Jump to content

md6183

Members
  • Posts

    11
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Everything posted by md6183

  1. I have not posted much on this site since joining last Fall, but I have continued to view only, and I again applaud the support available here, especially from the regulars and moderators who continue to support others after their battle or support needs have passed or diminished. My wife Kathy was dx at age 50 on Aug 9, 2012 with Stage IV NSCLC adenocarcinoma. During the past seven months, she has received extensive testing and radiation and chemo treatments at Jefferson Univ Hospital in Phila PA, from a wonderful groups of doctors and nurses. Even so, the third PET scan in mid February still showed significant progression of disease, and the pain, which never left, was continuing to escalate. Heartbreaking and difficult, Kathy made the decision to forego further treatment in hopes of maintaining a higher quality of life. Last week she began hospice care in our home, and after some trial and error, the pain management appears to be working. Our religious faith continues to sustain us, and we thank everyone on this site for their interest, caring, sharing, and love for others in this difficult battle. I'm still living day by day according to the words I wrote here a few months ago, recognizing that every day with her is a good day. May all of you also be blessed with those you love and care about.
  2. Thank you for sharing - my wife is 6 months into the same diagnosis, and I'll be sharing this post with her. We know that all patients are different, but even one story as this fuels the HOPE muscle. Mike
  3. Thanks to all who posted such kind responses. This past week was the bottom of the proverbial barrel for my wife. On Nov 19 she had an IM rod 16" long inserted in left femur because lesion there was nearing a break, one week later began ten rounds of radiation, all the while off chemo. This past Monday was final radiation day, very next day into new chemo (Taxotere) to attack other lesions, with Neulasta the following day. We know from past chemos that Neulasta brings severe bone pain for her, so Friday was the pits. Yesterday improvement, today some more improvement. No more chemo until January 2! Our son to be married on January 26, so plenty of time to recover after the next chemo, hopefully. Faith is our foundation of hope for comfort and peace. Looking forward to Christmas and New Year to relax and enjoy with family and friends, hopefully feeling a bit normal. Best Holiday season wishes to all of you too! Mike
  4. Many of you may know of Teri's blog and books about her journey; I discovered her online and found her materials to be very inspiring. I was heartbroken to read this news today. Her family posted the news today on her blog site: http://flyingelephantbook.wordpress.com ... lung-junk/
  5. I'm not the patient, I'm the caregiver for my wife battling Stage IV. It's been a really rough past few weeks, and this morning my thoughts of the future for my wife were filled with fear of the unknown. We have been making strong efforts to just concentrate and focus on living and enjoying each day by itself. So I thought of some things that will make today a good day, and wrote them down. I wanted to share them with others too, maybe it will lend some perspective. I get to hear her voice; I get to look into her eyes; I get to hold her hand; I get to kiss her lips; I get to stroke her hair; and I get to tell her "I love you" and to hear the same words back to me. What else could I ask for in life for today? Yes, today is a good day.
  6. To recount, my wife (age 50) is the patient, dx stage IV NSCLC adenocarcinoma on August 9, 2012. First PET late August showed mets in chest lymphs, both adrenal glands, and external iliac. Two rounds of chemo 9/24 and 10/17 (carboplatin and pemetrexed). Tolerated chemo very well, not so Neulasta but took it anyway. Severe leg pain emerged two weeks ago. Second PET and hip/leg MRI 11/2. Mixed bag of results yesterday: iliac met resolved, lung site shrunk 15%, one adrenal shrunk 75%, the other increased 100%, but now a new met in femur, explains leg pain. Results could have been better, but also could have been much worse. New plan includes femur radiation, need to first stabilize the bone, seeing orthopedist tomorrow before starting, medical oncologist being cautious to avoid bone trauma. New chemo plan includes Zometa (for bone) and Taxotere. Welcome any comments and experience with these two drugs, and/or with femur mets and treatment. Those are the facts, but on the emotional side we took this news well, frankly being mentally prepared for worse news, so any good news was welcomed with relief. Very happy with docs and nurses at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Spirituality and faith provide our foundation for hope and comfort. Thank you all for managing and continuing this site. I've only belonged for 3 weeks but was very, very saddened and pained for Susan Gamble, may God grant her family peace and comfort. Mike
  7. Thank you all for the kind, warm, and amusing (from Eric) welcome! I will remark that reading your stories and your journeys, especially as reflected in your signatures, helps me as a newbie to understand the range and nature of what our journey might entail. While we lean on our family and friends and prayer circle for a lot of emotional and spiritual support, I can see this group as a fabulous source for medical and technical understanding and awareness (I've learned a lot in the past few days), and also for emotional support too My wife Kathy is always looking for reinforcing sources of hope, and I can see that here in all of you who have experienced and/or supported others in this journey. Bless you all! /Mike
  8. Hello everyone, I'm Mike, spousal caregiver, and principal cornerman (as in the boxing metaphor). I've checked out a few web groups, and I am very impressed with this site and its moderators, survivors/patients, and other caregivers. I'd like to begin by saying "thank you" for your contributions here. My wife Kathy, age 50, received initial LC diagnosis on Aug 9, 2012, with subsequent dx of NSCLC adenocarcinoma, stage IV. She's had one chemo treatment (carboplatin and pemetrexed, with day-later Neulasta), with her second this week. She's strong and has no other health issues, and rebounded very well from the first chemo. Our faith keeps us both strong, and we have an extensive and amazing network of family and friends supporters. I'm only now venturing into the world of online support, cautiously and carefully reviewing bits and pieces of information. Some folks may want ALL the information they can find, but at this time Kathy prefers to stay offline, removed from the medical details, and focus on staying strong in mind and body. Right now, she lets me research the medical matters, and I am pleased to do so. We've been married for 29 years and I know my wife well enough to giver her manageable doses It's just the way she has always been, and sometimes I have a hard time convincing family and friends that she is okay without wanting to know the details or especially the prognoses. I am trying hard to be her bastion of confidence, and keep her away from any negative or hopeless thoughts, and I try hard to remain optimistic but realistic. Together we are slowly working our minds and spirits into learning to live with this cancer, and we are emotionally and spiritually in a good place, ready to deal with more hard stuff should it arrive. Thanks for your contributions to this group, and thanks for listening to our story.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.