wfshaw

Hi ALL, Been quite some time since I posted but tomorrow is my three year survival date. Have a CT Scheduled and hopefully everything will be well. I will let you know. I count everyday as a blessing and have been really living it up. Spent the entire winter in sunny Florida and actually bought a house in Ft Myers so no more snow for me and the wife!!! Kasey if you out there hope you and Fred are both well and I really have to apologize for staying away from the boards so long. God bless all of you and hope you are doing well. Bill in PA

I ride my HOG (Softail Classic)every chance I get at 61 years of age and still loving it. Bill in PA

Hi All, Haven't been here for a while but have to let everyone know that I had my two year cat and everything is fine. Life is great and I cannot believe it has been two years. Time flies when your having fun and I am having a lot of fun these days. Just to let everyone know.....never give up there is always hope. I do not post much but I do read the posts and pray for all of you out there with this dreadful disease. Kasey if you see this.......How are you and Fred doing? Well I hope. I think about you often. Bill in PA

Hi Jang, Just had my two year CAT and everything is great. Congrats to you my surgery partner. I can't believe it has been two years. God Bless you, Bill in PA

My scar pain went away in about two months. However when I had gallbladder surgery awhile back, the old way, I had a 6-8 inch scar that bothered me for over two years before it finally went away. Bill in PA

FloridaKaren, I had my lower right lung removed in April 2005 at age 58 and it was not all that bad. Don't get me wrong the surgery was no picnic and I was scared to death. The 6 days in the hospital after the surgery were the worst. Nurses coming in all hours and checking on my dressings and giving me pills and Doctor coming in a few times a day chaeking my tubes. I had stage 1a with a 2.5 cm tumor. Once I got a clean bill of health and came home things were much better. For the first month or so I was sore (but not unbearable) where the incision was in my back and suffered from shortness of breath for about 2-3 months and then it all went away. I was truly amazed at the recovery period. Now I breathe well and only feel a slight and I mean very slight pain in my back from the incicion if I turn suddenly but that is it. They sent in home health care nurses to help me with breathing techniques and changing of my bandages for two months. I now go for a follow-up chest x-ray every 3 months and a cat scan every year and so far so good. So far so good. I think your Mom will do very good and hopefully things will sork out for the best. She may have more of a breathing problem thatn I did since they are removing the whole lung but I am sure they would not do it if her other lung wasn't in good shape so things look good for her. Bet wishes and God bless you and her through this trying time in your life. Keep us all posted. We Care.

K, Stay positive.....early 2005 I was diagnosed with NSCLC stage 1A...2.5cm. Had the surgery at Fox Chase in Philadelphia on 4/20/2005 and so far am cancer free and doing well. I too was a heavy drinker, smoker most of my life and wasn't too surprised when I was diagnosed at age 59. QUit the booze 18 years ago and sadly enough I still smoke occasionally!! How stupid am I? Anyhow if there is anything I can tell you about the surgery please do not hesitate. Let us know how you are doing. We all care very much. Best of luck and God bless you. Bill in PA

you are in my prayers also. DOn't understand why the results take two weeks? Mine took two days.

Rob, It is normal to be scared and anxious. I go for a chest x-ray every 3 month and a ctscan every year and am a nervous wreck everytime until I get the results. So far, a year and one half after surgery they have all been fine but the fear is and always will be there. SO you are quite normal. Good luck and let us know how you make out. Bill in PA

Thanks to all who replied especially my friend Kasey. I promise not to dissapear again. Sharonjo... WE are in Ransom township, PA, north of Scranton and a few miles from Clarks SUmmit, Pa. Where is you town?? I don't think I ever heard of it?? God Bless all of you good people on these boards.

Hi All, Wanted to post here since it has been a long time since I posted anything. For those of you who don't know me I am a 1.5 year survivor and kind of dropped out of site on this board. Really don't know why. It wasn't because I was too busy. I received a PM from JANG (Jan)who was my surgery partner, we both had surgery the same day, April 20, 2005 asking me where I have been. And we are both doing well. I just can't say enough about all the great support I received from the wonderful, caring people on this site and I am feeling a little guilty about not coming back and letting newly diagnosed people that this disease can be beaten. I am living proof. When I was diagnosed I thought my life was over. The support I received here kept me going and kept my sanity. Just want to let you all know (especially my good friend and number one supporter KASEY..... Kasey, I hope you see this post....I will never forget you and I hope you and Fred are well. Let me know. I am doing great, just retired, my wife also, took a retirement trip to Arizona, bought myself a big Harley for a retirement gift and am having a ball. I need to get back on this site more often and offer support to anyone who needs it just like the support that was offered to me when I had given up on life. God bless all of you and I promise not to disappear again. And thank you Jan for the reminder.

I'm celebrating with a trip to Myrtle Beach.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS Gail........and many more. I am just celebrating one year April 20th.....

I guess I am officially a ONE YEAR survivor. Went to my Doc today and Cat Scan results were NED and he said I was doing great. Wonderful news to me and my family. Just want to share this with the group and say "never give up". When I went into surgery one year ago (4/20) I was so scared just thinking that they would find more cancer and my life would be over or never be the same. Fortunately the surgery was successful and I am back to normal for now but that fear of it returning is always in the back of my mind. Am doing a celebration trip to Myrtle Beach in early May. God bless all of you wonderful people on this site. So glad I found you all. You really helped me get through this ordeal.

Hello Penny, Glad you found us. You will get more information and support than you ever imagined. The folks on this site know how you are feeling and will help you get through it. Keep us all posted, we do care.

Thanks to all who posted. It's a great feeling to know that so many people really care. ANd Jang please post your good news as soon as you hear. I am sure it will be good. We both got thru the surgery together on the same day. i feel like we know each other well !!!!! God bless all of you good folks.

A big congrats to you. i just had my one year scan today and I am also stable and no change. Guess i better post under GOOD NEWS also.....

One year after surgery Cat Scan today and is stable and no change. What a relief. For the past three weeks I have been worrying and losing sleep over the results. My surgery was One year ago April 20th. Not on this site as much as I used to due to working and taking care of the house but I needed to post some good news to let everyone know there is always hope for all of us. Jang, are you out there....my surgery partner?? How are you doing after one year?? Hope all is well. God bless all of you and a special hello to my friend Kasey. Bill in PA

Great news Kasey. I haven't been around this site too often but I think about you often. Prayers for your neice and continued good luck to you. I go for my first scan since surgury next Tuesday, one year ago since my surgury. Of course I am a nervous wreck. Best to you and Fred always. Bill

Hi jan and thanks for posting. i go for my first cat scan the third week of April since surgury one year ago on April 20th and I am already a nervous wreck thinking about the results. i guess we all go through it. hope you results continue to be good. bill in PA

Rob, The waiting is almost unbearable so believe me I know exactly how you feel.. I found out in early Feb 05 and didn't have the surgery until April 20. I was never so stressed in my life and I thought about it every waking moment so you are not alone. And you have loads of support on this site. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi Rob and welcome. Sorry you have to be here but I didn't want to either. This site is great. A wole lot of wonderful caring people to help get you thru this. I know for me it was the worst time of my life. I had my surgery almost one year ago (April 20th). Right lower lobectomy. Surgery wasn't real pleasant but an absessed tooth is worse!!!!! The recovery process is slow. I am still somewhat sore around the scars in my back and front. My tumor was 2.1 centermeters and I was staged 1a. They said they got it all and I would not need chemo... No benefit for 1a's. I can really identify the stress. I was a wreck until the surgery was over and the surgeon told me I would be fine. One thing I would recommend is to go to a place where they specilize in cancer surgery. I live in a small town and did not trust the local dr's. I went to Fox Chase in Philadelphia and I would recommend it to anyone. Good luck and keep us posted. We care. By the way I'm a car guy too. Had an MG, Jaguar (Old one) and finally got the ultimate one in my estimation....A Porsche 911. Fantastic vehicle. Will never be without one. Good luck again. Bill in PA

Welcome LuckyGuy I consider myself a lucky guy too. I was staged 1a had the surgery in April 2004, no lymph node problems and was told they got it all. I too, struggled with the thought of the chemo but my surgeon, pulmonologist, primary care doc all told me I would not need it. I researched and found, who many consider one of the best oncologists in my area, and he reviewed my case completly and ironically had just returned from a oncologist seminar held in Florida where they review and discuss the latest procedures for cancer patients every year. Experts from all over the world attend this. Armed with his latest findings he told me patients with stage 1A do not need chemo. His comment: Chemo is of no benefit for those staged with 1a lung cancer in the most recent studies. My tumer was 2.5 cm. So I opted not to receive the chemo. So far I am doing well. Go for a CAT in April on my one year anniversary of surgery. Hopefully everything will be ok. I guess what it really come down to is the individual. Good Luck and I will post my CAT Scan results in April. Bill in PA

A big congratulations and be sure and post in the GOOD NEWS area.

Becky, Thanks for a truely inspirational post. Really made me feel good. Bill in Pa.