'Petrified': cancer patients fearful of lockdown easing, says charity.

[2greys]

More than quarter of a million cancer sufferers have been struggling with panic and anxiety attacks during lockdown and are now facing new fears about the loosening of restrictions, research has revealed.

The study, by Macmillan Cancer Support, found fear levels among UK cancer sufferers have been so high that 270,000 people have experienced panic or anxiety attacks or even suicidal thoughts because of coronavirus.

Since the start of the pandemic, over half a million people with cancer have barely left their homes and around a fifth of them say they will stay indoors until a vaccine or effective treatment is widely available, regardless of recent changes to government shielding guidance, the charity found following a survey this month.

theguardian.com/society/202...

[2greys]

I would also like to know whether this applies to other 'clinically extremely vulnerable' groups as well. For some it will be 20 weeks of not leaving their home, to suddenly switch this off is going to be very, very truamatic.

[Sops in reply to 2greys]

I agree, and having been told on my Matt-letter that it is a ‘pause’ in shielding and i may well be asked to do the whole thing again, i am questioning if it is even worth coming out,

Am feeling quite low and normally am not,

Sopsx

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Sops]

Totally agree with you also Sops and my letter from Matt aka "doorMatt" because I'd like to wipe my feet all over his "im your friend" type signature! I mean don't the Government have umpteen clerk's sitting doing not a great deal but couldn't find it within themselves, to say "Hey! Matt, shouldn't you really be signing your name on this letter ?" Obviously not. Probably tea break or extended luncheon with the toff's and high rollers of society,who in general have no concept of being 🛡 shielded for month after month. Oh dear. My sincere apologies Sops. I'm ranting as you can see, so for your mental wellbeing, its only fair that I end here and continue when iv'e had another 2 or 3 mugs of strong tea ☕☕☕. 🐿🌈

[Sops in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Hope the tea was good! All very thought provoking and i would have to say our ‘friend’ Mattis not up to the calibre of Boris in being economic with the facts, he even looks a bit embarrassed and hot under the collar on the presentations. Agree about the letter, now chasing my supermarket priority slot providers to check it will not disappear when i am having my six friend bubble,(i wish) after July6.

Taake care and keep drinking the tea, Sopsx

[leo60 in reply to 2greys]

I had an anxiety attack on my way to the surgery for a blood test. had to pull over and take my inhaler and sort myself out. I was late.

[Hidden in reply to leo60]

I am actually very concerned about that too. I need to have all my bloods done sometime but then if any come back not ok I will have to go again in a few months to be retested and concerned by that time it will be even more risky. Still hopefully the surgery will have the entire situation under control to avoid cross infection etc.

[leo60 in reply to Hidden]

Tbh Bkin, once I got there, it was fine. I sat in the waiting room with one other for bout 30 secs, the nurse took my blood wearing full PPE and I was out within 4 mins!

[Hidden]

Its not surprising, what a rediculous situation we all find ourselves in.

I'm fed up with the whole thing, bad enough we have endured so far and its not the lock down being lifted so early (that as well) but its the idiots who are not social distancing because they got a bit of freedom. All eager to go shopping, boozing, fight oh gawd no hope for the human race.

I don't blame the government for poor behaviour in the population. I am peeved off that chances are we will be entering the second wave even before the shielding guidelines are lifted so in affect because of others bad behaviour we have to stay put longer.

Those are my views.

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Hidden]

👏👏👏yes a round of applause Bkin 😵😡. 🐿🌈x

[Hidden]

As someone who normally avoids crowded public areas, especially during flu and chest virus season, I shall not be going back to ‘normal’ activities on August 1. Having control over myself is what keeps my anxiety at bay and whatever the constantly changing ‘advice’ of scientific ‘experts’ I shall continue to protect myself and, I suspect, watch from the sidelines as a second, or localised spikes happen.

[leo60 in reply to Hidden]

I have no choice, I am expected to go back to work on a supermarket checkout xx

[Hidden in reply to leo60]

Yes I really feel for youand others in your situation.

[leo60 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you xx

[SquirrelsHolt]

For once 2greys, this Squirrel is speechless 🤦‍♀️. Im undecided whether I want to cry 😪 or get myself all hot under the colar 😖😵😡 or just scream a lot of profanities 😟😞😖😵🤬🤬🤬! I can't decide but typing this has had a calming effect for the moment. Did it make you at all annoyed? 🐿🌈

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

My speechless phase lasted all of a few minutes when i read other member's replies to your post. If I can continue giving out false information and promises, I could possibly be hired by the Bo-Jo workforce, who could sit unassumingly in a corner of the room and would hold up placards with pointers because us ordinary folk ,we know what's what but we want transparent, clear, honest answers . OK time for ☕!!!🐿🌈

[2greys in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

I have very mixed feelings about this, having a 99% certainty to having had the virus. Before being ill, I was afraid and knew there was a real chance I would end up being exposed to it. Having cancer, in remission, and other influencing conditions did made it very scary and all very surreal, one can only have so much luck after all.

Whilst ill, with the virus, I was reasonably calm and had a plan of action ready in my mind which helped, not having to think about what to do. My memory of that time is now all rather hazy as is the nature with all unpleasant memories, they fade.

I will still be staying in, despite a very high probability of being immune, there is no real need for me to go out , except for medical appointments. The next flu season will only be a few weeks away after August anyway. In fact I am not really expecting that pause to actually happen, it is just over a month away, with plenty of water (careless people) to flow under the bridge in that time.

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to 2greys]

Thank you for a very "sensible head on shoulders" reply and it's made me reconsider how I will approach the potential removal of protection for those of us in the Shielded Group. You rightly say, we're only a couple of months away from the Flu season. So I'm thinking along the lines of 1st August being able to mingle or be cautious and look forward in time and keep outings to the minimum. Doctor or 🏥 hospital appointments probably the only reasons I'd want or need to go out except if i could visit my elderly father in his Care Residence but proper visits; not 15 mins, speaking through glass windows that are only able to open 2 or à3 inches. Dad is gradually becoming very deaf and visits are strained when there's no close contact and poor man it upsets him too much. I suppose we all have our own dilemmas , so that's mine.

I get the feeling that you are quite dispondant at this COVID-19 virus having being done with us yet. It's going to loiter around looking for easy prey. Scary I think. Hope Sharon is fuly recovered from COVID-19 and it's a blessing that you have each other to get through this next stage. 🐿🌈

[Badbessie]

I think it would apply to most in the very vulnerable group. My wife requires regular bloods and her trips to the surgery make her quite anxious. In many ways she as taken over my role in regard to hand washing, face coverings etc in that it's almost an obsession. If she goes out of the house it is almost a full risk assessment.

[cofdrop-UK]

Yes it applies to me 2g. I will be in my garden, maybe a short walk on the field but that’s what I have been doing anyway. Family will come to my garden on my sister’s 80th. We will social distance and bring our own stuff and have a take away. Have had to go to GPs and they had special arrangements for shielded and went in back of my daughter’s car with mask and GP met me at the side door. Have to go to the dentist next Friday. The dentist said as I’m shielded I can go 8.30 when they open or 2 at the start of the afternoon. They are only seeing me as the doc needs to know if the problem is down to my tooth, if not it will be referral to ENT. The only ones to come into my house are the cf nurses. I think they are very aware of our concerns as my nurse asked me how I would feel about the consultation following my next telephone one being face to face.

I cant imagine what it will be like in the winter months and what arrangements they will have for flu jabs.

Stay safe.

Cx

[2greys]

I have so far refused to think about the flu vax yet, it is still way too far in the future, things could change so rapidly. What I do know is that nurses will not be making home visits to do it, there are just too many patients for that to happen.

[Jaybird19]

re flu jabsDo check out local chemist. they do it and could probably con trol numbers easier. last time I went there 3 others there while I was there. the waiting for 5 mins after might be a problem but could be sent away with warning instead ?

[2greys]

My local Chemist is so small that they are only allowing one person in at a time. The next nearest is 2 miles away with 2 long, steep hills, it means a catching bus, both of which are no, nos for me. 12 months ago I would have attempted that walk, with a pint at the end of it as a stick and carrot, but not now.