Tracy

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ada's family at this time.

Thank you so much for the info. We had heard something before about a teflon coating but I am not really sure what they meant by that. Your description was perfect and I can now tell my dad a little more. I am glad to hear about Tims success with it and how he feels now. I know that for dad it really upsets him so I hope he will have that same success. Thanks again

So this is the update on my daddy.... Dad has now officially finished his treatment. Last day of chemo was on thursday. So now we are back to where we started in one sense. First we have to wait for a schedule of scans and then the results. I hate this part. This week has been hard for me mentally. While dad was in treatment it was almost like a break from it all...I know that may seem odd but I guess I mean because something was being done it wasnt so bad. Now it feels bad again...all the worries are back and stronger than ever, cause now you got the "what if nothing happened" to think about. I pray for something good because I worry my dad wont do anymore treatment..he didnt want to even finish this time around. Sorry for babbling...I feel like I have to hold my family together so I only get the chance to voice my concerns here.

Hi Donna, Dad is finishing up his last round of chemo today!! Yippee!! Now its just the waiting game to see if there are any result. Keep your fingers crossed. Tracy

Thats great news Annie...so happy for Tim!! Tracy:-) p.s. if you would be able to send me a pm or reply back here (whichever you prefer) I would appreciate it if you told me some more about the vocal chord surgery. My dad lost his voice due to the tumor pressing on and damaging on of the chords and was told about the surgery. He really wants to have it done so if you could enlighten me on it that would be great!

I wonder that same question. My dad had a chest xray done last september due to a partial lung collapse...7 months later he was diagnosed. I have heard that it could have been there for years, but if so then why wasnt it detected last september...makes you wonder.

Hi Shordy, I am so sorry for your loss. May you find the strength to get through this trying time. Tracy

Isnt it amazing how two little words can make such a difference! Thanks for sharing, congratulations!

Sandy I am so glad to hear your wonderful news!!! Thanks for sharing and inspiring! Tracy

Congratulations on a clean scan!! Enjoy the good news and celebrate!

YIPPEE Take good care of her! I know you will! Tracy

Thinking of you today, praying for great results!

Happy Birthday Ray!!!! Wishing many more to come! Tracy

Gosh Lily, that is so sad. I am really sorry to hear your story. Its a shame that you didnt find this board earlier and see how much hope really is out there when you have the right support. God bless. Tracy

Cheryl, So glad to hear that you are having surgery!! Thats great, like ginnyd said surgery is the best chance for cure! I will be thinking of you on the 15th and wish you much success! Tracy

Good Job David!!! Glad to hear you did so well, gosh and only having one lung too..so what were the excuses for all those that placed after you!! Just kidding...congratulations on a job well done!

Good job Gina! One day at a time....thanks for sharing. I am still in that stage where I know I NEED to quit smoking now, but somehow I just cant do it yet. You would think that with all that is going on it wouldnt even be an issue, but I am human and in times I am weak. As soon as I can get some extra cash I am going to try a new system..hopefully that will work. Congratulations on your success. Tracy

I sure hope that the question I am about to ask does not happen, but in case it does I want to be a little prepared. As I last updated, Dad has just finished radiation and will finish chemo next month. After that they will run all the tests again to see if there is any chance of surgery or any change in the tumor growth. So here is the question... What happens if there is only minimal change? Or no change at all? Then what? What happens to my dad? Do they do it all over again? I am not sure if dad will do it again. I know I am asking a little early, and probably making myself crazy playing the "what if" game...but now that treatment is almost over I feel scared all over again. Thanks for listening. Tracy

Welcome to the board, as unfortunate as that may be you have definately found the right place for knowledge, guidance and support. If you are unhappy with your doctors opinions by all means get a second opinion. I have met people on this site who were also told they were unoperable but after seeking another opinion found they were. My dad was also told the same by the first oncologist, however, his second advised that there may be a slim chance of it and after treatment is done he will send the reports to a thoracic surgeon to get his opinion on it. Dont give up hope...the numbers may be slim, but I like to think that someone has to be in the positive numbers so why not our loved ones. Tracy

Welcome back!

Joanie I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your daughter and in such a sad way. May God be with you and your family at this time.

Thats great news!!! Thanks for sharing!! Tracy

Happy Birthday Don!! Glad to hear that Lucie is coming home...have a great day tomorrow! Tracy

Earlier this week my family was surprised by my uncle who came down to visit us ( he lives 13hrs away ). Since then I have been thinking about my aunt. My Aunt Maureen was my dads older sister (53). She was the mother of three beautiful children. One of my cousins was getting married last year in August and we werent going to go due to the long drive, but that all changed when my aunt was diagnosed with SCLC last summer. The details of her cancer are unclear as I wasnt too familiar with all the lingo last year. We knew prior to the wedding that the cancer had spread to the brain and she wasnt given much time...so off we went. We had a truly wonderful time. I was only able to stay a few days because I had to get back to work but my parents stayed longer and had a really nice visit. She continued to undergo treatment but it didnt seem that anything was working, I believe she was too far advanced. But she still kept on trucking and it seemed like she was going to prove the doctors wrong despite it all. In January she called to tell us she was going to be a Grandma! My other cousin ( her eldest) was going to be a daddy. But unfortunately she didnt live long enough to see her first grandchild be born. My Aunt had passed in March of this year and her grandson was born last month. Even though she is gone, she continues to live through him as he was blessed with our side of the family's nose! Her funeral was an amazing experience for me. She lived in such a small town and when she passed it was unbelievable how the community pulled together to help my uncle and cousins get through the trying time. She was a kind, generous women who I will always love and never forget.

Just a quick update seeing as how I havent been posting to much lately and havent posted on my dad in awhile.... Today dad finished his last radiation treatment. He was originally supposed to have finished last week but the doctor said that he was only giving dad about 90% due to his size (only about 106lbs right now), so he scheduled another week of it. All done as of this afternoon! Dad also finished the third round of his chemo today and so now he only has one more to go!! Poor guy though, the next one starts on his birthday! What a way to celebrate eh? For some reason the chemo hasnt really effected dad so much this time and so after the treatments today my parents went down to the States to celebrate by hitting the casino! Perhaps my family has a small addiction to the slots but this is usually how we have fun celebrating!! Which is exactly what we are doing a few weeks after the last chemo appointment...VEGAS BABY HERE WE COME!! We are going to wait two weeks after the last chemo just in case he doesnt feel to hot and then off to Nevada we go! He is slated for another scan in a couple of weeks to see if there is any change after the radiation. Hopefully I will be able to post in the Good News forum then. There is still the slim chance of surgery after treatment all depending on if there is any change at all. Even then we will have to really look at it carefully though because there is a chance that if he does have the surgery he may not survive it. If only his tumor was not wrapped around a vital artery. Until then....its positive thinking all the way! I love my daddy!!!! Tracy