CindyA

Hi Barb, Thank you for keeping us updated. It's great to hear that the tests only show one nodule & that you are in a good place. If you would like us to connect you with a mentor while you are going through this please let me know. I look forward to your next update.

It's time to VOTE for the LUNGEvity Bow Tie Challenge! ‪#‎changelc‬ ‪#‎mlb‬‪#‎lcsm‬ If we get the most votes-our BowTie will be featured during the World Series to raise awareness about ‪#‎lungcancer‬ Please vote by CLICKING on the link and LIKE the LUNGevity bowtie pic. Ask everyone you know to click on the Bowtie link and like LUNGevity's bowtie! Please SHARE! https://www.facebook.com/BowTieCause/photos/a.1090054131005465.1073741837.155173341160220/1090054351005443/?type=3&theater

Hi ec012014, Welcome to the Lung Cancer Support Community message boards. Sorry you have to be here. You are a great sister for reaching out and looking for information! I can offer you this link: http://www.emergingmed.com/networks/LUNGevity/ LUNGevity is working with EmergingMed & other partners in the lung cancer community to offer a free, confidential, personalized service that helps you understand which lung cancer clinical trials may be an option for you. LUNGevity also has a wealth of information on the website. Although I can not offer any medical advice, we have many survivors and caregivers here in the forums who may have a suggestion for you. Please come back often and let us know how you and your brother are doing. Cindy

Hi jmccg, Working full time- WOW indeed. Let us know if you have any questions or just want to vent, we are here for you. Best, Cindy

Hi Sherie, I hope you are feeling okay after that marathon at the dentists office. Please keep posting and let us know if there is anything we can help you with. Chat with you soon, Cindy

Hi Ellen B. & Henk! Thank you for staying in contact in these forums. I just LOVE reading about long time survivors! And thank you for the fantastic feedback. I'll be sure to send your message Katie's way. She may want to pop in and say hello too! Please keep posting and let us know how you both are doing. Best, Cindy

Hi Cindy, Welcome to the message boards. I see that you mentioned maybe needing some emotional support. We can connect you to a mentor who has shared a similar experience. If that is something you would be interested in, here is the link to get started. http://www.lungevity.org/lifeline Also I wanted to touch base on your question: I can't figure out the different places for "Introduce Yourself" and "My Lung Cancer Story". I have written both, but someone read my introduction and asked about my cancer story. How do you navigate this site? There is no right or wrong way to navigate here. Some people like to drop in a quick hello in the "Introduce Yourself" section and then let their supporters know that they have their full story in the "Share Your Lung Cancer Story" forum. Or some people just stay in one forum or the other. It's really just personal preference. If you have any more questions, please feel free to reach out to me anytime. How are you feeling this week?

By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RDN Written by Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RDN I rarely write letters to publications, because, frankly, what’s the point? Very few people seem to read these letters and comments. In the end, it’s unlikely that sharing an opinion about how the publication got this or that detail wrong will reach anyone. Recently, however, I felt compelled to respond to an article. I believe it missed the mark so badly, and presented such an incomplete view of a complex nutrition topic; I just had to respond. Wired Magazine published “Why Are We So Fat? The Multimillion-Dollar Scientific Quest to Find Out,” a story about Gary Taubes’ efforts to further the research into what type of diet truly is best for health. I applaud Taubes’ efforts, and especially appreciate that his approach attempts to maximize the objectivity of the studies he’s seeking to fund. The article, on the other hand, left much to be desired. If you’re interested in what I found problematic in this story, read on. Letter to the Editor: Re: Gary Taubes “aha” moment about nutrition research: “The scientists and health professionals railing against salt didn’t seem to notice or care that the diets of those populations might differ in a dozen ways from the diets of populations with more hypertension. Taubes began to wonder if his critique applied beyond salt, to the rest of nutrition science.” This is an incredibly obvious statement, and reveals a simplistic and shallow understanding of health research, on the part of both Wired and Taubes. This is something every public health student is taught on day one, of Epidemiology 101. It’s really not an amazing, revelatory event. These things are called confounders, and go far beyond differences in diet that may affect the variable being studied… body weight, exercise, smoking habits, reproductive choices, environmental exposures, genetic differences, differences in rates of other diseases, the list is endless. Further, Taubes himself demonstrates an inability to look at the full picture – something he accuses his detractors of doing. The population of the United States never has followed the advice that arose from the early 20th century ecological studies on diet and disease. In truth, nobody ever said, “add loads of simple carbs and keep your intake of saturated fat and total fat the same,” but that is exactly what happened in the US. Sure, percent of calories from fat in a typical American diet appeared to decrease, but only because simple carb intake increased so dramatically. Nobody really followed a low-fat diet in the way in which it was intended. Total fat intake did not decrease. The American public (and Taubes, apparently) completely missed the mark on this one, and the processed food industry was off and running, stuffing simple sugar into every food product imaginable. The advent of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) further exacerbated the problem, not because HFCS is so much worse than sugar (they are both problematic), but because it is so cheap that it allows simple sugar to permeate the food supply at unprecedented levels. The low-fat message was warped and misinterpreted, and Americans took this as an excuse to eat large quantities of completely nutrient-devoid, calorie-laden foods. But don’t mistake me for a low-fat advocate; I’m not. I believe a diet that derives as much as 40 or 50% of calories from fat is fine, so long as the majority of it is not (most types of) saturated fat, and is not artificially created trans fats. In essence, the true message was that the optimal diet is PLANT-BASED (not carbohydrate-based), derived from vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruit, and whole grains (ideally, in that order of importance). All of these folks who embrace meat, butter, and saturated fat as the “healthiest” option misinterpret existing data. If you replace saturated fat with simple carbs, YES, I agree, that likely worsens health, and certainly contributes to insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. THAT is what the “low-fat experiment” taught us. However, if you replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats – the PUFAs and MUFAs from plants – WITHOUT increasing intake of simple carbohydrates, you will see better health outcomes. Unfortunately, nobody has really studied this, and very few Americans actually eat this way. As for inflammation, cholesterol, other lipids, and similar biomarkers, if you replace the average, crappy, high simple carb, low-fiber, processed food, American diet with ANYTHING else, you will see improvements in these markers. You can replace the current American diet with a paleo diet, a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet, a plant-based low-fat diet, a plant-based high fat diet, the Mediterranean diet, the Okinawan diet, the Inuit diet, or just about anything else that eliminates processed foods; you will see improvements in health. Again, no big revelation, because the standard American diet is so poor. However, which one improves health the most? My money is on plant-based diets, low or high fat. Over two decades ago, Dean Ornish proved that a low-fat vegan diet can REVERSE, yes, actually shrink, established plaques (fatty build ups) in arteries. Dr. Ornish more recently demonstrated that this type of diet can reduce markers associated with prostate cancer progression in men living with the disease, including a demonstrated lengthening of cellular telomeres. Telomeres are the small “caps” on the end of strands of genetic material, and the longer, the better. Longer indicates a younger “cellular age.” Dr. David Jenkins’ Portfolio diet has been shown to lower so-called “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL-cholesterol) by 29.6% vs. a lowering of 33.3% for first line statin drugs. Can the high saturated fat diet advocated by Taubes, et al. match that? I’m eagerly awaiting results. What does the Portfolio diet look like? Plants, plants, and more plants, including specifically selected foods known to have significant cholesterol-lowering effects: soy, almonds, oats, barley, psyllium, okra, eggplant, and almonds. A far cry from a meat-based diet being promoted as the “healthiest” option. Further, the longest-lived people on the planet do not follow a meat-heavy diet. They eat plants. Period. Think Okinawan and Mediterranian dietary patterns. Not a paleolithic, caveman diet. Until someone proves that a saturated fat, meat-heavy diet can reverse coronary artery disease, slow and possibly reverse cellular aging, improve markers in people living with cancer, and improve cardiovascular biomarkers nearly as well as a statin drug, I’ll stick to plants. There is one thing we all can agree on: ANYTHING is better than the typical American diet. Author Suzanne Dixon MPH, MS, RDN is an epidemiologist and registered dietitian, and an author, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in nutrition, chronic disease prevention and management, and health and wellness. Suzanne is best known as the creator of the award-winning website CancerNutritionInfo.com (sold in 2005), which was acclaimed by the New York Times and named one of Time magazine’s 50 Coolest Websites of 2005. She has numerous scholarly and popular literature publications and has received awards from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for Innovative Nutrition Education Programs for the Public and Distinguished Practice in Oncology Nutrition. Suzanne received her training in epidemiology and nutrition at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health at Ann Arbor, and currently runs her own consulting business in Portland, Oregon. You can follow Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RDN @NoNutritionFear and www.NoNutritionFear.com

Hi bkjacksontex, Welcome to the group. Please keep us posted on your results. We have many members here who are very helpful. Until, then enjoy this beautiful Texas weather. Cindy

Here is link to the artilce: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aria-health-raises-awareness-and-funds-for-lung-cancer-prevention-as-it-hosts-inaugural-aria-health-lung-cancer-runwalk-300143233.html This link is to the hospital website: https://www.ariahealth.org/programs-and-services/lung-cancer-screening-program Specifically to providing free screenings to uninsured and underinsured members of the communities Aria Serves throughout the year. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aria Health is proud to announce its first annual Aria Health Lung Cancer Run/Walkon Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the Washington Crossing Historic Park Towpath in Washington Crossing, Pa. The family-friendly 10K run, 5K run and walk, and 1K walk for kids is intended to raise awareness for lung cancer prevention and to promote lung health. Proceeds from the event will go towards Aria Health's ongoing Lung Cancer Screening Program efforts, specifically to providing free screenings to uninsured and underinsured members of the communities Aria Serves throughout the year. "Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in our country which is why it is so crucial to take action and raise awareness of the importance of lung health in the areas we serve," said Richard S. Chang, MD, FACS, director of thoracic surgery at Aria Health. "In 2014, the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) distinguished our Lung Screening Program as a Center of Excellence, and this Lung Run is just another example of our continued commitment to the community to create awareness and provide education on lung cancer." The largest healthcare provider in Northeast Philadelphia and Lower Bucks County, Aria Health will kick-off the first annual Lung Cancer Run/Walk on Sunday, September 20 at the General Greene Pavilion in Washington Crossing Historic Park. The competitive and timed 10K and 5K course will begin at the Washington Crossing Historic Park along the towpath in Delaware Canal State Park. The kids 1K course will take place on the Circle of Concentration. Registration will open at 6 a.m., and the first run begins at 8 a.m. In addition to the run/walk, the event will also feature giveaways and activities for runners, walkers and attendees including face painting, balloon making and tours of an ambulance and a fire truck. Registration for the Aria Health Run/Walk is now open! For more information about the run or to sign up to participate, visit AriaHealth.org/LungRun. The registration fee is $30 for adults, and children 12-years-old and younger can register for free. Registration is also available on the day of the event. Aria Health Offers Community Wide Lung Health Programs The Clearing the Air Smoking Cessation Program According to the American Lung Association, men who smoke are 23 times more likely, and women 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those who have never smoked. To educate and help people in the community quit smoking, Aria Health will offer a free, five-week program at both the Bucks and Torresdale campuses:Aria Health – Bucks County: Every Monday from September 21 - November 19, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Aria Health – Torresdale: Every Wednesday from November 4 - December 2, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Registration is required. To register, please call 215-710-2264 for the Aria Health – Bucks County classes, and 1-877-808-ARIA (2742) for the Aria Health – Torresdale classes. Lung Cancer Screenings Aria Health offers low dose CT scans for the early detection of lung cancer, which are offered on an ongoing basis by appointment. Screenings are recommended for current smokers or smokers who have quit in the last 15 years who are between the ages of 55 and 80-years-old. For those who would like more details on the program or to schedule a screening, please call 215-612-5050.For more information about the programs offered at Aria Health, please call 1-877-808-ARIA (2742) or visit AriaHealth.org. About Aria Health Aria Health is the largest healthcare provider in Northeast Philadelphia and Lower Bucks County. With three leading-edge community hospitals and a strong network of outpatient centers and primary care physicians, Aria upholds a longstanding tradition of bringing advanced medicine and personal care to the many communities it serves. For more information about Aria Health please visitwww.ariahealth.org "Like" Aria Health on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ariahealth and "Follow" Aria Health on Twitter at@AriaHealth. Media contacts: Jessica Jacobs, Brian Communications 484.385.2958 jjacobs@briancom.com Maria Cerceo Slade, Aria Health 215.710.3768 mcerceo@ariahealth.org SOURCE Aria Health RELATED LINKS http://www.ariahealth.org

Be Bold, Be Bald for LUNGevity! Print this page Posted on September 9, 2015 - 1:21pm Katie Brown For the 3rd year, we are going bald to fight lung cancer! Join our staff and thousands of people across the US who will be wearing bald caps on October 16 to honor those who bravely fight cancer, and raise money for national and local charities, including LUNGevity! The name of the event is Be Bold, Be Bald! and we hope you will join us by putting vanity aside on October I6 and wearing a bald cap to help in the fight against cancer. There are no time, physical, or geographical limitations. If you have a head, you can do it. And it is a perfect way to show solidarity with those patients who do not have a choice about losing their hair. Have you ever wanted to participate in a cancer fundraiser, but not had the time or physical endurance to do so? Well, now is your time. To learn more and sign up for the event, please visit http://beboldbebald.org. Be sure to select LUNGevity as your beneficiary when you register. Blog category: Awareness & advocacy

Hi everyone, happy Friday! Although the weekend is coming up do you still keep up with working out? Please comment below and share your best tips. Have a great weekend! -Cindy Physical Activity and the Cancer Patient: Flow with Tai Chi By Stephanie Lang | Reply Email Each month throughout 2015, we will feature a different physical activity on our blog. We hope to highlight a variety of activities in this series so that you can find your favorite ways to move your body! The past few physical activity blog posts focused on low impact activities like water-based exercise and pilates. Low impact exercise can broadly be defined as exercise that allows at least one foot to be in contact with the ground at all times. Low impact exercises are especially good for cancer patients and survivors because the movements tend to be less jarring on the body and joints, and less intense. This leaves room for slow reintroduction of activity after and during cancer treatment. This month’s blog post is on another type of low impact exercise known as tai chi. What is tai chi? Tai chi is a form of slow exercise and moving mediation with roots in Chinese philosophy. Tai chi does not require special equipment or space—it uses the body to flow through movements, keeping the muscles and joints relaxed the entire time. The motions may be named for animal actions or martial arts. Benefits of tai chi Even though tai chi is a low impact exercise, it can still improve muscle strength and flexibility, balance, and respiratory and aerobic conditioning. Tai chi has also been shown to reduce fatigue in breast cancer patients, improve pain, and enhance sleep quality. The mind-body features of tai chi are helpful for those affected by cancer and chronic disease because they teach people to respond peacefully and mindfully to the obstacles in their lives. Research findings suggest that practicing tai chi may improve balance and stability in older people and those with Parkinson’s, reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis, help people cope with fibromyalgia and back pain, and promote quality of life and mood in people with heart failure and cancer. Words to know Qi: an energy force thought to flow through the body Qigong (or chi kung): this means “breath work” or “energy work” and consists of gentle breathing to help relax the mind and mobilize the body’s energy; all styles of Qigong involve a posture, breathing techniques, and mental focus Yin and Yang: these are opposing elements that make up the universe; they need to be kept in harmony Experts in tai chi believe that disease results when the flow of Qi is blocked and when there is disharmony between the Yin and Yang forces. Tai chi exercises may balance these forces and promote the flow of Qi for improved health. On finding an instructor Tai chi instructors do not have to be licensed, and the practice is not regulated by the Federal Government or individual states. Various tai chi organizations offer training and certification programs—with differing criteria and levels of certification for instructors. Ask your health care provider or a nearby hospital to recommend a tai chi or qi gong instructor. When considering a class or instructor, ask about the instructor’s training and experience. Want a sneak peak at some tai chi movements and stretches? Check out The Arthritis Foundation’s website, which features a few videos that demonstrate tai chi, or browse the Tai Chi Health page for some fundamental and basic tai chi movement videos. Be sure to speak with your physician and heath care team before starting any new exercise regimen or making changes to your current routine. And tell your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use to manage your health. Stephanie Lang has an M.S. degree in Nutrition Education from Teachers College Columbia University. She is currently completing her dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Check out her food blog, Figs in My Belly, for more of her writing and recipes. References: Integrative Medicine: Tai Chi. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Website.https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/tai-chi Last updated February 25, 2015. Accessed September 1, 2015. The Health Benefits of Tai Chi: Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Harvard Health Publications. Harvard Medical School Website. http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-health-benefits-of-tai-chi May 1, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2015. Tai Chi: A gentle way to fight stress. Mayo Clinic Website.http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/tai-chi/art-20045184 June 25, 2015. Accessed September 1, 2015. Tai Chi and Qi Gong. NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Website. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/taichi/introduction.htm Published June 2006. Last updated August 21, 2015. Accessed September 1, 2015. Image 1: http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/exercise/videos/tai-chi/ Image 2: http://taichihealth.com/wp/?page_id=875

Hello jporter, Welcome to the message boards. Do you have any specific questions for the group? Also, if you would like to talk to someone one on one, please let me know or follow this link to our LifeLine Program http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/lungevity-lifeline We are here for you. Please keep posting and letting us know how you both are doing. Cindy

OPPORTUNITY POSTING for DC Area: Help others by sharing your experience! The Cancer Support Community (CSC), in partnership LUNGevity and other organizations is seeking volunteers to share their experience of living with lung cancer. CSC is also seeking volunteers to share their experience of caring for a loved one diagnosed with lung cancer. Stories will be captured on video and photo, and will be incorporated into various CSC programs. The video and photo shoot will take place on Saturday, September 26th at the Cancer Support Community headquarters office located at 1050 17th Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036. Volunteers should anticipate about two hours onsite. Food will be provided as well as a $50 gift card in appreciation of each volunteers’ time. For more information, or to volunteer for the project, please go to the volunteer application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lungcancershoot If you have any questions, please email workshops@cancersupportcommunity.org

Hi BigBrowne, This is a great read about a second opinion. It motivated me to help advocate better for myself and those I love. I hope if you get a couple of minutes you can read it too. http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/blog/lung-cancer-advocate-jane-elterman I look forward to your next post. Cindy

Hi Eric, Wow, you were up pretty early typing us this message. Thank you for taking the time to share what life is like where you are and all of your adventures. The sheep racing sounds exciting! I wish I could have seen that. The government grant is good news! I look forward to reading about more progress from the TCAT! When your article is published will you share it with us? I'd like to read it. Also, I would like your new e-mail address so we can all keep in touch. I look forward to your next post! Cindy

This is a great piece on ‪#‎lungcancer‬ survivor Jane Elterman. Jane participates in LUNGevity's Breathe Deep DFW event every November. Read and share! http://www.cancerfightersthrive.com/move-every-day/ Move Every Day Exercise can improve quality of life and decrease the odds of cancer diagnosis or recurrence. By Heather Stringer After 28 chemotherapy infusions, Jane Elterman could not even imagine integrating exercise into her life, despite gentle encouragement from her care team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 49, Jane had been diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma in late 2008 after going to the doctor for a simple neck ache. Jane, who lives in Carrollton, Texas, was in disbelief when she learned that cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, jugular vein and all five lobes of her lungs. Initially told that she had three to five months to live, Jane sought a second opinion at CTCA® Learning to be a survivor, however, has presented its own set of challenges. A year after she completed chemotherapy, Jane still suffered from neuropathy (tingling and numbness in her toes and fingers) and severe pain, she was exhausted by simple tasks like loading the washing machine or driving to the store and she needed at least two naps per day. Then, in 2013, she heard something that completely changed her mindset about the importance of overcoming these barriers to become more active: a naturopath at CTCA mentioned that exercising 30 minutes per day five days per week could reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. “It was a lightning bolt for me,” says Jane, now 56. “I knew I could not get rid of the cancer that was still in my lungs, but it was really important to reduce the risk of metastasis. I wanted to do whatever I could to be around for the major life events like births, weddings and graduations for the people I loved.” Inspired, she started by swimming a few laps in her pool. Although it was intensely painful to walk down the steps of the pool into the water, Jane kept swimming every day. After a month she noticed her endurance improving, and eventually she could swim continuously for 30 minutes. Next she braved the elliptical machine at the local gym. She cried most days during the first week from the neuropathic pain, but slowly that decreased. She then worked up to 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill, and now she looks forward to walking outside three to four miles per day with her two dogs. Her energy level is higher than ever, and she has even started job hunting for work in the nonprofit sector. Defining Exercise Although Jane’s journey included visits to the local gym, Physical Therapist Kelly Prater Whitmore, PT, CLT, is quick to remind patients that exercise can include a wide variety of activities beyond typical gym options. “Many people think they can’t exercise because it means lifting weights at the gym and running on a treadmill,” says Whitmore, who works at CTCA in Newnan, Georgia. “But exercise can be marching your feet, tapping your toes or doing exercises in a chair. It really depends on your level of strength and endurance.” The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week. Moderate intensity is defined as anything that “makes you breathe as hard as you do during a brisk walk,” which could include mowing the lawn, dancing, walking and golfing. Vigorous activities cause a noticeable increase in heart rate, faster breathing and sweating, which could include jogging, singles tennis and swimming. “For patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are in some stage of treatment, it is best to meet with a medical professional before starting an exercise routine,” Whitmore says. “We evaluate their strength deficits and can tailor the program accordingly.” A typical program includes cardiovascular, strength and flexibility exercises with a physical therapist and a home exercise program to build on this, Whitmore explains. She typically offers several options for home exercises and suggests that patients pick the ones that work best for them. For example, someone could walk the aisles of a grocery store for 15 minutes before shopping for food, or complete 10 to 20 repetitions of an exercise during television commercial breaks. Although some patients express fear that exercising will increase their level of pain and fatigue, Whitmore teaches them that usually the opposite is true. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in April 2015 found that exercise decreased pain in breast cancer patients who were suffering from joint pain while taking aromatase inhibitors. The participants who increased their exercise time to approximately 160 minutes per week experienced nearly a 30 percent decrease in their pain levels, while women who did not exercise experienced a 3 percent increase in pain. Joints are more prone to become stiff, achy and painful when people are not moving because the muscles become weaker, which can cause more stress on the joints, Whitmore says. In addition to lessening pain, exercise can decrease other side effects from treatment, such as fatigue, bone loss, scar tissue, shortness of breath, insomnia, diarrhea, constipation, anxiety and depression, Whitmore says. An increasing number of studies also suggest that staying active can be an effective preventive strategy. According to the American Cancer Society, poor diet and inactivity are two key factors that can increase a person’s cancer risk. These factors have the potential to increase an individual’s amount of excess weight, which causes the body to produce and circulate more estrogen and insulin—hormones that can stimulate cancer growth. A French study published in 2014 found that postmenopausal women who exercised moderately for four hours per week in the previous four years had a 10 percent lower risk of breast cancer than women who exercised less than that. The researchers also found that risk-reducing benefits quickly disappeared if women stopped exercising. Now Is the Time Although it may be tempting to procrastinate when it comes to exercising, Whitmore encourages people at any stage of life—regardless of whether they have cancer—that any movement is better than no movement. When she graduated from physical therapy school 25 years ago, patients were discouraged from exercise during treatment, and the consequences of this became evident. “People would get so deconditioned that they felt it was harder to become active again than to overcome the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation,” Whitmore says. She acknowledges that cancer treatment has many phases, and consequently exercise routines will likely need to be modified as patients go through these phases. For Jane, moving every day has become an essential part of life that gives her serenity despite an uncertain future. “After feeling betrayed by my body, it was truly empowering to see myself continue to get stronger,” Jane says. “That sense of accomplishment helped me regain my confidence, and I even sleep better because I am not worrying about whether I will be around for the next special milestone.” No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. Research is ongoing into the role of exercise in cancer prevention and wellness during treatment. If you’d like to learn more, take a look at the following references cited in this article: 1. Irwin, M. L., Cartmel, B., Gross, C. P., Ercolano E., et al. (2015). Randomized exercise trial of aromatase inhibitor–induced arthralgia in breast cancer survivors. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33, 1104–1111. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.57.1547 Abstract online: http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2014/12/01/JCO.2014.57.1547.short?rss=1 2. Fournier, A., Dos Santos, G., Guillas, G., Bertsch, J., et al. (2014). Recent recreational physical activity and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women in the E3N cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 23, 1893–1902. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0150 Abstract online: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2014/07/31/1055-9965.EPI-14-0150.abstract

Hello BigBrowne, Welcome to the group. Thank you for sharing your story. Everyone makes different choices on their treatment options. I have heard from some people who don't agree with their initial treatment plan from their doctor seek another opinion. You didn't mention if the doctor told you what type of lung cancer you have, however here is a link that I think might give you some good insight about treatment options. http://www.lungevity.org/about-lung-cancer/lung-cancer-101/treatment-options/treatment-options-for-non-small-cell-lung-cancer Please keep posting and letting us know how you are doing. I look forward to getting to know you. Cindy

Hello SBeth, welcome back. I am sorry to hear about your dad. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to post. I look forward to getting to know you. Cindy

If you are on the west coast- you can come out and support the Hearty Girls as they raise awareness about ‪#‎lungcancer‬ by riding to The Ellen DeGeneres Show http://www.lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/blog/ride-to-ellen The Ride to Ellen Print this page Posted on August 27, 2015 - 10:20am Michelle Andersen “We’re riding to The Ellen Show!" Why? That’s a good question. How did I, a retired special education teacher of 38 years, end up planning an extended trip, with bike rides, via motor home from Seattle to Los Angeles? Strangely enough, it started with a diagnosis of incurable, neuroendocrine, non-small cell lung cancer, Stage IV, given to me on 11/11/11. Well, the bike ride plan didn’t start then, but the desire to live life to the fullest, combined with a desire to make a difference, definitely started that day. To hear that diagnosis … to someone who never smoked… and lived a darn healthy life … was devastating. No more had I heard the news from the oncologist, when the nurse arrived with my chemo schedule and a wig catalog since I would be losing my hair. And, plenty of anti-nausea medication. And, anti-anxiety pills (though I never had any anxiety). And, supplements to keep my blood levels somewhat normal so they can be destroyed along with the bad stuff. The prognosis: 3 to 5 years. So, my journey began. Various rounds of chemotherapy. An argument won to receive radiation. Cancer moving to my lymphnodes. A different chemotherapy. A study drug. Yes! A study drug- combined with a traditional chemo that reduced the cancer significantly. Low platelets. Off the study drug. On another chemo for 15 months now. Almost to my 4-year anniversary. Throughout this journey, my husband and my family have been beside me every step of the way. They are loving, positive, encouraging, understanding and strong. My friends have been pillars of strength, humor and encouragement. My oncologist and all the folks at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance have treated me with the utmost care and concern. They are my cornerstones when I am looking for hope. And, God never ceases to amaze me with his graces. So. indeed, I am the recipient of many blessings. And during all this, what could be better than two college buds, Kathy Oliver and Judy Pouley, visiting me regularly and inventing new schemes and ideas such as the Flash Mob and a Ride to Ellen? The Hearty Girls were now ready to make a difference! The Hearty Girls came together to create common goals: To influence the thinking of millions who believe that cancer is self-induced by smoking (1 in every 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and of those, over 50% are non-smokers) ; to increase awareness about lung cancer (lung cancer kills more people than all the other major cancers combined); and to raise funds for lung cancer research (of all the federal funds given to cancer research, lung cancer receives only 6%!). These were all shocking facts. And I can tell you that, having been a recipient of a study drug, I know first hand the benefits of research. The Hearty Girls had to spread the word … but how? Through media, of course! And who would be our messenger? Ellen! Of course. We would ride there. Sort of! We met first with the folks at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance who put us in touch with some lung cancer foundations. LUNGevity was one group who seemed to fit our criteria: a group dedicated to raising funds for only lung cancer research. We shared our idea of a combined road rally and short bike rides along the I-5 corridor with our final destination to be the Ellen Degeneres Show where we could share our story. LUNGevity became our beneficiary and partner in planning the ride. We will leave Seattle on Thursday, September 17. Our stops include: Portland, OR, Eugene, OR, Ashland, OR, San Francisco, CA and Paso Robbles, CA. We plan to arrive at the Ellen Show on Monday, September 21. Each stop will include a 20-minute rally, media and a short bike ride. Each event will be videotaped and sent to Ellen via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We are getting closer, Ellen. Get ready! We have only heard from the folks at Ellen’s Show one time. Their comment, “We tell people they have a one in a million chance of getting on the Ellen Show. We don’t want to get your hopes up, but you might be hearing back from us.” We cancer survivors and fighters are used to this kind of message. We don’t always get our hopes up, but we are thrilled when someone gets back to us with good news. And I can tell you this: having the chance to work on a project such as this boosts my spirit and lessens the burden of all that goes with lung cancer. We might have a one in a million chance of meeting Ellen, but it’s worth the effort to have a chance to share our story and help make a difference. We would love to have you all join us for some or all of the ride. If you are near one of the cities we are visiting, please come out and support us and LUNGevity. Tell others about it. Visit us on Facebook: The Hearty Girls-Ride to Ellen. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Our complete itinerary will be posted on the LUNGevity website. Please tell your friends and join us in ending the myths of lung cancer and raise some funds for research! We need you! Thanks! Michelle Follow Michelle Anderson and the Hearty Girls on Facebook and watch their news coverage on KING (Photo: KING) Ride to Ellen schedule and rally information.

Help invite people to learn about LUNGevity by taking brochures with you next time you are in a place where other people who have been affected by lung cancer would benefit from them. The brochures have information about LifeLine - A peer to peer support program, advocacy opportunities, information about HOPE Summits, and more! http://www.lungevity.org/about-us/request-materials

A breakthrough study by local doctors may hold new clues to one day curing certain cancers such as lung cancer. http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/MONDAY-AT-6-Alive-and-thriving-188709.shtml Updated: Wed, Aug 26 2015, 12:54 AM CINCINNATI (Liz Bonis) -- A breakthrough study by local doctors may hold new clues to one day curing certain cancers such as lung cancer. A new drug recently approved for use by the FDA showed promise for patients in a whole new way. By the time Jean Pierre Heiremans, or JP as he's known, saw Dr. David Waterhouse, traditional treatment for his stage four lung cancer no longer appeared to be stopping its spread. So Dr. Waterhouse gave him the option of enrolling in a clinical trial. It was comparing a newer therapy, called Nivolumab, to another traditional treatment medication. JP didn't know if he'd be given the newer therapy but he knows if he did get it, “This to me was something that didn't have odds to it yet because it was new, there were no odds. So I could make my own odds.” JP got lucky, He not only got the newer therapy and did make his own odds, he's still making them. The study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and showed JP wasn't the only one! As Dr. Waterhouse showed, when they started comparing the two study groups officials saw near doubling of survival. The trial drug appeared to work by sort of altering switches on cells to help the body fight back against the cancer. And not only did it appear to double the odds of survival in some, compared to the traditional treatment for others Dr. Waterhouse discovered, “Not only were they surviving, they were living.” Some in the study, such as JP, responded so well they just kept living and thriving. They were what Dr. Waterhouse called extraordinary or super responders. “When we did this study what we saw was a large number of those extraordinary responders, that unexpected home run. And we are not sure what's going to happen in them,” said Dr. Waterhouse What was most exciting, he said, about the trial wasn’t just the amazing results; it was that it was actually changing the way people think about living with cancer. The super performers, or super responders, really let officials know that there were long term outcomes they had never had before, changing the face of cancer survivorship. “What really made the trial so important was it showed a promise down the road that there was going to be a day that doctors could cure solid tumors. JP is now more than three years out of his treatment. He's exceeded his own odds of certain milestones such as seeing his daughter get married. He said he felt he was paving the way now for others to exceed the odds too and live with cancer as they would any other chronic health problem. Read More at: http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/MONDAY-AT-6-Alive-and-thriving-188709.shtml

Hi Kathy, thank you for choosing LUNGevity's Lung Cancer Support Community message boards to share your life experience with. How are you doing? Please keep posting. We look forward to getting to know you. Cindy

Cleveland, OH area - Lung Cancer Support Group. They meet the first Wednesday of the month at Stewarts Caring Place in Akron (near Summit Mall). http://www.stewartscaringplace.org/support-groups-caregivers.aspx

The “Rally for Medical Research Hill Day” has nearly 200 people registered to participate in the meetings on Capitol Hill on Thursday, September 17. The states that are “not represented” at this point include: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. To register to participate please click the link below: http://rallyformedicalresearch.org/Pages/Hill-Day-Signup.aspx