Meghan

Steven - Thank you for getting the word out to the public. I wish you all the strength you need and all the success in the world in your battle against lung cancer and against this incompetent doctor. Meghan

This is terribly sad news. God Bless Fay and her family. We know that she is free of this awful disease and healthy again. The pain is now with her family and may they receive much solace from reading these messages of love, sadness, and hope from all in this community. My prayers for those she left behind. Meghan

Michael - My prayers for you and your family. Your mother has taken a journey Home on the wings of eagles . . . her pain has ended. May your pain be softened by the many prayers and thoughts from all of your mother's friends and those who she has helped and will continue to help in this community. You will see her again. God Bless Fay and all those who she has left behind. Meghan

Congratulations on your wonderful news! Thank you, Jesus, is right! Your news gives hope and encouragement to all of us! Meghan

Fay - God Bless you and protect you from all anxiety and pain. May he comfort you and your family during this most difficult time. Thank you for all of your insight, wisdom, and comfort. You do not know me but you have helped comfort me and I hope that prayers sent upwards will comfort you here and for whatever journey may lie ahead. Meghan

Thanks Kelly - We definately need to dance in the streets and scream it from the rooftops but I think we still remain cautiously optomistic. Haven't quite got to the point of elation yet. Wish we could. Others seem to celebrate for us. It has been such a difficult year. Meghan

Hi Z - My mother underwent this treatment plan from last Summer through Thanksgiving. Her hair thinned a bit but nothing too bad at all. Sometimes she was delayed in her treatments because her blood counts were low but they would give her some counter-acting meds to help. Definately needed anti-nausea to be included with the drips. One time they neglected to use benadryl (or whatever anti-nausea meds they use) and she was quite sick the next couple of days. But, when they gave her the anti-nausea meds she was usually fine. Some diarrhea at points but helped a lot by Immodium. It affected her taste buds a bit but nothing that was too difficult to work around. Her biggest complaint was fatigue. She was just worn out by the end but she never got sick (flu or cold). Finally, as you can see, something is working because her last PET scan, thankfully, shows clear. All of these treatments are so individual but, overall, Mom's experience during the treatments was tolerable and the results have been excellent. Best wishes! Meghan

Greetings to all - I should have come here first to introduce myself but I have made a few postings over the last few days in the NSCLC section. I have been a "lurker" for some time and have received great comfort and information from all of you. Hopefully, once I sign out on this note, it will include my little history of my experience with lung cancer which has been because my mother is battling it for the second time. (I added it to my signature line so we'll see.) My mother's latest scans have come out very well so I guess I feel like I can breath again (first time since last April) and probably why I had the emotional fortitude to write in. Thank you all for your months of support that you didn't even know that you have been giving me. I hope that I can provide support to those already here and those (unfortunately) who are yet to come. God Bless you all! Meghan

Annamarie - I can't help you as my mother is entering her second week of taking Tarceva but please know that you and your partner are in our prayers. Meghan

Hi all - I kind of touched on this with my last posting "Tarceva Side Effects" and I got some opinions. The doctor has not told us that my mother is in remission. All that has been said is that all of the "hot spots" are "resolved" and the tumor does not show "hot" on the PET scan, has shrunk by over 40%, and the activity of the tumor is consistent with fibroitic or scar tissue activity and is termed "nearly resolved." I know it is good news and I just keep hoping and praying that it really is gone. The doctor encouraged her to take the Tarceva anyway even though he said the "standard of care" is to just do nothing and get periodic scans. He said that there isn't enough information about whether the Tarceva will really help at this point but it he kind of implied it may kill off or suppress any remaining cells that are present. Any opinions? I am concerned because of the posting I read in the "Ask the Experts" section in which some doctors believe that taking Tarceva now might make new cells resistant in the future. I might email that doctor, too, but I wanted to know what you veterans think about it. Finally, what does NERD or NED stand for? Thanks so much and God Bless you all! Meghan

Thanks to all of you for your replies to my post. My mother has not called the doctor. Her symptoms have subsided and are just the typical Tarceva reactions - chemical burn-type acne on her face, some diarrhea, and skin dryness. She's sticking with it. She felt fatigued this weekend but feels much better today. I believe very strongly in the power of prayer and believe that all of the prayers of family, friends, and strangers has certainly brought us to a good place in Mom's treatment. Thanks again to all and God Bless! Meghan

Hello All - I have been a "lurker" for quite some time but this is my first posting. My mother was diagnosed April 2005 with NSCLC Stage IIIB. She underwent a rigorous radiation/chemo combo followed up by standard Chemo (Gemzar and Carbo). She just had her last PET scan and it shows that all sites (tumor and two spots in left lung and 1 spot in wall of mediastinum of left lung) are resolved or nearly resolved. (The tumor is the only thing termed "nearly resolved" and the indication is that what is left is consistent with scar tissue.) Mom just started on Tarceva on Sunday or Monday morning and almost immediately had stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and a chill (but no fever). I am hoping (as strange as this sounds) that is not the drug but, rather, one of the many bugs that are out there making many people sick in our area. She's feeling better tonight. Should she call her doctor? Has anyone else experienced these side effects (and so quickly)? Will they resolve themselves. Also, anyone else's doctor recommending that they take Tarceva during a time when their scan seems quite good? (Obviously, we cannot know - except through time - whether she is truly cancer-free.) Thanks for the input. God Bless you all!