Andrea B.

Shannon, I will be praying that you get even more prayers answered for Mike. And that he gets some relief for the pain. Your attitude is amazing and I admire you for this. Especially when all the waiting and conflicting answers can be so frustrating. Keep up the hope.

Review of cancer drug to get fast track at FDA Cell Therapeutics Inc. said yesterday that its lung-cancer treatment will get a faster review from the Food and Drug Administration because it addresses an unmet medical need. The company's Xyotax medicine for advanced, non-small-cell lung cancer is in the final stage of two clinical trials, and Cell Therapeutics may file for the drug's approval by the end of 2004, it said in a statement. This type of lung cancer is incurable and current treatments have only a modest benefit, the company said. Fast-track designation means the agency will speed review of an application for a treatment of a life-threatening condition that has demonstrated the potential to address an unmet need. Xyotax contains paclitaxel, the main ingredient in Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Taxol cancer treatment. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/ ... brf17.html

Carleen, I will be sending many many prayers your way. I know it is easier said than done, but please try not to worry. Worrying ends up wasting time that could be better spent. You also don't want to make yourself sick. I will continue my prayers for you...you are in my thoughts.

Hi Kelly, I am so sorry to hear about your dad and the fact that you have to grow through this turmoil. It is a hard road with bumps, but with the support of this group it can be a road traveled. My mom was diagnosed in March and I found that time to be the most stressful. I am not knowledgeable enough to know if your dad's radiation treatments are aggressive enough. My mom received 33 treatments and they told her this was all the radiation she could receive. If you have ANY doubts, I think you should seek a second opinion. Well for that matter, I think you should seek a second opinion anyways...especially if the oncologist is treating it pallatively. Ada had given me a link back when I was searching for a doctor to get a second opinion (the second opinion made me be able to sleep at night). It helped me, so here it is: http://www3.cancer.gov/cancercenters/centerslist.html There is hope and don't ever lose that. There are people here with encouraging and inspiring stories. Anytime you need support, you should come here. I will include your dad and family in my prayers. Take care, Andrea

Good luck with your chemo, Ray! I will be wishing you all the best. My mom is on Taxol/Carbo and she is handling it very well. Her best day is the day after treatment and her most difficult day is usually the second day, fatigue and nausea. My mom has cut back on a lot of her usual activities, because she tries to avoid crowds, due to the risk of infections while she has a low blood count. However, we still go out for walks, to the park or get coffee. I know everyone reacts differently, but you have an amazing attitude and tremendous strength and I think this will help out greatly! I will be praying for you.

What GREAT news, David!!!! Thanks for sharing. Prayers are answered. I am very for you and your family.

What wonderful and encouraging news! I will keep you and your family in my prayers for success! Never give up hope.

Shellie, I am so sorry for the anxiety you are feeling. It can be so very overwhelming. I remember a few years ago when a friend's mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer (her mom is on the east coast and we are on the west coast). I remember saying to my friend that I was so impressed with how she was handling the situation, because if my mom was diagnosed with cancer I would drop everything, move home and do nothing but take care of her. Well, unfortunately...here I am. I am lucky because my mom lives so close to me. In the beginning, I felt the paralyzing fear, I need to be there for her, I can't do anything else...because what if something happens and I don't get this moment again. Well after some needed (continuous) counseling, a wonderful support group and loving parents, I realized that life does go on and that our loved ones, including my mom, want me to live it. I see my mom almost everyday, but I do take the moments to go away for the weekend, go out to dinner with my friends, take my daughter to the zoo. I now spend my time helping my mom with errands or other tasks she needs help with, I go to her appointments with her and we also enjoy time away from the disease...we will talk about her childhood, what my daughter is up too, etc. I find that by my life going on, it gives my mom an outlet too. I talk to her about how I feel guilty and there are times I have thought about moving home. My mom tells me she would never want that. She knows that I am there for her and love her unconditionally. It is hard, but you MUST nurture yourself and your husband. My friends and my mom continually remind me of this. I am one that always used to feel guilty, but now I am realizing that it is such a useless emotion. If I feel bad about something in particular, I tell my mom and we talk about it. I am able to be there for her, but nurturing myself too. It is not always easy. Talk to your mom. I am sure she would share her feelings with you. You sound like an amazing daughter and I am sure she knows how very much you love her. You are in my prayers and I do wish you some release from the anxiety.

Gail, I am very sorry to hear about your dad. As far as second opinions (this is my take)...do not delay any treatment in order to get a second opinion. My mom really likes her oncologist, he told her surgery was not an option and begun her on radiation and chemo treatments. She was very hesitant about seeking a second opinion, but I pushed and pushed. I wanted to make sure surgery wasn't actually an option and that she was receiving the best treatment possible. So about 4 weeks into her treatment, I found her a lung cancer specialist to go see. He agreed with her oncologist on all fronts. He also explained things much clearer to me and I felt SO much better after I left there. Also, you can only receive so much radiation, so I think it is vital to get your second opinion in the beginning of your treatment. Good luck to you. I will keep you and your father in my prayers.

Don, I am sorry to hear about the met in Lucie's hip. It sounds like she has had good success with radiation, so I will pray this continues. You both are in my thoughts. Good for you for going out and enjoying dinner. Take care of yourselves.

Sandy, what GREAT news!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your summer. Put off the exercising until after you have celebrated.

Jennifer, Sorry you have to be here, but you have met wonderful and supportive people here. My mom was diagnosed with NSC in March 2003 with mets to her lymph nodes. She has completed 33 daily radiation treatments and 4 chemo treatments. The initial CT scans show over a 50 percent shrinkage. The point is to keep hope and a fighting attitude. My mom has both and sounds like your mom...determined to beat this demon. I don't read any statistics, I just research information, so I know what questions to ask. God is the only one who knows how much time we have on earth, so I won't let any doctor tell me otherwise. Keep up the fight. Welcome to the loving group here. You can get some much needed support here.

Ginny, what great news! I am so happy for you. Enjoy the summer and just relax. All my best to you.

Carol, You hang in there (easier said than done sometimes). I will be praying that this new treatment will work. Your husband's attitude sounds wonderful and that is a big part in fighting this disease. I enjoyed your husband's comment to the doctor about not getting paid...I like his sense of humor.

Shannon, I am so glad to hear the surgery went well. Your optimistic attitude and Mike's determination are a true source of inspiration to me. I pray for continued success for you and Mike. It is also so refreshing to hear the way you are being treated by the medical staff, they sound like wonderful people. I will be thinking of you and wish you all the best on June 23. God bless you.

I am sorry to hear the visit wasn't great. Your attitude is wonderful and this will take you miles. Kick the cancer to the curb. Enjoy each day to the fullest and never give up hope.

Rana, Thanks for sharing the great news! I will continue to keep your mom in my prayers.

Hi Melissa, Sorry you have to go through the ups and downs of this awful disease, but you have found great supportive people here. My mom was diagnosed with Non Small Cell in March 2003. She found a lump on her neck and went in to the pulmonologist for a biopsy. He gave her the diagnosis of cancer. They then ordered a CT scan, PET scan, and MRI of her head to find out if the cancer had spread. However her pulmonologist turned it over to an oncologist after the initial diagnosis. She has been dealing with her oncologist throughout all the additional tests. I know that the PET scan seemed to be the most thorough in detecting whether the cancer had spread elsewhere. I think the most difficult time for me so far has been the month following her diagnosis. I felt so overwhelmed with all the information and confused on what I did read. I then found this group of loving people while doing some research. They have answered my questions and calmed my nerves. So here is the place to turn if you need support. I will be praying for you and your family. Remain hopeful, because hope and a positive attitude carries us so much farther in life. All my best, Andrea

I will be praying for your dad, you and your family.

I will keep you in my prayers, Lenny. Remember, never give up hope!

I think Bruce Willis has nothing on Dave!

Dear Sophia, I will keep your father and your family in my prayers. The initial shock of the diagnosis is horrible! When my beloved mom was diagnosed in March I thought my world was ending. Then I found this wonderful group of people here and started getting proactive about her treatment. I begant alking to my mom about how we are going to beat this awful disease and that she will be around to watch her grandkids grow. Hope is wonderful, never give up on it. And when there are days that you do feel lost, the supportive and loving people here help you go on. You are in my prayers.

Right after I slammed the door in the doctor's face, I would tell him where to go. Nobody has any right to tell you how long you have, only God decides that for us. There are survivors. My mom has IIIB and the doctor we sought for her second opinion told her that there are survivors out there and she could be one of them. Never ever give up hope.

Estelle, what wonderful wonderful news!!! I am so happy for you. Celebrate!!!! Thanks for keeping us update, I love the positive news it continues my faith in hope.

Great news, Don! I pray that you will continue to receive good news! All the best to you both.