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 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
 
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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

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

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

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 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
 

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
 

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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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