Jump to content

Cheryncp123

Members
  • Posts

    190
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    15

Everything posted by Cheryncp123

  1. I have not used Cancer Centers of America but I feel like you will get good treatment there. Good luck to you.
  2. Although I waited for over a month for surgery and then a couple more weeks to begin treatment I do think 4 months is a long period of time. I would definitley be asking questions of my oncologist. There may be reasons why they haven't started treatment yet possibly due to your other lung conditions, but they do need to convey that to you.
  3. I had VATs surgery and although I won't tell you it was a walk in the park, it was not the worse thing I have ever experienced either. I was in the hospital for 3 days (due to the fact my blood pressure dropped very low) but as for the surgery itself it went very well, I did well at home with minimal assistance and was up and out of the house within the week. God be with you as you undergo your surgery and your recovery.
  4. I am stage 4 adenocarcinoma ALK+ have been taking Xalkori (crizotinib) for 6 months now. I understand that this med does not protect the brain. Anyone with brain mets? if so did you have any symptoms before finding your cancer had spread to your brain? If so what symptoms did you have?
  5. Newbie, how are you doing on it, any side effects? blood work ok? I am suffering with low pulse and BP and I have always had high BP I understand the Xalkori can lower your pulse rate.
  6. Joe, it is ok if you don't feel like talking about cancer, we all get tired of it. I think you will need a support group made up of people who are going through and feeling the same feelings as you do at some point. I was diagnosed this past April with stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung. I tested positive for the ALK mutation (have you had any genetic test done?) I was started on an oral targeted therapy medication called Xalkori (crizotinib). I take 2 pills a day and I have had very few minor side effects and most days I do not even think of my cancer.My last pet scan showed NED (no evidence of disease), and my blood work is good so far. I still work, enjoy friends, family, and all of the activities that I have always enjoyed such as traveling and watching Alabama football, Roll Tide. I just want to make you aware that there are many more medications available today for the treatment of lung cancer than there were in the past with far less side effects Although, there is no "cure" at this point, my quality of life is as good or better than before my diagnosis and I am taking full advantage of the good days and taking it easy on the not so good days. I am keeping you and your family in prayer.
  7. Hi Shanna, sorry you have to be here, but I think you will find some amazing and compassionate people on here who can help you with any questions or concerns you may have.
  8. There are many wonderful organizations that help cancer patients. I personally believe that research and development of new and better treatments is so very important. I recently had a fund raiser (selling T-shirts) to donate to Lungevity for their work in the area of research. It is because of companies like Lungevity that I am still alive and doing well. Thank God for people like yourself who are helping to fund this very important research.
  9. Thank you Donna, my mother-in-law (Eleanor) died 2 years ago from colon cancer. I wrote this poem in memory of her. I am glad it touched you.
  10. Although there are probably not any "positives" to the disease itself, there are wonderful positives that come from your diagnosis I realized that everyday IS a gift from God...treat it as such I realized that my family is what keeps me moving forward everyday....love them I realized that my friends love and support me always...be grateful for them I realized that there are many people worse off than myself...do what I can to help them I realized that I can not take one minute of one day for granted or my family members or my friends, ever I realized I can make a difference in the life of someone that is suffering...be that difference I realized that God came into this world with me and He will be the one that goes out of this world with me, I will put Him first in my life for the rest of my life.
  11. Christ United Methodist Church 6101 Grelot Rd. Mobile, AL 36609 has a Christian cancer support group that meets in the parlor of the sanctuary the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. We invite you to join our community wide cancer support and education group. Whether you are a patient, survivor or caregiver, there's a place here for you as we help deal with and overcome cancer together. For more information contact: Teresa Atkins at (251) 653-0364 For child care contact: Kim Pratt at (251) 706-3331
  12. Welcome Big Mike, you will find many friends here all willing to answer to the best of their ability any questions you may have. Praying for you.
  13. Thank you God for the beautiful people on this site who are always so willing to help each other. God be with you Xing Xing as you move forward. Tom had some excellent advice for you.
  14. Living with cancer support and education. We invite you to join our community wide cancer support and education group. Whether you are a patient, survivor or caregiver, there's a place here for you as we help deal with and overcome cancer together. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at Christ United Methodist Church 6101 Grelot Rd. Mobile, AL 36609 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the parlor of the sanctuary. For more information contact: Teresa Atkins at (251) 653-0364 For child care contact: Kim Pratt at kim@christumcmobile.com or (251)706-3331
  15. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic non small cell adenocarcinoma of the lung this past April. I tested positive for the ALK gene and am taking a chemo pill Xalkori, which is very expensive however, it seems to be working. I do not have much knowledge of your country or places you can get help with the cost of the drug. I know Pfzier puts out this med in America and they offer financial assistance to those in need of it. Check out their website. Praying for you and your mom.
  16. Just out of curiosity, have you had genetic testing on your tumor(s)?
  17. gattgato, I am so new to all of this it is just starting to sink in. The Xalkori (an oral chemo pill) is still doing it's job with no real side effects. I go back for a PET scan the middle of September and am praying for the best. My labs all came back within normal range on my last onc visit so am praying all goes well with the scan. My prayers are with your friend and her medical group. Thank you for your input.
  18. My name is Eleanor I have cancer, but it is not who I am. I am not a number or the result of a lab test. My name is Eleanor I am a baby at my mothers breast. I am a toddler being thrown high in the air by my father and giggling. I am a young girl playing with my dolls and my trucks. I am a teenage girl going on my first date full of nervous anticipation. I am graduating high school and trying to figure out what next. I am a young woman walking down the aisle with the love of my life. I am an employee and a homemaker I am a new mother. I love my family, my friends, roses, cooking and reading. I love watching sappy old movies and going through a box of tissues while munching on popcorn. I love to dance and sing. I am a woman, a wife, a mother, a sister, a granddaughter,a niece, an aunt, I am a grandmother and a great grandmother. I am all of these things and more but what I am not is a disease. I have cancer and it may destroy my body but it cannot touch my spirit or my soul. So you see although my body may have cancer it does not have me. My name is Eleanor.
  19. I was diagnosed with metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung (right) and was not a candidate for surgery, however my oncologist ran a genetic marker test on my tumor and I tested positive for the ALK mutation gene and am on Xalkori an oral chemo and I have had NO side effects from the drug thus far. Ask if your dad can get genetic testing of his tumor it is a possiblity that he may have a defect in a gene that is treatable in a less caustic way. Praying for him and your family.
  20. Is anyone now on Xalkori or have ever been? I am Curious about the results you have achieved. I have been on it for a month now and go back for my follow up next Fri. August 7, 2015.
  21. Hi Suzanne, I too was recently (3 months ago) diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell adenocarcinoma and tested positive for the ALK gene and am on Xalkori 250 mg twice daily. I have had no side effects at this point (3 weeks). I will go back for my next oncology appointment on Aug. 7th and am of course very interested to see how/if the drug is working.
  22. This although is sad it is also uplifting and empowering. Thank you Sherry
  23. When the doctor said the word cancer in relation to me while my husband and daughter were in the room with me I knew from the looks on their faces that the first thought that came to their minds was death. That did not come to my mind, not right then anyway. The first thought I had was oh great, now I am going to have to re-schedule a trip my husband and I had planned to Denver until after my surgery. The plane tickets were bought and a room and rental car were reserved, what a nuisance to have to re-schedule. Yep, that is how my mind works. I had my surgery went on my trip and had a great time. Came home and found out my tumor was ALK+ and started on a drug called Xalkori with no side effects, so thankful for that. I rarely think about the cancer because I feel so good at this time. I do my research, listen to my body for any signs of a problem but for the most part I am not limited to doing anything I was doing before my diagnosis. I am eating healthier and getting a little exercise each day and staying connected to the Lungevity site to keep up on all the other survivors and to give a little input from time to time. I am not foolish enough to think that there are not bad times ahead but for now, today at this moment I am going to live it fully and happily. Thank everyone who post for sharing your stories of hope and encouragement, they mean so much to a newbie at this. God be with you all as you travel your roads.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.