Hi @Thom82 and welcome to the forum. I’m glad you found us at a time where lots of us are needing support as things get back to ‘normal’ and children return to school.
I am a teacher in a primary school and have two children aged 12 and 15 returning to school in a couple of weeks. I’m on active monitoring for low grade NHL and am worried so I completely get how concerned you must be with just finishing treatment. That in itself must be huge for you, let alone the additional worries you are having to face. How are you doing following your treatment?
It’s such a hard decision to make and I agree with all off the points you have made. Have you expressed your concerns about your son returning to school to your medical team? If not I think that might be the place to start.
The Blood Cancer UK support line are great and might be worth a call if you are up to it?
I wish I could tell you the best thing to do, like I wish someone could tell me, but I’m not in a position to do that
How is your wife feeling about the situation?
A great big welcome @Thom82 to our forum, you are definitely in the right place, I cannot tell you what to do but what I do share your feelings of fear and anxiety. @Nichola75 has give you the Blood Cancer UK support line details and their website gives up to date Covid details.
Have you spoken to your son’s school to make them aware of the situation, ask for their assistance and ask what precautions they are taking.
What the government seem to be saying is saying is that we are going to have learn to live with Covid.
Are we going to be shielding forever?
What is the realistic risk out there?
As you say your son’s schooling, socialising and mental health is so important and equally your health and mental health is so important too.
What a dilemma.
Please let us know how this works out for you, we are here to support you all the way and perhaps you can use us as a sounding board and a place that you can tell us how it really is for you.
Look after yourselves.
Hi Erica and @Nichola75. Thank youndo much for your replies its reassuring knowing I’m not the only one facing this dilema. I cant imagine yow you must be feeling @Nichola75 with you being a teacher, how is your school supporting you?
My son’s school is aware of my condition but I have also emailed them this week expressing my concerns about the children going back soon as COVID cases are inevitably going to increase like they have in Scotland this week. So far the school has been very supportive but whether they will make exceptions just for me remains to be seen.
As for my medical team they haven’t really been much help in offering advice. They’re very understanding when I voice my concerns but they can’t seem to offer me any realistic suggestions.
My wife and I share the same concerns and we will of course keep an eye on cases in our area and at the school - what else can we do??
I have a PET scan next week which I’m stressing about and so everything with my son returning to school seems to be amplified too.
Hi @Thom82. You are definitely not the only one worrying about this and I’m sure lots of people are struggling with what to do.
It’s hard isn’t it, especially with little ones, firstly because it’s hard for them to understand why they have to socially distance and secondly because it’s not a realistic expectation for young children. I’m not sure what the school will be able to do but I’m hoping they will able to go through their risk assessment with you to show what they have in place. It may be worth asking them for a look?
Did you manage to give the support line a call? I wondered what advice they gave?
I’m not in such a vulnerable position as you but yes, I do really worry about the effectiveness of the vaccine. My school are supportive and I have a risk assessment. However, if they follow government guidance there isn’t really anything big that they have to do since shielding ended so I’m not sure how much my concerns and worries will impact anything. I feel a bit let down to be honest. Also, now you don’t have to self isolate if you have been in contact with a positive case actually adds to my worries, although great for the children because they really do need to be in school. In reality you can’t socially distance in a school so I feel like I don’t really have a choice and have to get on with it. However, if it impacts my well being I will go and see the GP.
My biggest challenge at the moment is trying to get the girls vaccinated. It’s proving difficult!!! It would put their minds at rest if we could get it sorted.
Please let me know how you get on. You really do have so much on your plate at the moment, especially with the looming PET scan. The lead up to this and them the waiting for results induces anxiety in itself. It’s not worth me saying don’t worry because off course you will - just please try and all take care of yourself and if you haven’t already, give the support line a call
That’s really great news @Mandi713. So are you not expected to go back anytime soon? I find it really interesting hearing about others experiences. I hope you are well at the moment?
Hi @Thom82, it seems as if you know yourself pretty well.
Yes, I so often find my feelings of anxiety and stress are not just because of one thing, there are often other contributing factors.
Thanks for reminding me of this.
I also get so anxious before during and after all medical things.
Please let us know how your PET scan goes and and your sons schooling.
Look after yourself. Anxiety and stress are so exhausting.
Hi @Erica. I had my scan on Wednesday and spoke to my consultant briefly about the results on Thursday. On first look at the scan it seems all the areas of my body that were lighting up on my last scan are now not lighting up which is really positive. I jave another chat with my CS Nurse on Tuesday once my scan has been properly reported on.
I had mixed feelings about the results. I’m delighted that the areas that were lighting up now aren’t, but what I should’ve asked was whether there are any new areas lighting up now that weren’t before. I hope my consultant would’ve said something about that on Thursday if there were any, but I feel like I can’t relax until I’ve had the full report on Tuesday.
Hi @Thom82, thanks for the update, I don’t expect you will relax until you get your full report on Tuesday.
It might be worth my trick of writing down everything you want to ask on Tuesday beforehand.
It’s weird how when I am essentially told positive information I get these mixed emotions and also cannot think quickly enough to ask the next question.
Please let us know how you get on on Tuesday.
Look after yourself
I’m just like you @Thom82 snd like to read every word in that report. It sounds as though there have been some positives with the scan. Write down all of the questions you want to ask for your appointment next week. Keep us updated and take care - waiting is the hardest part! X
Hi @Thom82 you are understandably anxious so I hope that your medical team are able to reassure you. It can be a very perplexing time. In my case I was told I had a disease I had never heard of and I didn’t know what were the right questions to ask so I was floundering for a while. I never knew of the existence of forums like this and felt quite isolated. I hope you find comfort here.
Hi @Thom82 I do hope you’ve received your full report now and have had the opportunity to talk your questions through with your consultant. May I ask how you’re doing?
