kiams
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Posts posted by kiams
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It has been nine months since my surgery and I still have pain in my ribcage. I tell people that I have made friends with it because it does not seem to be going away. I agrivated it last weekend playing catch with my son trying to get him ready for baseball tryouts. Cutting a rib and using a rib spreader is a pretty invasive procedure. Unfortunatly, I think there is always going to be residual soreness.
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The pet scan that confirmed my lung tumor also found a small tumor in the right side of my thyroid. A subsequent biopsy confirmed it was a seperate primary thyroid cancer tumor. Two weeks after my lung surgery the right half my thyroid was removed. So far I have not needed any thyroid medication. I have also wondered about the conection betwen lung cancer and the thyroid. There was no histroy of cancer in my family but both my mother and sister had thyroid problems.
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Marryanne,
The infusion days for me were pretty easy. I would spend six hours at the infusion center on the days I received both drugs (cistplatin requires lots of irrigation). The biggest problem I had was boredom. I would bring my laptop computer and watch movies. I always brought comedies to take my mind off what I was doing. The fatigue always hit me on the second day. I would usually be wiped out for the first couple of days after the treatment, and then would slowly recover. After a week I usually felt pretty good. Its just important not to over do it. I learned early on it that if I pushed it, it would just make the recovery longer. Also ask the oncologist about Emend. It’s a new anti-nausea drug that worked wonders for me. I never got sick or nauseous during my treatments
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Good luck and think positive. Unfortunately, this equipment we have now is just too darn sensitive and does not think. Here's hoping its nothing!
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I am also trying to come to grips with taking life one day at a time and not focusing on the future. I finally convinced myself it was ok to buy a new car a couple of months ago. I like the truck analogy. I think we just have to recognize that unlike other folks, we just happen to know what the truck looks like. Consequently, we have to be even more thankful for each healthy day we get, and we have to expect that each successive day will be as good as the previous day.
Unfortunatley, it's often easier to say you won't focus on the unknown future than to actually do it.
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I've been having flax oil and cottage cheese smothies since shortly after my surgery. I use a variety of different fruits and add powdered protein. I figure it may not be the cancer cure-all that some people proclaim, but even mainstream medicine has been promoting the benefits of Omega 3 fats, and Flax Oil and Flax seed is the best plant source for Omega 3 fats. I mix the cottage cheese and oil then add a little milk or arange juice, some type of berries a banna and a scoop of protein powder. That and piece of sprouted wheat toast is my typical breakfast.
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Lisa,
I think your resolution is great. I had done such a good job of staying away from surgar. I dearly love choclate. I was so proud of myself this holiday season. My office was full of See's candies and other goodies, and I did not eat a single piece. I even stayed away from a huge can of Almond Rocha, one of my favorites. Then I went to my inlaws for Christmas and spent two days stuffing my face with fudge, cookies and other treats. I've spent the last two days beating myself up over it. I got so mad last night thinking that after everything else I've gone through I can't even enjoy a cookie. So I've resolved to not be so hard on myself and to continue to eat a diet full of fruits and vegitables and to stay away from sugar and white flour. However, when I do stray, I'm not going to feel guilty about it. Here's to a healthy 2005!
Kevin
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Steve,
I did four rounds of Cistplatin and Gemzar. I felt extremely fatigued for the first several days. Never got sick, but the mind-numbing fatigue is very frustrating. I was too tired to read or do any thing. It gets better. I always felt much better about five days after my infusion. Just take it easy and try not to over do it.
Kevin
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I couldn't wait until my oncologist got back to town next week. Fortunately, my surgeon is a good guy and saw me this morning. My scan was clear with NED. The report does reveal that I have a slightly enlarged thymus gland. The surgeon does not believe it is anything, but to ease my mind is going to have me do a PET scan. The back pain I've been experiencing is post surgical pain aggravated by my recent increased activity. The scan shows no sign of bone mets. Heavy sigh!!!! I have been more stressed the last couple of days than I have been during this entire experience. Hopefully these scans will get easier over time. Thank you all for your kind words and support. Only fellow cancer survivors can truly understand how scary it is to watch and wait.
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I couldn't wait until my oncologist got back to town next week. Fortunately, my surgeon is a good guy and saw me this morning. My scan was clear with NED. The report does reveal that I have a slightly enlarged thymus gland. The surgeon does not believe it is anything, but to ease my mind is going to have me do a PET scan. The back pain I've been experiencing is post surgical pain aggravated by my recent increased activity. The scan shows no sign of bone mets. Heavy sigh!!!! I have been more stressed the last couple of days than I have been during this entire experience. Hopefully these scans will get easier over time. Thank you all for your kind words and support. Only fellow cancer survivors can truly understand how scary it is to watch and wait.
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Hi Kevin..
I am hoping that your scan says NED too!!
What is going on, though, with everyone having to wait so long for their reports.. ?
Sorry about your achin' back. I had one of those for way too many years too. And, yes. After the lc diagnosis, I think everyone can relate to "oooh.... what was THAT pain?"
I will be looking forward to hearing about what the oncologist has to say to you on the 15th. Other than the pain from the surgery and the back pain, how are you feeling? How is your energy? And are you back to your daily living?
Thanks for posting, Kevin.. I knew you were out there
Cindi o'h
Thanks for the nice message. Other than the back pain and still sore ribs, I'm doing well. I went back to work three weeks after my surgery and was able to work through most of my chemo treatments. I would take off each infusion day, and the day after. Within a week I was usually back to normal. I feel very lucky.
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Had my first post-treatment scan yesterday. Of course my oncologist is out of town, so I won't know the results until I see him on 12/15. Very frustrating. I'm trying to remain positive, but I've been having regular back pain the last couple of weeks, so now I can't quit thinking it has spread to my spine. I get so frustrated worrying about every ache and pain. Oh well, just one of the many joys of having cancer! I keep reminding myself that I have had a bad back since I was in college and its just muscle ache. Plus I'm still having pain from my surgery, which I understand is not uncommon. Thanks all for letting me vent! Hope to NED on the 15th!
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I have been reading the postings on this site since I was diagnosed last April. I thought I should finally leave a posting thanking all the participants. So many of you have validated all my thoughts, concers, fears etc.
Thanks,
Kevin
Brain MRI
in NSCLC GROUP
Posted
I've been having mild, but continuous headaches the last couple of weeks. I called my Dr. who says it is probably nothing but ordered a MRI for Monday "just to make sure". I'm trying not to get too freaked out, but I almost never get headaches. I keep telling myself that it's probably just my sinuses do to the wet weather we've been having or stress from work. I wonder if I will ever get to a point where every little pain does not cause me to think I'm having a recurrence. Oh well, at least I'll know for sure by next week.