Lovely morning chit-chat August 2026

Thanks Gilpat

It can be an anxious time waiting to hear about test results and disease progression.  

Fortunately I had all good news today, all tests were good and my cancer marker (PSA) is classed as undetectable !  This means that the drugs do work!!

I also accepted the offer of radiotherapy to blast my Prostate and kill off the naughty cells there.  Unfortunately my lymph nodes will not get the same treatment which leaves me still incurable but treatable.

Best to all

KrisPy

Hi Stacy, I hope your counselling went/goes well today. 

Are you telling me off for talking about gardening here? Lol. Well, most of the content is not about gardening I'd say. 

When I'm gardening and doing something like weeding I have a lot to think about but if I'm transplanting or sowing seeds I need to concentrate more so my mind doesn't race. 

My results from the bloods taken last week were poor as usual and I told the haemotologist who rang me that I hadn't heard from anyone from cardiology. She must have spoken to someone with clout because I have an appointment with the angina clinic and I've to ring the respiratory appointments secretary when I return home on Friday. The same secretary rang me last Monday to offer me an appointment today but I'm still in England. So it's good to know that I'll get checked out very soon. Bad enough having an incurable bone marrow cancer without having to worry about a heart attack!

Tvman x

Call me Patrick KrisPy, yes waiting can be a stressful time. I think it was Stella who said she doesn't worry because the results are what they are and just a bit more data needed to adjust the treatment or carry on as appropriate. I have never really tried to understand the technicalities of my cancers let alone others. But it does sound like you are doing well, so keep going and stay on here to support others and don't be afraid to shout out when you need help.

Hey Stella, my oncologist thinks I am up to a trip so booked a flight to Thailand mid October. Looking forward to it. Are you feeling better?

HI Patrick

Good news that you are cleared for your holiday. Are you going to visit Vietnam is well? How long are you going for this time? 

I am feeling much better now, thank you for asking. I am surprised UTI would affect me this much but I have never had one before. My GP is going to give me a spare script so I can take the antibiotics immediately if needed. But hope the next time is on the long distant future. 

Glad your result is also very good KrisPy. Hope radiotherapy is effective too. I had 5 dose for my bowel cancer but sadly it didn’t do much. Actually nothing is killing my bugger other than surgically cut it out. Rather pesky things. I did my master degree at Birmingham Dental school. The city was very large and has excellent curries! 

Mr TVman Hope you will get your cardiology appointment soon. How is your visit to England so far? We had a bit of rain today and it is not so warm now.

X

Hi Stacy,  the tomato farm in Iceland is amazing.  We went there in February.  They keep loads of bees in there as well for the pollination.  We had tomato soup in the restaurant, never tasted any better soup.  We also had local liquor shots which they pour into the hollowed out tomato, it was very strong.  It is a beautiful place.  I really hope that you find a way to sort out your veg beds.

Lee x

Thank you for your kind words Patrick.  I do find this and other fora really beneficial and supportive.

I now need to get into the three monthly cycle of test/appointment/results for the foreseeable future!

The “new normal”!!!

That sounds a brilliant plan to have a trip planned - we are hoping to get up to Scotland next week ( by train) as one of my daughter’s lives there. A change of scenery (quite literally) and a change of air (from suburban to clean Perthshire!!)

KrisPy

Hi Lee, that tomato farm looks so amazing in the videos and photos, thanks for sharing your visit there! They have an online shop, and given your opinion of their soup, I think my mom and I need to order some.

Tvman, you had me cracking up, so thanks for making me laugh! Everyone was just so deeply invested in my raised garden beds, and then it dawned on me, we should be having this discussion in your gardening post. I hope they can schedule an appointment with your cardiologist soon after you get back home. 

KrisPy, the "new normal" is something that all of us definitely have to adjust to, and it's something that I struggle with a lot. I hope you'll be able to go to Scotland next week. I spend a lot of my time on TikTok, and there so many videos of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances. I love listening to the bagpipes and drums, as well as the march out through the streets from the castle.

My appointment went okay, the focus is now centered on my social anxiety. So when I came home from the hospital, my sisters and two of my friends told me they bought me a ticket to see Ella Langley in Columbus with them. I love her music, and I have her songs in a lot of my different playlists. As much as I want to go with them, I just don't see myself going. I only have two therapy appointments between now and September 25, and for the life of me I can't see myself feeling any different. I don't even want to go into the grocery store with my mom. I mean eventually I'll have to force myself to go out, and face these feelings, but the concert just doesn't seem likely for me.

~Stacy

Hi Stacy

That is such a lovely thought from your sisters and friends, how great to have them on your side!  And how fantastic it would be if you feel up to the trip out.

I had to look up Ella Langley on Spotify - nice!  I listened to Choosin' Texas!  Music can be so good for the soul, and that is why I started the "what are you listening to" thread .

I am currently listening to the new Wolf Alice album as I type this - and enjoying it immensely.  (I said on that other thread that although I am 69 my Spotify age came back earlier in the year as 19 !!!).

The pipes are an amazingly emotional instrument - and are so emblematic of Scotland.  We travel by train and at Edinburgh it is always a pleasure to hear the pipes at the send off of the Belmond Royal Scotsman (one day we will be on it!).

My grandchildren go to a small rural school and at the end of the school year they parade out from the school behind the piper - such a lovely sight.  It is so small that there are only about 30 kids in total in the school (up to 11 yo).

Talking about Choosin' Texas - I would! My brother in law lives in Fort Worth and we spent an amazing month there with him and his family a few years back.  Texas is so big!!!

All my best wishes for your continued recovery and the gardening

KrisPy

Thanks Stella, I hope so too. I had a phone call from the appointments people to say that I would get a telephone consultation from cardiology??? on 1st September between 2 and 5 pm. 

Them I had a letter in My Chart/Care to say I have an appointment at the Ulster hospital at 2.30pm. What to do? I'm going to go to the hospital for the appointment, I don't see how my heart can have an ECG over the phone. I know technology is improving greatly but not to that extent!

Tvman x