milnecrean

No matter how many descriptions of chest pain or indeed any other syptoms shared with you by any of us will take the place of a medical DX: you need to go back to your DR. & insist on more tests immediately. Make a nuisance of yourself if neccessary.

Stress, anxiety, & what if's? seem part & parcel of the DX: we all share, & even though we know negative thoughts will only hinder our recovery it's hard indeed to ignore them. I'm reading a book called 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle reccomended by the phychiatrist assigned to me by the hospital to deal with drepression. It's having a positive effect ~ just a thought. I'm including you & your Mom in my prayers ~ the power of prayer is also positive, especially when it's magnified by so many caring people on this board. I love you all & am so grateful we have this outlet, it would be grim indead if we did not.

Sometimes there are no symptoms, I had a sore throat, that's all, no cough, but it was not responding to salt water gargling or any other over the counter products, my doctor ordered a chest-xray which revealed pneumonia! treated with antibiotics. Follow-up CT.Scan (I have a smart Dr.) revealed lung tumor hidden behind pneumonia scar tissue. Surgeon removed tumor & nearby lymph nodes which contained trace of cancer in one of them. This is being followed up by chemo from which I've experienced almost no unpleasant side effects, & one good one (with two pretty wigs ~ no more 'bad hair days' for me) Your wife may prefer the bliss of ignorance, but is it blissful? certainly not for you, nor do I suspect for her, there will always be this nagging doubt she'll have to deal with on top of everything else Informed (first hand) advice & genuine caring support is guaraneetd on this site, but as some of the prior posts stated ~ we're none of us Dr.s An ongoing cough, or indeed any ongoing physical discomfort is not normal, it's our bodies warning us to so something. And no amount of research ~ though you've done an excellent job I must say, is going to take the place of the diagnostic tools available to the experts in this field. If the situation were reversed & you were the one in denial what would her advice to you be?

Antidepressants ~ brilliant invention ~ works for me ~ never had them before. But after the first meeting with my oncologist, when whole thing sank in I literally fell apart, was on an emotional rollercoaster & cried at the drop of a hat wherever I happened to be: subway, restaurant etc. He prescribed clonazepam 0. 5mg every 4 hrs. & it worked immediately. So far I've had two single doses of Docetaxel ~ only adverse reaction to that medication ~ pimples! nothing else (I went to a "Look Good Feel Better" class yesterday so now I'm armed with all sorts of war paint to deal with the zits) I'll have my first dose of Cisplatin this coming Monday in conjunction with the Docetaxel, so can't help you there except to stress, as others have to me to DRINK TONS OF WATER day before, day of & day after ~ as well of course as whatever anti nausea pill they gived you . It sounds as if a healthy bowl of multigraqin cereal & prunes should combat the constipation (maybe stool softeners as well ~ gross isn't it?) I'm using these next 3 days to shop, clean, launder etc. I've bought high quality flavoured protein powder, 'good fat' foods such as avacados, goat cheese ~ well you get the picture. Picked up my wig yesterday ~ hats, night caps arrived from TLC catalogue. ~ I'm as ready as I can be. I'll be thinking of you on Monday ~ directing positive thoughts in your direction. We can do this.

I asked my oncologist if he thought a flu shot was a good idea the first time I met with him ~ had one that day, before I began chemo. Now when I read the material that goes with chemo it suggests we avoid people who haven't (had a flu shot) especially when our immune system deteriorates. Is this right?

Just tried to upload a picture of myself , it seems so impersonal without but I don't think it worked ~ ah well. How do I do that ? Yesterday was a long one, 11:30 to 5:30 but otherwise painless enough. I took the anti nausea pills as ordered as well as gallons of water & it worked for I had no reaction whatsoever. I went armed with a list of questions I'd gathered from your posts to me & the only advice I was able to add to your combined wisdon was 'Biotene mouth wash' as it has no alcohol unlike Listeren & the like, which can dry the mouth. Came away with more pamphlets on dealing with chemo including quite a complicated book on diet ~ this is quite a science! Thought my diet was just about perfect: grains,friuts,veg,legumes,soy to replace dairy when I discovered my cholesterol was high, together with Niacin/Phytesterols (8 Week Cholesterol Cure ~ Robert Kowalski) Now they tell me to forget cholesterol that I need lots of fat & protein. They suggested on a scale of 0-10 I'd likely experience discomfort around a 2 this week & next, but that on the 3rd week when I get both I should expect a 10.

I was overwhelmed when I logged in just now by your responses, thank you ~ all of you, so much. Gosh I'm glad I found this site, I definately don't feel so much alone now. Your humour, empathy & practical advice is much appreciated, I feel so much more confident now & see the whole thing more as a challenge as opposed to the total loss of control over my life. I'm not exactly brilliant with computers & didn't really know how to reply so I hope you all see this because I'm really very grateful, thanks once again.

Can't sleep. I start chemo on Monday ~ Phase 11 trial of weekly Docetaxel & monthly Cisplatin for non-small cell lung cancer ~ total 16 weeks. I'm so frightened after having read the side effects. Has anyone experienced these particular drugs? How long do I have to find a wig/hats before my hair falls out ? Any advice on diet ? Any advice period!