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Donna G

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Everything posted by Donna G

  1. Hello Shari. Glad you found us. When I was diagnosed with lung cancer I was a 50 year old RN. I am really glad that they did all those tests on you and did surgery before the cancer spread! An open thoracotomy takes time to heal from. You should know as you have been caring for people in ICU that have had their chests cracked open. When I went to the doctor with chest pain I thought it was a pinched nerve causing it ( an orthopedic problem). They told me " you are 50 we will have to check your heart !" It turned out the chest x ray showed a tumor pressing on my chest wall and nerves going down my arm. One thing I know you are really aware of now is you don't have to smoke to get lung cancer. Did you have genetic testing done on the tumor ? Many of young lung cancer victims are positive. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Donna G
  2. Hello Jacqueline. So you were diagnosed about 6 months ago. Glad you found us. I was 50 when they found my tumor. I had lots of treatment and fortunately I am still here to talk about it. Did you have some treatment ? Any radiation or chemo ? How are you doing, coping. Hope you have some family and friends that are helping you out. Please up date us and keep us posted on how you are doing. Feel free to ask questions. Take care, Donna G
  3. Thanks for the update John. Glad your Mom has a treatment plan and gets started Monday ! Tatoos are very popular here in the states. I never thought of getting one but like your Mom I did also to aim the radiation. Mine are only a few blue dots. When I got radiation I also started 2 chemo drugs so my side affects were from all 3 at the same time. Keep us posted. Best wishes. Donna G
  4. Hello Cindy and welcome. So you are having surgery in just a few days. So glad for you that they found it in the early stage. Hope it all goes well for you. Please when you are able let us know how it went and how you are coping. Best wishes , Donna G
  5. Hi KC, welcome. I was Stage 3B, had chemo and radiation before I was able to have surgery. Had a Right upper lobectomy then as planned had more chemo after surgery. It worked for me. I am still here and NED. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. It is good to have someone to talk to when you are going through this journey. Donna G
  6. Donna G

    Surgery

    Hello Michele. Glad you found us. I wonder why they did not biopsy the spot the first time? I am glad however that they did continue to follow it with more scans. Surgery can be different for some. In recent years many people are able to have the surgery laproscopically. In that surgery they make small incisions and only the instruments go into the chest and get the tumor. The older type of surgery the surgeon breaks ribs and spreads them apart to get to the tumor. Because the lung collapses during this they put a chest tube that stays for a while after surgery and the long incision, the ribs etc take weeks to heal. How do they plan to do your surgery? Soon I hope so it will be before the tumor grows more or spreads. Please let us know how you are doing , keep us posted. Donna G
  7. Hello Jean. What is your story ? Is there any way that we can help you? I speak with a Boston accent, born and raised there. Still have family in Massachusetts. I am a survivor of Lung Cancer and also was a care giver for my husband who I lost to lung cancer. What are you going through? Donna G
  8. Welcome Ray. I was diagnosed Stage 3B 12/3/97. I had lots of chemo, radiation, surgery and more chemo. I am sure there are some here that are going through your journey. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Donna G
  9. 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
  10. Hello Nancy. What is your story? I am a survivor. I also was a caregiver and lost my husband to Lung Cancer. How can we help you? Donna G
  11. Hello Steve . I was born and raised in Boston. I can't believe that the weather here in Minnesota is warmer than there today ! My brother lives in Foxboro now and my sister in Franklin. So it is almost 3 years since you were diagnosed. I am glad to hear that they have given you another alternative for treatment. I was treated for Stage 3B starting in December 1997. It was quite a journey ! I am sorry that I can not help you with having had any experience with those drugs but I do want to say I am glad you found us. Someone here should be able to share with you. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Donna G
  12. Jose in reply to your question as to whether I used natural treatments or took supplements.--------- Those were not talked about 19years ago. One thing I did do was pray every day. I also was on the prayer list at my church. Today they talk a lot about how being positive , getting good nutrition, finding healthy ways of getting rid of or decreasing stress. These are all important I believe. Donna G
  13. Welcome Jose, so sorry to hear of your mothers diagnosis and staging. I was 3B because my tumor was pressing on the lining of my lung and nerves that were running down my arm at the shoulder. I started with chemo and radiation also. Nearly 19 years later I am still here. I pray she responds well to the treatment. I have never lived in New York but I did stay on Long Island with an Aunt and my cousins one summer, and went to the World's Fair but that doesn't help you with a Doctor recommendation. I am sure there are wonderful Doctors there. Keep us posted. Donna G
  14. Neils welcome. I am sorry to hear about your Dad. First It is wonderful that you are going to go with him to the appointment. Speaking from personal experience a patient is in such shock when they are told they have lung cancer it is very difficult to hear any more. It is best to have another set of ears with you. Bring your questions written down and you or someone take notes on what the Doctor tells you. I am a retired RN now and I was in such shock at age 50 when I was told I had lung cancer. I had trouble sorting it out and remembering what was said ! I would imagine where it was so recent that they have tissue to test for genetic markers. Please keep us posted. Donna G
  15. Tom ---Charlett is soooo cute ! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your happy news with us. Donna G
  16. To answer your burning question-- my tumor was in the upper right corner of my right upper lobe. That is where the radiation was given. It was not aimed at my heart at all. That lobe of lung was removed and no other lobe of lung was damaged. I have never been diagnosed with fibrosis or COPD . For me it is nearly 19 years ago since I was diagnosed !!!!! Best wishes for you, Donna G
  17. Lena , Hello. Welcome. I wonder if the same thing happened to you as to me. When they tried to biopsy my tumor it was in such an awkward spot that they could not get a good piece of tissue. They did tell me because it was a large "ball" of a tumor that it was non small cell lung cancer but----- They started my treatment with chemo and radiation to shrink it then they were able to do surgery. When I woke up from surgery I asked well---------- " What kind of non-small cell was it?" and they replied " We don't know for the chemo and radiation killed it and all that is left if like scar tissue" So I never will know if it was one of those types that Tom is asking you about. So I will just ask , Did they think it was small cell or non small cell? Keep us posted. We will try to answer any questions you have. Donna G
  18. I saw this on our local news. http://abreathofhope.org/katherine-bensen/ Donna G
  19. Welcome LanaD Glad you found us. You must not only so happy that your daughter was so persistant but also that she worked so hard and became a Doctor. When you have that mutation it is great that they did test for it and now you have a good treatment plan. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Donna G
  20. Lester I am glad to hear that your Doctor says you are improving. That is GREAT NEWS. Do you mind if I ask how old you are? I was 50 years old when I was diagnosed. I am now 69 years old. Lung cancer hits people of all ages. Some are even in their 30's others even in their 80's. Hope you continue to do well. Donna G
  21. Hello Lester. Glad you found us. Sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer but I am happy to hear that the doctor has put you on chemo. I also pray that it helps you and also the pain you are having. Hope you have family with you to help you with the day to day things. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Donna G
  22. Richard that was great! I am so happy for you and your family. Donna G
  23. Welcome to Lungevity. How did they diagnose you ? Sound like they found you early which is good news. Just a month since your surgery. How are you doing? Follow up with CTs is standard. Please keep us posted on how things are going. Donna G
  24. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/09/30/chanhassen-coach-greater-game/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYtmENawVo Saw this on our local station. A great story about a father with lung cancer, how positive he is, and how he is out living his doctors predictions. Donna
  25. Hi Merilee. Not exactly what you asked for but close ! I was diagnosed with Stage 3 B lung cancer in December 1997. The tumor was in my R upper lobe, pressing on nerves going down my arm and on the lining of the lung. I had chemo-- Cisplatin, Etopiside and daily radiation, it shrunk and I was able to have my R upper lobe removed. After surgery I had more Cisplatin and Etopiside. I had scans every 3 months for a while than they backed down finally to once a year. After many years they quit that also. Back in 1997 I thought I had a death sentence. Guess what ! I am still here ! It is possible. Donna G
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