Donna G

Hi Judy , welcome. Tell us some more about you and what you have been through this year. Did you have surgery ? How are you coping? Do you have a local support group for lung cancer victims? If it was early in the year, have you had a follow up CT? Donna G

Wonderful articles! Great job! Donna G

Hi Michelle. Sounds like you are just beginning this journey. There are a lot of tests in the beginning. It is not unusual to be diagnosed with pneumonia etc that just does not "clear" up. That is the beginning of many of us on this journey. It is very stressful but it can be done. You will feel some better when you have a plan in place to attack this beast. Please keep us posted. Donna G

HI Debra. I had chemo and radiation first to make my tumor operable. Hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted. Donna G

Welcome Dr Jack West! Lung cancer is a very scary diagnosis to be given. It is very emotional and very exausting to go through the diagnosis and treatment. We all need lots of information to help us deal with this and also support. Donna G

Connie, my friend, prayers going up! Donna G

Wow. I really wish I had been there. Katie thanks so much for the pictures. In some way through them I got to be in my home town! It sounds and looks like it was so great! Donna G

Welcome. So sad to hear about your Dad. I remember too well how devastating it was nearly 9 years ago when I was told I had lung cancer. I also am a nurse so I knew enough to really get upset. Keep us posted. Donna G

Jamie that was wonderful! Donna G

One of your posts say that your Mom is 78 years old. If she has decided that she will take chemo but does not want surgery do not get upset. When they went in and did surgery on me all they found was scar tissue, no live tumor. Perhaps your Mom is right at her age. Donna G

Hi Barb, and I also welcome you "on board". This is a tough journey you guys are on. I hope we can help. Donna G

Wow. I am so sorry. You must have so much going through your mind right now. please let us know what the doctors says is the plan. Donna G

O, that's beautiful! Donna G

To me it is just an excuse to justify the insurance companies not wanting to pay for screening ( about $ 200 per CT) for all people . Most lung cancer grows fairly quickly, we know this because most lung cancer patients are dead within 5 years. There are types that are slow. If someone were 85 years old with BAC perhaps they would choose not to treat but watch and wait. As below says less than 4 % of lung cancer is BAC and it is not related to those with a history of smoking. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung (BAC) is a subtype of adenocarcinoma of the lung. Although traditionally grouped with other non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), BAC has unique morphological features and clinical behavior such as bilateral lung involvement, indolent course and lack of association with smoking. Some epidemiologic studies report a significant increase in the incidence of BAC. We used the SEER database to compare the incidence, demographics, and overall survival of BAC patients as compared to other NSCLC types over the past two decades (1979-1998). Although the incidence of BAC has increased over the past two decades, BAC represents less than 4% of all NSCLC in every time period evaluated. The 1 year survival rate is significantly better for BAC patients relative to other histological subtypes of NSCLC. There has not been a marked increase in the incidence of BAC reported to SEER over the past 20 years. Donna G

I just copied that and sent it to my husband. He is always mad at them for going to the bird feeders and steeling food! Donna G

They had it on ABC news this am. Dr. Tim Johnson talked about the screening and when Dianne asked him whether he thought it should be done he replied personally, if he had risks, he would have one! Donna G

They said that Katie Couric is going to have news about lung cancer, and how early detection can save lives. Donna G

Hi Cheryl. I just want to welcome you and pray we can help you. Donna G

We went through this here in Minnesota. We went to court with our Leutenant governor and sued for at least some of the money be spent on victims of the tobacco companies, to help them quit. Blue Cross who got a lot of the money in partnership with the state during the suit. They use to send a tea bag and a rubbing stone to people as a "quiting aide" now they must give out nicotine patches etc. Donna G

I did it too. Katie, I am so lucky to have met you on line AND IN PERSON! Donna G

I took Cisplatin , which by the way is also used for Ovarian cancer, and got neuropathy. It was 8 years ago , (Yippee, 8 years!) and I still have weird feet. They are very sensitive to anything. They demand such things as- perfect fit shoes and No changes! No sand in the shoe! No bare feet! They must wiggle if no shoes on so they can gather info about their surroundings! etc. They are not as bad as when first diagnosed, I don't fall down anymore! I can live with them, and again the good news is - I am living! Donna G PS, sure do hope they figure out a way to prevent people in the future from getting neuropathy.

Hi. Does your mother in law live in Minnesota? I was treated by Dr. Duane. He works at Park Nicolet but he also teaches at the University of Minnesota. If she lives in the twin cities area, and she does get a positive biopsy, we have a face to face support group in St. Paul. She could come and see who is being treated where etc. Donna G

Connie this happened last Friday? I don't remember you telling us! Sure hope you are OK now. Planing on seeing you this Tuesday! Donna G

I knew I had a good excuse! Donna G

Welcome. I imagine it is so hard for you not to be able to be there with your Mom and Dad. When I had chemo , one day a week because I had to have sedation I could not drive myself because it would not be safe to drive home. On that day my church set up a ride for me every time. Is there friends or church people or does he belong to the VFW or American Legion or somewhere that people would be willing to volunteer? If it is just for radiation usually it is quick and they would not have to wait long. Donna G