Don Wood

I second Margaret's suggestions. Don

I vote to go see him. I don't think you will be satisfied until you do, and it doesn't seem like your sister-in-law is going to give you much information at present. Don

Anyone hear from Carleen lately? I haven't seen a post of hers in a while. Don

Thanks, Fay. Appreciate the update.

Welcome back, Cheryl! You were missed. Don

Welcome, Gail! We're all in this together. Please keep us posted and let us know where we can support you. Don

Good to hear from you, Berisa. Yep, you need to get rest when you can. Very important to take care of yourself. I am wishing you well on your job search. Keep us posted. Don

I agree with Betty's excellent advice. With medical systems, you have to be an advocate and push for what you want --answers, treatments, etc. It is a team effort these days between the medical system and the patient's system. It takes activity from both sides. If you can't get what you need, move on to someone who will. Let us know how things are going. Don

Hi, Cassy! Sorry about your mum. I am not a physician, but two things strike me as strange. (1) Only 4 radiation treatments. I don't know about brain mets, but bone mets and other tissue mets usually take at least 10-14 treatments. (2) No chemo because of steroids. My wife was given steroids going into each treatment of chemo for nausea. I would agree about getting another opinon. You will find that many docs are limited in their thinking, and you need to know all of what is available. Also, if you can arrange, someone should always be with your mum when she consults with the physician. This way, you get more info and more questions answered. Keep us posted. We are here for you. Don

Hi, Makwa, and welcome to our "little" family here. Glad you decided to post and bring us up=to-date. Sounds like you have a great onc who is aggressive and compassionate. That is half the battle. You are off to a good start. Sounds like you have SCLC, if it is the more aggressive one. There are many on her who are multiple year survivors, so hold on to the hope. Don

Hi, Don! Good name. Welcome to our forum here. Lots of support and info here. Glad you decided to post. My wife also has NSCLC and is 20 months from diagnosis and one year from primary treatment, so keep hope. I also applaud your advocacy for your mom. I believe every cancer patient needs an advocate to run interference for them. The patient is often too tired, too medicated, too much in pain to deal with it. You have been and I know you will continue to be that great advocate for her. When you run into snags, seek other avenues. Don't stay with systems that neglect or delay her. It sounds like your primary doc and the university system are the ticket. I imagine the doc said "no surgery" because he believes it is in the nodes outside the lung. Normally, surgery for cancer is only done if it is contained in the primary site. If you are going to pick up records for your mom, you may want to have a signed note from her that she consents for you to do so. Because of recent privacy laws, hospitals can be sticklers for that. I take a signed note from my wife whenever I pick up scans, records, etc. This group here is the best at support and information, so please keep us posted on your feelings, your thoughts and your questions. We will help where we can. Blessings. Don W.

Port out! Let's shout!

A good friend of mine who founded a local organization to train cancer survivors and their families to caregive to other cancer survivors and families had the definition I like: Survivor -- anyone who heard they had cancer and didn't fall over and die at the moment of diagnosis. I believe that. Having said that, I believe that "survivor" is in the eye of the beholder. Each person has to decide whether they feel they are a survivor or not. My wife did not feel like a survivor until she was 10 months from diagnosis, finished with major treatment, passed the statistical prognosis and had a period of "wellness". Now she acts like a survivor. I, however, felt like a survivor from the beginning -- as the man said -- surviving the disease and fighting it. I think we are all survivors, but each person has to believe that and own it for themselves. Don

Laurie, so good to see you posting. Have missed you. Your mom is in my prayers. Don

Sunday (June 6th) is National Cancer Survivors' Day. Lucie and I are going to celebrate it with a few hundred other survivors at a local luncheon. There are candles on the tables for memorails and for honoring the survivors. I got one for Lucie and then we were notified that a couple friends of ours had purchased candles for both of us. How neat! Don

I gave Lucie a button that says, "I've Survived Damn Near Everything". She liked it.

Go, Alan! Fight, Alan! Prayers comin'.

Prayers for MO.

The smores and smirnoff are very tempting, but camping is NOT my cup of tea. I'm a motel man. Enjoy! Don

Angela, my deepest sympathies to you and your family. You are right -- he will be present in memory and in ways he touched other lives. We are still here for you when you need us. Please keep in touch. Don

Hi, Sue. Sorry your family has to go through this again. Keep us posted on your brother and yourself. Take care. Don

Hi, Marie! Glad you're getting the treatment started. Be aware that radiation and chemo together can cause you to dehydrate, so drink plenty of liquids from now on through. You might even ask the doc ifa saline IV sometime during the treatment would be appropriate. My wife, Lucie, had both treatments together and she tended to get dehydrated. Take care and let us hear how you are doing. Don

Fay, thanks for the report on Nancy. Sounds like very good news. Don

Glad you're back, Bobmc.

He's a hoot!