Can I still foster?

[wearynell]

DH & I are foster carers to our FC who is moving into permanence.

Recently I have discovered a lump in my breast and am being referred for an emergency mammogram.

If the outcome is that it's something dodgy (easiest way for me to word it right now due to fear!) does this mean we won't be able to continue fostering?

DH is in perfect health and apart from this blip so am I.

Firstly I hope your lump turns out to be benign. If not, the recovery rates are much better now. I have several friends who has breast cancer and all post 5 or 7 or 10 years free after treatment. My very best wishes ❤️

You have a partner. If you young person is settled and happy no reason to move. Careful discussion around appropriate ways to discuss treatments etc, age and understanding change language used. I hope your SSW can reassure you and support you.

We fostered as a couple, during lockdown DH was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer with a poor survival rate, we had two children in placement with us one who was due to move to adoption, the adoption was pushed through and for a while we just had one child. Then, when things settled down a bit we took a second child and both children stayed with us throughout DH's treatment, stroke and subsequent death. We had great support from social services through the whole journey (with a couple of small hiccups).

You will be able to carry on Fostering. I'm a foster carer and one on our team is a single parent who had to go into hospital for a hysterectomy. They simply put DC in respite care for 3 weeks until she felt up to caring for him again and she couldn't drive for 6 weeks so someone picked him up for school and dropped him off every weekday for 3 more weeks. They are so short of FC's they simply can't afford to lose any.

Thank you that's lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders.