Debbie in France's blog

People react in many different ways when we tell them we have been diagnosed with cancer. In my case, I find one of the most common reactions is wanting to help in some way. I have had offers to mind my animals, money paid into my bank account, ten nighties sent to me ... and alternative medicines thrust upon me! A dear French friend who is very much into herbal remedies photocopied an article about "propolis" (defined…

Dusty is a near octogenarian who lives in a caravan near us in the summer and returns to his daughter in the UK for the winter. He usually buys half a dozen free range eggs from us once a week, though shortly before he left for the winter our egg supply was running thin. He rang for a chat the other day, and asked me how I was. I have always been an honest and open person, so I told him outright, "The cancer's back".…

During my consultation with the surgeon on my partner's birthday, 30th October, I was informed that the PET scan had shown metastases in the lung and liver areas, so surgery for me was no longer an option. I suppose I should have been disappointed at the news, but to be honest, all I felt was relief that I was not going to have the threatened urostomy and vulvectomy. I had been preparing myself to have this radical surgery…

I have been reading some horror stories regarding delays in cancer treatment in the UK, so thought you might find it interesting to hear my experience here in France, the country reputed to have the best health service in the world. My worst delay was of my own making, in that I took little notice of symptoms which I first noted in my diary in July 2004. It wasn't that I was "afraid it was cancer" - I have never quite…

Although I was first diagnosed with cancer in November 2004 - Fireworks Night actually, 2 days before my 48th birthday - I have only just discovered and signed up to this site, although I have subscribed to a couple of sites for women with gyneacological cancers for a few years. I have always fancied writing a blog - in fact, somewhere in cyberspace, there probably still exists the title page I wrote for my blog:"Walking…