tatlyn

(((Lori))). I'm sorry things are so difficult right now. Many prayers for you and your Mom. Lynda

I'm so sorry, Melinda. Prayers for peace and comfort. Lynda

I understand your struggle and I sympathize. When in doubt, I always err on the side of imparting the positive and discarding the negative. I don't, won't buy into doom and gloom predictions and I've always encouraged my Dad to do the same. Had he based future treatment on the predictions of the surgeon who first diagnosed his lung cancer, my Dad likely would have foregone treatment altogether or in the alternative, had the treatment but with a mindset that it would be futile. Something lacks when a person enters a battle with the belief that they will lose it. If I'm reading your post correctly, your Mom made the decision herself to have more chemo based only on the information that there had been a reoccurrence and not on any prediction of success or failure therefore, I would encourage her to be hopeful. I wouldn't perpetuate the Doctor's doom and gloom by relaying his statistics. I like Don Wood's response. Best to you and your Mom, Lynda

Jen, I'm so sorry sweetie. Prayers for peace and comfort to you and all of your family. Lynda

May your Mom keep proven' them wrong!! Lynda

I am so happy for you Joan. Your post has me smiling from ear to ear!! All the best to you always. Lynda

I'm so happy to see your post Malou. Wishing you peace and comfort. (((Malou))). Lynda

Dear Jen, you are a sweetheart for offering your love, support and yes, especially your prayers to those in need of comfort. I believe in the power of prayer and you can send them this way anytime you like p.s. I've just read in another thread your good news. I am so thrilled for you, your Dad and all of your family. Best, Lynda

Dear Jen, I am so, so sorry for the pain that you are feeling. God's blessings to you, your Dad and all your family. (((Jen))) Lynda

Oh, Kelly, I do to (hope next week brings better news and health, for your Mom.) When you wrote, "but I'm not the one who is tired all of the time", it really struck a chord with me. I can't count the times I've said similar things myself in answer to people asking how my Dad is doing. I'll say, "all in all I think he's doing pretty well but of course, I'm not the one who has to be sick for even a minute or in pain, etc., etc." My Dad also lives alone and although he's only 4 minutes away and I'm over there several times a day, it breaks my heart that he is alone. Dad hasn't been doing well the last few days, the pain under his arm is back and he had a day today that prompted him to say that he couldn't wait for this to all be over. I don't know what to say either. I think we just have to always hope for the best and pray that tomorrow will be a better day. I wish I could give you a big hug. Prayers for you and Mom. Best, Lynda

I'm so happy for you and your family, Kelly. Wishing you many, many more happy and special occasions spent with your Mom. Lynda

Yipee , I am so, so happy for you Kasey. Wishing you and Ned a long and prosperous future!! Lynda

and for you and your Mom, Melinda. God Bless. Take care. Lynda

Joan, no answers, just wanted you to know that I keep you in my prayers and wish you the best always. Lynda

good one!! Bill, Your attitude and spirit are phenomenal. With those traits, half the battle is already won!! God Bless and keep on keepin' on. Lynda

Oh, WOW, Don, this is just the best news!! I could hear the hootin' and hollerin' all the way up here in Canada. When I got to the board and read your post, I couldn't have been more thrilled for Lucie, for you, for your family. Much Love, Lynda

Linda, I'm so very, very sorry. Please take care of yourself. Praying for peace and comfort for you at this time. (((Linda))) Lynda

Thanks for sharing Linda. Gregory M. Lousig-Nont, Ph.D, makes his point very nicely indeed!! Lynda

Prayers for NED for your Dad, Jen, and also that his pain will be eased. God Bless. Lynda

Carleen, I am heartbroken to read your post. I'm so deeply sorry for the pain that you are feeling. You are loved and we care so much. Prayers for comfort and strength. Lynda

Don, Linda, Kathy and Jen, Thank you so much for your prayers, best wishes and support. It means so much to me. Dad was able to have the radiation early (it was originally scheduled for tomorrow but we got in yesterday). All seemed to go well and he was relatively comfortable throughout the procedure. We'll see over the next few days how successful the treatment was, I'm crossing all crossables Lynda

Many good thoughts and prayers for your Dad. (((Jen))). God Bless. Lynda

Such a sweet and thoughtful post, Peggy. How are you doing today Carleen? How is Keith? We care so much. Keeping you both in thought and prayer, Lynda

Dear Carleen, please take care of you and stay strong as you can. I'm praying for Keith and holding onto hope. (((Carleen))) Lynda

I haven't been able to post much lately, Dad has had a rough couple of months, but I have been checking in and just wanted to let everyone know that I continue to keep you all in my prayers and wish you all the best, always. I feel that in the last couple of weeks, Dad has made much progress. Although it's difficult for him to be very mobile with the extreme pain in his leg, the pain meds provide enough relief, most times, so that he can be comfortable while sitting and during the night while in bed. We have eliminated a medication (for nausea) that as it turned out was making him MORE nauseous as well as effecting his vision and making him sleepy all the time. All those problems disappeared when we discontinued the drug. He's also back on prednisone and this has dramatically improved his appetite, which for about a week was non existent, so that now he is eating at least one really good meal a day and several snack type foods throughout the rest of the day. We've been doing a lot of trial and error with his meds and I think we've finally hit on a schedule of *how and when* that is keeping adverse side effects in check. We saw the radiologist oncologist this morning and it's planned that on Friday, Dad will have one big dose of radiation to the leg and to the other trouble spot, the left side upper rib which the largest lung tumor has grown into. All in all, I would say we are on an upward swing and Dad is in much better physical condition to face the upcoming radiation. He is scheduled to see the medical oncologist at the end of July and the second line of chemo will begin shortly after if Dad agrees to it. Although most of the tumors and nodules have remained unchanged from the most recent cat scan, the largest mass has grown. Dad has made comments in the last few months that indicated he was apt to forego more chemo. Today however, at the radiologist, he asked me which type of chemo (taxotere) would be used the next time around. I feel that if the radiation is successful in reliving him of the pain (especially in his leg) and he can have a few really good weeks before having to make the decision about more chemo, that he'll probably go for it. God Bless, Much Love, Lynda p.s. To everyone who will be heading to Texas for the July 1st bash....I hope you all have a fabulous time, I'm sure you will, and I wish you all a safe journey.