Hi,
Any other expats on here? Ill be spending what will hopefully be my last Christmas in the USA, after a stay of five years away from home. Back at the end of next summer if all goes to plan. Then to figure out my appointments etc under the NHS.Should be fun! Id love to hear from anybody else in the same position,
Love,
Mimsy
Hi Mimsy
Seems not a lot of expats around, but I have seen one or two who live/d in Europe. I was an expat for 16 years but have been back now for 6, and a year into BC. I lived in the Middle East but under an American influenced health service, so it is a bit different being under the NHS. Having said that, I’m currently reading a Lionel Shriver novel, So Much for that, I think its called, and it makes me so very very grateful for the NHS, even though some of my experiences have been less than perfect.
Hope you have a lovely last Christmas, we had a lot of US expats in the same area and, boy, do they do Christmas.
Best of luck too with your move back home.
S
Hi Mimsy
I am in Thailand as my hubby is working here. Had all my treatment there which was very good .I was lucky it was private and within 2 days of diagnosis I had my masc. I used BCC Forum to make sure I was in par with the uk as they follow the American way for treatment.
When I have been back home I have gone to see my GP and everything good. I unfortunately had to have a hysterectomy 8 weeks ago as I developed a massive ovarian cyst and they wanted to just get rid of everything which I thought was a bit drastic but my local gp agreed it was the best thing to do.
My local gp gave me his e mail address and if I was unsure of anything just to write to him and see what he thought, which I though was brilliant.
I also met a Scottish lady who was just finished treatment in Bangkok and it was really good to have her to e mail.
I am back in uk for couple weeks and have just had my first haircut after treatment as I didnt trust them there lol and I am going to colour it in a few days. Better keep my wig just in case.
I was just so grateful to have this site to come on to and read through loads of tips. Luckily we had a boots near me and was able to stock up on everything I needed. Whether expat or not this site is invaluable.
Have a lovely xmas They dont celebrate Christmas in Thailand. Good job its on a Sunday or hubby would be working. Taking loads christmas goodies back with me.
I’m an expat or was. We, the kids and I moved back from the Middle East last year as i had had enough of living out there.Already to start a new career etc back in England when i got breast cancer, so not been a great start back here. Sometimes i wish i was still back in the middle east as you can get treatment ( private ) for anything at a fraction of the price it is here x
Hi. Saudi Arabia calling! Have secondaries and being treated very aggressively, healthcare based on the U.S system-thankfully! Am very excited, coming back for a month for christmas.flying into heathrow lunch time tomorrow-yipee! Happy christmas to you all.xxxxx
And Oman!
I’m actually having my treatment in the UK, at the Christie in Manchester, and am delighted with the standard of care I receive. Life’s a bit tricky at the moment with me in UK, my husband and 2 daughters in Oman and our son at boarding school, but we’ll all be together for Christmas and New year - British Christmas and a sunny new year in Oman. I have secondaries too, but current regime seems to be working well.
Marry Christmas to all,
J xx
Hi this is Houston calling.
I was diagnosed October 2009 had lumpectomy and Rads now on tamoxifen. Night sweats Aaaaargh!! Had all my treatment in the UK in Ninewells, Dundee. Couldn’t fault it. I’m going to Switzerland for Xmas then to UK in the New Year. Can’t wait.
You all have a great Xmas!! You all deserve it. xx
Hello,
La Belle France calling!
@I have just finished a year of treatment in the UK, (we have a home there too), but are engaged in a hoooge renovation in deepest rural France.
My bc was dx’d by a routine mammogram in the UK so opted to do everything there, also although I speak fluent French, felt more comfortable with the nuances of discussions with surgeon/bcn’s and onc in my own language!
Some of this year has been hard, toing and froing for every chemo every 3 weeks and then 5 weeks of rads on my own, while OH stayed in France with the builders! But its over now and my prognosis is good and this year we’re going to have a fabulous christmas in France!!
Love to all other expats!
Wandyx
Hi geewizz. Coming to oman in feb. My hubby loves it and wants to show me around. Must be very hard for you guys being split up. Hope all of you spend christmas with your families and have a fab time.xxxx
Ive been out and am five hours behind UK time. Im touched by all the replies. Homesickness is a huge battle for me, never mind anything else. Ah, well, got to go out again, will post later,
Mimsy
Hi Horsie
We were in Saudi, Riyadh and before that Dhahran and before that Khamis Mushayt - we were there for 10 years on and off. Were were you based ?
Hi Horsie,
I’m in Germany. I might be coming back to the UK but the decision won’t be for a couple of years. I have had all my treatment in Germany, dx in 2008. I did have a three-week session at a sort of convalescence place. I didn’t want to but I eventually realised that my doctors know very little about after-effects of treatment, anti-hormone tablets, lymphatic drainage and so on. I think Germany is the only place that offers these three-week convalescent stays.
Margaret
Margaret, I love the idea of a convalescence place. During chemo I definitely thought one of them would be great rather than running round trying to act normal. My DIL is German and her mum goes off to spas “for her health”. I may well be joining her when Im back in Europe. It was lovely to hear of everybody who is or was an expat. Ive been in America for almost five years, was diagnosed and treated here, WLE, chemo and rads. It was quite nice to go through it anonymously, but now I feel I want to go back so we`re working towards next summer, kept our house in the UK which makes it easier.
Merry Christmas to all of you, and a great 2012!