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Donna G

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Posts posted by Donna G

  1. 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

     

     

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

     

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

     

     

     

     

     

     

  12. 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

     

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Gengal I am so sorry to hear all that you are going through.  It is only 2 months since you lost your mother so, as most of us, you are still deep in grief

    and to have all this on top of that.  I have had the tough journey of lung cancer myself .  Fortunately after months and months of treatments I have

    survived .  However I am still grieving the loss of my husband to lung cancer.  He seemed to have been diagnosed at an early stage but they did not

    treat him right away, they said they wanted  ' to watch it "   After several months they scheduled surgery to biopsy and possible lobectomy.  By they time

    that came it was in lymph nodes so they decided to close him up .  and scheduled chemo.   By the time that came it was spreading every where. In a couple of

    months I was making funeral arrangements.  Your Doctor mentioned life insurance- undoubtedly because if it was diagnosed cancer after they would not sell it to you.

    Please get someone to follow up on your CT and breast .  Stress is not healthy.  It does cause disease.  If you are able start to exercise, take time off to relax.

    Meet with some friends that you have fun with.  Take care of yourself.  Please keep us updated on how things are going.

     

    Donna G

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