RuthieThomas

Hallelujah! Biopsy results back today and still NED!! No more scans until after the Holidays. They will be especially joyous this year because I can EAT! Santa may have to bring me a larger wardrobe.
Thanks be to God & thanks to all the good people in this community!
 

Received my scan results today.,Excellent is the word my Dr used..The small nodules that were being watched from last scan are gone or even smaller.... Nothing new...What  a nice b-day gift to me....Scans now every four months instead of every three... yeah !!!  Hope everyone's scans are good....   stay strong....We got this!!      Merilee

Tom,
Thanks for the tip; it actually sounds kind of enjoyable. I'll try it out first thing in the AM. The docs think I may have contracted some unwanted visitors during my bronch and the inability to expel whatever is down there is making this difficult to get rid of. His actual words were "We probably mucked around in there and gave you pnemonia, so don't say I never gave you anything." Love my docs.
I was thrilled to find out about the PDl-1; I hardly ever get lucky and had not even considered the possibility that this may happen! I was getting ready for baldness again (which I really kind of like), but am very happy to deal with hair to have the chance to try this therapy! 
Happy to see that you're still NED; you are my inspiration & are so helpful to so many. We appreciate you!
Ruthie

Susan,
You are so right on; most of this is out of our hands. Thank God for good friends & family to walk with us on our path (or ride with us on the roller-coaster!)
So glad to hear you were able to be a comfort & support source for your friend. It feels so good to be able to be of service to another. You are lucky to have one another!
Wishing you peace & good thoughts and HURRY UP March 16th! 
Ruthie
 

Susan,
You are so right on; most of this is out of our hands. Thank God for good friends & family to walk with us on our path (or ride with us on the roller-coaster!)
So glad to hear you were able to be a comfort & support source for your friend. It feels so good to be able to be of service to another. You are lucky to have one another!
Wishing you peace & good thoughts and HURRY UP March 16th! 
Ruthie
 

Good morning, Ruthie.  I'm in a holding pattern until my pet scan on March 15th and results on March 16th.  I think I've resigned myself to/made peace with a recurrence.  If it's not, we'll be dancing in the streets.  I am fortunate to have an incredible husband and a very close knit group of friends who are basically sisters.  I know my parents will be in good hands should the worst happen, but I still want to be there.
I have found comfort in an odd place this week.  A dear friend from high school and college was diagnosed with cancer this week and she is overwhelmed as we all were when we were diagnosed.  I've tried to give her information and comfort and help her get through the first few days.  She told me last night that everything I've shared with her this week has been very helpful to her.  Helping her has been a lovely distraction!
So much is out of our hands, isn't it? 
 

Susan,
Sorry to hear of your recent troubles. How have things turned out for you with that?
Your worry about your parents touched my heart. Although my parents are gone, I have an adult daughter with a brain injury of whom I have been guardian for the last 15 years, and she is my biggest worry. Luckily, she does have an older sister, but she has 5 children of her own and a busy career, but she is it! I know I kind of spoil my younger daughter to an extent that won't happen after I'm gone, but I've done what I can; made my older daughter co-guardian so that is taken care of and set up a trust to help her with the financial part and have been working on giving the rest to God. I've done everything earthly possible to make it as smooth as it can be, but it still breaks my heart to think about leaving her. Wish I had some comforting words of wisdom or brilliant advice, but all I can offer is my understanding about the agony of worry over the ones that depend on you. We will just have to stick around! Hang in there & best wishes.
Ruthie
 

Tom,
Thanks for the tip; it actually sounds kind of enjoyable. I'll try it out first thing in the AM. The docs think I may have contracted some unwanted visitors during my bronch and the inability to expel whatever is down there is making this difficult to get rid of. His actual words were "We probably mucked around in there and gave you pnemonia, so don't say I never gave you anything." Love my docs.
I was thrilled to find out about the PDl-1; I hardly ever get lucky and had not even considered the possibility that this may happen! I was getting ready for baldness again (which I really kind of like), but am very happy to deal with hair to have the chance to try this therapy! 
Happy to see that you're still NED; you are my inspiration & are so helpful to so many. We appreciate you!
Ruthie

Susan,
Sorry to hear of your recent troubles. How have things turned out for you with that?
Your worry about your parents touched my heart. Although my parents are gone, I have an adult daughter with a brain injury of whom I have been guardian for the last 15 years, and she is my biggest worry. Luckily, she does have an older sister, but she has 5 children of her own and a busy career, but she is it! I know I kind of spoil my younger daughter to an extent that won't happen after I'm gone, but I've done what I can; made my older daughter co-guardian so that is taken care of and set up a trust to help her with the financial part and have been working on giving the rest to God. I've done everything earthly possible to make it as smooth as it can be, but it still breaks my heart to think about leaving her. Wish I had some comforting words of wisdom or brilliant advice, but all I can offer is my understanding about the agony of worry over the ones that depend on you. We will just have to stick around! Hang in there & best wishes.
Ruthie
 

Ruthie,
I have a PhD in gunk removal.  Here is how I do it.  I turn on the shower to superdrive stream, turn the water flow against the shower stall wall, take two deep hits on my inhaler, and sit on the shower floor facing the wall sprayed by the water.  The hot water hits the wall and produces steam that achieves maximum density right about where my head is while sitting in the shower.  I breathe deeply and my coughing gets very productive.  I am just recovering from pertussis and pneumonia and sometimes hit the shower 3 times a day.  It works for me!
Good news about PDL-1 and immunotherapy.  Of course, I have no Keytruda experience but hoping someone who does will assist.
Stay the course.
Tom

Hi folks! I've been AWOL for some time...I've been ignoring cancer between my last two scans, but sort of feel as if I've abandoned the community. But, here I am again. My last scan(plus, of course, the lovely bronchoscopy) showed a recurrence of my adenocarcinoma very near to the original tumor. The docs thought at first that I would be able to have stereotactic radiation, but, apparently the area of concern is too close to my aorta to be safe. I have completed 6 out of only 10 radiation treatments that are somehow different than what I have had before. I'm very thankful that radiation was an option at all...they had to work out a pathway to get where they need to without going through the areas already radiated. I teased them the last time that I was entirely satisified with my "master's" in radiation therapy and really had no interest in returning for my doctorate, but only 10 treatments, so I guess I won't really "graduate" this time! I did get some good news that I do have the PDL-1 mutation & have also started on Keytruda, so am feeling optimistic! My biggest problem has been persistent pnemonia since my bronch in the middle of January. My lung is completely collasped again & I guess the "gunk" can't get out, but they are hopeful that the radiation will open it up enough to get it expelled, yuck! Sorry this has turned into a novel, but I was wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom about side effects from Keytruda.Had my first treatment on Monday & didn't notice any side effects yet. I need to get whipped into shape soon...I am bound & determined to be in San Antonio on 24 March to watch my grandson graduate from BMT at Lackland AFB! I have my next infusion the day before we're leaving for Texas, so hoping for minimal side effects! Thanks for being here.
Ruthie

I'm NED today and my labs are within my "normal" limits (magnesium deficiency, and etc).  Am doing a small dance because I'm still recovering from pertussis and pneumonia.  But, scanziety is gone till end of month August when I have a CT scan and consultation.  No it never ends but today's session ended well for me.  
Stay the course.
Tom

Another 90 days and another NED report from the oncologist!  I'm thrilled, thankful, overwhelmed - but mostly relieved.  Woo hoo!!!

Got the results of my first post-treatment CT today. No evidence of cancer. Yeah! 
I think I amused my doctor because throughout this month I've been poking and prodding everything that's even a little bit sore. I circled all my spots with a Sharpie marker so they wouldn't be missed. 
Oncologist: I'm pretty certain the cancer hasn't spread to your hang nail.
Anyway, I'm scheduled to follow-up with a CT scan in three months, and of course flush my port in-between, since he thinks I should keep it "indefinitely" until we decide otherwise. 
Meloni

Sorry, it's been ages since I signed on posted here. We are aware how we treat scans, has been 8 years since I started this journey and still hanging in there. Last scan Was July 27th and result were stable, I praise the Lord every night for he holds my hand as I walk through life. I have been in chemo now over three years straight, but again I look at the other side. I want to thanks all those who were there for me from the start. Good luck to each and everyone who is walking our walk.

Cynde,
Every cancer patient should be so blessed to have someone like you in their life. I am so sorry that the two of you are having to endure the seemingly unendurable. I have said before, and I still believe it, that being the caregiver is harder than being the patient. You have all the stress, worry and emotional pain, not to mention the physical toll to your body, and frequently not enough emotional support & sympathy from others since you are technically not the patient.
It seems we  humans often lash out at those closest to us...maybe because we subconciously feel we can get away with it with the person we trust the most to not leave us or strike back. It sounds as if you are doing everything humanly possible for your wife, and her medical team is doing their part to acheive the best possible outcome. Please don't forget to take care of yourself & try not to take her anger personally. I imagine she is mad as hell at cancer, the unfairness of it all and not at you.
I hope you have some supportive people in your life who can be there for you. This is a good place to find empathy, much hard-earned wisdom as well as hope &  encouragement. I wish I could just give you a big hug...a cyber-hug just isn't the same, but here's one anyway ((( ))). Best wishes...please keep up posted.
Ruthie
 

Hallelujah! Biopsy results back today and still NED!! No more scans until after the Holidays. They will be especially joyous this year because I can EAT! Santa may have to bring me a larger wardrobe.
Thanks be to God & thanks to all the good people in this community!
 

Hallelujah! Biopsy results back today and still NED!! No more scans until after the Holidays. They will be especially joyous this year because I can EAT! Santa may have to bring me a larger wardrobe.
Thanks be to God & thanks to all the good people in this community!
 

Good morning!  As many of you know, November is lung cancer awareness month.  It comes on the heels of pink October and the popular fight for breast cancer.  Thanks to Lungevity, I have some statistics and flyers that I'm providing this month.  I'm also sharing stats each day on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account.  I might have accosted a stranger or two in the elevator or Starbucks line.  My friends may go for a restraining order by the end of the month, but I firmly believe that God brought me this far to be an advocate for those who have gone before me.
If you have any media or celebrity contacts, reach out to them.  We need to open eyes to the fact that lung cancer is EVERYONE'S concern and needs funding and research.  
Thanks to all of you who have read my posts, shared your stories and helped me walk through this minefield of a cancer diagnosis.  Without this forum, I don't know where I'd be today.  I pray for all of us every day.

Wonderful news to celebrate today.  Thanks for sharing.
Donna G

Hey!  Guess who's back in the tall cotton!  Ruthie!  Go Ruthie go!  Bask in that NED shade!
Stay the course.
Tom

Congratulations Ruthie ?

Thanks for sharing this great news! Congratulations, Ruthie!

Great news, Ruthie!  Enjoy your holidays!!

Lily,
I am the patient; my wife was my caretaker.  I hung on to life, but she would tell you there is no coping with lung cancer.  And, this is so much about your feelings.  You love your dad and to watch him go through this struggle is devastating.  To not be able to influence the outcome is even more devastating.  I wish I had a magic wand I could wave to absolve you of this maddening situation.  I don't.  So we are left with reality.
You've told us the doctors have explained the challenge of prolonging life.  If it were me, in your dad's shoes, I'd want to live out my life at home seeking whatever joy is possible by interacting with my family and friends.  When I was facing an end state decision, we decided home hospice care would be our choice.  I never reached that threshold but I will face that circumstance again and I will again choose home hospice care.
We all face death, the only uncertainty is when.  Lung cancer often puts a time stamp on when.  So if the stamp is applied, the question remains: what does one do with the remaining life?  I am choosing to live to the end, to try and find joy in every moment.
My advice: help your dad live and enjoy every moment.
Stay the course.
Tom