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Isn't the shirt great? Got lots of smiles from my fellow baldies at the oncology center.

Great shirt and wonderful smile. I admire you, you have such a great attitude. ViviAnn

Blood test show the numbers going up slowly. Cat scan coming up the 16th of August will tell more. Still no energy and still not gaining weight or strength back. Doc says it takes time to heal but of course I'm in a hurry. Will post when I get more news. Dave, DragonKing

Hi, Allyn. I am a stage IV survivor for almost 18 months; just finished beating a recurrence. We understand how you and your wife feel right now. Everything about this stinks, but this forum has a wealth of information and long-term survivors. How can we help you? We're here for both of you.

Daughter, I would say the objective of second-line treatment is to achieve a reduction or elimination of tumor or tumors. You are correct, there will likely be an in-process scan about midway through and then decisions on continuing or changing therapy. Your dad will need his family to close ranks around him. Lung cancer treatment is not easy, especially the daily treatment like your dad will endure. My view, past relationships are immaterial. I would not have made it through my treatment without my wife and daughter. Their contribution was immeasurable. I am quite sure your dad will appreciate your engagement. By all means, pick our brains. Stay the course. Tom

Michele, Well we had a rough night after coming home. Spent most of yesterday napping, snoozing & eating. They gave him all kinds of stuff and I think I have it all scheduled and lined up for times during the day. He is somewhat better than before. The pain meds are helping with that. The only way I good get him to finally settle down the other night was to take the heating pad and put a warm hot towel on it and let him sit on it. And trust me we tried everything else. He was able to get it all settled down again and back in bed for about 4 hrs sleep. Needless to say we both spent yesterday napping. Last night was good. We both got some much needed sleep. Seemed kinda stupid to wake him up @ 1 am to give him a pain pill but it had to be done. He went back to sleep. I have to tell you the Dr came at me in the pre-op room about my insurance. She was not nice and quite frankly I could care less. Someone must have handed her head to her on a plate. She was not happy. Last thing I need is a DR with a bad attitude. He has to have follow up in 2 weeks BUT I will not take him to her. I will call the insurance co and see who else is in the area from our networks. She was out of network approved. All her staff had to do was call and get the authorization #. Insurance is bad enough now days and this was just BS!. How are things going with you guys? I am so glad the MRI was clean. Have a great day! Hugs & prayers, Peg

YES - YES - YES - YES and once more with gusto! YES! Stay the course Susan! Tom

Does that mean you have to tip?

Welcome. I hope that you'll find information and hope in this forum. It has been a life saver for me. There are many wonderful people on this site who have walked a mile in your shoes. Let us know how we can help you.

One day at a time one step at a time. Life is too short to have regrets. Love & compassion till the end. Hugs & prayers, Peg

Sherry, Welcome here. Breaking down, emotionally numb and lots of information to digest, we understand completely and absolutely. Lung cancer almost always presents as a surprise with nasty looming consequences. It sounds like you have a competent and responsive treatment team from your description and sequence of tests so I'll not dwell on those details. Let's try and refocus. I am indeed fortunate to have survived thirteen and a half years after diagnosis with NSCLC and my treatments (many failures) including: three thoracic surgeries, four tracheal stent procedures, eighteen infusions of taxol and carboplatin and conventional and stereotactic body radiation therapy. I averaged 18 weeks of treatment and 24 weeks of no treatment for almost four years. During the 24 week periods of no evidence of disease (NED) or questionable evidence of disease, I fretted, fussed, and fumed. That was a vast mistake. I should have been living. Your course of treatment will have two objectives: eliminate your cancer and extend your life. At this juncture, both outcomes are possible, no more than possible, probable. Highly probable, given the reading I'm doing on advances in immunotherapy and radiation therapy for small cell lung cancer. So, don't do what I did. Enjoy your life extension. There is so much about lung cancer that you cannot influence or control, but you can decide to not let lung cancer ruin your life. That is well within your power and capability. Here, read this, then re-watch the movie. Then, buy some truck tire inner tubes, inflate, and float the Redstone Creek. I had a blast floating that creek as a college student during a fraternity house swap week in the late 60s. With all the emphasis on cleaning up waterways, it must indeed be a very pleasurable activity these days. I know West Virginia, a couple of driving hours south of you, has wonderful rivers to float. Questions? Of course, this is the place to ask and more than likely, we'll have answers. But your life is your thing, so go make that happen during treatment and after. Stay the course. Tom

Sandra, Be concerned. A lung nodule can be a serious thing, or it may be nothing. Here is my go-to-easy-to-read resource on pulmonary lung nodules. No one should have to endure two cancer diagnosis but lung cancer is quite different from breast cancer in a number of important ways. While your start down the diagnostic trail, you might want to review this information to acquaint yourself with lung cancer nomenclature. Hopefully, the nodule will turn out to be of the harmless variety, but I believe knowledge is power and understanding mitigates fear. I truly hope the nodule turns into something not lung cancer. But if you've got questions about diagnostic testing and procedures, this is the place to ask. Welcome here! Stay the course. Tom

Thanks Tom, I love reading your posts and all the info you share....you are truly a role model and can easily lift ones spirit and hope....

Vinnpal, Welcome here. I'm a lung cancer survivor with 18 total taxol and carboplatin infusions and after each one, my red and white blood counts bottomed out. I received injections of Procrit and Neulasta about 3 days after each infusion to boost counts. That worked. My appetite also hit bottom. Everything tasted horrible. One day, my wife made chocolate mint ice cream with crushed Oreo cookies. I don't normally like mint but the chemo must have altered my taste buds enough to love it. I devoured chocolate mint ice cream every chance I could and didn't loose much weight. So grab a bunch of Ben and Jerry odd-ball flavored ice cream pints and see if you like one. That will fattens you up; even try mint! I've also missed both radiation and chemo sessions due to illness and low counts. These were rescheduled but a 2 week delay shouldn't effect your treatment. Doctors safe-side the treatment frequency to account for treatment delays. Moreover, I was told that chemotherapy agents remained in my body for a month or more after my last infusion. I'd worry more about your diet than the 2 week delay. Stay the course. Tom