Well it looks like we’ve decided to make a permenant move to Gozo -after ages thinking about it. Always was going to retire to France or Gozo and having had breast cancer sort of focused on doing it now rather than waiting.
I’ve worried about transferring my treatment, hormones and 6 monthly mammograms, but have decided I can’t sit around waiting for “it” to come back when it might not (if ever) for years.
And if it does come back and I’ve not gone then I’ll be really peed that I havent gone and if I wait and it doesn’t come back then I’ll be really peed that I didn’t go- does that make sense??
Still anxious about transferring treatment, knowing that I’m only covered for medical issues for 2 1/2 years definately and having to apply locally after that - relying on the reciprical health agreements that are in place at the moment(all this because I’m only just 47 and retiring very early), but I will not let the cancer win…
aagh, just needed to write it down to make it make sense and because I’m knowing that you’ll know where I’m coming from… I’d welcome other people’s thoughts if there are any!
Hi Katie,
As you say, you will always regret it if you don’t go! There are quite a few ladies on here that live abroad, and they all cope, so go for it! How very exciting for you, give you something else to think about, other than this b****y cancer
Good Luck, all that lovely weather, Lucky you
Sandra x
No you are not mad! If there’s one thing this b***** disease has taught me, it’s live life to the full.
I had the opportunity to work abroad a few years ago and didn’t do it because of all the ‘what ifs?’ and have lived to really regret it - especially now!
I was recently stuck abroad because of the ash cloud and the level of care offered by the local hospital, all covered by E111, was marvellous.
Go for it and enjoy - especially that gorgeous sunshine!
Thanks Alen, Sandra and Lella! Very excited about it all… just got to sell the house, find someone to cover my job, a place for my 20 year old to stay whilst he does his work experience for Uni and sort out husbands pension!!
All butterflys but glad you don’t think I’m mad.
Thanks again for the feedback and support, at least I’ll not be alone when I first move as I’ll still be able to use the forums!
Hi Katie,
Yes sounds really exciting! Not much to sort out then!!! job, son, husband in that order?
Keep posting, and telling us all about the move as it unfolds!
Love
Sandra xxx
PS. Go on Lella, you can do it! xxx
Hey Katie, go for it, we put ur house up for sale 3 years ago in the hope of moving to Spain, it dint happen then but still hoping to do it in the future. With the very best of wishes Karen xxx
Hi Katie, yes go for it, i am hoping to make that sort of move myself when this is all over. And i am focusing on it being over, not coming back, you cant live your life like that, so yes, make that move and enjoy life, i intend to.
Hi Katie,were 6 weeks into living the dream retirement in Spain,wed planned to do it Dec.08,got my DX Nov.08 so we waited till
I felt well again after Chemo,surgery and rads and rather than sell up completely,were renting our UK house which is paying our Spanish mortgage. Ive felt really well since weve been here but I intend to fly home every 3 months to see the surgeon & onc alternately,maybe soon theyll put me on yearly appts. As regards tablets,if Im comming home every 3 months,I can get normal Prescriptions from my G.P.,failing that,Tamoxifen are available very cheaply over the pharmacy counter here and the sunshine means I dont need as many
painkillers for my joint pains. All credit to you for “going for it”
but have you crossed all your Ts & dotted your Is as regards paying for treatment if,God forbid you need it in the future,we dont intend becoming legitimate residents of Spain till we reach retirement age,(Im 58)although my hubby was in a lot of pain a couple of weeks ago with abdominal pain,we went to a local health centre,produced his EHIC & passport,the doctor sent him to A & E,
9 hours later after extensive tests,he was assured he had nothing serious and sent home. At no time were we asked if we were resident in the area or was there any talk of paying,however it does really
worry me what would happen if I had a re-occurrence. At my last appt. with my onc,I said “what symptoms would be serious enough to make me come home?”,his answer was "youll just know". I wish you the best of everything,keep in touch,well compare notes from time to time, lots of love, Mags xx
Mags,we thought about keeping our house and renting it out but if we sell up we’ll have no mortgage or tennants to worry about. We’re looking to buy a small place (very small) here for me to use as a base (perhaps) to come back to to cover my shop (until I have the right person in there) and also for my son to use (for a year) but until we can get my husbands pension stuff sorted we’re still up in the air as to how much money we’ll have left to buy in Gozo, so it’s all ifs and buts!
As far as I understand on the medical front if we become “oridnary resident” the E106 covers us for 2 1/2 years for full treatment as I’ve paid over 30 years of NI contributions (thank you saturday job)and this means that I get the same care as any person from Gozo. At the end of this time we should be covered by a reciprical agreement between UK and Malta for emergency and chronic treatment (think cancer’s covered as chronic!). The health care is supposed to be excellent there with nothing like the waiting lists here in the UK, I’ll see if that’s true in reality.
Now if we get a job over there, even very part time, or register as self employed then we’re covered by their health authority… so in theory it should be ok but I’m still a bit anxious. The OH did say “well we can just come back at the end of 2 1/2 years for a bit if all else fails”, no chance if I’m there I’m not coming back, all that packing!! Because we have a 7 year old I want us to be settled which is why we think we need to be registered as residents rather than moving backwards and forwards…
Our house is up for sale now - after a massive clean up, having treatment, and getting sooo tired, meant I didn’t do much at home and my OH, bless him, isn’t the best on the domestic front!! We’ve been in this house 20 years so we have 20 years of “stuff” to pack or get rid of… shattered just thinking of it!
thanks for the love and encouragement from every one, really appreciate it and I’ll let you all know how it goes as it goes…
The very best of luck . We left the UK over 15 years ago . First we went to Saudi Arabia , then France , then my OH decided to stop working and we came here to Spain . Yes you should be covered by the E106 for at least 2 years , and this gives you the same coverage as a national. The european health card which replaced the old E111 seems to be very well accepted here , most local health centres and hospitals have no problems accepting that .I did read that even the european health card will evenntually be changed . It has just been changed so that instead of the country where you live isssuing and paying for health care , it is now the country where you worked initially or the country that pays you the biggest state pension .
Once you´ve had BC , I think it focuses your mind as to what is now at this stage in your life important to you , and you really have to go for it , if you possibly can .
I wish you all the luck in the world on your new venture !
Kris