espy
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Posts posted by espy
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Norme,
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so down right now. You certainly have alot going on. Please know you and your husband are in my thoughts. Best of luck w/ your appointment tomorrow.
Sincerely,
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Dear J.C.,
Please accept my sincere sympathy for the recent loss of your loving husband. I can't even imagine how difficult things must be for you. Hopefully time will help ease your pain.
Sincerely,
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Dear Chuck,
Sorry I'm a bit late in responding. Just wanted to welcome you and at the same time express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your wife.
As you probably already know, there are many understanding and caring people on this board. Hopefully you will find at least a bit of comfort here.
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Linda,
I'm sorry about your father. My father was also staged at 3b back in the spring. I remember how discouraged I felt at the time.
His FL doctor said without surgery he'd be lucky to survive 6 months. That was back in February. Since then he has moved back to Maine, found new doctors, and gotten treatment. First they only did chemo because the cancer was too widespread for radiation. He had pleural effusion, had it drained in April, then finally at the end of April began chemo. A CT scan a couple of months ago showed some improvement. The pleural effusion had disappeared, so they began a radiation/chemo combination treatment which lasted 6 weeks.
He handled treatment quite well, with a few semi-miserable side effects. Lost 25-30 pounds, mostly from radiation side effects, but is now eating well and once again enjoying his food. It's been about 2 weeks since his last rad treatment. Also, his cough is much better than it was a few months ago.
Presently my parents are spending several days at their cottage a few hours from here. Before they left, my father built a new work bench, and did some insulating (not sure how smart that was). He's feeling better than he has in a long time and his attitude is good. Who knows what the future will bring, but for now I'm feeling good that he's feeling good and is able to enjoy life once again.
Hope my father's story gives you and your family some hope.
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Connie,
I got a good chuckle out of Norme's response to your post re "puter". Earlier today, after my 3 year old neighbor asked me the same question 3 times, it finally dawned on me that he wanted me to play a game w/ him on his "puter".
Best of luck w/ your surgery. Take good care of yourself. I'll look forward to hearing how things go.
Norme, thanks for that chuckle!
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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Wow!!! -- Great news Kathy!!!! Congratulations on yet another clean scan!!!
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CT results
in HOPE
Dear Cindy,
Count me in with the prayers. I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed as well. Good luck tomorrow!!!!!!!!
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Dave,
Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you and that I'm sorry you've been feeling so down lately. Wish there were something I could say that would help.
When my father first began chemo, he felt quite good the first few days, but on day 6, he felt really lousy. The next week, it was day 3 that he felt the worst. The week after that, he really didn't have a terrible day, and the last few weeks, the same thing. So, I guess you never know. I'll be praying that you have a good day on the day of your big golf outing.
Take care,
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Dear Ada,
I'm sorry to hear about your having to have surgery, but am glad that it is at least over with. I'll be praying that you recuperate quickly.
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip to Hawaii. It's so great that you and your husband were able to share an experience like that. Maybe you'll be able to stay even longer on your next trip there.
Please take good care of yourself.
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Dear Don & Lucie,
Just want to congratulate you on your 44th wedding anniversary. What a special day this must be for you! I hope you have a wonderful day together!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
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Dear Shannon,
I was talking w/ my sister this morning and was shocked and saddened when she told me about Mike. Like many others who read your post this morning, I'm also having a hard time reading through the tears as I type. I am so very, very sorry. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
With love,
Joyce
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Don,
I'm so sorry things are not going well for you or Lucie lately. I understand your frustration in "spouting off" in front of her.
I said some things to my husband a few days ago that I didn't feel good about, and I think it was because I hadn't been expressing my true feelings about my parents' cancers. I tend to let fear and sadness build up and then when some little thing happens that I don't like, I blow up. Afterwards, I feel rotten. On the other hand, when I make a point to feel and vent the sadness and fear as they arise, I feel much better.
Hope you're having a better day today. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Lucie.
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Carol,
My father has been on a combination of Gemzar and Carboplatin since April 29. He's has both good and bad days, and he did experience some nausea and vomiting even though they injected him w/ anti-nausea meds before each treatment. He now has some oral pills to take when he feels nausea coming on. We won't know for sure if the treatments are working until his CT scan scheduled for the end of June, but sometimes he feels as if his cough and chest pains have lessened.
I agree, your husband's positive attitude is a great thing!!!
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My father experienced a fair amount of nausea and vomiting during his second round of chemo. He received a combination of carboplatin and Gemzar as his first treatment and vomited once on day six. During his second round, he was sick for four days in a row after his double dose, beginning on day three. At his last appointment, we asked for a prescription for oral anti-nausea medication to take on an as-needed basis at home. He has lost quite a bit of weight now and his last treatment was postponed for at least a week because his white blood cells were down to 1.8. He received a shot of Aranesp instead of chemo this past week. Two days later his WBC's were up to 2.8.
Hope this helps. Good luck w/ your Dad.
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Best of luck!!! Will be looking forward to hearing about how you make out.
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Welcome back! My prayers are with your sister and her family.
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Don, the other day I was feeling overwhelmed and like I was being pulled in 10 different directions at the same time. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hollar, kick something, cry, grit my teeth or what. I just knew I didn't feel good. A short power walked helped at least for the time being, but deep down lately I've been feeling like I want to hop on the Appalachian Trail w/ my backpack and just walk away from it all.
Then yesterday I read your post about being pulled from a cliff. I thought about what a healthy attitude you have and how great it is that at least some of your stress was relieved by first sharing your true feelings, and then chuckling about it after picturing yourself hanging from a cliff. It sounds like you've really got your hands full. I figure if you can get yourself out of a bad mood w/ a little chuckle, then so can I.
Take care of yourself and keep on laughing and hanging in there!!!
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Don,
I agree w/ all the great things everyone has written about you. I admire you greatly!
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Renee,
Don't forget to take care of yourself. Most of the time when I'm feeling crappy, I realize it's because I've been neglecting myself. In order to be able to take care of others, we need to look after ourselves as well. I know it's not easy, but please try not to feel guilty for that.
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PS: My thoughts and prayers are with all of you also.
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Thank you all so much for your warm and friendly welcome, and thank you John for the interesting, detailed information on gemcitibine and carboplatin!
My father did okay after his first chemo until day 6. He awoke feeling fine, and ate a light breakfast. At around 10 he turned his head to see my sister coming in and suddenly felt extremely dizzy (as though he would fall out of his recliner) and just as suddenly began vomiting, accompanied shortly thereafter by diarrhea. He sees his doctor again for a second treatment tomorrow and at that time I will question him on this episode.
Thanks again!
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First, the FL pulmonary doc said it was inoperable because the mass involved the main pulmonary artery. Then the FL surgeon said it was operable and that time was of the essence. Since my parent's home is actually Maine, and that is where 3 out of 4 of their daughters live, my father decided to have the surgery done in Maine. So we packed them up and got them back here ASAP. The first app't we had here was w/ a surgeon who specializes in lung surgery. One look at the scans from FL and he told us it was inoperable because of the location, but more importantly because he felt there was lymph node involvement. They did a PET scan which reportetdly confirmed this. The pulmonary specialist agreed w/ the surgeon, so then we were referred to an oncologist. Intially Dad was supposed to receive both radiation and chemo, but after being hospitalized for 6 days because of malignant plural and pericardial effusion, radiation will probably not be done. The surgeon removed 800 cc's of fluid from around his heart. Dad felt much better after that procedure was accomplished. Not sure why they're not using carbol/taxol, will look into this. Thanks.
Calling all Survivors.....I need your help!
in GENERAL
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Just wanted to add that my 76 year old father was diagnosed last spring w/ advanced non-small cell lung cancer. He has received both chemo and radiation, but no surgery. He's certainly had his ups and downs, but at present is feeling quite well. My mother and he have attended a few holiday gatherings and are planning one at their new condo next weekend for several of their friends. Both my parents have been decorating up a storm and are enjoying doing it. Last spring we were all doubtful as to whether Dad would be around this Christmas. Fortunately, he handled treatment well and has shown significant improvement. We are all very thankful, and much more hopeful than we were a few months ago. Thanks to all the positive people on this board, my hope continues to grow.