After reading about Beth’s amazing travels in New Zealand, I hope to encourage you to follow your dreams with travel when you can. I am from the UK, and was crushed when I had to cancel my planned silver wedding anniversary trip to New England twice, the first time because of the pandemic, and in October last year because of progression and switching to oral chemotherapy (Capecitabine/Xeloda). The other place I have always wanted to visit is Iceland, so we decided to go there instead as a kind of “last big adventure” holiday and booked it for 9th March. In February I got scan results that showed progression, my travel insurance company withdrew cover and I thought it was all over for Iceland, but my wonderful husband said that we would not cancel but would pay the eye-watering insurance quote I could get and go anyway. My doctor agreed I could start on Exemestane (Aromasin) and add Everolimus (Afinitor) when I came home. So, after another fright when it looked like strikes in Reykjavik might cause cancellation, we did actually make it!
It was totally amazing- the scenery is incredibly beautiful and we had glorious sunshine every day, although the cold and wind was unbelievable at times. Despite being 61, overweight and struggling with breathlessness going up hills, I managed to hike on a glacier, visit an ice cave and enjoy seeing volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls, lagoons and beaches. I will never forget it- we were even lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, which I hadn’t even dared to hope for.
If I can do it, anyone can- or try something else you have always wanted to do. We deserve to spoil ourselves! I hope this post will help to inspire you all.
Jackie
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Wow 😃! Bless your husband & I'm glad you were able to thumb your nose at everything that dared to stand in your way! & a pox on insurance companies! I'm having issues with them myself here in the USA.
It does inspire, truly. I am so glad for both of you that you threw caution to the winds and fulfilled a dream to your utter delight.. After all, we are a long time dead!
p.s. That fact puts all of us including us MBCers on the same level playing field. Our advantage is that we MBCers are made well aware of our small time here.
It seems I’m just ahead of you in terms of treatments with having been through all the ones you mention and I’m now on Paclitaxel IV chemotherapy which is going okay.
I wasn’t able to squeeze in a trip to NZ as I’d hoped and had to pretty much relocate back to the U.K. leaving my husband working in Europe. But I’m giving myself a project to relocate to the south coast to enjoy the seaside, hopefully before the summer. So no travel in store for me but I’m single handedly selling our family home and future proofing for my husband who will retire in the next couple of years from his career. It’s giving me a real sense of purpose and satisfaction and is keeping me distracted from being a full-time patient!
Iceland has been on my bucket list too so thanks for the inspiration and I’m so happy you made it happen despite the hurdles. Great photo too!
Hi VickiI've lived here in the South Coast UK all my life. It's changed a lot but still a lovely place to live, and there are some really nice beaches, coastal walks etc. Good luck with your 'project'.
Dear Stardust - You are wished the best of luck with your positive plans for your future. You, very importantly, note that you are trying not to be a full time patient. Thank you for the reminder. We all need to be reminded not to let our health issues, big as they may be, take over our wonderful lives.
Thanks Vicki. The south coast sounds lovely- our favourite regular holiday haunt is Cornwall. Planning things is indeed very motivational and it will be lovely for your husband when he retires x
We have holidayed many times in Cornwall over the years but not planning to go that far. Brighton and Hove ticks most of our boxes for now! Definitely a “project”!
What a great picture!! You look so happy and enjoying your trip! Im glad you and your husband decided to bite the bullet and go for it!! Sounds like a wonderful place to visit!
So happy you were able to go to Iceland! Going anywhere is a plus between appointments, pill dates, scans etc. It’s one big medical merry-go-round. Keep dreaming, you never know what’s around the corner!
Hi Jackie, I am so pleased for you! My sister went to Iceland while I was away and she is also in her 60s and didn’t do half Thr things you mentioned… nor did she see the northern lights. With all that you had going on you still found a way to go, and found the energy to do so many things that made this the trip of a life time. I’m pleased that my story got you started and that it worked out so well. Did you get a pic of the northern lights? ♥️
Yes- I booked a tour that included photos. The lights looked better than we could see them with the human eye, as to us they looked greyish, but in the photos they are that vivid green colour. The photos I took on my Iphone just looked black, but when I saw them enlarged on my Ipad, you could see little patches of green!
I think it is important that we live all the days we have. Really live them! My husband and I went to Egypt/Jordan/Israel in November 2022 and felt so blessed to have been able to take that trip, which had been a dream my whole life. In September 2022 I had not been feeling so well and I realized that I was living as if I had endless days and years ahead of me. I felt that while I was able, I needed to do what was important to me.
Travel is not the only thing of importance, but it is an example that when we can, we should live our life with gusto!
I have also been inspired. I booked and paid for ) a Danube River cruise in July the week I had a really bad scan, and my doctor switched my treatment from taxol, perjeta, and herceptin to enhertu. Eight months, 13 infusions, and three good scans later, I am packed and ready to go next Friday. Throughout this two year journey with metastatic breast cancer, I have felt good and had minimal side effects. I think exercise, nutrition, support groups, and an army of prayer warriors have surrounded me with hope. I will turn 74 on April 3rd while on the cruise. I will try to post pictures! Stay Fierce
Good for you. I hope you have a lovely cruise. Looking forward to seeing the photos, I'm sure there will be some amazing scenery. Hugs and best wishes. Sue
Amazing ! 👍😇I will at this time live vicariously through you, and your husbands lovely photo's. It is great to see you living your best life. I am inspired by you. Sister/Warrior/and yesssss Thriver, Thriver, Thriver 👍😇
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