hollyanne

How do all of you stay so strong?? I have some very good days, and then absolute breakdowns....and being almost 8 months pregnant and hormonal doesn't help. I feel like my Mom and family just can't get a break. this disease has spread through her bones so quickly, yet the lung has remained fairly quiet. We got the results of another bone scan last week which showed progression in the ribs, hips, femurs. She has little to no mobility at all, and that is the most difficult part...... My baby is due in December and the oncologist told me that there is a chance she will not see December. Yet, I have to think that means there is a chance too -- right? If she could just get some mobility back, it would be a different story from a quality of life perspective. Have any of you or your loved ones lost significant mobility and then gotten it back after radiation, etc. We did a mega radiation blast yesterday and also started Zometa. I want to thank all of you for your support, and please know that I keep you and your families in my prayers every night. Love to all, Holly

Hi - My mom has had a terrible time with pain and has been unable to get started on chemo...yet they recently put her on steroids, and she is doing better, thankfully. Given that she has new pain in her hip which is terrible..they are going to do a full bone scan tomorrow. If it is a met tumor, they will radiate that as well. My question is this...what is the differnce between a CT scan, bone scan and MRI -- what shows what. For example, if there were mets to the brain or skull, would those show up in a "bone scan?" If something is in the adrenal gland near the kidney -- would that show up in a bone scan or a CT scan or what. Please help!!! I feel so ignorant. Thanks very much! Holly

Libby - I am so happy for you and your family! My mom was diagnosed not long after yours...so I know that sense of wanting so desperately to have a "good" phone call with her or my dad. I'll be thinking about you. Holly

Fay - You are in my thoughts and prayers -- it is people like you that give me so much encouragement and hope as we move forward with my mom. Stay tough! God Bless. Holly

Hi - Many of you have responded to questions I have posed already. I can't thank you enough. My mom is a 71 year old non-smoker who is the most health conscious person I know - the diagnosis was a horrendous shock as she was having back pain....never though it would be cancer, much less lung cancer. To make matters very bitter sweet, I am having her first grandchild in December....she has been waiting a lot of years (I am 38!)....my mom is truly my best friend in the world. I so desperately want to make things better for both her and my dad -- a feeling I am sure that all caregivers/family members can relate to. The absolute best advice (besides counting on God to get us all through this) that I have gotten is truly one day at a time...the prospects of looking far ahead seem just too overwhleming. I pray that I will have the strength to deal with whatever, whenever I face it...versus trying to predict the future now. Thank you so much for the support. With love, Holly

Hi - My mom is about to start radiation on the neck and hip areas...she is in extreme pain. Originally she was taking percocet (a lot of it) which isn't working. The doctor has now put her on Dilaudid...can you tell me your experience with this medication, maximum dosage -- and thoughts about other pain meds to get her through this? Thanks, Holly

Thank you so much for all your responses... knowledge certainly makes me feel more in control of something I feel is spinning out of control. I am sure you all can relate. Thanks again.

Hard to believe I have a full-time job... another question from me! Can you please let me know your expereinec with the Genzar/carbo combination (side effects, quality of every day during treatment, etc.) My mom is doing a Mon/Mon/off/Mon/Mon/off/Mon/Mon/off treatment starting after radiation. Thanks again, Holly

Can you tell me where you or your loved ones most often see mets with NSCLC - I know the bones for sure and adrenal areas (liver/kidney?) and brain -- what about stomach? Just trying to arm myself with info. I so appreciate everyone's feedback and well wishes.

Finding this place is a God send. I thank you so much for your messages. It means so much to me as I travel down this road of complete unknown. I'll be in touch.

Hello. My mom was recently diagnosed with stage IV NSCL with spots in the left lung mets to lower spine and as of today neck vertebraes. She had 12 sessions of radiation on the lower back which went very well. She was supposed to start chemo today.. yet the MRI of the neck came back (she has severe pain) and now they want to radiate 10 sessions. I am very new to all of this and pregnant with her first grandchild (so I have pregnancy brain) - my question is, are bone mets always treated with radiation or just when they casue severe pain. She als has pain the hip and knee...they are doing bone scans next week... if these come back as mets, will they consider radiation on three spots at once? As all of you know... this is such a devastating thing to go through. My mom is 70, in great shape, never smoked and truly my best friend in the world. Sometimes I wonder how I am going to get throuigh the rest of this pregnancy (due in December.) Prayer helps and by the grace of God, I KNOW we will all get through this somehow. Thank you in advance, Holly