Donna G

Hello M Sorry to hear about your mother especially that she progressed to stage 4. I was Stage 3B. My tumor in the apex of my RU lung was pressing on the lining of my lung and nerves that went down my arm. I had Cisplatin and Etopiside, and Radiation, then surgery and more chemo and I know that is hard. After a lot of treatment I am still here. I am a retired RN and went to school in Boston . We had residents from Harvard, Boston College and Boston University. I know your life is busy. Glad they test now for EGRF. Having support, family , friends and all important. Glad she has you. Emotional and Spiritual health also contribute a lot to our ability to respond to treatment and contribute to our health. We are more than just physical beings. Please keep us posted. Donna G

Welcome Lisa. Glad you found us. You just started treatment 2 days ago! When I was diagnosed they were not testing for those details but we do have somethings in common. I live here in Minnesota. I was 50 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage 3B NSCLC. I hope you will also have the fact in 20 years from now that you are still alive to talk with us. Please keep us posted. Donna G

I pray that you get an appointment quickly to diagnose and perhaps begin treatment. I agree 4cm mass really needs diagnosis, not just observation ! Please keep us posted. Donna G

Hello " Is Unique" . I have a very good friend who after 10 years they found a new lung cancer tumor on the other side of her chest. The biopsy actually found it was a different type of NSCLC. She had another lobectomy on that side. Then 5 years later another tumor showed up. This time they said where she had had lobectomies on bothe sides they would treat it this time by radiation. They have been watching that a year now that checking to make sure there is no growth. Donna G

Hi Karen. Glad you found us. I am a retired RN. I am also a Stage 3B lung cancer survivor of about 19 and1/2 yrs. Any Cancer is horrible. Lung cancer however I believe needs a lot more attention for early detection , curative treatment, and a lot less advertising of the BLAME GAME. I lost my future father in law in January of the year I got married from lung cancer. In 2013 I lost my husband to lung cancer. My husband started with 2 tiny spots in a lobe but it was vicious and quickly spread. I don't think I will ever get over loosing him. Over the years working in Hospitals I have seen many with lung cancer and have met many also as a member of lung cancer support groups . I have read about dogs being very accurate smelling the breath of lung cancer patients. I think it would be wonderful if they could make a breath machine to do detect the odor of lung cancer. It would be a start. Donna G

Hi Mally. I can read what you sent. Do you think everyone is on Spring break ? It is starting to warm up here in Minnesota. Take care. Donna G

Hello Sydney. So sorry to hear your story. I am a retired RN. Over the years I have worked in many circumstances where there have been Residents. You have a very busy life. It sounds like since you will be able to take targeted therapy they have no plans at this time for chemo or radiation. I hope that means you will be able to continue as a resident. I pray that you respond well to this treatment. We really need some good doctors and you going through this will even have more talents caring for people . They are coming up with so many new care plans and treatments more are surviving. I pray that they will find a cure or better still something to prevent it all together. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I am so glad you have your guy here with you for support as you are so far from home. Best wishes. Donna G

Hello Patrick, glad you found us. So sorry to hear about your mother, but also glad that she has you, that you got her to the doctor and they are moving quickly. I imagine there must be a good Doctor and treatment center in Florida . As I read I was surprised when you spoke of NY, that's so far, but then you wrote how you have family there so that much really broaden your choices. I had chest pain and arm pain the first day I went to the doctor and so glad they did an x ray and found a mass. So the journey begins. Please tell us how the tests comes out, and what the plan is. Keep us posted. Donna G

Hi Paula. Any one diagnosed with lung cancer, with all that stress, the treatment you go through can get depressed. I did. To your question does anyone ever live more than 1-2 years. I have a friend Janet I met in a local support group back in about 1999 and she had SCLC I am still able to talk to her, she has survived. She had months and months of treatment , chemo and radiation. Doing things that put you in a good mood is really good for you. It raises good hormones that help you heal. Please keep in contact and let us know how you are doing. Donna G

I have never had breast cancer. I did see on the news a preventative treatment I believe. What they were showing was the women wearing a cap that caused the scalp to be very cold during the chemo session. They said this would decrease circulation to the scalp and therefore the chemo was less likely to circulate there and cause the damage. Try googling that. Donna G

Sue thanks for the update. How wonderful that the doctor was so nice and explained to you guys so clearly. Sounds like it will just be a couple of days and you'll be jumping into treatments. Great news. Donna G

Hello John. Glad you found us. I have to say this is a tough journey. I was 50 when I was diagnosed with stage 3B lung cancer. Treatment took over 6 months. Chemo drugs, radiation, then surgery, then more chemo. That started in December 1997. If you fight the fight, some of us will make it. Please let us know what the doctor says and how you are doing. Do you have some friends or co-workers that can lend some support or church family ? Keep us posted. Donna G

Zachary when I was diagnosed with lung cancer I never had had a loss of appetite. I did have a loss of weight though. I had pain in my arm and on my chest because the tumor was pressing on a nerve going down my arm. After I started radiation and chemo they gave me side affects . Donna G

Strokedsurfer thanks for your update . That is great news. I pray her recovery continues to go smoothly. I hope you let us know what the Oncologist says and what the future plan will be. Donna G

Hello stokedsurfer, Glad your mother Is able to have surgery. Sounds very sad that you lost your brother to lung cancer. He must have been very young. This is really a stressful and challenging diagnosis Hope your Mother tolerates the surgery well tomorrow and she is able to be up and walking soon. Keep us posted. Donna G

Hello Adam Glad you found us. I can imagine this is a very upsetting diagnosis. I know I was very upset when I learned I had lung cancer. From what you have said I believe your is contained within your lungs ? That would be good. What is the plan of care set up? Have they set it up? My friend Janet I met over 15 yrs ago and she is doing well. She had SCLC , had radiation and chemo. I pray you respond to treatment as she did especially where you are so young. Glad to hear you are planning to quit smoking. You could use the money you save to have a great vacation. How you feel emotionally and spiritually also affect your physical health. So find support, times to relax. Let us help you with your friends and family. Feel free to ask questions and get support. Please update us on how you are doing. Donna G

Thanks for the update. Sounds like the doctors are being really aggressive with his cancer. It is tough but it takes being tough to kill this disease. Glad he has his family to stand by him. Donna G

Hello Juanita, I also found I had a golf ball sized mass in my right upper lung and was told I had lung cancer. I know this is a very stressful time. So sorry to hear besides this you struggle with PTSD. I was able to quit and that was over 19 yrs ago. It can be done. Do you take any meds for the PTSD or get counselling ? There are also meds to help you to stop smoking that I didn't have available years ago. My prayers go up for you for this is a very difficult time. Have hope with good treatment it is possible to conquer this !! Keep us posted , let us know how it is going. Donna G

Hi Mary. I can understand if you have severe Emphysema that the Doctor doesn't think surgery is an option. Did they do a biopsy? Did they tell you what kind of lung cancer you have? I have a friend that was diagnosed with SCLC ( small cell lung cancer) that had radiation and chemo and after 15 years I can still call her up today and she'll answer the phone. I hope you bring someone with you to your appointment who can help with questions and take notes. Please keep us posted and tell us what the doctor said. Donna G

Hello ry.nehring, so sorry to hear about your Dad. I think you are right about Stage 4, because as you say he has a distant mets. Where is he going for treatment? There are several great clinics here in Minnesota. I pray they don't find any mets to his brain. Chemo can be very affective. I had that first and radiation. I was able to have surgery eventually and they found it all dead. Sounds like with that emphysema and COPD problem that he could not be a surgical candidate. Please keep us posted. Feel free to ask questions. We understand what a difficult journey this is. Donna G

Hello Rain. Have you had any testing done? An x ray? A CT ? Biopsy? Do you have any symptoms of a problem? Did you pick your name because all this worry is bringing tears? Let it out , we are listening. Donna G

Hello Yyg. So sorry to hear about your boyfriend. You did not say but with a diagnosis of SCLC I imagine they did a biopsy to find that out. He must have been sick to have stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks. I hope he is better. Have they set up a treatment plan? I have a friend that I met in a lung cancer support group about 18 years ago that was diagnosed with SCLC. She had lots of treatment and I have talked to her just this year. She and her husband downsized and she was going through all that you do when your moving. She has survived so it is possible. You need a good positive attitude, good nutrition, and to keep hope because that helps your body heal. This is tough but be with him, help him find things to smile about, laugh about. Keep us posted. Feel free to ask questions. Best wishes, Donna G

Welcome Lydia. Glad you found us. Also glad they seam to have got you on a great dose and med to keep things under control ! As it is actually minus 20 degrees outside my door this morning in Minnesota. May I say please keep warm ! As you are just in the next state I bet it is pretty cold there also. I think you better eat yogurt every day if your on antibiotics all the time. Your bowels need " healthy" germs to help your body absorb nutrients. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I would love to hear some good news. Donna G

Hello Faiq Bsharat. Glad you found us. Also I am glad you had no evident spread of the Cancer. You are pretty fresh from your surgery in November. It takes time to recover . I had chemo before and after my cancer. One of the drugs was Cisplatin. If I remember correctly I believe they premedicated me for that drug with an anti nausea medicine and because of it someone had to drive me to those appointments . Please keep us posted on how you are doing Do you have family there with you? Take care. Donna G

Adenocarcinoma is NSCLC ( non small cell lung cancer) . Donna G