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Susan Cornett

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Posts posted by Susan Cornett

  1. Hi - just wanted to say I'm glad you found us. I know it's hard at this point but try to stay positive. So much has changed in lung cancer over the years and it's not the death sentence it once was. I was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma in February 2016, and I've been NED (no evidence of disease) since October 2018. Treatment was tough - not going to pull your leg on that - but I'm here to talk about it. That's what matters.

    Keep us posted on your progress.

  2. Hi Miriam and welcome. Sorry you have to be here but glad you found us. Tom and Lou have provided you with wonderful information - they always do. 😉

    The statistics? They're crap. I looked at them once and had a panic attack. I haven't looked at them since. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with stage IV NSCLC. I've had a lobectomy, chemo, and radiation. I took a wonderful trip to Hawaii just as I finished radiation. Except for 2020, I've taken my annual beach trip with my friends. This is not to say I didn't have dark days because I did. I ended up on anti-depressants that helped me get back move forward. I've been cancer free for 3.5 years. I leaned on this forum and found great advice and information. Ask us anything - we've all been there. 

  3. Lizzy - 

    Happy New Year! So happy your son and granddaughter were able to visit. I know you enjoyed it. Your decision to get rid of things that weigh you down is so smart. I truly believe that the mental aspect of this fight is equally important as any medical treatment. You can focus on treatment and then have a clean mental slate when you finish treatment. 

  4. 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. 

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

     

  8. 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.

  9. 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. 

  10. Tammie,

    Glad you found us.  That initial diagnosis is absolutely a whirlwind of emotions.  First, you don't have to endure pain.  Ask for relief; if you don't get it, find a doctor who will give you relief.  The first question my oncology nurse asks at each appointment is about my current level of pain.  Second, I understand your fear.  When my surgeon walked in and told me what it was, I almost passed out.  I was okay (I won't say good or steady) until I received news that my cancer was also in my thyroid. I mentally started giving my belongings away and was at the end of my rope.  For my own sanity, I had to add an anti-depressant to my daily routine.  That has helped keep me sane for the last year.  What helped me the most, though, was this forum.  I found long term survivors, great information, and a sense that all is not lost.

    I offer you a couple bits of advice.  The first is don't Google statistics.  They're awful and really don't reflect the advancements we've seen in lung cancer treatment the last couple of years.  Those statistics also don't take your overall health, age, and circumstances into account. The next bit I offer is to pick up a journal or notebook and start writing down all of your questions.  This will help you remember to ask your medical team the questions when you have an appointment.  My oncologist is surprised when I don't have my journal in front of me.

    Please keep us posted.  We've all walked your path and want to help you.  

  11. Angela,

    I was diagnosed in February 2016 during surgery to remove a mass in my left lung.  A previous biopsy didn't indicate cancer so I wasn't expecting that result.  My mass had spread to lymph nodes in my chest. I was stunned, angry, confused, scared - you name it, I was there.  I  followed my surgery with four rounds of chemotherapy.  About two months after I ended chemo, we found cancer in my thyroid (both thyroid and metastatic lung cancer). Again, I panicked, cried, screamed and almost gave up.  But I didn't and I did everything my doctors suggested.  I just finished chemo and radiation for a recurrence in my lymph nodes.  All this to say that yes, I am now calm.  I realize that I can't control what the cancer does or where it goes, but I can control how I react.  

    On this site, I have found so much information and so many long term survivors who are absolutely the best at providing hope.  Don't get me wrong - the treatment is not fun.  But at the end of the day, I'm here and making plans to live my life; part of me pretends that lung cancer cloud isn't following me. 

  12. Hi, Bes.  I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis.  It's overwhelming and frustrating and scary all at once.  Thankfully, though, we're seeing increased treatment options now that provide hope and extend life for so many.  There are numerous long-term survivors on this forum.  Please let us know how we can support you and your husband through this.

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