Where have I been?
 

Some of you may say. Well at the beginning of December I went for my mammogram, which turned out clear. At the time, I mentioned a lump which after biopsy which turned out to be breast cancer. Whilst there I mentioned an old lump which was checked out in the UK which was non-invasive (it was still there!!!) but had grown another one - result double mastectomy in January, and then a further op three weeks later to re-tidy up the front and remove the auxilliary nodes on the left as the sentinol nodes had miniscule cellular invasion (surgeons words) on the bottom.

Luckily all my auxilliary nodes came back clear and I have now finished my fourth round of chemotherapy to reduce the chance % of it coming back.

All due to my hormones it seems.

It seems only 89% of cancer is picked up on a mammogram.

So you can understand why i've not been skulking around expats for a while.
got another appointment in June to start Tamoxifen for five years.

So onwards and upwards!!! Not what I expected when we came to NZ, but I will say the care and the speed from diagnosis to operation was excellent (three weeks and that included christmas and new year).

On a brighter note, love my job (my boss has been amazing due to my health), my husband is getting on great with his newish job and we are currently renting. Going to sell out house next year, once the current tenancy ends. Hopefully then we can find somewhere we really like. The children love it here and go to a rural school just outside Upper Hutt.

I do miss some things, chocolate for one and the fact there is no fresh cream (clotted cream etc) in any shops, used to love Sainsbury's fresh cream trifles, eclairs, apple tarts etc. Other than that, financially we are much better off here than in the UK, and will be even more so once the house is sold.

I don't expect we will go back for a visit for a few more years, although we do hope to at some point. Would we ever return, well I don't think so, but that would depend on the future and where our three children end up. If they moved permanently back to the UK then I think we would seriously consider following.

At the moment, we feel this was the best decision we made and wouldn't change it.
:thumbsup:

Re: Where have I been?
 

Goodness Ellenarosemary, that's a terrible thing to have to go through and the worst of starts to your adventures here. It pales all our other little niggles into insignificance. It's good to hear that you have received the best of health care and that your work has been so supportive.

I wish you all the very best with your ongoing recovery and treatment.

Re: Where have I been?
 

+1 and Big Hugs. :ohmy:

Re: Where have I been?
 

You've been through a very scary time. Glad you found the strength to get through it.

Glad you love your job and your OH is getting along with his job.

Re: Where have I been?
 

What a tough time you've been having but I am so glad you've had good care :)

Btw, it might brighten your day to hear that clotted cream is sold in many New World stores, double cream is now sold from Lewis Creamery thro countdown (small plastic bottles - organic, delicious cream!) and if all else fails, you can get clotted cream sent up from the South Island (worth it for xmas etc). Just google it. Happy cream eating :-)

Re: Where have I been?
 

http://www.lewisroadcreamery.co.nz/welcome

http://www.naturallyorganic.co.nz/pr...d-cream-225gm/

Re: Where have I been?
 

wow you've been through the ringer but least you are on the other side so onwards and upwards.

Moonie makes her own clotted cream so maybe you could do that?

Re: Where have I been?
 

Good to see you back :)

Glad things are working out now - what a terrible start to things - (((hugs)))

Re: Where have I been?
 

What a horrible start to life over here but great to hear that you've had good treatment and are now on the mend:thumbup:

Also fantastic that your boss was so supportive.

All the best with the future xxx

Re: Where have I been?
 

Clotted cream is very easy to make, 1ltr meadow fresh purple (gold top) milk and 500ml of cream in a bowl, very gently over boiling water simmer it for 2-3hrs, remove and place it in a fridge overnight, the next day scoop off the clotted cream and use the milk for rice puddings :)

Re: Where have I been?
 

But my Devonshire grandmother-in-law used to have it simmer all day; does it really only take a few hours? Does it get a proper crust? The stuff you buy here does not have a real crust, shame.

Re: Where have I been?
 

Yep it does, have made it twice now

Sorry Elanrosemary, I seem to have hijacked your thread, sorry you've had a rough time but i'm glad your sticking it out here, hope things will start to improve for you soon x

Re: Where have I been?
 

It is lovely to hear from you EllenaRosemary but I am horrified and shocked you have been going through such a horrible time of it. Good to read you are now on the road to a recovery.

Always rather wonderful when people write that they feel they made the best decision for them. Especially given all the visa problems also.

Onwards and upwards then. Happy Days ahead. You deserve them. :)

Re: Where have I been?
 

Wowsers - what a journey you have been on! Tough start to life in NZ. Wishing you all the best for the future! :thumbsup:

Re: Where have I been?
 

Ye gods & little boarlets Ellenarosemary. What an awful ordeal you've been going through. Just shows the importance of checking your breasts for lumps & other inconsistencies, as well as regular mammograms. Having my mamms grammed tomorrow!

So pleased that you are making a good recovery & that you have been well-supported by work. Best of luck with your continuing treatment.

Good to hear from you, don't be a stranger.