I posted a message on my Facebook page but would also like to say a big thank you to all the FCCUK members past and present. The support I had, through the dark days of 2011/12 made a massive difference to me and my family and also your donations when i did a subsequent sponsored ride were much appreciated by the Marsden. Some people here have been through their own experiences with Cancer and have shared that both positive and otherwise, and thank you to them especially.

I still rank this place over any Social Media platform. It's an inevitable shame that the numbers posting will decrease as the number of cars falls but it is still a place I visit regularly and good to see familiar faces still posting.


Not normally one for such posts on Facebook, but with current and depressing political chaos ever present in the news and press, some things help you to regain a true prospective with life.

Today saw the last appointment for Evie (my youngest Daughter, now 23!) at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton. It marks 8 years almost to the day that she was first diagnosed with blood cancer and now over 7 years in remission.

That first visit for Evangeline, Samantha and me is one which we can all still remember vividly, and was the worst day of our lives. A mixture of absolute terror and disbelief. Never did I imagine through the subsequent journey that the same place would be a haven of peace and hope and one of my favourite places in the world.

Sadly for many it is also the saddest place, and we never take our good fortune for granted. And good fortune is what you need when dealing with cancer. Many talk of the fight and battle with cancer, but in all truthfulness it’s largely a matter of luck. Luck that you get an early diagnosis, luck that it is a treatable strain, and luck too that you don’t contract any serious illness that could attack once the immune system is compromised.

Advances with treatment systems continue and hopefully there will be a day when it can be eradicated. In the meantime we can be thankful to the NHS and their wonderful staff at treatment centres such as the Royal Marsden and the cancer research centres worldwide.

As we left I had to hold back the tears, tears of joy and relief, but also tears for the fact that we will miss this place, yet in the best possible meaning, we never want to return.

Thank you FCCUK

John

As a new member this year I was unaware of the critical health situation in your family. However, I am very pleased to read of the wonderful news and wish you all well for the future.
It is uplifting to hear and read of positive outcomes in all forms of critical health conditions, it brings hope for the future to us all.
David.

Sadly, I do remember John's issues, and I'm glad to hear that things look to have cleared up for Evie.

Neil

That's great news John, thanks for sharing

Now that you remind us I do recall this - not "doing" FB would have kept me out of any loop, to be sure - but I agree that this forum has, without exception in my dozen or so years on it, always listened to and compassionately empathised with such tales.

That's a long haul for you all John, congratulations for your stamina and of course your end results.

Awesome news John, massive relief after such a testing and stressful few years

Aye John, good news indeed, unfortunately some of our stories do test us from time to time & of course the waiting.....

All the best to you.

I saw it on FB John. It's still great news for you all and as you say this is still a nice place to visit and be part of.

I'm glad things have worked out well for you and your family John and you all fully deserve it too

May everything carry on being well, especially for Evie

It’s good to hear, John, and I’m so glad Evie is doing well.

I can only echo your sentiments in their entirety. This forum was utterly fabulous when Charlie was diagnosed with Ewing’s - everybody was so kind in those very dark days. He was 13 then and 22 now, with a first from Cambridge, a Masters from Bath and now working for an AI company in Cambridge.

Then with Eve when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Again, the forum was (and is) fabulous. Yesterday she got yet another all-clear result in her latest bone marrow test. She got her first from Glasgow and is now working for Billy Monger 3 days a week and Carlin the other 2 days.

The hospitals (Yorkhill in Glasgow and Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge) especially the amazing Teenage Cancer Trust wards and the wonderful, wonderful, staff will be forever in our hearts. As John said, there are those who haven’t had the outcomes we’ve had and that’s tougher than I can possibly imagine.

We count our blessings every day and this forum is one of those blessings. Thank you all

Great news John! All the best to you and your family!

MRS. That’s wonderful news for you and your family. I really appreciated the pm exchanges we had at the time. Cannot express how much it helped me, thank you.

Wonderful news for you both. Best wishes to you guys and your families. Onwards and Upwards yeah!

John, that is great news.

Warmest regards from us to you and yours.

An amazing thing to read John. So very happy for you and your family. Even as father of daughters of a very similar age. I can't even imagine the emotions you have all gone through over the past years. I just feel lucky that we have not had to experience them oursleves.

You are very right regarding where this forum stands against all other social media. I don't think anything else touches it for when you need good friendly trusting advice. It's why I've always stuck around even though I lost my coupe well over 10 years ago.

Also MRS that so good to hear things are still clear. Forever may that remain the case

Wonderful news John and MRS, thank you for sharing.

Such great news, John - I can only imagine the strength you and your family (as well as MRS and his and all the other people touched by this) have to find to deal with cancer. This forum has helped me and so many others deal with ups and downs great and small, which is a massive testament to the people who contribute to and run it.

Good news indeed guys, I hope you both have a peaceful and joyous Christmas with your families.

Great news - stay well my man

Well, its been a while since I dropped in and its great to see there are a lot of familiar users still around

John, MRS, very glad to hear!