Laurel77

Hi Christine. It's a scary diagnosis and a rollercoaster of emotions no matter what stage you are in. Here's hoping you are finished with this and need no further treatment. No guilt! We are all in different stages and points in our treatment, and as Justin said, it is always wonderful to hear good news. Peace and love, Laural

Lahalsa, times have changed, and not all chemo will cause you to lose your hair. I am currently on Cisplatin/Alimta and was told by my docs that this will not make my hair fall out. Bonus. It is not stupid or vain to worry about losing your hair, it is just another horror and life changing experience this wretched disease lays on you. Of course we would all choose life over hair, but still. WTH, right? Personally, I had a serious issue with anger over this happening to me in the first place. I was (and still am some days), just plain pissed off about it. I want to be who I was before cancer, and the fact that I am not is quite upsetting, to say the least. However, the fight against this beast is first and foremost, so I direct my anger at cancer, and look forward to the day I can eliminate it from my life. You have many more road trips in your future. Let's kick some cancerous *ss, eh?

Hey Lahalsa! Oh my goodness, I know your fears all too well, as everyone here does. The initial diagnosis is terrifying. The waiting is excruciating, the tests, the scans, the worry, the HORROR ...ugh. ..we've all been there. Sending a huge hug to you!! You WILL get through this. Each day that passes will bring you more resolve to fight the fight, and fight you must. KNOW, that cancer treatment has come farther in the past 5 years than it has in the past 50. Also, as Lou said, many people here were diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 DECADES ago and are still going strong. Cancer is NOT a death sentence. I am recently diagnosed myself with stage 3 lung cancer which spread to the nodes near my collarbone. The thought of starting chemo and radiation scared me even more than the cancer did. Now, it has just become my new routine. It is not as bad as you fear, and I had myself all worked up over it for nothing. For any side effect you may (or may not) get, there are meds and tips to make you feel better. Last Tuesday was my first chemo treatment, and I am 12 days into the daily radiation treatments. The first two days after chemo were fine. The 3rd, I felt some fatigue and nausea. By the 5th day, I was back to work. I think you will find, as I did, that the care teams are absolutely wonderful people, and will do everything they can to help you through this. We will be here for you as well!! Fight the fight, darlin'. You've got this! Peace and love to you, Laural

Hi Karyn! Of course there is hope, that is why we are all here. I will let others with more experience as to your particular type of cancer answer the big questions. I just popped in because I can relate to your feelings and the story you shared. I felt the same way, and all I could think about after my lung cancer diagnosis was my mom and dad, who both died from lung cancer. Mom opted for the treatment, dad did not. Mind you, this was years ago, (28 yrs ago for mom and 15 for dad), and cancer treatment has come a long, long way since. Still, beginning treatment was the scariest thing I have ever done. But, as Karen L above said, what else is there? A fight has been brought to us, and fight we must. It is the ONLY option. I also get the 'friends' and their good intentions yet sometimes stupid words. Also the 'look' some give you like you are already dead. They do not know any better, and I find talking to people who have or are actually going through the cancer and treatment is the most helpful, hopeful and informative way to go. They get it. Our friends, in spite of their good intentions, .. do not. I also rely heavily on my wonderful care team to answer questions. I've found that questions are very important, as is being your own advocate. Our busy medical teams sometimes forget to explain everything, and /or assume you already know or were told. Whatever the case, I hammer them with questions constantly. I completed my first round of chemo last week. I'm also on daily radiation treatments. I made it through the worst of the chemo side effects and am feeling better today. I'm not sure what to expect, as I have been told the side effects get worse with each round, but forward is the only direction I can take. Fight the fight, Karyn, and NEVER lose hope. I have recently met many folks with different types of so called 'terminal' cancer who have survived for years and years and are still fighting on and enjoying their lives. They have become my inspiration. Everyone here has your back, and we will be with you every step of the way. Peace and love, Laural

Hi Rosie! I am also stage 3 NSCLC with nodes near the collarbone. Our cancers are almost identical! However, I am still waiting for treatment after being diagnosed on July 26th. Chemo and radiation start next week. After the initial horror of my diagnosis, the fear and anger have diminished, although I still have a relapse now and then. I now have a great hope of being cured of this hideous disease. Treatment today is FAR better than before. My doctors tell me that in the past 5 years, cancer treatment has advanced more than it has in the past 50 years. Uplifting news, eh? I have a friend with breast cancer who went through the exact scenario you describe. She also said that a benadryl IV was recommended, although she was already taking Claritin for her allergies, and with these two drugs combined they completely eradicated any back pain. Who knew?! Peace and love to you. We WILL get through this.

My second visit to the oncologist went far better than the first. I also met my radiologist oncologist and liked him instantly. Same with the tech who did my MRI. How wonderful to have a team who approach cancer with knowledge and caring, along with a bit of humor. I feel so much better to finally have a team of doctors that I am comfortable with. Biomarker results still are not back, but I am hoping for the EGFR gene, which will allow me to take a pill instead of a year long, once a month treatment with Durvalumab. Regardless, the every 3 weeks / 3 times chemo will begin soon, as will radiation. Still a bit scary, but I'm not nearly as scared as I was. Forward is the only direction to go. Thanks again to all of you xoxo

Hi Chazs. I am new here as well and share your sentiment. This was exactly my feeling when I was diagnosed on July 25th. "scared to death". I am still going through the tests, the waiting, .. and I am still awaiting treatment. This site, and the people who responded to me has helped my state of mind immensely. They are so kind, knowledgeable and supportive, it has warmed my heart and soul. Let's go through this together, eh? I feel If one more person tells me to 'stay positive' I will come unglued, lol...but it IS actually great advice. I am doing my best, and now have a new hope for the future. Treatment for lung cancer has come a long way. We will be OK. Love and peace to you. xoxo

Lilymir.. remote second opinion? I did not realize this was an option. JudyM2.. yes, I wholeheartedly agree. My second visit with this oncologist is tomorrow. I'm hoping it goes better than the first. I'm told the Biomarker results will take another two weeks or so. I'm wondering if I should wait to get a second opinion when they come in. I'm also wondering about all of the waiting. I was diagnosed on July 25th, and still have had no treatment. Tests, waiting, more tests, more waiting. I don't know if the chemo they plan on giving me is the right course or not, and the more I read the more confusing it becomes. I hate the feeling of helplessness and being at their mercy. My life is in their hands it seems, and I want it back in my own. However, I can not be who I was before cancer. I guess I am still having trouble letting this new reality sink in. Thanks, all. xoxo

Thanks, all. More excellent advice, but I now see I was not clear enough about my first time in the chemo room. I did not get an infusion that day, I have not started the chemo as of yet. The oncologist told me her girls would explain the chemo treatment, and sat me in that room. All of the other patients had already left. One girl, after printing out the paperwork, .. came over with papers detailing the chemo, with a newbie by her side. By this time all I wanted to do was get the hell out of there. She gave a quick run down of the chemo treatment. I did say to her as she walked me to the area where blood was taken, that they should at least acknowledge a patient who enters their room. She apologized, seemed sincere I suppose, and left me in the blood chair. Yes, I am most definitely questioning this place, and will mention my experience to the oncologist when I see her this Friday. My GP still insists this woman is fantastic, and to give her a chance. He also calls me at home to relay his conversations with her about my case, and is very supportive. I've been seeing him for nearly 30 years and I do trust him. So, I will give this place one more chance. I am also curious, did you all get a second opinion? I am considering going to U of M for a second opinion. My GP told me I can get any second opinion I like, but know that all cancer treatment is regulated by the gov, (comforting, eh?), and I would probably get the same treatment plan anywhere I go. Since U of M is a good 2 hour drive there and back, I am now reconsidering doing this. I also have an acquaintance who told me she went there for a second opinion, as U of M's Rogel is supposedly the best cancer treatment center in my state, ..and although they were wonderful, kind, caring and very professional, .. they recommended the same treatment plan she was given by her oncologist. Much love to all of you. xoxo

Wow, thanks so much to all of you!! I am still trying to navigate my way through this site, and did not see any notifications until today. I was quite sad on Sunday when I posted this, and thought no one responded. I was thinking, good grief, I can't even find any support on a support site. LOL. How wonderful to see your responses this morning. Thanks again for the support and the info. I appreciate it more than I can express! I understand the importance of a great medical team that I can trust, as some of you have mentioned. Unfortunately, I am not there as of yet. I do trust my primary doctor, who was the one who referred me to this oncologist and swears she is fantastic. However, my experience there the first time was not good. I felt I was in a meat-processing plant, and I was the meat. Nearly 3 hours in the waiting room, then talked to her for 10 minutes as she laid out my treatment plan, then to the 'chemo room' where she told me 'her girls' would explain the chemo to me, then she left as 5 girls sat and stared at their phones with no one even acknowledging my presence as I sat there alone and terrified. I started to cry a bit, got up to get a tissue, and one looked up and told me to 'take the box' if I wanted then went back to her phone. Good lord. It just all seemed so cold and detached. It WAS quitting time for them, so I suppose I will give this place another chance. The only thing that made this experience any better was the kind woman who took my blood. Anyway, the MRI and another visit to this place is coming this Friday. As for the chemo, Cisplatin and Alimta every 3 weeks, 3 times. Then Durvalumab every 4 weeks for a year. I think I can make the 3X treatment, but the year after is what is most scary. They have not yet got the results back from the Bio-marker testing. I am in a better state of mind than I was. It is what it is, and fighting is now my only choice. Thank you all again for your kindness and info. I am so glad I now have you to talk to. Bless you all!! xoxox

I was recently diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, which has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. After waiting over a month to see an oncologist, chemo'radiation is now coming up soon. I'm not sure which scares me more, the chemo or the cancer. Can anyone please share their chemo experiences? I'm trying to stay 'positive', but that isn't going so well either. Thank you..