thing for you to be close to your sister - family is so very important during times like this.
So sorry to hear that the radiation treatments have left you with so many side effects - hopefully with more time they will ease a bit. I certainly hope that your hospice nurse and doctor will be able to help you be as comfortable as possible.
Your words on the board were always so inspirational to me, and I hope that you will keep in touch with us, so that we will know how you are doing.
Many warm and comforting thoughts coming your way.
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Hello adagio,
It was strange that you should post just when I was thinking of posting to you about the book The Fast Diet by Dr Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer. I think it is worth reading even if you do not follow the 5:2 diet. By the way, this is the updated paperback edition 2014. this book is about intermittent fasting to help improve your health and to lose weight if you need to. It is quite simple to follow in that you eat normally for five days and for two days (which need not be consecutive) you eat just a quarter of what you have been eating on the other days. There is a lot of useful information in this book. I found chapter 3 The Science of Fasting very interesting, especially the pages entitled Fasting and Longevity, Fasting and Repair Genes (this is all about IGF-1 which should be of interest to all of us breast cancer patients). It says that fasting reduces circulating levels of IGF-1 and also appears to switch on a number of repair genes. Other interesting pages were those entitled Intermittent Fasting and Stem Cell Generation. There is mentioned a study by Valter and his colleagues that showed that fasting can switch on stem cells and generate the immune system. Remember, we are talking about intermittent fasting. It seems that fasting not only clears out the old damaged white blood cells and lowers levels of IGF-1, but it is stated that it also reduces the activity of a gene called PKA. This gene produces and enzyme that normally acts like a brake on regeneration. According to Valter, PKA is the gene that needs to be shut down in order for stem cells to switch into regenerative mode. According to this book, you can have your IGF-1 levels measured. Apparently the healthy range is 11.3 – 30.9 nmol/l. It also says this is an expensive test and is not available on the NHS. I think it should be, since high levels of IGF-1 are linked to various cancers, including prostate cancer. My breast cancer consultant told me when I was first diagnosed that she thought there was a link between IGF-1 in dairy products and breast cancer. I have read that IGF-1 is also in meat.
There is a lot more information in this book, so I shall leave it up to you to decide whether you will read it or not.
Adgio, if you feel like having something with you coffee, you might like to try a small bar of Siesta carob. It has no added sugar, has natural flavour and is gluten free. The website is www.danddchocolates.com.
To Marymargarethope, I hope you get some answers today.
Best wishes to everyone. I hope you are all having a good week. Remember to keep the thread going. It exists for you.
Sylvia
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Hello everyone
I thought this chart might be of interest to you.
Best wishes
Sylvia
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Hello everyone,
I thought you might be interested in some articles that appeared on page 5 of the Daily Express on Wednesday February 4th. They were:
Healing power of the pomegranate.
Get your oats for healthy lungs.
Genetic clues to fighting dementia.
Britain's cancer time bomb.
You should be able to view these articles on line.
I hope you all have a good and restful weekend.
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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Hello everyone,
The thread seems to have gone very quiet again.
I am always on the lookout for any information relating to cancer in general, breast cancer in particular and especially anything to do with breast cancer with triple negative receptors. Although there is always new research and new discoveries, not to mention new trials, I doubt whether we shall see any real change in the treatment in the near future, so we carry on with standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with hormonal medication where relevant.
It is always interesting to read personal stories, so I thought you might be interested in the following link that I found on the TNS, went and had a look because I am always interested in anything coming from the Huffington Post. The link is as follows and I do urge you to have a look.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-nolan/11-inval...
On the bc.org forum I always find it interesting to read the thread entitled Members from around the world. We get personal stories here.
Hoping you will keep the thread going. I cannot do it by myself.
best wishes to all of you.
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia and all the lovely people on the thread. I returned from a week in Tenerife with my daughter at 2am today. The M56 motorway on the way home was closed for a few junctions and what with the awful fog we have been having it took me AGES to get home! I am still in my jimjams at 11.30 !!
The weather was a bit disappointing at about 16 degrees during the day but so much better than at home. I met a lovely bunch of people including some singles and also couples and got involved in their archery and rifle shooting competitions and also line dancing, all of which were a first for me! I even got a certificate for my archery ( I was really bad but it was such a laugh!)
I asked my GP about getting my vit D levels checked and she was more than happy to arrange this for me so I will get the blood test this week.
Thanks for the links Sylvia I have had a quick look.
My garden is showing a teeny bit of life in that the daffodil shoots have come on in the last week that I have been away.
I saw the psychiatrist at our cancer centre a couple of weeks ago and have decided to try the anti depressants she has suggested. I am a bit scared of side effects but will take the first one this evening. I do still cry all too readily as I am sure many of us do. I had a few tears on holiday as I recalled the things that Colin and i used to do when we enjoyed our many holidays together. But that is getting better and truth be told I am pleased that I am able to bring his memory to mind so clearly.
Love Sue xx
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Hi Carolben, I have followed some of your postings and note from your biography that you were born in 1954 same as me. Sixty hey??how did that happen?? haha
Its nice that you have been able to get support from your sister at this time. You have been through a lot and its good that you can rely on her. I am so sorry you have had to rehome dogs I know that our pets really do become part of our family.
If you feel up to it Carol do tell us a bit about life in SA? It sounds very lovely and exotic. What is the weather like there? Do you have a pool in the garden as you say you go for a swim in the mornings? That must be so lovely and relaxing if the weather is good.
Take care love Sue xx
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Hello Suewirral,
It was nice to hear from you and to know that you are back from your holiday in Tenerife. It sounds as though you had an awful time getting back home. I think you and your daughter will probably sleep very soundly tonight.
I was surprised that the temperature was only 16 degrees during the day in Tenerife, but at least you were away from the deep cold we have been having for some time. I just hope it gets a bit milder soon.
I was so glad that you met some lovely people while you were away and that you got involved in various activities. I am sure this will have done you a lot of good and that it would be good for you to carry on like this now that you are back home. Congratulations on getting a certificate for archery!!
I was interested to know that your GP was happy to arrange for you to have a blood test to find out what your vitamin D level is. I think it should be part of all standard blood tests, so that patients can improve the level if it is low. Please let us know what your result is.
I do hope you are doing the right thing in deciding to take antidepressants. I can understand that you are a bit scared about the side effects. If that were me I would definitely not touch them but you must do what you think is best for you. Crying is a natural process of grieving and is a good way of your body getting relief. I do not think there is a standard timetable for when grief should end. You have been through such a lot and it will take time for all your emotions to sort themselves out.
It is natural to be teary when you remember all the holidays that you enjoyed with Colin. All this takes time. As you say, things are getting better.
I am really touched that you took the time to have a look at the link. It amazes me that you did this so soon after getting home. I have read the link carefully today and I have printed it off. A lot of it I knew, but some of it has given me a lot of food for thought.
I think if we look at the headings of this link, and go through them, we can concentrate on the ones that we need to improve in our own lives.
1. Make healthier nutrition choices.
2. Be physically active.
3. Set healthy boundaries. This one gave me a lot of food for thought.
4. Stop tolerating the bad behaviour of other people. I was very interested in this one as it reminded me of the talks I had in the early days after diagnosis with my homoeopathic breast cancer consultant about negative people in my life.
5. Say 'No' when you really mean no.
6. Stop caring what other people think about you.
7. Stop caretaking.
8. Take 100% responsibility for every choice and decision you make.
9. Stop asking permission to live your life the way you desire.
10. Radical self-care is a necessity. This emphasises that no one was going better care of me than me. I think it is very important to remember this.
11. Create the life of your choice.
Please read the details of this link, as it is definitely the way to live.
I like what Peggy Nolan says about being more than a breast cancer survivor and that she is a thriver. She mentions that she is now eleven years out from diagnosis.
That is all for now. I hope you and your daughter settle down to a good week.
Love.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hi all, from sunny South Africa - sorry, just couldn't resist rubbing it in, I know you guys are COLD!!
Unfortunately, Sue, we have a pool in the garden, but it's half full & green - my sister & her husband have never been big pool people, somehow, I've always been about 80% fish! My 3 nieces each have an outside, solar heated pool, so that's where we go to swim. Unfortunately it's not an everyday thing, but I do so enjoy it - the thought of stepping into the pool first thing in the morning is lovely, although, in the last while, just getting to shower is a big achievement!!
Yes, 60, hey - I always said that if I reach 60 I'll be satisfied, anything over that is a bonus, so I'm in bonus time, and every day is a gift. I really don't feel that I'm dying, even if the "stats" say I am - that light is still shining inside. I rest a lot on a daybed outside and can see huge trees, a beautiful green lawn, birds and flowers. Leaving my dogs was heart breaking, yes. I got a friend of mine to go around to the lady who took them into her home and apparently they are both doing fine, I try not to think of them, just knowing they are ok has got to be enough,
I feel like there has been progression - but am not having any scans, although I would love to know what's going on inside. I never had pain before, but this is still better than chemo. My mornings are not so good, pain wise, but we are still working on that with the Hospice doctor. I have a good afternoon nap and still sleep through the night. And I'm on quite high doses of cortisone!! Don't much like the cortisone, but it does give me more energy, helps with the coughing and also a bit more appetite. I've been losing weight - down to 42kg today, even tho I feel like I've been eating more. So I'm not that strong physically, but mentally I'm good.
Thank you, Sylvia for the pointers in your last post - all good and very true, it's something to aspire to fulfilling.
Had a lovely chat with my son on Facetime yesterday - he opened up to me a lot more, but we are blessed to have always been close and have always been open and honest with each other. He will be out to visit for my 61st birthday at the end of March, as will my sister from the States - something I'm really looking forward to!!
Love & strength to all going through tx at the moment, it can be really rough, but if I had to do it all again (chemo etc) I would. Hang in there and, really, all we do have is today, even though it is so trite to say!!
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Hello Carolben,
It was so lovely to hear from you and we do envy you your sun. It is still extra cold here and I am just longing for spring.
Be sure to let us know when exactly your birthday is, so that we can send you greetings. If I remember correctly March is an important month for chatterbox (Michael) as his wife, Janette's birthday was in March and she died in March. I am pretty sure it is also the birthday of sam52, who does not post much any more but we go back to 2009.
I do hope the hospice nurse will be able to help so that you are pain free. You are right to concentrate your mind on staying alive and not to take any notice of statistics. I was wondering are you taking anything else besides cortisone and other orthodox treatments. I think it is good that you are mentally strong and I hope that you can pick up physically. Remember that we are all your friends here and we are sending you all our love and best wishes.
I was intrigued when you said you had a lovely chat with your son on Facetime. What exactly is Facetime? I am not on Facebook or twitter but I know it is a way of life for a lot of people now. I occasionally use Skype to talk to a friend in Canada. It must be a great comfort to you to be so close to your son.
You must be really looking forward to that birthday gathering at the end of March.
Are you managing to read anything or are you just too tired?
Thinking of you and sending all my love.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello Marymargarethope and Jacqueline1963,
I was just wondering how you are getting on, whether you have started radiotherapy and what sort of radiotherapy you have been offered. I know that there is something called proton radiotherapy, which is supposed to be safer because it is more accurate. Has this been mentioned to you?
Hello Breastcancerhusband (Tom), I was wondering how you are and how your wife is getting on with the Taxol. I hope all is as well as can be expected.
To all the other regular posters, I hope this week will be a good one for all of you.
Best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hi Sylvia
My wife is ok i guess. Obviously very tired, this last round of FEC has knocked her hard. But of course being 7 months pregnant doesn't help! She has the first dose of taxol on wednesday. The chemo nurses think she should cope quite well, we'll see!
She still has some hair which is keeping her happy, so even if it all falls out during taxol she has managed to keep some for quite a while. Its all getting rather scary though, I'm not quite sure how we are going to cope with a new born, a toddler and chemo!
The baby is fine, he's normal size and kicking like mad. I'm sure he's fighting for his mummy as well!
I hope you are well too.
Love and prayers all round.
Tom
xxx
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Hello Tom,
It was good to hear from you. I do admire your wife going through all this and of course I am not surprised that she is very tired. I do hope that she will cope well with the Taxol. How many doses of Taxol will she have had by the time your baby son is born? Will she be having a rest from the Taxol? I do wish mumtobe (Carol) was still posting, as she was going through all this while expecting a baby. She gave birth to a daughter Emma and the last I heard she was getting on with her normal life. She was from Ireland. I seem to think that she had a break from the chemotherapy, had the baby and then went back on with the treatment.
I can understand that your wife feels good that she still has some hair. Losing one's hair through treatment is so traumatic.
I can understand how everything is getting scary for you, but keep telling yourself that you are going to get through this, that your wife will complete her cancer journey and you will settle down to a family life with your two children. There is no doubt you will have your work cut out for you but you must try to involve family and friends to ease the burden. Will you be taking some paternity leave? How is your little girl coping?
Today, Raymond and I went out for lunch in a nice café in a garden centre near us. There was a young family sitting next to us and I saw a very young baby sleeping soundly on his father's shoulder, so I just said hello and said your baby is sleeping soundly and he replied for the moment! I asked how old the baby was and the father said he was just three and a half months old. His young daughter, about three, looked at me and said he is so small and then she made the length with her hands and said that he was tiny. That will be you, Tom, the proud father with his family, in the very near future.
It is good to know your baby son is fine.
I have just noticed in the Radio Times on Wednesday February 11th BBC1 at 9:00 pm there is a Panorama programme entitled "Can you cure my cancer?". It goes on to say that although more than one in three of us will develop cancer, huge advances in genetics are transforming our understanding of the disease and the best ways to combat it. This Panorama Special hears from patients, some of whom were given just months to live, who have been able to keep cancer at bay for years with new drug treatments. Given access to trials at the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, reporter Fergus Walsh also meets the medical teams at the forefront of the battle against the disease.
In the Radio Times on page 95, talking about the programme, it says that cancer is strictly speaking a group of over 100 diseases and it holds both fear and fascination. It further says that certain newspapers that cover scientific research divide the world into possible causes of cancer and possible cures.
It also mentions that there was a memorable programme on Channel 4 last year that followed patients receiving experimental treatments at the Macmillan cancer centre.
This Panorama documentary picks up the baton following trials at the Institute of Cancer Research where we learn how advances in genetics are transforming our understanding of cancer and how to fight it.
If you get a chance to watch it, I would be interested to know what you think.
I think it is useful if we all try to pick up every bit of information that we can.
Thinking of you and sending very best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello maryna8,
I was wondering how you and your husband are getting on. I know that you have been going through a very difficult time for quite some time. Just remember that we are here for you.
Fond thoughts.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello Carolben,
I have just been looking back at a book I ordered and read in August 2014 when it was newly published. The title is "Radical Remission – The nine key factors that can make a real difference". It is by Kelly A Turner PhD – a researcher and psychotherapist specialising in integrative oncology. I do not know if you have already read it, but you may have missed my post last year.
It is £15.29 in hardback but is also available as a Kindle book. I found it really interesting.
Do not give up.
Sincere best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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Dear Sylvia
Just checking in to let you know that my husband is gone. He died peacefully on February 5, he just couldn't go on any longer. The services are over, now for whatever is next. One day at a time.
Thanks so much for your concern, I'll be back posting when things quiet down.
Blessings to you,
Mary (maryna8)
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Hello Mary,
I was so shocked to read your post and discover that your husband had died. It is so hard to know what to say, but I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you. You and your husband have been through so much and now to lose him is so heartbreaking for you. Do you have children, other family members or friends to help you through this?
Please come to us for comfort and support as often as you need. You must take care of yourself. There is so much to do when a loved one dies, so I do hope you have some help.
Suewirral will understand what you are going through, as she lost her much loved partner, Colin, not that long ago and is going through the grieving process and Michael lost his much loved wife to breast cancer two or three years ago.
We are your friends here and want to help.
Love.
Sylvia xxxx
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Oh Mary I am so sorry to hear about your husband. My prayers will be with him tonight.
Love,
Marymargaret
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