Meadow

I have just taken a break from chemo for a month before I get started on my other treatment. This is going to be my 5th line. What I would like to know is the side effects of the chemo I will be on. Gemzar and Carboplatin. Does anyone have any information you can share with me. I know that the Carbo is part of the Cisplatin family and I did not do well with that drug at all. It caused alot of side effects for me and long lasting ones too. I hear that the Gemzar isn't that bad. I would like to know if you can share your experience with me. I am really concerned with this, because I had such a bad time with the cisplatin. If anyone can help me I would be so grateful. Thank you and God Bless Linda

I believe you are a survivor the minute you have been dx. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR THEN. Linda

I hope I posted this in the right place. I have finally made it back. I have been away for a long time and my pc was not working. Boy did I miss everyone. Now I hope I won't have anymore problems with the computer. I have been doing okay. I am currently on alimta and had a bit of a hard time with it. I had diarrhea for 8 days and finally stopped with medication from the oncologist. Then I couldn't go for another 6 days. Right now I'm doing fine. Thank god. The oncologist said it was from the chemo and he would reduce the dose for me. So far I'm okay but it seems to be accumlitive for me. Please keep me posted on all. I have been gone for so long and I missed alot of things that have been happening. Right now I am a bit under the weather too. I have a very close cousin that is dying in the hospital. She has kidney cancer and it has moved to her lungs, liver, spine and mouth. She only has maybe the night to get thru. She is in alot of pain. This is so sad, She is only 56 and also dx in November. The primary was her kidney. They did remove one of them but I guess not enough. She has renial cell carcinoma. This is a very uncomomon cancer. There is no real research on this. If there are any prayers for her I would appreciate it. Thank you all so much God Bless you all, Love, Linda

This is just a quick note to let all of you know that I am finally back. I had computer problems and was gone for 2 months. I missed all of you. I am doing well. Still on the Alimta and having some side effects from it but nothing that I can't handle. Had a mini vacation in Aruba. Wow what a wonderful place. I came home and asked my s/o if he would move there and his answer was "NO". I would love to pack it all up and go. I hope all is well with everyone since I have not talked to anyone. God Bless all Love Linda/Meadow

Dear Bikergirl I have had a BIG change in my eye sight. Mine is the worst when I'm on the PC and trying to read. I am currently on Alimta and I don't know if this is a side effect but I know that I am having a problem with my sight. When I'm tired it is alot worse. I can hardly see. I see double all the time when I'm reading. I just think that I need better glasses when I'm on the pc. Well it time to go because I'm making too many mistakes and having to correct them. I hope you can find an answer to your problem. God Bless Linda

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. I have heard of that drug but never used it. I will have to copy it down. It's not a common medicine you hear about every day. I was reading your history and I see your also on Alimta. I just had my 3rd round on Thursday. I am due for a scan this month, I think the 17th. I am hoping that there is no progression in the lungs. If there is I might be looking at my 3rd surgery on my right lung. Apparently there are two big tumors in my upper right area and they can be removed. So if that's the case I should have them taken out. Too bad I wasn't just talking about having a tooth pulled. That is so much easier. Again, thank you for your help. God Bless, Linda

Hello Barbara: It's nice to see your name when I go thru this site. You have to know that you are really missed at LCA. It's just not the same without you. I like it here. It's a lot warmer place to be. I'm still trying to get used to this one. I just learned a new one today, how to reply thanks to you. Thank you Barbara. God Bless you and Bill. Love, Linda

I will keep you posted on my progress. Thank you so much for your concern. Fondly and God Bless, Linda

Hi Christine, I have used accupuncture in the past for other pain issues but not for this one. I have been very lucky with the accupuncture too. I have used it for fibromyalgia and that did help. It also helps me with my sleeping. Maybe I will make an appointment to go over and have some therapy done. Thank you so much for reminding me about it. Fondly, God Bless, Linda

Right now I am doing very well without pain. That's all that matters to me that I have some relief. I do appreciate your help and suggestions with this back pain. It has been such a very hard pain to live with. Going to bed every night sleeping on my left side which I am still doing. Eventually I will change that and hopefully I will have no pain. Thank you so much for your help and suggestions. Fondly, God Bless, Linda

No I haven't since it's nerve pain and I didn't think they would help. I am being cared for under the pain management team at Sloan-Kettering. They are working with me to see what is best for me. Hopefully we can get it managed. Thank you God Bless, Linda

Hello Connie, No I don't like to take all the pain meds but I don't like being in this pain. It can become very bad at times and that is the only thing I can do. Right now I have been taking them as prescribed and I do have a little relief. I can't take anymore now since I do have to drive my car and I don't want to be under the influence while doing that. So I have to deal with it right now. Thank you so much for responding to my mail. I had posted before but I never got any responses until now. I do appreciate it. Fondly, God Bless Linda

Wow, that was so nice of you. Such kind and caring words really make a big difference. Again, Thank you God Bless, Linda

I have been suffering with nerve pain in my back for about 6 weeks now and my medications has been increased and it has not helped at all. I am currently trying to deal with it but having it every day it getting to me. I only wish I could catch a break and just have some relief for a bit.. This pain is from my surgery I had last March 27, 2007. After the surgery I suffered about 2 weeks with it and then it was gone. I have not felt it since then and now all of a sudden it's back. Has anyone experienced this before? If so how did you deal with it. I am on nerve pain medication too. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. Thank you all God bless, Linda

Hello Connie: My name is Linda and I am a 6 year lung cancer survivor. I have had two surgeries, chemo, target therapy. June 18, 2002 dx. I had a lobectomy to my upper right lobe and that was a 5.5 hour VATS surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. I live in New Jersey. Feb, 2005 cancer returned to my chest wall and had my first round of chemo. I was on cisplatin/velban for 6 weeks and at the same time radiation for 30 treatments. I was in the hospital with esophagitis for 4 days. Prior to that I was not able to sleep, eat, and drink because it hurt my esophagus so bad. When I went for my radiation on a Tuesday I was so sick that they just admitted me in the hospital. I was given pain meds in my port before I had my bland and puree food to heat for a half hour before and when I ate the food I was loving it. Well I was pretty much taxed out by the end of my treatments after 6 weeks. I had a hard time with my daily life since I was so weak from it all. I was getting better after it was over but unfortunately I did develope neuropathy and fibromyalgia and was in alot of pain with my joints and muscles. I had to go on pain meds to make it thru the day. I am currently on the pain meds today and more. Feb.2007 the cancer returned in my lower right lobe and I had my second VATS surgery. I had a wedge resection of my lower left lobe. At that time of the surgery I had a lot of pain after the surgery. I had a very hard time breathing and was sent home with oxygen and was on it for 2 weeks 24/7. I recoverd from that surgery. October, 2007 it returned again in my lung and I had developed 6 tumors in my right lung and 1 in my left lung. I started on the targeted therapy which was Tarceva. I started that on November 13 and stayed on it for 3 months. It was also a clinical trial. I was kicked off of it with my first ct scan because I had disease progression. I stayed on the tarceva and I had all the side effects you can possibly have. For those of you that have been on Tarceva know what I am talking about. Oh yes at this time the cancer had changed to stage IV. Came off the Tarceva because my scan had shown that 5 of my tumors in my right lung had grown and the one in my left was stable. So here I am today on Alimta. I have been on it for 3 cycles. I had it today and I am going for a ct scan on April 17. I am very anxious to see if it is working. If it is not working then I might be going back to see my wonderful surgeon at Sloan-Kettering for a 3rd surgery to get rid of the upper two tumors that are the largest. My oncologist called me at one time his miracle patient then he calls me his warrior and today I was a cat with many lives. So I guess I can be called a survivor. I am a fighter and I have the Lord taking ever step of this horrible cancer journey with me. Hello my name is Linda. God Bless Linda