Don Wood

Rats! Hoping the chemo will zap that sucker. Don

Prayers for you all.

Congratulations on 44 years of marriage! We have 2 years on you. You have cause to celebrate when you can. Don

Bronwen, glad you are here and glad you posted your feelings. You are not alone in those feelings. In other words, you are normal. Keep us posted on your dad and yourself, and let us know how we may support you. Kids of parents with LC have a double whammy. First, you are afraid of losing your dad. Second, you are feeling your own mortality because it "might" be in the genes. Be patient with yourself and with your dad. He is going through a lot, too, and it is good that you cue off of what he wants and needs with each visit. I wish you well. Don

Way to go, Rich! Yahoooooo!

Gen -- so you're human, too!

Welcome back, Karen! So good to see your post and hear of you taking good care of yourself and daughter. Like your positive attitude in looking back and looking to the future. Don

When Lucie and I went through volunteer lay chaplain training in 1998, one whole session was on "Taking Care of the Caregiver". We were told that we must first take care of ourselves, if we are going to do well in taking care of others. It is so true. They provided the example of the heart, which pumps blood to itself before it pumps to the rest of the body. I liked that image, and it makes a lot of sense. Don

Welcome, Jamie! You have a great attitude and outlook. Yep, cancer does tend to make us evaluate what is really important. Not long after my wife was diagnosed with LC, she looked at me one day and said, "I feel like we are closer than we have ever been." I replied, "Very true!" Keep us posted. Don

I'm sorry about your dad. Don't beat yourself up trying to second guess what could have been done after the fact. Just reading your account, I would say the end result may well have been the same. You did what you could. Your dad is now at peace. I wish you inner peace as time goes by. Don

There's nothing more powerful than a good genuine example.

I am glad the Prilosec OT works for you, Rich. It probably is just as good for someone counteracting chemo effects. I have permanent acid reflux and Prilosec OT did not work for me, even when I took the same dosage as Nexium. I had to go back to Nexium. Don

I believe Iressa is being phased out except where someone is already taking it, because the final research results did not support its overall effectiveness. Most people are on Tarceva, a relative, which is supposed to be more effective. I believe both these chemos are for NSCLC. Don

Welcome, Lorrie. Sounds good so far. I believe any time one has diagnosed cancer and/or surgery/treatment, depression sets in. So, yes, it is normal. Hang in there with him. Don

Great news, Rich.

My heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your partner. Don

Kathy, sounds mighty good.

Good to see your post, Shirley, and know you are here. Great words. So happy you have found another. Blessings. Don

Thanks for the updates on Rachel, Susan. Prayers continue. Don

Whoo Hoo, Jeffrey! Whoo Hoo, Trish!

Peggy, I am also in shock. My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family. Don

Jana and Karen, my heartfelt sympathies. I wish you grace and healing. Don

Peggy, this is so sad. Prayers continue for all of you. Don

Yep, the steroids are doing a number on your mom, and hopefully this will all pass. Everyone is on edge with the cancer thing. You all are in my prayers. As for speeding tickets, I can speak as a father and grandfather -- if you get a speeding ticket, it's YOURS. I told each of my three kids this when they starting driving, and I never paid their tickets. If you bail them out, they learn nothing, except that you will bail them out again. I think it is dangerous to bail them out, because that just encourages them to continue to speed and be wreckless. If it hits them in the pocketbook, they will think twice about it. Frankly, I think it is irresponsible of the adult to encourage this by bailing them out. My kids have never had a major accident. My two cents. Don

Welcome! If I read your post correctly, your dad had a brain met in addition to the tumor in his lung. If this is so, then the cancer had already spread from the lung, and it doesn't matter whether the lymph node was clear or not, as far as surgery not being an option. No course of action is guaranteed -- one has to go with what one knows, and not second guess after the decision is made. You are a great help to your dad. Continue to do so. I am glad you are able to do so much for him. Remember that there are many here who can attest to a good life after diagnosis and treatment. Don