tatlyn

That is so great!! Here's to so many more happy times and memories made!! Lynda

sincere, heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Lynda

.... will side effects worsen the more treatments are had and the drugs build up in your system? Or, can we expect that how my Dad felt in the days after his first treatment will be the norm, more or less, throughout the course of the 4 cycles?

(((Karen))). I wish I could offer more. May God comfort you and keep you strong. Lynda

I'm so sorry to hear that you Dad is having so much pain. I'm sending prayers for him and your family. Lynda

Thank you everyone for all the good advice. All in all Dad's been doing pretty well in the 3 days since his treatment. He's slept through the night, every night, and hasn't actually thrown up. Yesterday seems to have been the worst and today so far he's feeling good. Karen335, Dad takes the dexamethasone twice daily starting the day of his big treatment and continues with it for the following 3 days. He doesn't take it with the small treatment which is the Gemcitabine alone. I'm not really sure why it was prescribed other than the nurse said it is all helpful to control side effects of the chemo. MaryM, you said that Gemcitabine doesn't have the same effects by itself? Can we expect then that the worst of the side effects will be for the few days after his big treatment? Thanks again everyone. I don't know what I would do without you all. God Bless, Lynda

O.k., the ginger cookies are on the grocery list. I got the ginger ale today and lots of bottled water. Dad takes the Zofran twice a day, as per instructions and he also has apo prochlorazine which he can take as required every 6 hours. The Oncologist also gave him a prescription for dexamethasone...twice a day.

Thank you so much Kelly and thanks Don. Eating every few hours shouldn't be a problem for my Dad..he loves to snack

Dad had his first chemo treatment yesterday...we were all very relieved that we are now doing something to fight this thing. The treatment was a big one, five hours, but all went well and Dad felt good last night, slept really well through the night and was still feeling good when he got up this morning. The nausea hit about mid morning. He has prescriptions for anti-nausea drugs including Zofran which I understand is very good. Other than the feeling of being sick, there has been no actually throwing up as of yet. I'm just wondering if there are some things that can be done, quick fixes, to help him feel better sooner? Have you found that some things work better than others? I'm up for any and all suggestions. Thank you so much everyone for being here. God Bless, Lynda

That is so wonderful Char, yippee!! Lynda

Welcome Paula!! I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this but you've found the right place for lots of love, support and encouragement. All the best to you and your Mom. Lynda

more prayers, (((hugs))) and best wishes coming your way today!! Lynda

Please Ellen, don't send the snow from Europe, at least not to Canada...once it gets here it tends to want to stay. We have been blessed in southern Ontario, in my humble opinion, with a joyous winter so far...much milder than usual and not too much snow. Most of my friends and my husband would completely disagree with me though and are longing for the stuff...freaks they are

Hi Chuck, My Dad just had his first chemo treatment today so I'm not one that can answer your question but I know many others can and will. I just wanted to say welcome. You've come to the right place for answers and whatever support you may need. Lynda

I remember when a bag of chips and a pop were a quarter (which represented a big chunk of my tip money from my paper route ...when kids had to be home when the street lights came on. ...I remember that knife man too!! ...and Don, I also have the *pony* picture. I remember when my husband (then my boss) and I worked in the service department of a car dealership and we arrived one day to find this computer thing that we were, from then on, actually expected to USE!! Well, we scoffed at and resisted that idea for as long as we could...there was just no way as far as we were concerned that the computer could improve on the way we already did things Oh, and the really BIG cell phone too!! My husband had one taken out of a car and built it into a briefcase, very cool

what's the Superbowl? o.k., I'm kidding, when did you say it was on? I'm blessed with a husband who doesn't watch football Hope all you fans enjoy the game though!! Lynda

Karen, I wish there was something I could say to you that would really matter. I wish that this wasn't happening to your husband or to you or to your family or to any of us here. (((Karen))). I wish you peace and love. Lynda

Thanks everyone!! My Dad is feeling much better today and so am I. I will try to think more rationally next time because I'm almost sure now that it was just a flu as Trish said. Marie, no...at least not now. My Dad was referred to a thoracic surgeon when the mass was discovered in the ER by x-ray. The surgeon was the one who scheduled all the subsequent tests and then delivered the diagnoses.

Thanks Trish...I needed to hear that. I feel so dumb and I bet you're right. Pre lung cancer, that is the first thing I would have thought of. Dad hasn't thrown up again since Saturday and he certainly had lots of rest when he was sleeping beauty...I'm sure he was thinking the worst as I was...we need to stop that. The delay in chemo is apparently because the 1st of February is the soonest they have a spot for him. He is anxious to get going with it.

God bless and comfort you and yours. Lynda

((((Marie)))) Lynda

Dad's first chemo treatment is set for February 1st. I wish it was sooner. The mass in his lung was found on November 23rd and it was on the 21st of December that the surgeon gave him the, "months only to live" speech. To me the time from first diagnoses to the first chemo seems long...oncologist seems to think not. Dad hasn't been feeling well...says he's nauseous and just feels crappy. He had a very strange episode a few nights ago where he was throwing up and dizzy...laid down on the couch afterwards and the next thing he knew it was 24 hours later!!! I didn't find out about this until after the fact. He's not thrown up again since but says his stomach still feels upset. He's not one that you can easily fuss over and he doesn't want to do anything about this right now. He says he will wait until he sees the oncologist on the 1st to mention this, if he still feels unwell then. I'm just feeling like I don't know what to do and wonder if this is the cancer, or maybe worry and lack of sleep catching up with him. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Thanks everyone for listening. God Bless, Lynda

Hi Heather. I'm new to this forum as well. I've learned quickly though that you WILL be able to find here the support and friendship that you are looking for. Welcome. Lynda

Beth, hoping that the words of love and kindness you find here will provide you with some measure of comfort at this sad time. Lynda

Don, I am so rooting for Lucie!! You are both inspirations to me and Lucie's story, from the first day I came here, has filled me up with hope for the journey that my Dad is just beginning. I'm so happy to hear your good news!! Lynda