I have incurable cancer. If travel restrictions are extended, I may never see my family again

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The horror of it all, holidaymakers returning from Spain are to face quarantine.

While I have every sympathy for those affected, there are some of us (if the ban is extended to countries like Germany, which now seems possible) who will potentially have far greater concerns.

I am English but live in retirement in Germany and in October last year I was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. As a pragmatic and careful person, I quickly got my affairs in order, just in case, even going as far as drawing up the mandatory and impossible bucket list.

Some four weeks ago, virtually overnight, I developed a headache, blurred vision, slurred speech and was unsteady on my feet (I am now in a wheelchair). After a quick trip to my doctor, I was dutifully sent off for an MRI.

Bingo! My lung cancer had taken its own holiday and moved to my brain. Treatment is now in place but the cancer has been declared nicht heilbar – incurable. Naturally, I was a bit shaken but life goes on, so I decided to update my bucket list.

Now top of the list, “spend Christmas on a mountain in the snow with all my British family, children and grandchildren”. I booked the local pub’s beer garden and I prepared for what would be a strangely warm and sunny Christmas.

But (and there’s always a but in life), if the travel restrictions are extended, things will have to change, Christmas (the September version at least) may have to be cancelled, or at the very least my British family won’t be there. So forgive me when I don’t shed too many tears for those who may have to readjust or cancel their holidays; there are some of us who have greater concerns, like never seeing family again.

I honestly wish those currently stranded in limbo all the best and hope the restrictions are soon ended. I personally see no reason for them. Surely testing at the point of entry and return would be far more effective?

R Greasley
Address supplied

Boris Johnson’s anti-obesity campaign

I note with bemusement and fury the prime ministerial initiative to encourage more cycling to improve our health – sound familiar? Remember Edwina Currie and her talk of healthy eating looking like something from a Smash advert? Let’s not forget that cycling is not always a safe pursuit in an urban environment or anywhere without a network of cycling lanes. Like other policy announcements, I note that the wheels have come off.

I have a suggestion for our PM – get on your bike, cycle out of Downing Street and keep pedalling.

Chris Jackson
Merseyside

I just want to scream. Nowhere in the debate about obesity is the hard, obvious, simple truth that if you want to lose weight, you just have to eat less. Diets and taxes initiatives and policies will not work if we eat as much as we always have. It’s not easy but it is simple. Why is this not ever in the discussion?

Charlie Munn
East Sussex

Build back better?

Surprisingly, Boris Johnston is calling for the unemployed to help “build back better” by seeking jobs in the public sector.

This from a man whose party ideology is one of privatisation and outsourcing, in most cases to companies with absolutely no previous experience in the area concerned. The sole aim of which is to save money resulting in reduced income and benefits for those employed.

So it’s clear who we are building Britain “better” for and it’s not those doing the building.

G Forward
Stirling

Making sense of coronavirus rules

Illogical rules concerning Covid-19 are doing nothing to increase my faith in this government’s competence.

I have received an invitation today to attend the funeral of a respected friend and colleague (not coronavirus-related). The need for this invitation is because numbers are limited to 30. However, if we all chose to go to church on Sunday there could be 50 of us.

I am required to wear a mask but the family members are not.

Is this further proof of English common sense? No doubt the government will change the rules again without notice next week.

Richard Smith
Address supplied

Blood test for Alzheimer’s

Regarding the blood test being developed for Alzheimer’s, I’m not sure I would like to be informed ahead of time that in 20 years I will suffer from the disease, not to mention the anxiety and depression it will cause up until that point, unless a cure is available.

Would my family also suffer from knowledge?

Michael Pate
Preston