Tracy

YEEHAW!!! Congratulations!

Although I am unable to advise you on the antidepressants I can tell you a little about my dads experience with losing his voice. Shortly after he was diagnosed he started to go hoarse. Apparently the tumor was pressing against a nerve damaging one of the vocal chords. It was suggested that after treatment he may be able to have a surgery to repair that. I know some on this board have done so. Luckily for my dad his tumor shrunk by more than 50% after treatment and shortly therafter his voice has returned. It is not quite 100% of what it used to be but is it pretty close. You and your family are in my prayers. Tracy

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! WONDERFUL NEWS!

Hi Debbie, I just wanted to say that I am so sorry to hear that your mom is not doing so well right now. As others have said, try to remember that perhaps the things she says could be reactions from the drugs as well as her own way of dealing with what is happening to her. My dad was always very negative and worried us alot....but I wouldnt stand for it and I let him know it. Just 26yrs old and I was acting like the parent! All you can do is be there for your mom physically and emotionally. Hang in there! Tracy

Negative! What a fabulous word!! Congrats

May God bless you with the strength you need. Sending a prayer for your family.

I am sorry for your loss..may you find the strength to get through this trying time.

Good for you...perhaps this will inspire all of us to get out there and do something!

Your father may get down from time to time, and he deserves to have the pity party every now and then...this is afterall happening to him ( although many would say it is the whole family, ultimately this is his life and his disease ), but only now and then. Next time he seems sad just tell him how much you love him and with a smile not a tear...dont give up on him and he wont give up on himself Hang in there sweetie

Sending many positive vibes and well wishes your way! I will think of you and your mother tomorrow....be strong, and if you ever need anyone to talk to I am here ( I felt like I had to hold the whole family up so I know what you mean) Hugs Tracy

I cant believe this...what a day for results!!! I am sooooooooooo happy for you! I wish your step dad continued success!

Cheryl that is great news....combined with my dads fabulous news and now you and Ray, happy tears are flowing!!!!

Ray, I am a little late, but CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! This is wonderful...I am so glad you are having great results...your spirits seem higher now than in the past. Good to hear! Thanks for sharing!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes and support over the last few months. My dad got his results today from his CT scan last week and GOOD NEWS!! His tumor has shrunk more than half!!! Surgery still looks out of the question but the doctor said that he isnt even sure that there is any cancer in the tumor that is still there! Overall it looks like Dad just has to go in every three months for a checkup to see if there is any new growth..so basically he is now "living with cancer" but at least he is living!!!! He looks good ( even his hair is growing back ), he feels good and I am so grateful to still have him in my life. I love my daddy!!! Thank you again everyone for being there for me...I will not abandon this site..hopefully in the months ahead I wont be in need of prayers again but if I do I know that you wonderful people will be here for me again, and in the meantime I will still be here for you! Tracy

Thanks everyone! I will be posting in the good news in just moments...I am so happy!!!

My dad goes for his CT scan tomorrow (october 24) morning. This will be the first testing done since his treatment ended last month. Results will be given on the 31st. The doctors originally said they would hope for dramatic results so that his scans could be passed on to the Thoracic Surgeon to see if there is any possiblity of surgery. Surgery is key right so that is what I am hoping for. I am scared. I sit here typing this and it takes me almost two minutes to complete a sentence....my head is all over the place. I know that if my father does not get the results he is hoping for he will just say "oh well we tried" and give up. He will not go through treatment again..that much I know. And that frightens the heck out of me. I dont want to play the "what if" game but I find myself consumed with it. If anyone has any positive vibes they could send our way it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I see from your signature that it took some time for you to get treated. My dad was diagnosed in April but didnt start anything until July...and I thought Canada had a decent medical system! I have seen people on this site begin treatment within THREE weeks of diagnosis. Anyways, sorry had to vent, I am glad to hear that you have wrapped up radiation and I am sending my positive vibes your way!! Tracy

Thanks for sharing your inspirational news!! Way to go Lucie!! Keep kicking butt!!

Truly inspirational!!! Congrats on the fabulous news!!

hello everyone.... it has been awhile since I last posted and its going to take some time to get all caught up on everyone!! we promised dad that we would go as a family to las vegas to celebrate his treatment ending and so that is exactly what we did. my sister and I just got back today but my parents are staying a few extra days. while we were there they hit a jackpot on a PENNY machine and walked away with $4000!! we were all quite shocked at this. thankfully they are continuing to be successful because they sure could use it, my dad is self employed and so he has been out of work pretty much since april. it was so much fun and we had a wonderul time together. when dad gets back he is scheduled to have some tests run at the end of the month to see if there is any change since treatment began. I dont want to get my hopes up but I think that the tumor may have shrunk. I think this because he lost his voice from the tumor being so large that it damaged his vocal chord but lately it is almost 100%. he looks and feels good, so this is what I am praying for. we will know the results on Oct.31. in the meantime my sister and I have to begin packing because we bought a house together and move in on Dec.2...lots to do!! I hope that everyone here is experiencing success in their battles. hugs and prayers. Tracy

You are such an inspiration to us all....keep up the good work! Love the 'do!!!

As many others said before me...what a great word "normal" is..congratulations on being able to embrace it! Best Wishes to Lucie and your family. Tracy

Keep on fighting Janet....I am happy to hear that chemo hasnt been too difficult for you this year, but I am ecstatic that you are here to tell us about it!

To both Andrea and Paula, Welcome to this site...I am sorry we have to meet this way but you have come to the right place. I am 26 and the baby of my family, my father 51 was diagnosed in April 2003 and I have felt like the weight of the family has fallen square on my shoulders. Without this site I would be a wrech. As with anything you have to take the bad with the good, so you may get sad from time to time after becoming emotionally attached to the people here, but you will also be uplifted with the great news others share. If you have any questions or just need to vent...we are all here for you. Tracy:-) p.s. Paula, my fathers tumor was also quite large, if I recall it is about 8-9cm. Due to its location surgery is not an option so we turned to chemo and radiation...just finished that up so hopefully I will be able to share some good news with you...even for the big ones!

What fantastic news! I am so thrilled that everything went well....wishing you a speedy recovery Cheryl...thanks Jack for letting us know the great news!