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j ross

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Posts posted by j ross

  1. Dear Janet

    I am so so sorry to hear your sad news. Please accept my condolences. Although I am so far away I am thinking of you and your family.

    Jennie

  2. hello Chris

    Pluerodesis is done when there is fluid between the pluera and lung. (This is not very technical). Luckily they found there was no cancer cells in the fluid. I believe they seal the cavity so no more fluid can accumulate. (They sometimes call this talc procedure). The only problem is that this area area always lights up on a pet scan due to this procedure so one never knows whether this is tumor or aftermath of procedure. [Hope this is understandable]. The rash was at first unsightly. Now it has cycles of severity although it is manageable. Barry does not like using creams etc.

    We do ask if tarceva is a option but our oncologist feels that if things

    are ok they should be left. We have been told by a senior oncologist at a lung cancer centre in London that they have had modest success on switching patients from iressa to tarceva on progression.

    The main barrier to leading a normal life quite frankly is the worry.

    Best wishes

    Jennie

  3. hello Chris

    My husband is on iressa which is similar to tarceva.

    He has been on this drug for one year now and is stable (or ned they are no sure which). Side effects have been manageable diarrhea and skin rashes acne. Long may this last

    Best wishes

    Jennie

  4. Hello Nelson

    We live near London. My hushand Barry was diagnosed 18 months ago. The first oncologist more or less wrote us off. We sacked him. Barry is now on Iressa which I don't think they are precribing any more except for existing patients for whom the drug has been beneficial but you should ask about Tarceva which is meant to be more effective and has been shown to be particularly beneficial for never smokers. Never be fobbed off which I think is a tendency in the NHS. Get clued up on treatments and be very assertive. Barry is currently leading a normal life. He is working and travelling and feels ok.

    Jennie

  5. I have been getting angry too. A very prominent UK media producer called Harry Thompson died this week of LC. The media reported his death and commented how particularly cruel this was at the age of 45 as he had never smoked. I emailed the BBC and Newspapers pointing our that this was LC awareness month and that smoking and lc was not a straight forward issue Have had no replies. The one UK charity, The Roy Castle Foundation, seems to concentrate on smoking.

    Jennie

  6. Hello Debra

    Sorry to read about your diagnosis. My husband, Barry, was diagnosed with LC April 04. He too had surgery and they found it was more extensive than previously thought. He has been on Iressa (similar to Tarceva) for almost a year and currently is working and leading a normal life (apart from the worry). He too is a never smoker.

    Best wi;shes

    Jennie

  7. Of course there are problems with socialized medicine, I have to agree with that. Yes the first oncologist we saw we had a huge problem with but since we have received good treatment and no cost.

    I cannot say that in future there will not be problems but whatever system you live in there are problems as reading posts on this board testifies.

    You need to be well up on what is available and persistant whereever you live.

    Jennie

  8. Dear Ellen

    You are right to be angry. Here in the Uk there have been issues with very expensive cancer drugs.

    What has worked in some cases is that patients have threatened to take health authorities to court under the European Human Rights Act which gives individual"the right to life". The authorities have then caved in rather than fight a battle in the European Courts. Drug companies also give drugs on a compasionate basis sometimes.

    Jennie

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