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Post by plane2catch on Aug 16, 2016 20:04:09 GMT
It looks like due to health problems my trip to New Zealand in September/October is off and my trip to the US from 24 December - 25 January possibly won't go ahead either. Tassiedevil, I too hope your health improves. Thanks for your feedback on the Tiger.
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Post by tiffany on Aug 17, 2016 11:51:13 GMT
Oh yeah....very cool! How long will you be in Portugal? Is it a tour? I think is 12 days, going just one day earlier, is a TT, Best of Portugal. We had booked Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg, and we were to spend a week in Paris, but we decided to change it for Portugal. Hi Californian, I’m not sure if you already have plans for your extra day in Lisbon, but if you don’t, I highly recommend Viator’s Guided Walking Tour of Lisbon. It was an excellent tour, and really gives you an idea of how to get around the city on your own. A link for the tour is below. I also recommend going to St. George’s Castle. The views of the city are excellent. www.viator.com/tours/Lisbon/Lisbon-Guided-Walking-Tour/d538-5383LISBONTOUR
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Post by tiffany on Aug 17, 2016 11:53:12 GMT
It looks like due to health problems my trip to New Zealand in September/October is off and my trip to the US from 24 December - 25 January possibly won't go ahead either. I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you get better soon, and are able to go to the US this winter as planned. I nearly had to cancel my trip to Eastern Europe this fall due to health issues, so I know how frustrated you must feel.
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Post by californian on Aug 17, 2016 15:50:25 GMT
Hi Californian, I’m not sure if you already have plans for your extra day in Lisbon, but if you don’t, I highly recommend Viator’s Guided Walking Tour of Lisbon. It was an excellent tour, and really gives you an idea of how to get around the city on your own. A link for the tour is below. I also recommend going to St. George’s Castle. The views of the city are excellent. www.viator.com/tours/Lisbon/Lisbon-Guided-Walking-Tour/d538-5383LISBONTOURThank you Tiffany, we only have a few hours free, and the plan is the Gulbekian museum and maybe vist some of the WWII era's hotels and buildings where refuges waited for their exit visits if we can. My daughter broke a bone on her right foot a few weeks ago so we haven't looked much at walking tours. She is still wearing a hard boot and crutches, don't know if will be able to walk or stand for prolonged time, hopefully the boot is off this week and will have some physical therapy, but we are a little less ambitious about walking. Thank you so much for your recommendations though, I have your tale and St. George's Castle seems very worth while, maybe we can take a cab there. If you are still interested about Portugal, I read a couple for great books that I could recommend. Have a great tour in EE and thank you for your tale of Portugal.
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Post by tiffany on Aug 17, 2016 17:57:53 GMT
Hi Californian, I’m not sure if you already have plans for your extra day in Lisbon, but if you don’t, I highly recommend Viator’s Guided Walking Tour of Lisbon. It was an excellent tour, and really gives you an idea of how to get around the city on your own. A link for the tour is below. I also recommend going to St. George’s Castle. The views of the city are excellent. www.viator.com/tours/Lisbon/Lisbon-Guided-Walking-Tour/d538-5383LISBONTOURThank you Tiffany, we only have a few hours free, and the plan is the Gulbekian museum and maybe vist some of the WWII era's hotels and buildings where refuges waited for their exit visits if we can. My daughter broke a bone on her right foot a few weeks ago so we haven't looked much at walking tours. She is still wearing a hard boot and crutches, don't know if will be able to walk or stand for prolonged time, hopefully the boot is off this week and will have some physical therapy, but we are a little less ambitious about walking. Thank you so much for your recommendations though, I have your tale and St. George's Castle seems very worth while, maybe we can take a cab there. If you are still interested about Portugal, I read a couple for great books that I could recommend. Have a great tour in EE and thank you for your tale of Portugal. You will want to take a cab to St. George’s Castle, as it’s on the top of a very steep hill! You won’t want to walk it, even if your daughter’s foot is better. It sounds like your extra day in Lisbon is booked. I hope your daughter’s foot is well enough to get around. Only a few weeks before you leave and you must be getting excited!
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Pauline
Full Member
Normandy, Brittany & the Loire Valley, WW1 Battlefields and Northern Spain in Sep 2023 with Insight
Posts: 210
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Post by Pauline on Aug 23, 2016 0:46:26 GMT
2 more sleeps and I'm on my way. Packed my bag and it only weighs 14.4kg or just under 32 pounds. I thought it would weigh more, as the bag is full. I'll throw in a backpack for the souvenirs. I usually send emails to family & friends but have decided to keep a blog for this trip. myeurope2016.blogspot.com.au
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Post by chech on Aug 23, 2016 12:28:06 GMT
Oh, that second tour looks different!! Bookmarked your blog. *Two more sleeps!*
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Post by bet on Aug 24, 2016 10:18:30 GMT
Have a great time Pauline, the Insight Forum tour is an interesting one, off the usual tourist path, which is an added bonus. I'll be reading your blog
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Post by tiffany on Aug 24, 2016 11:44:40 GMT
2 more sleeps and I'm on my way. Packed my bag and it only weighs 14.4kg or just under 32 pounds. I thought it would weigh more, as the bag is full. I'll throw in a backpack for the souvenirs. I usually send emails to family & friends but have decided to keep a blog for this trip. myeurope2016.blogspot.com.au I’m looking forward to reading your blog, especially regarding The Mystical Heart of Europe tour. It looks like an interesting tour. Have fun!
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Post by marielouise on Aug 24, 2016 19:33:19 GMT
2 more sleeps and I'm on my way. Packed my bag and it only weighs 14.4kg or just under 32 pounds. I thought it would weigh more, as the bag is full. I'll throw in a backpack for the souvenirs. I usually send emails to family & friends but have decided to keep a blog for this trip. myeurope2016.blogspot.com.au Enjoy your tours. I was originally interested in the Bulletin Board tour so I am looking forward to reading about it. Dh has had some medical problems and I am feeling very tired and find it hard to face the long flight, although mine is maybe half of yours.
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Post by mary on Aug 24, 2016 21:11:33 GMT
I leave on the "Scenic Parks Explorer" Trafalgar tour next weekend. Flying to Las Vegas a day in advance on Sept. 3rd, just to be sure no flight or weather delays. Welcome reception is the evening of Sept. 4th. Another solo trip for me and I'm really looking forward to it. Paid the single supplement as I'm not chancing a share for 15 nights on tour.
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 24, 2016 22:17:08 GMT
Oh noes!! Not serious, I hope!
Unfortunately it is fairly serious. I have just cancelled my NZ trip, now waiting for the insurance to pay up. Will know if I have a definite no on my US trip on 5 October, if not a no, won't know until literally just before I'm due to go if I can go or not.
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Post by chech on Aug 24, 2016 22:39:22 GMT
Oh noes! Keep us posted!!
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Post by bet on Aug 24, 2016 23:47:09 GMT
I wish you well Tassiedevil
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 26, 2016 12:21:27 GMT
I got a phone call yesterday, starting radiation and chemo on Monday. Treatment everyday for 6-6 1/2 weeks followed by surgery.
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Post by chech on Aug 26, 2016 12:47:58 GMT
Sounds encouraging!
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Post by mary on Aug 26, 2016 13:21:16 GMT
I got a phone call yesterday, starting radiation and chemo on Monday. Treatment everyday for 6-6 1/2 weeks followed by surgery. Thinking of you. Hugs and Blessings.
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Post by californian on Aug 26, 2016 15:51:06 GMT
Get well soon tassiedevil, sending you best wishes, good vibes and hugs.
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Post by tiffany on Aug 29, 2016 11:38:06 GMT
My travel documents should be in any day now, and I can’t wait! I can’t believe that I’m leaving for this tour in a little more than three weeks. It’s been a long year, and I’m looking forward to this trip!
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Post by purvis on Aug 29, 2016 16:03:40 GMT
tassiedevil: Sorry to hear that you have had to cancel your travel plans due to your present medical problem. Hope and pray that you get through these next 6 weeks with as little or no problems and that the surgery goes well. Will be thinking of you in the days ahead. Purvis
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Post by plane2catch on Aug 30, 2016 1:20:00 GMT
TassieDevil just wanted to let you know you are in my prayers too!!
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Post by tiffany on Aug 30, 2016 11:26:41 GMT
So I have some bad news to share. It looks like I won’t be able to go on my trip next month as planned, as I’m going to need more surgery either next week or the week after. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January, had surgery in February, started chemo in March, and radiation at the end of July. My last radiation is today, and I am supposed to be done treatment, with the exception of a drug I have to take via IV every three weeks until next May. Treatment was going well, and just two weeks ago I was told by my radiation oncologist that all is well, and that I was almost done. Well, that has changed. Last Tuesday I saw different doctor, as mine was on vacation, and he noticed something off with the scar tissue in the area being treated by radiation. He biopsied the area, and I found out last night that they found cancer cells. They don’t know if it’s left over from my original surgery, or if it’s a new growth, but they are hoping it’s the former. I’m going to meet with my surgeon tomorrow to determine if I have enough skin in my surgery area to perform surgery again. If I do, I will be having surgery in the next week or two. If not, I'll have to have extra radiation to try and kill the cancer. If that doesn't work, we have to look at extensive chemo or alternative treatment. Let's hope the surgery is an option, as that is my best chance of getting rid of the cancer.
Every time I turn around, someone is being diagnosed with cancer, and we have already lost someone on this board to cancer. Tassidevil will be starting treatment soon, and Joyce went through treatment just a year ago. I really hope that we can find better treatment options to this horrible disease soon!
I am really disappointed about cancelling my trip, as it kept me going during treatment. It was nice to have something to look forward to in the fall. Hopefully surgery will work this time, and I’ll be able to go again in the Spring, although it will mean going on my own as my friends are still going in September as planned. I don’t know how much I’ll be on this board in the next few months, but I’ll keep everyone posted regarding my treatment when I can.
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Post by chech on Aug 30, 2016 14:19:11 GMT
Oh noes!!! The important thing is they found it! Yes...please keep us informed!
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Post by californian on Aug 30, 2016 14:50:29 GMT
So sorry Tiffany, but the good part is that you'll be treated and before you know it, done with the treatment y ready to travel. Maybe one of your friends would like to go again, but if not, you'll make new ones and never be alone. Patience now to go thru the treatments, and you'll be good as new soon. Thinking of you with good wishes. Stay in touch, please. Much love.
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Post by bet on Aug 30, 2016 15:51:58 GMT
Sad to hear your news Tiffany, I wish you all the very best with your treatment and future travels. Life is precious and you never know what's around the corner. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago when she was 34 she had surgery, chemo, radiation and today all is well so far, then last year my mum was diagnosed with cancer and so far so good.
On a side note I hope your not out of pocket by cancelling your trip. All the very best and my thoughts are with you
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Post by mary on Aug 30, 2016 17:15:34 GMT
Tiffany, be gentle with yourself. I'm sad to learn that you are going through this and that your trip has to be postponed. Sometimes healing takes longer than we anticipate - but, also good for the second doctor in identifying the additional cells that need attention. Thanks for sharing - please keep us posted.
Mary
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Post by purvis on Aug 30, 2016 18:55:22 GMT
Tiffany: I'm so sorry that you have run into a setback with your cancer treatment and have had to cancel your trip so close to going on it. Hope everything works out just fine and you will be able to re-schedule your next trip when this bout with cancer is beaten. . I will be thinking and praying for both you and Tassiedevil. Purvis
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Post by tiffany on Aug 30, 2016 19:20:42 GMT
Thank you everyone. My travel agent has cancelled my trip, and I will be getting 75% back on the land portion of the trip, and about 70% back for the flight. I will not get anything back for the extra room that I booked at the beginning of the tour, but that’s okay as it means my friend won’t be charged the single supplement. Once I get all of the paper work from my travel agent, I will call my insurance company to see if I can get anything back from them, as I am losing quite a bit of money.
As for my diagnosis, I am meeting with my surgeon on Thursday to discuss my options. I spoke to my nurse practitioner today, and she has ordered tests in order to “re-stag” my cancer (i.e., see if it’s spread). Their concern is if this cancer is left over from my first surgery, meaning the doctor didn’t get it all, the chemo should have taken care of it. Since the chemo didn’t take care of it, it could mean that it’s a new growth, which is worrisome, because it means the tumour was created during chemo, which shouldn’t happen. This means it’s very aggressive, and they need to get it before it has time to spread to other parts of my body, if it hasn’t already. Right now, I’m just hoping that the surgeon says there’s enough skin left over at my surgery site to do this second surgery and remove the growth. After that, I’m hoping it’s not a new growth, and that it hasn’t spread. If it has, I will be in store for some very aggressive treatment. Right now, I’m just taking things day by day, and hoping for the best. That’s all I can do.
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Post by plane2catch on Aug 30, 2016 21:13:11 GMT
Tiffany so sorry to hear of your health problems. You are in my prayers.
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Post by purvis on Aug 31, 2016 3:27:03 GMT
Tiffany: I know what it feels like to have a phone call telling you that you have cancer. It has happened to me twice but in each case it was skin cancer which I was assured could be corrected with minor surgery. Fortunately I made it through both operations but when my husband also got told he had skin cancer we were not alarmed but unfortunately he didn't have such a good outcome so believe me I understand your concern and fear . I found talking about my cancer helped but there was still that fear in the nite when you are alone with your thoughts. May you find that special friend whom you can confide in and get re-assurance from as it makes all the difference. I will hold you in my prayers and hope we hear from you that this to in time will pass and in the upcoming months you will once again look forward to a new and exciting trip. God Bless and Keep You in the Palm of His Hand.(an Irish Blessing) From your Irish friend . Purvis
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