paul-nz

Thanks to all for your warm replies and welcomes. I can tell that there is a good group of folks on the site here. It's a funny thing about cancer, it tends to make people see the positive side of life and devote all of their energy to good things. Take care for now.

Hello all, I just want to introduce myself as a new member to the lungevity.org support community and have just begun to browse the many topics, stories and information available through the website. I am originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, but have since moved overseas to New Zealand where I live with my lovely wife and two beautiful daughters age 2 and 4 weeks old. I was recently floored by a stage IV peritoneal mesothelioma dx in May 2013 after experiencing a persistent dry cough and SOB since Dec 2012. I have been through all of the ups and downs, emotionally and physically and have been undergoing various chemotherapy treatments since July 2013. It is no walk in the park as I know you all know, but am glad to have developed a strong determination through faith, hope, and the love in my life to overcome this. I truly believe we all have a choice in the path we will take in life, including overcoming all odds, ignoring statistics and coming out on top. I read about people who have, and am fortunate enough to have met a few who have been in almost identical circumstances as I, but keep on ticking along. I would be glad to receive a reply from anyone. Mesothelioma survivors, please speak up, you are hard to find and seem to be few and far between ( though I consider that there are few dx with this rare disease an overall good thing ). Thanks for hearing me out. Take care.

Hello all, I just signed up to this discussion board and would like to introduce myself. I am a native to Colorado, USA and now living overseas in New Zealand with my beautiful wife and two daughters ( age 2 years and 4 weeks old ). I was diagnosed in May 2013 with stage IV peritoneal mesothelioma after symptoms of a persistent dry cough since Dec 2012. It came as an absolute shock as I am a 30 year old male who lives an active and generally healthy lifestyle with no previous serious health complications, aside from being hospitalized for DVT in the internal jugular vein in my throat in 2007. In hindsight, the DVT may have been the first signs of cancer developing, as suggested by my ONC. I have since come to grips with all of this. I definitely hit rock bottom shortly after my diagnosis, grappling with emotions and the terrible physical side effects of chemotherapy treatment. But with the support of an amazing family, especially my wife, I have developed a strong sense of determination through faith, hope and love, and sincerely believe that we all have a choice in the path we take. I was glad to find this active community of LC survivors and have only begun to read though some of the discussions archived on this website. I am still undergoing chemotherapy treatment ( i just had one yesterday ), and continue to supplement my chemo through lifestyle choices including diet, exercise (despite being limited with SOB), and spending quality time with my family. I have to mention that I have very recently experienced decreasing SOB and an overall improvement in stamina. Thanks for having me and I would like to hear from anyone, especially any mesothelioma survivors, post me a reply, I would love to hear from you. Paul __________________________ 12/12 developed a persistent dry cough 05/13 dx stage IV peritioneal mesothelioma, with extensive DVT in veins feeding lungs 07/13 initiate pemetrexed/cisboplatin chemotherapy 07/13 switch to pemetrexed/carboplatin chemotherapy 09/13 switch to gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy 11/14/13 continue gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy