Really sorry to read your news Dougie; you've been through a very challenging experience with more challenges to come.

Both my parents have had cancer: my mum survived almost 40 years after her first op and my dad is still around a decade after his.  

Modern medical science achieves remarkable things and I hope the treatment works. Good luck.

Dougie, really sorry you're so poorly but pray that all your treatment is successful. Modern medicine is so far ahead of years ago- three of my work colleagues have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years- all fine now- the most recent multiple and severe, and she's back at work today!

Stay on TWO if you can- I shamefully have forgotten the fn code for the degree symbol (I just post C again) and I was plucking up courage to ask you once again!

Thanks Gandalf, I am amazed by the kindness shown by the members of this forum - thankyou.

It's not until a thread like this has been opened, that you realise how widespread this awful disease is, and I am glad to see that a lot of you out there, have had parents surviving with a decent quality of life. This is encouraging, and although the treatment I am receiving is purely palliative, I hopefully have some quality time left. That said, it's been far from quality for the last six months or so.

As you rightly state, there are more challenges to come. After the stent is inserted comes the first, that of the sometimes brutal side effects of chemotherapy. I was effected quite badly at times from the original concoction, but to a certain extent, you can learn to live with that. It's the little additional surprises that come along every once in a while, which can prove to be the real challenge. Time will tell.

Thanks again for the wishes.

Best wishes Dougie. Hope all goes well. :-)

Thanks Bertie for your thoughts and wishes, it really is most humbling to read this thread, and don't worry, I am not going anywhere just yet. I will just blame Caz when I start crying

For your degree sign, it's 0176 on the small keypad whilst holding down the ALT button (if it's not ALT, it's CTRL, can't quite remember just now). I have yet to find out how to do it on this laptop and Windows 10, but will get there eventually.

Thanks Bertie, and everyone else who have contributed, especially Caz who started this all off.

Thanks Joe, it's very much appreciated.

Best wishes Dougie.

I hope all goes well for you. 

Steve

I hope the treatment gives you as many miles on the clock as possible Dougie. 

I lost my cousin Helen recently who I was close to in my younger years, but I hope this piece by her gives some inspiration.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/04/helen-dunmore-facing-mortality-birdcage-walk

Thanks Steve.

I was interested to see that you were suffering from the heat the other day, much as I do, and I received a lot of stick last summer for complaining. Give it another couple of years, and you will be firmly entrenched in the Darren(Retron) camp. There are a few of us there already

Thanks again mate.

Thanks for the link Ben, thought provoking.

All the best Dougie.  Stay optimistic and let that treatment will do what it can!  You're the man, Dougie!

WI

Best wishes Dougie. Hope the treatment goes well. My older sister went through it a few years back and came out well not like a new lady she's too old for that but with a recharged outlook.

Was it you who first posted the Tromso snow webcams? I still look at them but now its summer the only snow is on the mountains.

Nick

Thanks WI.

I remain optimistic, but reality sometimes rears it's ugly head, especially when something else goes wrong health wise, and there is a long list of such problems.

Thanks again.

Thanks Nick. I am amazed by the number of folk here that have family members who have, or are suffering from cancer. Thankfully, like your sister, a lot have survived, and have a decent quality of life which is great, but I can fully understand how folk get so far into treatment, and then just give up. Sometimes it's easier.

Yes, I did post the Tromso webcams, although since the re-positioning of the camera, it's not quite as good, but come the winter, I can't resist a bit of lamp post watching. The last time I saw snow falling there was right at the beginning of May, and winter can come quite early that far North, so something to look out for.

Again, thanks Nick.

As Frank Spencer often used to say "A friend in need is a friend indeed".

I can't even imagine what you are going through at the moment but really hope you get to fight this thing. Hang on in there, Dougie.

Thanks Ian. It does not always take a lot to raise the spirits, and with you keeping in touch, this simple fact has helped me a lot. One of these days the world will hopefully become more normal, and I shall come to Folkestone and buy you a beer.

Cheers.

You're one of ours Dougie.
Loads of good vibes heading your way.
Keep us up to date, ye hear.

Thanks for the vibes Tony, much appreciated. Will update when I can,

Anyway, that's another day closer to Friday and I sense you're a little chirpier than you were a couple of days ago!  God, hospitals are such boring places aren't they?  I'd swap places with you for a couple of days though, just to give you a break.  But I can't so you'll have to settle for a virtual hug and a whole lot of positive vibes!  

Best wishes Dougie sounds like a tough few months to say the least. Keep fighting!

Cheers 

Anthony 

Thanks Anthony, yes it has been a bit tough, but I still have a smile on my face on occasions. Everyone on here has been great.

Thanks Dotty, it is annoying when procedures are cancelled, particularly when I was prepared and wanting to get it over with. Now, as the new date approaches, I am starting to get nervous, so please Mr Doctor, don't cancel it again.

Thanks again.