Thread 44 GCSE Covid Cohort - Countdown to Christmas & New Year

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and advice to be had

Sorry to hear what’s been going on for you @Delphigirl. A lot to think about for you on many levels and how fortunate they found your DH’s cancer at this stage, even if it was by chance. A total mind bender though, thinking of you.

I have been a bit quiet as we have been in the Caribbean for the last couple of weeks, back late next week. It is gorgeous, even now on a “bad weather” day it’s 28! I have read a few books, been on boat trips, swum with turtles and loads more. You will love it!

Hooray! It appears that DD has finally found a house for next year. £550 per month (including bills up to a certain level). More or less the same as we’re paying for halls.

So sorry to hear the news Delphi. On Monday my dad too was diagnosed with the same thing and he too is going to get it removed. It hasn’t spread and the prognosis is very good but he is terrified and the op/aftercare isn’t nice so I know to a certain extent what you are going through.

Glad that things were caught early for @Delphigirl and @Comefromaway but it must be worrying.

That is promising, @OublietteBravo, I am very much hoping to hear something similar from DD soon, I am more stressed about it than she is!

Crikey @Delphigirl . That is a lot. Enjoy your palm tree x

Thanks everyone 💕
@Comefromaway I’m really sorry to hear that. The key is getting a surgeon who does prostectomies in very high volume I understand. The more they do the better the outcome in terms both of cancer return and of post-surgical recovery and consequences.

In an everything comes in threes post, DH is currently being investigated. Has had MRI and now some other tests on Monday. He hates illness and any procedures having had open heart surgery once already in his life. Hopefully all will be well, as his heart and his lifelong warfarin does make everything far more complex. And he is a Very Bad Patient.

Fingers crossed for you, @Piggywaspushed.

Seconded

Thinking of you @Delphigirl @Comefromaway @Piggywaspushed . My dad had an aggressive form of prostate cancer about 7 or so years ago, had the op and then radiotherapy ( I think) and he's been completely clear since. Hope your dh's/dad have a similar experience.

Dd is finally going back to uni tomorrow. She's been quite fed up this week and desperate to return. I hope she'll cope ok. She's coming back in two weeks anyway for her driving test, which she is definitely not ready for!

Sending positive thoughts to all those awaiting difficult times.

Gosh, sorry to hear about all those with loved ones with health scares. It puts everything else into perspective.

@Delphigirl @Comefromaway @Piggywaspushed I hope all your loved ones have the very best outcomes.

DS is here for 48 hours. Well I fed him and now he is out with friends. But a big hug was good. He says his timetable doesn't appear to have many cancellations due to strikes which is a relief.

I'm sorry tp hear about the health issues for the men in your lives @Delphigirl @Comefromaway and @Piggywaspushed . DH had a slightly raised PSA a few months ago (had the test because his dad and brother have both had prostate cancer). Will be having another one soon. We know several men between us who have had it and all have come through treatment successfully.

My DS is home for his birthday weekend, I picked him up yesterday and will be taking him back tomorrow after he has lunch with a friend. He was out for 12 hours today at a very distant hockey match so we haven't actually seen much of him but its nice to have him home. He has spoken to the accommodation team to choose his halls for next year, just waiting confirmation and a deposit request.

I am so sorry to see all the sad news on this thread about illnesses and worrying diagnoses. I will be praying for each and everyone of your DH/DC to get better and get the right treatment.

Things my end have been ok. Hardly hear from DD so can’t tell you much. All my focus is now on DD2 who has GCSES this summer.

@Delphigirl sorry to hear your news. The husband of a GP friend I dog walk with every week has just had the operation. It is a difficult decision, they spoke to surgeons and oncologists before choosing the operation. The side effects are nasty, but at least it is rarely terminal now. Hope his treatment guess really well.

I have had a couple of friends of friends die suddenly in the last week. One was the dad of one of DS1's schoolfriends in his mid-50s. Was fine, had a massive stroke and died with no warning to the family. Another was a colleague of DH, even sadder, took his own life, possibly because he was cross with himself for how a work project was going and felt responsible. He was in his 40's and had young children. His manager is a still a friend and is devastated, has to work with police sharing details of the work crisis, which want really even a crisis. 😥

Oh goodness, how awful.

So sorry to hear the news of bad health, thinking of you @Delphigirl @Comefromaway @Piggywaspushed. @Delphigirl I was also in the Carribean last month the sunshine/heat was perfect it will be a help of sorts.

@Monkey2001 how unbearably sad. Work stress is a terrible unecessary thing

@Delphigirl dh was diagnosed with prostate cancer 9 years ago. He refused to have it taken out due to the side effects, so had brachytherapy (which is usually the same success rate as having the op.) His psa remained low for about 6 years and is now gradually on the rise again. Once it is back up to 2 he has to return to the consultant. Last psa was 1.7 I don't know what will be suggested next. We found out last year that dh carries the BRCA2 gene after his dd found breast cancer age 34. If we'd known he was carrying that gene I think the prostate being removed would have been better as that gene means the cancer is more likely to return. dh doesn't agree though, he says he still wouldn't have it removed.

I think DHs PSA is 5.2 but it's all a foreign language to me.

@Monkey2001 I'm so sorry to hear that. I was stressing a bit about a tech problem today and posts like that put everything in perspective.

@Piggywaspushed dh's was 3.7 when he was first treated. But other things can cause a rise in psa. Dh had none of the symptoms they tell of, he just had blood tests as part of a general MOT and it was found to be high.

@Monkey2001 So sorry you have lost two friends out of the blue. Not that we ever really feel prepared. My sympathy to you and their families.

@Monkey2001 I'm so sorry to hear about the two people losing their lives

PSA tests are notoriously unreliable (I work in this field). There is so much research going on to try and develop more reliable methods of diagnosis but a long way to go. It's also predicting the course that is the problem, some are more aggressive than others. DBIL had his caught by a PSA test as part of a screen when he changed GP. A friend had his caught when he went for private well-man tests. Neither had symptoms.

Just back from dropping DS off.