Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/17/2017 in all areas

  1. BridgetO

    Hitting the wall

    Hang in there, Susan! I've been there. I had the daily radiation with weekly chemo, too. Mine was for cervical cancer and the worst of it was my digestive system REALLY objected to it. I understand the need to vent. When my hair started going, I had a short buzz cut. It was less upsetting than waking up with chunks on my pillow or having a bunch come out when I combed it. Getting it off all at once gave me some sense of control. I got a wig (cheap one!), which I wore rarely. I really got into hats and scarves, though, indulging myself in quite a few. A couple of the nicer ones I still wear. Yep, you're right that you need o do (and can do, and will do!) what ever it takes. Hair is just hair --although sometimes it doesn't seem like it All my best to you, Bridget
    3 points
  2. Vicky844

    Hitting the wall

    Susan, I know what you are going thru and want you to hang in there. I went thru 15 sessions of daily radiation and am going thru chemo once a week (3 on 1 off) for 12 weeks while I wait to see if I can do the targeted therapy. I totally understand and sympathize with you. Hang in there Susan....just concentrate on the end! vicky
    2 points
  3. Cheryncp123

    Hitting the wall

    Stay strong, sweet girl, you've got this!
    2 points
  4. Allow me to introduce myself, please call me Fred! I was diagnosed in March of this year with non-squamous, non-small cell adenocarcinoma, stage 2, moderate, with a Standardized Uptake Value (SUV)of 12.5 in my right lung. However, surgery was ruled out due to some lymph nodes that lit up during the PET scan. I am very appreciative of all of you that participate on this forum, and look forward to networking with you!
    1 point
  5. Susan Cornett

    Hitting the wall

    Just a post to vent......I'm mentally and physically exhausted. I have finally hit the wall with this round of treatment. I endured chemo (cisplatin/pemetrexed) last year, but that cycle was a little more forgiving; one long day every three weeks. This round, I've had daily radiation for almost 6 weeks and weekly chemo (carboplatin/taxol). The chemo side effects aren't as bad, but I guess the daily grind of radiation, with the weekly chemo, and the fatigue have finally knocked me down. I'm also starting to lose my hair and Super Doc told me I'll have two more rounds of chemo in June and those two treatments WILL take the rest of my hair. I thought I was mentally prepared to lose my hair, but I wasn't. It's starting slow but at some point, I'll take matters into my own hands and just shave my head. But then I remind myself that I told Super Doc I'll do whatever it takes to beat this, and losing hair is just a casualty of this war. Thanks for letting me vent. Sometimes just putting it in writing helps me, especially because I know you've all endured this and so much more.
    1 point
  6. I think it's possible for lymph nodes not to light up, but come back positive. My lung nodule didn't light up on the PET, apparently because it was so slow growing and not metabolizing very fast. Because of its location, it couldn't be biopsied without taking it out. So I didn't have a firm diagnosis until after my lobectomy. . My surgeon took out a bunch of lymph nodes also, which thankfully were all negative so I had adenocarcinoma, stage 1a. Is your surgery going to be VATs? Mine was, and my recovery was easier and faster than I had anticipated. I was discharged from the hospital the day after surgery, with a drain tube in place. I did have som pain, especially before the drain was removed 10 days later. I quickly learned how to move to avoid jabs of pain. I had adequate pain meds. I got off of opiods in a few days and just used tylenol and Ibuprofen. I spent a lot of time lying around and I needed help changing the bandage around my drain tube, but I was able to be up and walking around the neighborhood right away. I wore an oversized raincoat to cover up the drain tube and bag. One thing that was really helpful was a foam wedge pillow. I was told to have my head/chest elevated 45 degrees when lying down or sleeping. I tried to use various combinatins of regular pillows and a sitting-up-in-bed type pillow but ended up with a crink in my neck, so my partner went out and got a 12 inch foam wedge from a medical equipment store and it was great. If you don't have one already, I recommend you get one before your surgery. I think they're well worth the price, which I think was $30 or $40. Best of luck to you in your surgery. Keep us informed!
    1 point
  7. Brenda, I am sorry to hear that your cousin has been diagnosed with lung cancer, you will be able to support each other and understand. I believe that the stage of your cancer does not change. Staging only means the cancer has metastasized to other areas. You can be in complete remission but your initial staging does not change at least that is what I have been told. I hope that is helpful.
    1 point
  8. Susan Cornett

    I'm Vicky

    Vicky, Glad to hear you are progressing with your treatment. With cancer, I think the biggest issue we have is a loss of control. Our lives are dictated by scans and appointments and treatment, and recovering from it all. I'm a control freak and it drives me crazy! I have been able to let a lot go, and I'm making plans for trips and activities as if I didn't have that nasty cancer looming over my head. It will always be your first thought in the morning and your last thought at night, but don't let it consume your thoughts in between. Find something good in each day and enjoy each day. I understand your concern for your husband with his additional roles, but your priority right now is you. You need to take care of yourself (eating, sleeping, resting, hydrating) in order to fight this. Do you have any others who might be able to help you and your husband? Family? Friends? I know it can be tough to lean on others and ask for help.
    1 point
  9. Good morning, Fred. Sounds like you have an early diagnosis which is always a good thing. Because surgery isn't an option, I presume you've moved on to or will be moving on to chemo and/or radiation? How are you feeling? If you have questions, ask away. We've all been there!
    1 point
  10. Well I finally start my radiation treatments starting next Tuesday and they will be 5 times per week for about 7 weeks. Today I got my 3 tattoos and Monday morning I'll get another tattoo. The oncologist sounded very optimistic that with both treatments, that we may be able to eradicate this cancer. My chemotherapy appointment scheduler should be calling me anytime. That treatment is for only 1 time per week. I've been told that this is the treatment that will make me sick, nauseas, and weak and of course, lose my hair. We shall see. There seems to be signs of cancer in one of the lymph nodes, but due to my heart condition, surgery is not an option. I'm scared but very optimistic about everything that will be happening to me. I'm going to fight this thing. I'll keep updating. Need positive input and any healthy suggestion for exercise or diet to help me fight this thing. Dave (DragonKing)
    1 point
  11. Donna G

    Hitting the wall

    The up side of this Susan is YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO SHAVE YOUR LEGS OR UNDERARMS ! Donna G
    1 point
  12. Hello. My name is Michelle and I am new to this forum. I am a 3 1/2 year survivor of non-small cell squamous cell lung cancer, and 1 year since recurrence at stage 4 with mets to my pelvic bone, spine, kidney, a couple lymph nodes, and 2 nodules in my lung again. I've been through chemo twice, radiation, surgery, Opdivo, Tarceva, and now getting ready to start Keytruda. I take each day as it comes, thankful for another sunrise. I've lost my hair twice, (as well as my eyebrows and eyelashes), but I didn't let it get me down. I just learned how to crochet hats and waited for it to grow back! The side effects have been rough, and they have taken a lot out of me but with the help of a couple great caregivers (my husband and my son, and my puppy), I have managed. I look forward to reading and sharing with others on the forum! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
    1 point
  13. Carlrb

    Confirmed

    Thanks Katie, being alone with this is not fun
    1 point
  14. Cheryncp123

    Confirmed

    I am fortunate to have a big family and many friends including my church family who have been literally a life saver for me. I hope you can get connected with a church or a local cancer support group, no one needs to go through this alone.
    1 point
  15. Hi Suzanne. I am a stage IV adenocarcinoma patient. I was diagnosed in February 2016. I made it 12 months before my first recurrence and my recurrence (as far as a recurrence goes) is minor. I started treatment today. Smoker, non-smoker - doesn't matter; lung cancer doesn't discriminate. I just had my second brain MRI and that is the one that scares me, but my oncologist says the medical field is having great success with brain radiation. That said, fingers are crossed and prayers said for clean scans so you can move forward with treatment.
    1 point
  16. Suzanne

    Hi my name is Suzanne

    Thank you for the words of encouragement. Judy, yes I did read your posts and instantly realized how similar our stories are. I am definitely looking to my Heavenly Father to give me the strength to battle on. I'm just so tired. This week I have a PET scan and brain MRI. My oncologist said we need to know those results before we can set a treatment plan. But right now it looks like chemo and radiation. I meet with my "team" on Thursday. And thanks Tom you are right about reading statistics. And I am encouraged by your living!
    1 point
  17. Tom Galli

    Hi my name is Suzanne

    Suzanne, Ok - here is my first and best shot at help: I was diagnosed 13 years ago with Stage 3 NSCLC and I'm alive. The obvious conclusion is if I can live so can you. There are so many things to communicate. There are vast differences in terminology and treatments between lung cancer and breast cancer. It wouldn't hurt to read about adenocarcinoma here. You mention Stage 3 and adenocarcinoma and that suggests you've had a biopsy. If that is the case, are they checking the biopsy samples for biomarkers? If your tumor displays certain markers, you may be able to receive targeted therapy. Here is an explanation. Stay away from survival statistics. If you must read something about survival, read this. Also listen to Gould (linked in the blog) and start working on that sanguine personality. You'll likely have many more questions as you proceed with treatment plan design and treatment and this is a good place to ask. Stay the course. Tom
    1 point
  18. Judy M.

    Hi my name is Suzanne

    Suzanne Welcome. Our stories are SO similar. Which you know if you've read my posts. I also just recently joined this group and it's been very helpful. I was diagnosed with breast cancer February last year. Had surgery and radiation and everything was going great. Then developed pneumonia in Jan. which eventually lead to disgnosis of stage IV adenocarcinoma in March. Not a spread of the breast cancer, but an actual primary lung cancer. My birthday is also in March and had the P.E.T. scan the day before my birthday. I also quit smoking 17 years ago. Ironically, if my research is correct my cancer is the type nonsmoking women usually get. This certainly wasn't a part of my plan for my life. I'm still waiting to get started on my treatment. See my Oncologist again tomorrow, so maybe things will get rolling then. I've been ( as another member put it so well) freaked out off and on. It's a stunning thing to get hit twice with 2 separate cancers. But my Oncologist's N.P. says both are adenocarcinomas. I didn't know that. Don't know that I have any great advice or info. But I can certainly assure you that you aren't alone. Right now my faith in God is holding me together. It goes like this: I freak out, I run and cry out to Him in prayer, He gives me peace in my heart and mind, repeat. Then repeat again. He knew this was coming and I'm trusting that though it wasn't part of my plan it is part of His and He knows what He's doing. Please, keep us updated on how things are going with you. I'm so glad you've become part of this group! No the reason for joining of course, but the choice to join and share your journey. Judy M. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.