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Susan Cornett

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Everything posted by Susan Cornett

  1. Hi Katum and welcome. Not sure what part of H-Town you are in - I'm originally from Friendswood. Your mom's story is so similar to many others. One of my high school classmates called me in January with a similar story. She had hip pain that wouldn't stop; docs finally found a tumor and discovered it was lung cancer. She had radiation for the hip and is on an oral chemo for the primary. Steff nailed it - lung cancer is just not the death sentence it once was. We've seen so many new treatments and it gives me hope. I'd like to see us get to the point of being able to treat this as a chronic disease. I strongly suggest ignoring the statistics - they just don't reflect where we are today. Stay informed and stay positive - that's the best way to move forward. We're all here for you and your mom.
  2. Today I celebrate three years of survival! I am so happy to have found this community of people. You all make this journey so much better.
  3. I've been so hit or miss here lately that I'm just seeing this. I'm sorry for your loss, and her family, but it sounds like she didn't give in to cancer and lived her life on her terms. We should all be so fortunate to live that way.
  4. Thank you all for indulging my meltdown yesterday. Today is a better day because I decided it would be. The sun is out (FINALLY) and I'm alive. I don't believe I can ask for much more than that.
  5. The logical part of my brain knows the SBRT is the way to go. In addition to the article you shared, I found a lot of great articles about it; very promising. But today is one of those days - I'm tired/anxious/frustrated/done with cancer and have spent the day in tears. The last couple of weeks have been stressful with appointments and scans and waiting. Just ready to get this treatment under my belt and get out of my own head!
  6. I meet with Super Radiation Doc on Wednesday - but it will likely be SBRT.
  7. I've said it before and I'll say it again: cancer can be as hard, if not harder, on the loved ones than the patients. Our family is very close - I don't have any siblings and my husband and I don't have children. Our family unit is small. After 2.5 years, my husband and I have a process. He goes with me to all of my scan result appointments. As soon as Super Doc gives us the results, Neal steps out and texts or calls my parents with the updates. I always want to be with them if we have to give them bad news. My parents live 4 hours away; otherwise, I think they'd crowd into the exam room with us. Although we had to give them bad news a couple of weeks ago, we actually had something in our favor. A lifelong friend of mine was visiting with them on the way to take her daughter to tour a college. She was able to keep my parents somewhat balanced this time. I'd been preparing them for the results - figured this was coming. But no one wants to have to call their parents and tell them the cancer is back. Stupid cancer.
  8. Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I guess, after two years, I'm still adjusting to the dreaded "new normal". There are many aspects of this site that I enjoy, but coming here to write what is on my mind is probably the best. My husband understands but you all really understand. Wishing you a happy day!
  9. Most days, the cancer is buried somewhere in my thoughts, my work, my hobbies - not at the surface. But there are days when it hits me right between the eyes. Cancer. How the hell did I get here? Is this really my life? Wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
  10. I'm in the middle of my quarterly scan appointments. While I was waiting for my blood draw yesterday, I noticed a couple that was apparently new to the oncology clinic. The wife is the patient and, when she was called into the lab, her husband got up to walk with her and she told him she was fine, just going for a blood draw. I looked at his face and saw fear and I just wanted to give him a hug. This is the part I hate the most - when we look into our loved ones' eyes and see their fear. I just want to fix everything and I can't; we have so little control over this part of our lives. I have no idea why she was there or what her diagnosis is, but I definitely said a prayer for them last night.
  11. Today, I happily paint two of my toes red, to celebrate two years of being a survivor. Some days I ask myself it has really only been 2 years because it feels like I got the diagnosis so long ago. Lots of scans and needles and chemo and radiation and....I'm still here! I woke up this morning, very cheerful, almost like I was celebrating a birthday. I realize that EVERY SINGLE DAY is a gift, whether we have lung cancer or not, but that cancer seems to make each day that much more important. While I was thinking about everything today, I was overcome with emotion. I know that I am blessed to have as much time as I've had. I think about the friends I've made in this "club" that are no longer here. For those friends, and for the rest of us, we continue to choose life.
  12. Hi, Mayn. I'm glad you found us. I know there are some individuals on the forum who've had voice issues due to radiation, but I don't know about surgery. I had a lobectomy almost 2 years ago and I have ongoing nerve issues in my chest. The body does what it wants to. Hopefully another member will jump in and have some information.
  13. Tom, It was such a pleasure to meet you on Saturday! I've often said we're members of a club no one wants to join, but getting to meet and speak with others who've walked the path makes this just a bit better. We had a good event and I'm already looking forward to next year. Happy Thanksgiving to all -
  14. Hi, Sherry. Now you move on to your new "normal" - filling the days between scans with thoughts of anything BUT scans. I am keeping my fingers crossed for continued good news with your next scan.
  15. Katie B. and I were interviewed for local news today. The story was about the stigma associated with LC. We can chip away at the stigma a little more each day...
  16. Good morning, Simeon. I'm sorry for the circumstances but glad you found us. Is there anything specific we can help you with, or a resource we can guide you to? We're here for you.
  17. Hi Carolyn. You've had quite the course of treatment. It sounds like you have a great attitude. I'm a firm believer that attitude is 95% of this battle so I'd say you are winning. Looking forward to a good report in November.
  18. Jane, I am so sorry. Prayers of peace and comfort for you and your husband.
  19. Good morning, Kathy. Treatment choice is a very personal choice; you have to decide what's best for you and your situation. I decided to treat mine as aggressively as possible. I'm an only child with a father fighting lymphoma; I figured my mom has enough on her plate! I had a lobectomy in February 2016; cancer had also spread to seven of 10 lymph nodes they removed. I followed surgery with four rounds of cisplatin/alimta (pemexetred). I had chemo on Fridays and generally felt good until Sunday (when chemo steroids wore off). Monday and Tuesday were rough but by Wednesday, I was turning the corner. I had three weeks between treatments. This is not to say that I didn't have side effects; I did. I had a recurrence earlier this year and had additional chemo (carboplatin and taxol) and radiation. This round of treatment was much more challenging. Again, I wanted to be as aggressive as possible. In fact, I've told my oncologist to do whatever it takes. I had my last radiation in May and my last chemo in July and I'm almost back to my old self. As for statistics, don't bother looking at them. There are many, many wonderful people on this forum who, according to statistics, should be dead years ago. Statistics are just numbers that don't account for your age, your overall health, etc. Keep us posted on your progress.
  20. This is the perfect place to vent. We understand. Is your dad receiving any palliative (not hospice) care to alleviate pain and discomfort from his cancers? If it is available in your dad's area, you might check into it. It could give you some peace of mind. Hang in there and keep us posted.
  21. Holly, Welcome. I finished 8 rounds of carboplatin and taxol (6 "lite" doses, 2 full doses) in July. My doc told me I'd lose my hair. I didn't believe him because he told me I'd lose it with my first round of chemo with different drugs, and I didn't. But boy was he right about this round. After my first full dose, my hair started coming out. About 10 days after that first full dose, my entire scalp hurt - like when you've had your hair pulled up too tight for too long. I read that after the scalp pain, the hair would really start coming out and it did. My husband shaved my head on July 10th and it's growing back quite nicely now. The thought of losing my hair didn't sit well with me; I didn't want to look sick. But if losing my hair was just a step towards survival, so be it. The best part about shaving my head? Cut 20 minutes off of my morning routine. I can always find a silver lining. Hang in there, Holly, and let us know how we can help you.
  22. Diamond, Welcome. Your dad sounds tough, fighting two different cancers at once. I'm sure that can be overwhelming. Is he undergoing treatment for either or both right now? Let us know how we can help you and your dad. You will both be in my thoughts.
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