barbaraSanAntone

Hi Barb, sounds like your dad is on my same route, but I am 74 y/o, stage 4 right now.I had the Gemzar Carbo, 40 radiation treatments, Alimta and Tarceva. Started losing weight pretty rapidly after Tarceva and it wasnt effective so took off after first run. I dont miss the diarhea, scaly skin and other side effects When I started losing weight Doc put me on Marinol (to give me the munchies) trying to determine if it was my appetite,my eating habit or if the cancer was "stealing" my nourishment. Must have been the cancer, Marinol didnt work. I have been really lucky as far as Medicare D taking care of all costs, BUT they denied Marinol. It was going to be $240.00 for 20tab but onc nurse told them of my history on Megace (no work) wt loss, etc and they approved it. So, dont know if it was pot or experimental med. God Bless you on your journey. I entered Hospice a few weeks ago and am now in a whole new world. Took a ROAD TRIP!!! with a 23 y/o friend of mine last week (get a young friend so they can drive and you can sleep all the time). Planning a painting and sketching trip next week if she can get off work...that's prob with young folks, they gotta work. I think a lot of my fatigue is due to anemia (no more Procrit since in Hospice) so I really make an effort to eat, try and keep up my energy. Love to all from San Antonio

For the past few months, I get a dry, hacking cough and take 1/2 pain pill (Narco, but half is same as a Vicodin), it stops my cough and makes breathing easier. When I saw my chemo guy last week, I told him I was taking pain med, but really didnt have any pain, but it sure helped my cough and breathing. He was so happy I found a way to keep myself comfortable he had no objection to refilling RX. I told doc I came on lung cancer support forums and a lot of people had severe pain, Fentynl (sp) patches, morphine drips, etc. and wondered when that kind of pain might kick in for me. He said it wouldn't. He's been right about everything else

Hi Lilly, just found this thread and I will tell you this, actually heard from a tourist (I'm in the middle of SanAntonio, Riverwalk and Alamo). One lady was telling her friends who had bags of goodies: I'm not buying nothing I cant eat. I'm a great one for buying "stuff" but finally said "no, not buying nothing I cant eat"

I don't quite know where to post this, so moderator please feel free to move. My little problem is "Capullo" a 2 pound, 5 year old teacup chihuahua. I have had him since he was 5 weeks old. I have many friends (no family) who dearly love him, but it is such a responsibility (yes, he's spoiled) to take on a dog (they have pets too, or work or a number of reasons). My plan has been to put him with his vet, if I should become suddenly ill, and friends would take him until he could be properly placed. But today, something hit me. I met a stranger who stopped and played with Capullo (I'm telling you, everyone loves him) and this man told me his little chi had been stolen/missing for 3 weeks and it was the joy of his life, his wife, his child and this dog meant more to him than anything, and he was feeling such grief. I got to thinking, why not give Capullo to someone now, that way I can see how he adapts, how he might fit in with a new family, and I would feel more secure knowing he was okay. Now, I havent told any of my friends about my possible new plan, as they may think that I am "giving up", because they know how I love my little dog. But I am realistic, and know that my future is "iffy". So, I am wondering, has anyone faced this kind of problem? Hey, I know there are bigger issues with us folks, but thought someone might give me some help. Thanks.

Hi, sounds like your dad lives in the hill country, great place. If he is 70 miles from Austin, the University of Texas is right there with fantastic medical facilities. They have UTMB hospitals all over Texas (I am here in San Antonio). The hospitals have social services that can be very helpful, and may be able to help or guide you as to what you can do. God bless you.

Hi, I just finished the 3 alimta treatments (1 every 21 days) and will get a chest/abd contrast CT scan next week to see results. If improvement, I will be able to take 3 more Alimta, if no change (or worse) I get nothing. The guidelines are very strict for giving Alimta. I feel like the person who felt great for the 1st 5 days or so, then had extreme fatigue and SOB. I was extremely anemic, so got procrit for 3 weeks, and that helped. I take folic acid 400mg am and pm daily, as that helps activate the Alimta (cancer cells like all of our good cells need folic acid, they cant utilize it so come to the toxin to "steal" the folic acid (anyway, that's how I visualize it I take steroid 2 days after treatment (steroid given in IV time of treatment), had 1 B-12 at beginning of treatment, none since. I am 74 y/o, a year and half into diagnosis and treatment. I had 4 months of carbo/gemzar and then 40 radiation treatments. I tolerated all very well, changes in blood corrected with medication. I was surprised when doc told me it had been 9 months since end of first treatment! Wow, where does the time go? He couldnt give the carbo gemzar combo, because it is only 20% effective 2nd time. His aim is to keep me feeling good, and actually, I do. So, the good Lord willin and the crick dont rise, I am still kicking butt. Good luck and God Bless all of you. Your friend in San Antonio, Barbara

Hi just saw your post and thought I would add this: I was diagnosed a little over year ago, and when I went to pulmonologist for staging, he told me this: "I am so glad to see your smiling face" and he quoted Proverbs (dont know it exactly) that says "a cheerful heart is the best physician, a sad heart drys up the bones". That really impressed me, because the blood is made in the bone marrow. Of course, it helps that I always wear my boots and cowboy hat and people automatically smile at me and I smile back

Hey Valerie, I'm still here too They can't get rid of us, can they? So MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL HANG IN TIGHT, IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD YEAR

I am 3b non small cell, diagnosed year ago and in past year had 4 mos. chemo and 40 radiation treatments. I'm doing great, and during my first stages, friends and family wanted to give me all kinds of "cancer fighting" therapies, either they had heard of or knew of someone taking them. I realize the chemo is a toxin, critically evaluated by my doc at every phase of treatment, no standard dose, all tailored to me individually. So I told my doc "Do people ask you about other therapies, because I know families and friends want to do everything to beat this thing?" He said, yes patients did ask, and the thing he had to tell them was that he could not agree to anything other than what he was specifically giving in a form of toxin. He said it would be going into uncharted territory and the effect on his therapy would be unknown. The alternative meds/supplement could neutralize his chemo, make it stronger, make it weaker, make no difference, he couldnt factor in the effect it might have. His policy was that if a patient wanted to do it, he could but he would also have to sign a release stating that he was given information by the doctor who would not be responsible for subsequent chemo effects. And you know, I think the guy's right. The chemo we're getting is poison, and you dont know how it will react with alternative stuff. Just thought I'd let you guys know.

Dear JanEK, through hospice or a social worker, it may be possible for you to get "respite" help. Taking care of a loved one, or even caretaker for a non-family member can really take its toll, physical and mental. That's why there are respite services, something to give you a day for yourself, to keep it together which is so hard to do. As difficult as it must be to write right now, you are a wordsmith and maybe you can take comfort in expressing yourself and your feelings about what is happening to you. The disease is devastating and can leave you "speechless", but use the gift God has given you and find release. love, friend, hang in there.

Dear Marjo, it's so hard to have to deal with the cancer PLUS costs. Scroll down a few messages on this board to NEWLY DIAGNOSED, NO INSURANCE and there are a lot of replies that might help you or steer you in the right direction. I know that your sis will not be denied treatment because of no money, the trick is to find out where you need to go to get it. God bless you friend.

You got good news from the folks that have a port. Actually, I didnt know anything about it when I first started chemo, took 2 treatments without it, but my veins were good, and the nurses kept asking me why I didnt have a port. My onc doctor told me the reason he didnt have me get one before I started chemo was because he said he wasnt sure I would show up. Boy, he had me pegged. I wasnt sure I wanted to start ANY treatment. Anyway, I had it done as outpatient by general surgeon under "twilight" anesthesia. Cant hardly tell I have one, it's so small. I finished chemo April 2006, and now just go to have it flushed, just takes about 5 minutes or less. My onc nurses were SO HAPPY when I had it put in!!!!

I felt so sad to read about your mom, and God keep and bless you in your grief. I am 73 and have been treated since Jan 2006 (almost daily with first chemo and now radiation). It seemed to me that your mom went so quickly and it makes me wonder how my illness will progress. I hope it goes quickly and still with care and support around me. I hope I havent made you feel sadder, because I know how it feels to lose your best friend. Love and strength to you and your family.

Donna, also meant to tell you the area they checked on me was "eye to thigh" my technicians words.

Hi Donna, I had PET scan in Dec 2005. The imaging center I went to had a new Philip machine and only took 13 minutes. The technician was really proud of it because he said some machines take 45 minutes or longer. Good luck to you friend, keep us informed of how your journey goes. We are all on it, just keep hanging in there.