DougS

Hi ALL, Glad to be in the survivors club. I went for my 4 th year catscan and it was normal and showed no signs of reoccurence again for the 4th year and I was told there is NO reason for me to come back again I was am Cured!!!!!

Hi all. Well there is some hope in this story for NSCLC people. In March 2003 I was diagnosed with nsclc in the left lung. I smoked for 35 years before quitting 2 years before I was diagnosed. I was in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966. No one in my family tree has ever been diagnosed with Lung Cancer before me. The tumor was the size of a large orange. The treatment plan for me was chemo to shrink the tumor and surgery to remove it after it died and shrunk. I went on taxol and carboplatinum. At my third monthly treatment I had a severe allergic reaction to something in the chemo. I was then put on something that they had to put a port in my artery for. I think it was gemzabine and something. Anyway it was terrible. I went back for the secon treatment and said I could not taske this anymore. And they doc said I could not anyway because my blood was too low and she said by the catscan that the tumor had shrunk anyway and it was time to go to the surgeon. I did and 2 weeks later they operated and took half my left lung. They came back 2 days later and said they had to go back in and take the rest because the margins were not clean. I said ok I just want my life back. So they did and i recuperated and had my catscans every 6 months for 3 years and there was no signs on recoccurence and then had the 4th year catscan and then I was told there is NO reason for me to come back anymore. I AM CURED as far as they are concerned. I thank GOD every day. I have and will 1 more time send flowers and a card to my surgeon at the Mpls VA hospital. It is time to enjoy the rest of my life. If anyone has any questions please email me. ANd thanks to all on this board for the support and info. God Bless you all. Doug Sichler

Hello All, It can be done. I am living proof. I was diagnosed with a tumor in my left lung NSCLC, about the size of a navel orange. Thought it was my time to pay the piper. Really could not figure out how I got it, since no one in my family, brother and sisters and no one in my Mothers or Fathers family had lung cancer. Duh, I SMOKED FOR 40 YEARS! Anyway there is life after pnuemonectony and chemo. Will have to take acid meds for the rest of time and some antibiotics and some pain from the removal of ribs and all the other stuff, but HEY, it's better than the altenative. I sent the surgeon who operated on me a dozen coral colored roses on my 1 year anniversary and I think she was more excited about that then that I was still going strong. Never give up! God Bless You All, Thanks, Doug

Great News. keep up the good work. I am familiar with that word Cured. I was told there was a good chance i would be cured of my cancer. And 18 mionths later I am still feeling good. I have a catscan next week for my 18 month since surgery checkup and I fully expect it to be clear as the rest have been. God Bless, Doug

Welcome Glenn, You will as I am sure already know, find support here. I have found out many things here at this site that were not discussed with me before my surgery. One thing I have learned is time heals most things as far as the recovery from surgery. I have probably lifelong numbness on my back and side and front were they took out 2 ribs and did the cutting. Even from the tubes iin my abdomen it is numb there also.Constant stomach pain. Nothing enough for medecine but just from the movement of the stomach up against my ribs. Lifelong prilosec medecine for acid. There is hope and there are many good people on this site. Hope all goes weel for you. Doug

Would like to know if there have been any problems with any of you that have had a lobectomy with airplane flights. I have heard that there might be a short of breath problem on airplane flights. Have not been on one since my operation. I also understand that nowadays with the terrorism thing you can't really tank a oxygen tank with you, if needed. Don't need one normally but you never know. Thanks, Doug Still doing good. Have more trouble with my stomach than with the loss of the lung. Some pain at night when I have to turn. Can't sleep on the same side to long. Have my 18 month post surgery check in Jan. Will keep you posted.

13 months out from surgery my catscan still shows no signs of reoccurence of cancer. Yippee.

Hi There, I was diagnosed 1 year ago with NSCLC and went thru the emotional ups and downs with all the tests. Bone scan, brain scan. pet scans, catscans. I have had 2 different kinds of chemo. Carbo and taxol and then gemabine with something< I believe. It killed the tumor and it shrank. It was rather a large tumor. 7.4 cm by 7.1 cm. I had a left pnuemonectomy on Aug 20th 2003 and just had my 9 month after surgery catscan last week and have been pronounced cancer free again. I have the checkups every three months for the first 2 years. I believe in the comprehensive cancer centers. You have to have confidence in your doctors. There are survivors out there. I am one. The surgery presents it's own problems but it is better than the alternative. Good Luck and God Bless. Doug

Hi There, Tell your husband to hang in there. I had my left lung taken out last august and they took two pieces of rib out so they could have more room to work. It still hurts like hell. It is still healing. It is a lot better now 6 months later. I can at least lay on that side for a while. it takes some people longer thanother to heal. I am still on 1/2 oxycodone twice a day. God Bless the caregivers. By His Stripes You Are Healed, I thank The Lord everyday I am still here. Doug

Hi All, I had surgery on 3/1803 for a lobectomy, but 2 days later the surgeons said there where smal small nests of cancer cells on the end of the bronchial tube they cut and they thought they better go back in and take it all. So they did a complete left lung removal on 3/20/03. I have found info on this board about the stomach trouble most of us have and the shifting of the organs that happens. Now about my nerve pain. I am still on percoset 1/2 pill every 4 hours or so. When I try to stretch that out to 8 or more the pain that i get I believe is from the nerve damage from the operation. It starts under the left should blade and goes around to the front of the chest in about a four inch band. They took 2 pieces of ribs out and put in gortex in the back area and that is where the pain starts and comes to the front. I would like to know if anybody has had this problem and if there is any thing I can do to help alleviate the pain. Such as excersize and or accupunture or something. Or is it just going to take longer before it goes away or maybe it does not go away. Any info would be appreciated. DougS God Bless You ALL

Hi There, Beautipicture of you and your wife. Wondering how you are recouping after surgery? Hope your chemo goes well. When I was on Taxol and Carboplatinum I did very well, hungry all the time, put on weight and some was muscle. Then lost 20 lbs with my pnuemonectomy and healing from surgery and the stomach problems. But doing pretty good now. Watch out for the flu, get flu shot and be careful of colds. Trust in the Lord. God Bless Both Of You Wishing and praying for your healing. DougS

Had a 3 month checkup. Lung xray is clean and bloodwork is all normal. Am visiting children and grandchildren in Albuquerque, NM. Have to go back to Wisc. and the Mpls VA for a catscan ond blood on January 13, 2004. After that, which I expect to be NORMAL, me and mine will be going to Cancun or somewhere warm with warm water. Gob Bless You All. DougS

Yep stomach problems come with the removal of the lung. Had my left lung removed almost 3 months ago now and no one told me before hand that there would be a organ shift and that probably there would be stomach problems. I since learned from this forum that many who have had their lung removed have the acid and gas problem I have been on Acphex 20mg once a day for 2 weeks now there has been a good change in my stomach. I also take simethicone 80mg after every meal and at bed time for the gas. It all helps. At least now I can have a cheeseburger once in a while. And a good chef salad also. Am still trying to get off the pain meds, like this morning I went 7 hours in between and the 8 hours the next and now tonight I have found again that I can't go that long yet. Been on 5mg oxycodone with 325mg acetimenephen for 3 months. I now take 1/2 pill every 4 hours. Also there is usually with the lung removal surgery the problems with the numbness in the chest and side and back. Hope and pray all goes well. DougS

Hi There, tell your Mom there a lot of lung cancer survivors out there. And especially at stage 11 if it has not met. I had nsclc in my left lung. the tumor was 7cm by 4.5 cm which is rather large I am told. There was no spread and my lung was taken out 3 months apprx 3 months ago and as far I casn tell I doing fine. Healing good. If there are any questions I am sure the people on this board can and will do their best to answer them. God Bles, Dougs

i want to thank all of you for your replies and your support. It is very hard for someone with this kind of disease and surgery when there is very little live support. All I was told by my doctors was the chemo would shrink it and then the surgery would cure me. Not told about the removal of the 2 pieces of ribs and not told about the numbness in the back and chest and the numbness in the lower left side and front due to the drain tubes in me. I am getting better month by month. It seems since I have been taking the stomach acid medecine, AcipHex, that the persocet is not working as good. ??? I am a very lucky person for this large tumor to not have spread anywhere according to pet and cat scans. Hope my guardian angel and God continue to bless me and all of you. He has got me through some tough nights.i have had a tough time with the anger and depression and unfornunately have taken a lot of it out on my significant other. God bless this strong women. Would not blame her if she gave up on me. Guess I'll keep taking the percoset for a while yet. Maybe another month and I'll try some tylenol or Ibuprophen. I am in Albuquerque visiting my Children and my 4 Grandson's. My significant other is in Santa Barbara, Ca. with her daughter helping her because she is due with a baby on Dec.2. Does still get lonely during the day with no one around. Have to go back home January 13 for a catscan checkup. Home is in Siren,Wi. and treatment is at the VA medical center in Mpls.,MN. If good checkup in Jan. maybe vacation to Cancun. Hope you all are well. Will check back often. Sure wish I could find lung cancer support group in Albq. Take Care All and God Bless, DougS