Soop`s superbly supportive,caring and fun loving Kitchen.

soop I am so pleased that you shared your photos. Everyone of us will have looked and learned. I work with the government to improve care pathways for patients with devastating skin conditions and I know that one of the most worthwhile and yet hardest thing I have ever done is to share with others.

We were brought up to be stoical and never make a fuss but without souls who open up nothing changes. I’m proud to know you.

Ann - if your DH ever show the slightest signs of anger or unpredictability ask SS to have a continuing care assessment. If people with dementia are unpredictable their scores are higher and you stand a much greater chance of getting all his fees paid. My dear Mum had to pay for all her care because she was so docile and predictable and her very wealthy brother goy his free because he could turn on a sixpence. The Altzheimers Society has lots on this. I feel for you.

On a lighter note it seems that Panache had waltzed off with my red boa. I reckon she’s no better than ought to be...as my Gran said ?

*

Soop you are one very special lady. Thank you for sharing your picture and helping to increase our awareness of what irregularities we might need to look out for.
Have a wonderful time away with your family and come back refreshed to face the next days. I’m so glad you can use your kindle in hospital, even if it’s just to catch up with some reading.
Mamissio used a lovely phrase, “I’m proud to know you”. I think we can all say the same.

Have a lovely time with your family Soop you are a very special lady x
Thoughts to all who are struggling x

Goodness me, slow down people, please

Totally agree soop, you are a very special person. Have a wonderful family time, all good wishes to you.

I do understand n&g, think this happens more with girls than boys, two of ours have been in the same situation and I wanted to murder. So hard when we can’t sort it for them. Poor Jackson, at least his injuries are diminishing in seriousness,

Charley I would think Tara is packing her bags right now. Fancy being so unreasonable, how could you wash her duvet cover? .

I’m sorry you have more distress callgirl, please take care of yourself. We recently were unable to attend two funerals because of the logistics of distance. Made it harder I think so I hope your travel plans can be achieved.

Goodness ann, understanding or not that must have hurt. Hope you’ve recovered by now and please care for you.

Good news kitty, one down and one to go for Mr Lester on the operation front, it feels you are both due a celebration.

As ever I am bound to have missed many Kitcheners. Please believe it isn’t deliberate, more a shortage of time and memory.

Be careful out there everyone.

Kitty glad about the good news! And hope the prostate problem is sorted ASAP.

N&G I often think girls are more unkind than boys. I’m already thinking about DGD going to ‘big school’ in September!

Ann nothing anyone can say except but you know we are here for you.

Izabella How beautiful! Oh for some sun, sea and relaxation!

Panache how I admire you, although things are hard, you give such care and support to us lot.

Soop how great to share that image. We may not appreciate that cancer does not always appear as a lump.

Took Mr A to the hospital at 9.30am. More tests and lots of waiting! Still inconclusive so even more tests to come and a referral to an even more specialised specialist! And eventually we left the hospital at 8pm. Despite everything, I am so impressed with the thoroughness of the doctors we have seen. But we are both exhausted!

I did a big post yesterday afternoon - who has nicked it?

Thank you all for your kind thoughts for DH. I'm sorry about your Dh's problems anneleise but I too am impressed with our nhs and am glad the doctors are being so thorough. It is blinking tiring.

callgirl, you are living through difficult times.

N&G, I'm sorry to hear about your dgd's problems. Be pleased that she is talking about it. Girls can 've evil to each other. Boys are so much easier as they just thump each other and get on with it.

(((Hugs))), ann. These are really difficult times for you!

soop, you are a very kind and brave lady - did someone mention that? Have a lovely weekend but do try to keep the noise down.

I apologise if I've missed anyone but sending good wishes to you all.

Oh my goodness, I'm truly bowled over by the loveliest of messages. I didn't imagine such a response as the result of an image of the soon to be ex breast.
It isn't meant to shock. As some of you have suggested, it's merely a sample of what breast cancer looks like on the outside. I always thought of it presenting as a deep tissue lump.
Also, it was pain that alerted me to the possibility that something was amiss. A lobular cancer in situ, is the early stage of. Cancer in the milk producing lobes. When the cells migrate, it becomes invasive lobular cancer and may spread to the lymph nodes. Pre-op, I shall be injected with a blue dye. My wee will turn blue,possibly my skin for a wee while.
During surgery, the surgeon will take a look at the lymph nodes, if they are coloured, some may be removed for closer inspection. It is important that any infected lobes are eradicated.
The mastectomy bra arrived yesterday. It will be comfortable as it is wire-free.
Better to lose a breast than a life.
I wish to thank all of you for all your kindness and valued support. Any person who doubts the value of Gransnet should bear in mind that to many, it is priceless.
A busy day ahead. Countdown to the family gettogether. I shall return during the course of the day. That's for sure. ?

I so admire your courage, Soop in how you are approaching your illness at this difficult time.
It was very brave to post the images, if it saves even one life, it will have been worth it.
Who would have believed The Kitchen could have provided such great comfort to so many people.
God bless x

Morning all, my poor head is reeling at the pace of life in the kitchen these days - I can’t keep up!

n&g your poor gd, it’s awful when girls are nasty like that. One of ours who’s 13 is experiencing the same at school. She’s the sweetest of girls - bright, kind, quirky and funny but just doesn’t fit in with the crowd who are excluding her left right and centre I hope things get better for your lovely lass. kitty your assessment of the way boys/girls manage friendships is spot on! Hope things continue to go well for Mr L. So many kitchen pals with ailing menfolk these days.

callgirl I’m sorry you’ve had sad news at a time when you’re already so worried about your son. You must be pleased to see his appetite picking up a bit but you’ll not settle until he sees the oncologist and find out what his treatment plan is. Thinking of you.

soop there’s nothing i can say that hasn’t already been said, but that’s not going to stop me adding that you’re a kind, truly inspirational and amazing woman. What good timing your family weekend is, it’ll be a real boost before your surgery. Enjoy every minute and hug those beautiful babies close!

Izabella what a beautiful environment you are in for your holiday. Perfect for relaxing, I’m guesing you’ll be mulling over your recent difficult news too - hard stuff to come to terms with indeed. I hope being where you are is soothing for both body and soul.. Hoping too that morethan is managing to relax on her holiday and benefit from the break.

Ann, your struggle goes on. You know in your head that you made the only possible choice for both your dh and yourself but living with it all is very hard and tugs at your heart strings every day. I’m so glad you have wee Molly to lighten your spirits a bit.

My old boy has taken the car off to have a service and MOT done, as there’s been a distinctive rattle and the gears feel a bit clunky too I fear this could be an expensive trip. Well I’d best get up and get going or I’ll still be lounging in bed when he gets back...oops too late, I’ve just heard the key in the lock! Hope the day is kind to you all, I’ll have missed lots of folk I know. Special thoughts for all who have a hard road to walk today ?

Have a wonderful time with your family soop.

soop You are a truly remarkable woman, a real star ?
kitty, ann
Best wishes to all of you lovely people who are dealing with "buggerations"

soop I feel very privileged to have taken part in the trial, nearly 20 years now, involving the blue dye to see if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes .
It was called the Sentinel node trial
Until then it was standard to remove all the lymph nodes but the trail involved having some sort of electrode injected into the lump the day before surgery and then prior to the op having x-rays to check it has gone into the first or sentinel node and then the dye injected during surgery to travel to that node.
If that was clear of cancer no other nodes need be removed
That was much better for the patient, I still had all my nodes removed but the trial was so successful that it is now standard .

Hello lona.

We knew you were special ann!

Any change in breast shape, texture or colour should be reported.

soop your kitchen and you are just wonderful. I very much admire your fortitude. Can I just say that my sister was diagnosed 4 years ago with Stage IV breast cancer and lymph node involvement. Her treatment consisted of mastectomy, removal of 18 lymph nodes from her armpit, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and reconstruction of the breast (her choice at 60y). Yesterday she rang to say a recent mammogram, CT scan and MRI scan were all negative. Miracles DO happen and she is still working and enjoying life. x

Very encouraging Urmstongran

I can't say how much I admire and revere you soop. You are, as has already been said, an inspiration to all of us. How amazing that ann's experimental treatment is now a standard from which you will benefit. You're both remarkable women. There's so much going on here that it's difficult to comment without writing a small novel! I do hope that Mr Panache is rallying and that Panache has recovered from her birthday 'do' which I survived due to my sojourn under the table.
N&G - small boys spend a lot of time in A&E - at least, mine did. We got quite well known in our local hospital in the 1970/80s. It culminated in a broken leg apiece six weeks apart.
callgirl, your family is having more than its share of ill fortune. I hope you manage to make it to your nephew's funeral and that your DS gets favourable news when he eventually sees the oncologist. It does seem is cruel to keep him hanging on.
Izabella. I love the idyllic pictures you've sent. This holiday is just what you need.
Kitty, good wishes to you and Mr KL. Life is never simple!
My own little buggeration, following the fall I had last Friday, is a lot better now and the black eye has already faded to a very pale yellow. The stitches will dissolve and eventually I'll have an 'interesting 'battle scar'. The most annoying thing is that my glasses have gone off to have a scratched lens replaced. The optician managed to straighten the distorted frame himself. Meanwhile I am managing with the glasses before last which aren't too different. I can now see that the line of the scar aligns with the line of the frame which must have been forced into the eyebrow by the impact. Tough frames!

As many of us can echo that fact Urmstongran...........having had both breasts removed within a year of each other following bowel and cervical cancer back in the years following 1984............no lymph glands involvement and no resconstruction advised...............and yes no further issues so all these stories are testament to the fact that cancer treatment today has come on in leaps and bounds.
Sadly back then there was quite a lot of "hit and miss" but the main thing is, I am here in this day telling my story.

I think you may have alerted many dear ones to seek help Soop after bravely choosing to show those pictures,it is not a common type and so not as well known as searching for a lump they usually advocate,or the inverted nipple another one to look out for.
These pictures could well save lives and a big thank you dear Soop

I think it fair to say we are as one wishing you the happiest of times with your loved ones,soaking up the loving atmosphere before you set off to get this dastardly deed done and dusted.

Don`t be away too long though I promise that we shall all pull together and keep the Kitchen in some order,although perhaps not quite as humerous as it is with you at the helm.............but I for one will do my best and squeeze in time from my somewhat hectic schedule right now... if hopefully my man returns home tomorrow as is planned.

You certainly have done your bit "and more" for medical science then Ann....whilst I am so sorry hearing how frail your husband has become,but on the other hand, you really could have not done more to help him,we just cannot win everytime.

Whilst it seems you Anneliese still have a long way to go in searching for a medical diagnoses for your dear man,frustrating but so uplifting knowing the Medics are pulling out all the stops.

Must dash,buck up Dragonfly and lets hope tomorrow the sun shines for you again, but love to all,glad your cold is on the mend Greyduster.......enjoy life again and indeed may that be the motto all round, whilst for those well and truly finding the going tough please know we are there alongside you...... helping to ease the burdens.

Not only tough frames I say but tough Annodomini!!!!

More sad news for me.
A friend and neighbour had a second stroke yesterday morning.
It is 2 years since her first from which she made a good recovery, but she had a TIA on New year's eve and now another full blown stroke.
Her H says "she is not good" doesnt know her name and other personal things.
She was 81 last October, 4 months younger than me.
I have known her 50 years and we got together every month for coffee.

Ann so sorry to hear about your neighbour. It brings it home how tenuous life is.

I really hope you have a wonderful weekend Soop with lots of cuddles from grandchildren. I really miss the cuddles as they are so far away.

I had an MRI on Saturday and I am now waiting for the phone to ring even though I have an appointment with the oncologist in three weeks.

To add to Soop's post my 'lump' is in the inframammary fold which is under the breast - not in the breast. It did not show up on mammograms or scans. In fact when I first went to see the specialist they did not know if it was breast or skin cancer. I would post a picture but after taking the pills it is so much less vivid than it was. Anything unusual around the breast is worthy of investigation no matter how old you are.

You lot are totally amazing. It is a priviledge to be associated with you. Thank goodness that you found the kitchen and we discovered each other.
Phone call has confirmed surgery will take place on Wed 13th. It is going to be a very busy week.
I still have stuff to attend to before I can put my feet up and play the eternal game of "catch-up-if-you-can". It will happen...a little later.
Before I forget, if we need a new kitchen opening during my incarceration, please will one of you lot do the honours. I would be so sad if there was nowhere for us to meet.
Away to polish the furniture. Daft, isn't it...it's just that I like to return to a tidy home.

soop - xx - no more to say.

MacSporran has agreed to pop into the kitchen during my absence (and when he's not on the road or visiting). I have told him that you lot are the best. Treat him tenderly. Most definitely NO 'anky panky. He's all mine.

Back to do more jobs aboot the hoos.