janetg

Hoping that today is a much better day for all of you. Prayers are being sent. Janet

Prayers are being sent to both of you. Your strength is amazing. Janet

Very good news - Congratulations to both of you. Janet

Prayers and good thoughts for improvement in Beth's status are on their way. Janet

Happy Anniversary! Congratulations! Janet

We're joining the forces to send prayers your way. Janet

I don't know anything about the particular treatments you have mentioned but wanted to congratulate your mom. Prayers for continued good news are being sent your way. Janet

Hi Kathy, You'll get a lot of great support here. Regards, Janet

Gotta love those steroids! Great to hear that energy abounds! Ron's not on steroids now but he is in the midst of cooking a chicken stir fry now. That's a great sign. Janet

Wonderful news is wonderful to read. It's so uplifting and keeps hope alive in all of us. Way to go! Janet

I loved your post. I felt guilty this week after hearing recurrent sighs and "oh my God" day after day and telling Ron that he has to choose some other words to use. I just wanted to get out of the house for awhile and get away from his sadness. I felt guilty when I told him to pick two more words to describe how he was feeling but I just couldn't help it. After I said it though, I thought that I should have kept my mouth shut. But thankfully, he just chuckled so I guess he wasn't mad. Some days the strain is just too much - it's not just what he's going through, it's working fulltime, and visiting my dad in the hospital everyday that gets to me sometimes. Then there are days that just simple pleasures seem to make live worth living. I hope that your mom gets a good report next week. I, daily, want to strangle my mother. Janet

Your news is much needed to give the rest of us hope. I'm happy to read happy news. I feel sad when I read sads news. But the bottom line is, I feel more encouraged when I read of similar a diagnosis and the "success" treatment brings. Keep up the great work. Janet

Very, very happy to read of your GOOD NEWS! We're so impressed with both of you. You give us even more strength to fight. Janet

Hi everyone, Ron had a port-a-cath put in last Monday and had his third chemo last Tuesday. As had been the case after the first two rounds, he was like Superman for three days because of the decadron. Since Saturday he's been really down for the count. He spent most of his time in bed due to joint pain in his arms and legs. I read of some of the side effects of Taxotere and though the info. says its not one of the most common it is often seen in diabetics. Ron was a diet controlled diabetic until the decradon. I hope he can get some relief soon. He was quite content to stay put on the weekend and rest a lot but now he's ready to burst out again but his legs won't let him. He said today at lunchtime that he can't understand how someone who feels so good could be so weak. His catscan is scheduled for June 28. If the chemo is working, the onc. is going to try for 10 in total. Are there any suggestions that we may not be thinking of that may help him to increase his strength? I'm open for any and all suggestions. Thanks for any input you may have.... Janet

Excellent news! Glad to hear you've gotten the port-a-cath and that the Avastin will be covered. All the best with the new treatment. Janet

Congrations to Mr. & Mrs. Ry! Three years is a milestone and I believe a reason to celebrate. I believe that we should celebrate each day of life even those days when we wonder what it's all for. A good friend of mine lost her 47 year old partner to an aneurysm in February of this year. She asked me the other day, after she saw Ron for the first time since his reoccurence looking weak and moving a little slowly, if I thought that the way her man went was better. I reacted with a big "no way" and Ron certainly agrees. He's battled to get back to "normal" last year and he did it. He appreciates and enjoys life much more than he ever did. He had a wonderful period of remission for several months. He's gone back into an even bigger battle this time and he's even more adamant to be alive. I'm sorry but I am one of the ones who says we're 13 months, 14 months etc. since the official diagnosis. We're proud of that. We see the faces of those who've been newly diagnosed (and who have read the bleak statistics) light up when they see a Stage IV lung cancer survivor who has remained active (most of the time) and is living life with energy and enthusiasm. You guys have all seen that look on the faces of people when you tell them that you or someone you love has lung cancer. That, "oh" lowered voice reaction, then the slight bowing of the head and then ever slow shaking of the head from side to side gets to me. What better way to educate people than to give them the accurate message. I remember only too well the devastation, the sleepness nights, the tears etc. for several weeks after the initial diagnosis. I wish I had had someone who could have given me something to believe in when I thought we would have 3 - 6 months. I tell everyone I know that Ron's close to his 15 month anniversary - and I'm so proud of him. I'm sure that you're very proud too. Kudos to both of you. Janet

JAK, Sorry to hear your news. Have been hearing good things about Avastin though so I'm hoping you'll be able to begin that one. Everyone needs to find their own magic bullet. Prayers are being sent for much better days ahead. Janet

Congratulations! You give us additional strength with your encouraging news! Keep up the good work! Janet

Nancy, Prayers are being sent for you and Mike. Janet

Hope you're having a better day today and that that rollercoaster has climbed back up to the top. Janet

Wonderful news for your dad. Congratulations! One less hurdle to have to jump. All the best to all of your family. Janet

Sorry to read of your news. They say that God only gives us what he thinks we can handle. This is getting a little ridiculous don't you think? Here's to better days ahead. Prayers are being sent your way. Janet

Prayers and good vibes for a good report on Thursday. Janet

Prayers are being sent your way. Hoping the results are positive. Janet

Hi Pam, I'm sorry to read of all that your sister is having to go through. While we haven't had to deal with the extremes that she has been bone mets, Ron did have a tumour on the spine that reacted positively to radiation. A "hot spot" was detected in a recent scan and plans were to treat him monthly with Aredia. However, when the pericardial effusion and pleural effusion occurred that was abandoned for now. He no longer has pain in the hip and has just completed his second treatment of taxotere. Aredia may or may not be something her doctors might consider since she's going to require surgery but I thought I'd throw it out to you. Prayers are being sent your way with the hope that your sister and your family will get some good news. Janet