wfshaw

Always great to see good news like your. Just assures many of us this thing can be beat. Congrats and many more good results in the future.

Kasey and Fred, Everything ok with you folks?? Haven't seen you post in a few days? Hope all is well. Bill in PA

Hey Fred, Good to see you post here. I for one was emotionally overwhelmed when you and Kasey came to visit me in Fox chase. I just found it hard to believe that someone I had never met would take a trip down to see me in my most stressful time. I will never forget that. Sorry we couldn't hook up in Hershey but hopefully sometime in the future. God bless you both and my prayers that Kasey's test will all come out good. Bill & Char

They did not stage mine until after the surgery. They assummed before surgery ist would be 1a 0r 2a due to the small size 2.5 cm but the surgen would not give me a definite until he removed the lobe. Good luck to you.

Hi Terrie, I had the hoaaarseness for about two weeks then I was ok. No drainage problems though. Bill in PA

SO happy for your friend Claire. I just got my results back today after my first scan from surgery and it was ned also. We can celebrate together... By the way, what part of England are you from. I love England> Was there three years ago and can't wait to go back. My parents wer born in Ryhope (Mother) and Castletown (Father). Bill in PA

Results of my first cat scan since surgery on April 20 came back negative. NED. Good news of what I hope to be many more future NED results. Just want to take a moment to thank all of you wonderful, caring people on this site for your help and support getting me through this most nerving part of my life. I love you all and pray every day for all of you to beat this terrible disease. KASEY: IF you read this, you owe me a !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bill in PA

Kasy, if you read this you owe me a PM???????

I had a lower right lobectomy in April of this year and I too have(not sure though when I read the definition of acid reflux) stomach problems. My interpetation of acid reflux is the esophagus area and not the stomach??? My problem is the stomach. No constipation either. Feels upset all the time. I can eat ok but not as much as I used to. Dr has me on Nexium for about a week now and still no change?? He didn't seem to concerned since I do not have to see him until July 5. I actually forgot to ask him if he thought it could be from the surgery but my stomach was fine before the surgery. Anyone else experience this problem?? Bill in PA

Rachel, Congratulations. Always great to hear good news. Many, many more NED"S for you in the future. I went yesterday for my first post op scan... Won't know the results until Monday......going to be a long weekend!! Bill in PA

Carol, I will say a prayer for you. I go for my first cat scan tomorrow since surgery on April 20th and I can tell you I am a nervous wreck right now so I know what you are going through. If it is any consolation to you, when I had my pet scan my colon LIT UP along with the tumor in my lung and they immediately sent me for a colonoscopy which turned out negative. The Pet scan reading was false. Here's hoping an praying yours is false also. Bill in PA

Treebywater, Let me tell you my story with my doctor. I will try to keep it short. My regular doctor for years moved on to an administrative position at a local hospital. He was a great PCP. In the meatime I decided to go to a PERSONAL Friend of mine who had just became a doctor. WEnt to him for two years and when I described my ailments his answer to everything was "Quit Smoking". Good idea but he never sent me for any other follow up tests or x-rays and just perscribed meds for various problems. Although I had no cancer symptoms at all I decided to change doctors and go with my wife's PCP. Being new to him, he decided to do a completed work up on me instead of asking my old doc for records. Started with bloodwork, chest x-ray, blood suger, etc. Well, I complained about a pain in my upper right chest and he sent me for a Cat scan. Well the cat scan showed a nodule in my lower right lung with eventually turned out to be nsclc. It was too small for the chest x-ray to pick it up. Very small tumor (2.5 cm) Doc set me up for all the follow ups with other doctors and I had surgery on April 20th of this year at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.. Currently no sign of cancer, staged 1a so no chemo or radiation wass needed. My point is: If I did not change PCP's this probably would never have been caught until it was too late. I would tell your friend to change Doctors immediately. Today I just feel so lucky and thank God everyday for this second chance. Bill in PA

Donna, It's your neighbot in Clarks SUmmit. I am sending you a e-mail to you home e-mail acocunt.

Hi Kate, An unfortunate welcome to you but this is one of the best places to get information and support. I do not know alot about sclc but I do know there are many survivors. Please do not panic....this is beatable and you will find all the information you need on this board. Please keep us informed as to what is happening. We can help you get through this and we all CARE and know what you are going through. The initial shock is the worst part. It will get better. By the way, my last name is Shaw in Northeastern PA. WHere is your Mom located. Bill in PA

Not necessarily bad because they said to bring someone with you. They recommended that because the patient is scared and upset and may not hear everthing clearly that the Dr's tell him/her. I had to take my wife with me on all the initial visits due to the fact I thought I had cancer and it was a death sentence. All I heard was "You have lung cancer" and that was it for me. My wife was calm and took detailed notes at every Dr's visit. It is not a death sentence as I found out on this board and from my Dr's. It is in some cases curable, and others controllable and you need to first off, have a positive attitude and look at all your options. Believe me you are not alone when you say you are scared. We all are at the onset of being told "you have cancer." I was a mental wreck, depressed, could not sleep, anxiety and terrified in the beginning. You will get a ton of support and knowledge from this board. Keep us informed of your diagnosis and plan and we can all support and help you get through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Good luck. Bill in PA

Congrats Cindy and many more. Dont' go away now. I have gotton a lot of inspiration from your posts. I had my surgery on April 20th of this year so I am just starting out on being a survivor. WE need people like you to get us through the rough spots. I go for my first CAT Scan next week and already I'm a nervous wreck. Again.....many, many more for you. Bill in PA.

Di, Congratulations and hope you have many more years to come. Bill in PA

Right back at ya Connie.

I had the same surgery APril 20th which is almost 6 weeks ago and I still have the pain but not as bad. For the first three weeks I was on Pain meds and they made me feel lousy so I stopped them a week and one half ago. The surgeon told me the pain sometimes lasts for a year or two and for some it NEVER goes away completely. He did say he thinks I should be ok in about three months, 58 year old male if fairly good shape. I guess it depends on the individual. Hang in there, it will get better. The worst is over after three weeks. Bill in Pennsylvania

Hi Bill, Sorry to see you hear but you need to know you can beat this. I just recently went through the same things your are going through. I was terrified, depressed, and immediately thought my life was over until I did a ton of research. Found out everything I possibly could, got all the tests, had surgery and now I am recovering at home until July cancer free. Check my bio below. I was similar to you. 2.5 cm nodule in lower right lung. You need to work with top quality Doctors, I.E. cancer surgeon, Pulmonologist and oncologist. I had very little faith in my locals. I and my surgery at a cancer center in Philadelphia 120 miles from home, where that is all they do all the time and it worked out very good for me. Top quality facility. This site saved my sanity. The people here to help you get through this are unbelievably caring and helpful. Keep us informed of your details and we will get you through this. Remember this is not a death sentence. You can beat it. Stay positive. I can tell you for me it was the most terrifying two months of my life. You are not alone. Please keep in touch and let us know what's going on. Bill in PA

Good morning Donna, Your quite welcome and we are all here together to help each other get through the trials and tribulations that go along with this dreadful disease. NEVER, NEVER give up. It can be beat. As you may have noticed, they are many survivors out here. Your Clarks Summit Neighbor, Bill

Hi Neighbor Donna, They sent me for a Pet scan only to see if the cancer was anywhere else and it "lit up" in my colon so (also the original place in the lung) they then sent me for a colonostmy and it turned out there was nothing. Therefore a false reading in my colon on the Pet Scan!! The important thing is the Cat Scan (that is how they found mine initially) and then either a broncoscopy or a needle biopsy to insure that it is indeed cancer. At least it was for me. I was diagnosed stage 1a NSCLC right after the needle biopsy and did not have the surgery for four weeks. Talk about agony, anxiety and being worried to death. It really seems like they do take their time. But from what I have read some tumors grow very slow. Bill in Clarks Summit

Thanks all for your replies. I guess it's different everywhere. I think in the early stages of recovery the more x-rays and scans the better. I will follow their orders for now and see how things go. After all I only had surgery a month ago. I am aware that it will continue to be a life long check up, scan, x-rays and hope and pray for the best each and every time. Thanks again all. Bill in PA

Thanks all, My surgery was don't out of town and the surgeon recommendedI see both the onc and the pulmo , both local. brm1949, I know what you mean...It's a lifetime thing from now on. I have to keep on top of it. I guess as long as the insurance picks up the tab it doesn't matter how many scans and x-rays I have. Bill in PA

Hi All, Ok here is my dilemma. Two weeks ago I went for a follow-up visit and chest x-ray with my surgeon. Everything good. He said he does not need to see me again and of course I said, "No offense, but I hope I never have to see you again" Anyway he said I should continue to see my local oncololgist and pulmonoligist and of course PCP. Surgeon also said I should have a chest x-ray every 3-months and a CAT Scan every six. So last week I met with the onc who suggested a CAT Scan on June 9th (Already)??? and again in six months. My surgery was April 20th. Today I meet with the pulmo and he says he doesn't understand why I even need to go to a onc since I do not need chemo or radiation?? So I told him what the surgeon said and he ( the pulmo doc) now is going to contact the onc and work together with him on my future x-rays, scans, etc. It appears to me they are competing for business??? COuld this be???? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I was stages 1a, lobectomy, no chemo or radiation. All three doc's agree no chemo or radiation. All signs of cancer are gone. One of my biggest problems is I didn't have my wife with me. She has all the questions to ask. I usually just sit and listen and sometime think after I left the office, "Why didn't I ask him that when I was there" I guess it's a typical MAN thing!!!!!!!!