Hi, my name is Alison I am 55 and was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 at the age of 46. I was then given the startling news in early 2015 that the cancer had returned and that I was now metestatic stage 4. Treatable but incurable. I have mets in both ovaries, the pancreas, on the bowel as well as nodules in the stomach and bone lesions. I have had intravenous chemo and also in tablet form. Recently the oncologist told me that the cancer was growing especially the localised tumors so I am now on a different chemo regime. To be fair i have taken everything in my stride up to now and have coped well with treatment but like most of us luck g through this i have melt downs and periods of feeling very low. Fortunately I have a rock solid husband a supportive family and an excellent network of friends to help me come through and out the other side stronger and determined.

Last month my husband, who has been susceptible to various infections  over the last few years, was diagnosed with myeloma, a cancer that attacks the immune system and bone marrow. Treatable not curable. Ain't that something??? Both of us tackling a disease that is at best a ***!

You can imagine how hard it is for us to cope with this double whammy but we are doing our god dam best to get on with life, to stay positive and happy. We are bickering over the bucket list (s) and start planning our next break before we leave for the previous! We are both still working 3 days a week and doing our very best to cope with complicated regimes and pretty severe side effects. Some days we can't even be bothered to get dressed, all we want is to cry about it not being fair, the why us stuff, other days we are on top of the world but mostly we just dig in and get on with it as best we can - together.

Wow just realised that was long introduction from me. I hope you are all doing ok on such a stormy night. I have already read some posts and responses and am very encouraged at the empathy and support everyone is showing to each other

Hope to get to know you all better over time

Alison x