AnnieRSA

That's the best thing to do...stand by her decision even if later you feel it was a bad decision etc. Also relax in the knowledge that praying about every decision is certainly the best way to go about it. I wish her and her best friend the very best no matter what you decide keep well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Michelle... (PS: I'm her son, Chris) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gosh it's so sad how much destruction cancer has on people's lives. But it's also positive that your mom has the determination to push on and be there for you. My mom literally had 6 months after diagnosis and sadly left us two days ago. From what I've learnt, it is vital to be as mentally positive no matter what happens, and then to challenge every odd and eat, drink as much as she can, although she will not at all feel like it. My mummy would literally throw up the moment any solid food touches her mouth. But she survived on fluids, drips and nutrition supplements all administered IV. Gradually she lost weight and her body went into a spiral of being too weak to eat and thereby shutting down into a very slow mode of tiredness and sleep. Please do your very best to motivate her regarding her choice and whatever it is, I say never back down until she is personally happy with her efforts. Most importantly, trust in God and nothing else. You will see results. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you all. I had the most rewarding time with her. My sister also spent 3 months continuously with her. Echoing what Craig said, I'm glad it didn't get too far before our good Lord decided to step in and take matters in His hands. It's hard to think she's gone. But I made a resolution to only think positive thoughts of her presence with us instead of the sad latter times. As easy as it is to make resolutions though, it's so damn hard to stick to them. I hope you guys are doing well too. It's so awesome to see all the positive replies. Gotta love the hope and inspiration it gives! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello all. It is with the heaviest heart that I announce the passing of my mummy to be with The Lord last night around 6pm IST. She had very bravely been undergoing chemo for NSC lung cancer and had shown very significant improvement (almost 95 to 100%) in her lungs. But that 18mm 'spot' in her pancreas which was overlooked ended up getting more and more aggressive with chemo. She had ascites and according to medical opinion did not respond well to gemcitabine combination. The ascites affected her breathing and comfort and I even suspect it spread to the liver etc but the gutless doctors couldn't bother to explain anything to us. I had resigned my job and was fortunate to spend every possible moment with mummy. Even when they wheeled her into ICU she waved goodbye with the best smile she could force amid her struggling to breathe. At that moment she looked as pretty as the happiest days I remembered her. She showed no sign of the pain or suffering she was going through for the past 6 months. Much love and prayer to everyone that helped us through this tragic time in our lives. Chris. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ey that's really welcoming news! I actually didn't think cough was a side effect. By the way, how many chemo rounds have most of you done in total and secondly what sort of response / improvement have you achieved with that? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Craig and Diane I just got back to SA. Mum is doing great and we Skype'd last night. Her coughing has been increasing again but everything else is looking good. The doc said the coughing is because of the chemo. That's weird. Isn't it supposed to subside like it did last week? We are anxiously waiting to hear about the EGFR test results. She has been tolerating the second round of chemo (carboplatin) quite well. Although her weakness persists. When I tell her of all the inspirational stories everyone posts on here, she says she wishes she could regain her energy to get up and do much more. Nonetheless she is trying. Regarding my job, you both pointed out some really valuable things. Thank you! I realized I am maybe getting too emotionally charged and need to take it down a notch or two. It's just that the pathetic nursing care at the hospital frightens me. Then I wonder how they will cope without us kids being around. I will however need to look at other alternatives too. Including starting up my own business or something. I know I've always had it in me but never really took the first step Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Katie! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice information Craig. Thank you:) I'm not usually a negative person but Instead of speculating I would like to know how the disease actually gets so busy that it takes perfectly healthy people down even in a span of a few months, although they are on chemo and other such drugs. It's such a scary thought and I refuse to let mummy become a statistic of that order Unfortunately our very famous and experienced oncologist isn't the most readily available person to talk to. Purely because he is in demand at two other hospitals and at his home where he consults in the mornings. And when we do get him here in my mummy's room, he is gone in a matter of 2 to 5 minutes. That's all we see him during a 7-day week..5 very short minutes. The rest of the time we see his junior (consultant) doctors and (the short-staffed) nurses who don't really seem to know much about what is going on. My brother left India yesterday and my sister left this morning. I am scheduled to fly out in a few hours too. But my heart just won't let me do it. I am most probably going to have to resign at my workplace and stay with them until she is better again. Sorry to moan but today isn't much of a happy one for me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Janet, You are such an inspiration of the awesome human spirit !!! Thank you for the courage to share your story. I'm glad you have come this far and are such a great story teller too I really wish my mom (dx with adenocarcinoma last month) could gather the strength to get on this forum and draw inspiration from all you wonderful people. Sadly her diabetes has made her eyes weak and she is constantly tired from chemo 1 and now chemo 2...But I'm still gonna try with her. Wish you the best and many more 5 years to come. May God bless you ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi there and thank you for the wonderful words of inspiration and courage. I totally envy your list ! Hehehe. I wish I could get my mom to do the same/similar things as I have always believed in (and found success in) doing it that way. Take care and have a happy proud and full life ahead! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dear Petunia, my deep condolences to you and the family. As sad as you may feel now, try to think of the fact that she is in a much better place now and does not need to feel any more of the pain and misery this world brings. You did the best for her and I'm sure she lived a happy and fruitful life. To say the least, she gave the world a loving caring daughter. Do feel free to vent and share your feelings or thoughts. This disease does suck but it's going down for sure! Cheers and take good care! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your words are a great source of comfort, information and relief. It's good to know We have the support of everyone here, and the encouragement really helps and reassures us every time. Thank you Diane. I truly value your comments. Haven't heard from CraiginPA for a while. I hope everything is okay with him. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Diane Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Following a few mini battles at home we are back in hospital now. Today the doctors got mummy her second chemo round. This time they chose to go for carboplatin instead of cisplatin. Having done some reading I've come to the conclusion that carbo is less effective than cis, however carbo is less taxing on the body in terms of side effects. Does that mean she will need to undergo more than the three initial rounds of chemo the doctors ordered ? We still are awaiting the test results to determine whether she has the EGFR mutation and can be put on gefitinib tablets following her three rounds of chemo. Her tummy issues have settled and her increasing dependency on oxygen has totally disappeared. She had been needing oxygen every few hours and now she doesn't even use it for the past few days!!! She does complain of very low energy levels and even though I thought she would bounce back a week or at Max two weeks following chemo, her energy is still quite low. She also has recently developed aching pain in her right leg calf muscle. We been rubbing and massaging it for her and that helps a little. Wonder if it's got to do with the diabetes, which I must add has been quite stable and she is only using the glyciphage tablets, no insulin injection. The docs had previously ordered her off all medication she was on (such as her thyroid tablet - eltroxin as well as her puff pump for mild asthma) but yesterday ordered that she continue with those again. I'm confused why. With my brother and his wife leaving India tomorrow, my sis and myself leaving later next week, mummy and daddy have both started stressing about how to continue until my sis comes back as soon as she can (Possibly within the following week itself). The stress is really showing its face in different ways and I am tempted to resigning at work and staying here full time. The developments in this coming week will help decide the way forward. Thus far God has been exceedingly merciful to help us through every single stage we came through YAY! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Michelle. Quite surprised that it was not on the site even as a search query. As a secondary question: does switching from cisplatin to carboplatin mean one will need to have several more chemo trips due to the fact that carboplatin is less effective than cisplatin? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi all I found these while trying to find out about carboplatin vs cisplatin. Anyone have any idea or information what it's about and has anyone done it? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboplatin http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemcitabine Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Such wonderful and inspirational news Janet! Thank you and Congratulations!!!! Keep strong and cherish every day Merry Christmas to you! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If its any consolation I'm the eldest in our family and my mom is also diagnosed with the beast. So i kinda know what its like. Living everyday on hope and prayers is not too easy. But has its rewards. Everyday is something new and we find blessings in small ways. Your mom is a total star by being so strong!!! Hug her for us all Try to stay positive that the best will always come. Even in the worst of situations know that God has a plan for us all. And feel free to vent and share as much as your heart desires! Much love! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Knowing how us guys think, or for that matter how I (and as i have seen some others on this forum) think, why not get him interested in reading up on the forum himself and then taking his battle to the beast itself. That's what I would do. Just because my body or the doctors are telling me one thing, it doesn't mean my mind has to conform. Challenging the Norms is the order of the day! Other things you can do is find out about his other passions in life and try get him to relive them. Spend a lot of time talking one-on-one and get to know him even better than you already know now. That will help a lot in finding what gets him smiling again. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I read this because of the subject / topic : stress can make things worse. I hope you're doing way better now. Please do update us so we know? My mom is a stressball of note! And I'm sure a lot of her healing depends on her stopping the stress. But it seems like the most impossible task sometimes. Are all women like this? Or is it just me getting it all wrong? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After almost a week of more silence, here's more update: Mummy's energy is slowly returning and her tummy is better albeit some gas that always seems to be "hanging around" and giving her discomfort. We then apply hot water bottle to her tummy until she sleeps. The doc said her count has returned to normal and they are slowly starting to ween her off the injections and IV's. Some dumb a** doc came by the other day and said based on the ultrasound scan (attached) the cancer has spread to her stomach too. I for the heck of it, cannot see anything that says so on the report. The previous report in South Africa said they found some weird thing in the pancreas but nothing cancerous. This we are all aware of and is not news. Can anyone else perhaps comment on the report please? I really get very frustrated when doctors say such things. It not only scares the crap out of my mom but also makes us worry for no reason. In addition the gastro doc had a look and said why not do a ct scan but the oncologists said there's no need as we already did a ct scan in South Africa and so no need for another scan now. Weird! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is truly very sweet and filled with gratitude, something most of us lack even when we try. So thank you for reminding us all of how the little, precious things count, and weigh more than anything else. Have a blessed festive season and all the best wishes for 2013 to you both! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh okay Diane. That actually sounds very logical. Thank you for taking the time. It's very sweet of you to be caring for others like that. I guess it's the 'pay it forward' part Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The doc came in and mummy explained all her tummy issues to him. Including her difficult to eat even if she wants to. He has now prescribed all meds and supplements will be given IV. She is only to take water to wet her lips etc. He wants to do this for 24 hours under observation and then will tell us what to do next. She's been on drips since yesterday evening. I'm worried if this will continue and become a problem. Anyone have similar issues when doing your first ever chemo? Or is this unique to her case? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk