Monica7

Monica and Laura,
I absolutely understand where you are.  After I finished chemo, when we were waiting to check out my thyroid issue, I felt good.  Top of the world! I had a clean chest CT in early July.  But then I received news in early August that shook me to my core.  Mentally, I had started to give up.  I was worried about my husband and parents and who wanted what of my belongings.  I cried constantly, and realized I needed help.  I met a woman with Stage 4 melanoma with mets to her spine and she said "I ain't going out like that!"  I loved that attitude so I talked to my oncologist about the mental battle and he put me on anti-depressants.  It's not for everyone but I have had a much healthier approach to my daily life.  I got choked up a few weeks back while on vacation, but other than that, no crying jags.  No pity parties.  I'm making plans for the future.  I'm not going down without a fight.  I pray you both find some peace and inner butt-kicking strength.  

Hi Monica
i can completely relate to your post as I write this on my phone from lying on my bed with deep anxiety. I find it so hard to stay in the present and not worry about my mortality sometimes. It really is a constant rollercoaster ride. It makes me less self critical to read your post and know that I'm not alone. I do manage to have good days when my fears are not hounding me and I can do stuff that distracts me from thinking about having cancer like playing with the puppies at the shelter where I volunteer or making jewelry. Sometimes when I hear on the news about people dying suddenly from accidents or violence, I realize that people without cancer also face death but they didn't expect it so soon.

Wow I have been on this site for 5 days straight. I didn't think it was possible to get so much insight and read so many encouraging stories. Tom Galli you are all over the map! I must say a job well done . Well only one more week of clinical trial testing and I am finally starting down the road of treatment! Not to bad after waiting 3 months. But that story is for another day lol take care everyone

Cheryn thank you for the reply as well as keeping me in your prayers.  I suppose over time I will begin to see the light at the end of this long tunnel. My best wishes to you as well. You as well as the others give me hope. 

Just looking for some coping skills on how to live with being dignosned with Stage 4 cancer that has also spread to my bones and brain. I thought I would have gotten beyond shock already and moved onto the fight or enjoying the gift of each day. Rather I just lay in bed in total fear of what is ahead for me as well as the sadness of leaving everyone behind. I can't live like this it in itself is literally killing me. I don't know how to handle this or get a better understanding of what lies ahead for my family and myself. Any advice would be appreciated thank you. 

Dirma,
All the election drama caused me to miss your superb report on your husband's treatment.  Tumors have shrunk considerably!  What fantastic news!  Do something special to celebrate.  During my chemo and because of all the steroids I had to take before infusion and during the infusion, I'd get as hungry as a hibernating bear.  Martha and I would go to Denny's and I'd order two Grand Slam breakfasts, one right after another!  It was a little thing but it was our little celebration of life.  
I know you now understand that undergoing treatment often yields extra life.  This is exactly the situation you've reported -- tumors on the decline.  Don't forget to celebrate.  Don't forget to live.  Find joy in living.
Stay the course.
Tom

Thank God and thank you Tom for taking the time to explain. Honestly thought they leave you to read this in a report ugh. Why not just simply mention it so people like myself don't panic. Hope all is well with you, take care

Monica,
My oh my!  I am speechless!  I have no words.  Well maybe one: JOY.  That is not enough, so JOY, JOY, JOY, & JOY.  Maybe that is still not enough so I'll add some more: awesome, spectacular, astounding, and how about just plain good stuff!
Drive on and.
Stay the course.
Tom

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting sooner I have just been overwhelmed with joy and happiness!  Walking into my first scan last Friday after completing only three rounds of treatment I was hoping at best for stability to be able to remain in the trial. Well needless to say my Doctor could barely maintain his composure as he spun the computer around showing a 50% reduction in a 6 cm tumor in my right lung and the smaller one was completely gone.  Even the tumor in my L2 vertebrae shows significant signs of improvement. Based on the fact the my Doctor heads up the trial at Dana Farber I  honesty couldn't tell you who was more excited!  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone undergoing some form of treatment on this site I'm also excited and very fortunate to be apart of cutting edge technology to not only help myself but others as well. Good luck Martin I'm pulling for you!

Way to go Monica and Dirma!!! I am so happy for both of you!  Keep fighting this thing- we're all in this together!
All the best,
Martin

Monica what great news.  Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
I am so happy for you.  I pray you bring us even more great news in the future !
Donna G

I am very excited for you. My husband had his results from two chemo and immunotherapy treatments and his tumors have shrunk considerably. We will revisit after todays and the next treatment in 3 weeks. He is being treated at Sloan Kettering. I am thinking the fight is worth it now that we have had so e pisitive results. 

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting sooner I have just been overwhelmed with joy and happiness!  Walking into my first scan last Friday after completing only three rounds of treatment I was hoping at best for stability to be able to remain in the trial. Well needless to say my Doctor could barely maintain his composure as he spun the computer around showing a 50% reduction in a 6 cm tumor in my right lung and the smaller one was completely gone.  Even the tumor in my L2 vertebrae shows significant signs of improvement. Based on the fact the my Doctor heads up the trial at Dana Farber I  honesty couldn't tell you who was more excited!  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone undergoing some form of treatment on this site I'm also excited and very fortunate to be apart of cutting edge technology to not only help myself but others as well. Good luck Martin I'm pulling for you!

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting sooner I have just been overwhelmed with joy and happiness!  Walking into my first scan last Friday after completing only three rounds of treatment I was hoping at best for stability to be able to remain in the trial. Well needless to say my Doctor could barely maintain his composure as he spun the computer around showing a 50% reduction in a 6 cm tumor in my right lung and the smaller one was completely gone.  Even the tumor in my L2 vertebrae shows significant signs of improvement. Based on the fact the my Doctor heads up the trial at Dana Farber I  honesty couldn't tell you who was more excited!  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone undergoing some form of treatment on this site I'm also excited and very fortunate to be apart of cutting edge technology to not only help myself but others as well. Good luck Martin I'm pulling for you!

Congratulations Ruthie ?

Thank you guys. Tom I too don't have the greatest health insurance I guess I should have been more selective had I known. Martin thank you for the heads up on not to expect to much. I'm just hoping at the very least I'm stable so I can stay on the trial. I have had minor side effects and would love to keep it that way. Keeping all of you in my thoughts thank you ? 

Hi Monica,
As usual, I don't have any actual useful information, but just wanted to wish you the best & join you in hurrying Friday along. Prayers & peaceful thoughts going  your way.
Ruthie

Monica,
To your questions about the frequency of PET scans during treatment, during my chemo I had a CT scan halfway through the infusion period and a PET after.  That was when I was working and had a feature-rich health insurance policy.  Now having graduated to medicare, I may not have a PET scan again in my life.  But, after 3 years of treatment, my oncologist developed a sense about my lung cancer and that sense told him it would remain in my lung and if it were to re-occur, it would re-occur in my lung.  So now I receive semi-annual CT scans to the chest prior to my oncology consultation.
One thing to make clear, however: you'll see an oncologist regularly for the rest of your life.  This is because our disease has a nasty habit of returning.
Stay the course.
Tom
 

Hi Monica,
I'll be thinking about you on Friday. I hope all goes well. I'll be getting my third treatment that same day and hoping for good results as well. Please keep us updated and keep your chin up. From what I've been told, the first scans are often not the most informative as it may take a while for the treatment we've selected to show results.  But I know exactly how you feel believe me. 
Take care and stay in touch,
Martin

Congratulations Ruthie ?

Hello Ruthie
People like you are the reason I searched out a site like this. It's very difficult for me to respond seeing most of the time I am doing this on my phone. My pity party's consist of laying in bed for days at a time, which in turn upset me more because I am wasting precious time. I can't seem to get a grip around this yet. Thank you for your response it does help to know I'm not the only one and that I too will get thru this. Wishing you great things in life. Take care 

Good morning, Lisa.  I'm sorry that you have that diagnosis but glad  you are here.  I was diagnosed with Stage IV earlier this year and this site - and the wonderful contributors - have been a fantastic support system.  Along with following the treatment regimen set out by your medical team, the best weapon for fighting is your attitude.  Don't give in to the scary, dark thoughts.  Every day your feet hit the floor is a day to be celebrated.  Attitude is such a big part of this fight.  Surrounding yourself with a great support team - medical, family, friends - is also very important.
Let me also shed a little light on statistics: they are just that -statistics.  Those numbers don't define you or determine your outcome - they are a probability.  But, as a wise physician told me earlier this year, those stats are generally 5 years old and don't take into account your age or your overall history.  The stats include people who started chemo and dropped out, as well as those who didn't take chemo.  Those stats also don't include those patients who are benefiting from the 6 new lung cancer drugs approved by the FDA last year.
Please keep us posted.

Wow I have been on this site for 5 days straight. I didn't think it was possible to get so much insight and read so many encouraging stories. Tom Galli you are all over the map! I must say a job well done . Well only one more week of clinical trial testing and I am finally starting down the road of treatment! Not to bad after waiting 3 months. But that story is for another day lol take care everyone

Thank you Merilee ?