Roger C

I don't post much, but I do read a lot. Well I am back on chemo and would like to hear from anyone that has ad this batch of drugs. The good, the bad and the ugly. Also successes or failures. My regiment is Cisplatin/Avastin/Gemzar. First week, all three, second week, Gemzar, third week off, then the cycle starts again. Any help appreciated.

Connie, just wanted to wish you the very best. You are an inspiration and an outstanding support to this site. Hurry back and all my best.

SOOOOO, very happy for you. Now relax and enjoy the Holiday Season. This is great news, even though I see it a second time.

Hi Connie, sounds like you have a great medical teams with a lot of confidence. Your a strong gal and I wish you the very best with this surgery. Your a great warrior.

I have been off treatments now for about 15 months. Has anyone here that has been off treatment for a while have problems with appetite. I do eat three meals a day, but I have take it or leave type of attitude. I feel bloated all the time. Wish I could eat like I use to. Just curious.

I find that I have a hard time dealing with the word, "Survivor". One of the reasons is all the post above me, which I feel are true "Survivors" The only thing I can say, is I am still a member of the human race after all I have been through. For that I am very thankful. So for a person with two separate cancers, lung and kidney, I guess one would say I am a "Survivor". I don't post often, but am always around. It will be two years in February.

Ry, I am so sorry. Just learned of this today. Please except my condolence and prayers for you and our family. Mr. Ry was an inspiration to me and many others here. Peace be with you all.

Thanks for posting this. A wonderful tribute. My deepest and sincere sympathy to Ry and her entire family. He was an inspiration to us all.

Just wanted to thanks all that has responded to this post. Maybe that is what I was looking for was feed back I these articles. I feel in my heart that they are crap. One has to maintain a positive attitude with this disease no ands, if or but about it. Live life to the fullest each and everyday. Wishing everyone the very best.

1. A man comes into the ER and yells, "My wife's going to have her baby in the cab!" I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs -- and I was in the wrong one. Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Francisco 2. At the beginning of my shift, I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall. "Big breaths," I instructed. "Yes, they used to be," replied the patient. Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes, Seattle, WA 3. One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a "massive internal fart." Submitted by Dr. Susan Steinberg 4 During a patient's two-week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. "Which one?" I asked. "The patch, the Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!" I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one. Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair, Norfolk, VA 5. While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, "How long have you been bedridden?" After a look of complete confusion, she answered..."Why, not for about twenty years -- when my husband was alive." Submitted by Dr. Steven Swanson, Corvallis, OR 6. I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a woman I asked, "So how's your breakfast this morning?" "It's very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste" the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled "KY Jelly." Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf, Detroit, MI 7. A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room when a young woman with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, entered. It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green, and above it there was a tattoo that read, "Keep off the grass." Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient's dressing, which said, "Sorry, had to mow the lawn." Submitted by RN no name AND FINALLY!!!............... 8. As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB, I was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams. To cover my embarrassment I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly. The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing and further embarrassing me. I looked up from my work and sheepishly said, "I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?" She replied, "No doctor, but the song you were whistling was, "I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener". Dr. wouldn't submit his name

Connie, you are absolutely right, I shouldn't be reading this crap. Sometimes it's hard because it stares you in the face. The info. comes from a very good site that I found as an off shoot to OncTalk. It does have a lot of good info. and maybe crap also. I check both sites frequently for latest updates. You are one of the first persons that really gave me hope on this site. Boy 12 years, truly inspirational. I do believe I am a survivor also. Two years in Feb. My primary doctor told me recently that I was doing good and When he first got all the reports, he would have given me 6 months. Yes, we all know the bad about cancer and if I offended anyone my my post, I didn't mean too. A lot of great people on this site and a whole bunch of SURVIVORS.

Here is another piece I just finished reading also. Which I think is a bunch of nonsense. Lung Cancer Survival Hasn’t Improved, Despite Increased Spending As Reported by HealthDay News. 2007 Oct 23 The survival time of a person diagnosed with lung cancer has not changed significantly since the 1970s, although the cost of treating such a patient has increased by $20,000 per patient. The 1 year survival rate of lung cancer patients has increased 5% since the late 1970s and the 5 year survival rate has remained the same at around 16%. The cost of keeping a lung cancer patient alive can be extremely high. For a patient with local disease, the cost of a year of life is around $143,000. If the patient has metastatic disease, the cost of 1 year of treatment rises to almost $2 million. A representative of the American Lung Association contends that the cost of treating lung cancer is no greater than any other cancer. However, lung cancer is largely preventative and greater government spending on the prevention of smoking would lower the occurrence of lung cancer and subsequently, the cost of treating the disease. Both articles I mention are found in: http://www.oncologystat.com/index.html

Connie, thanks so much for that YouTube link. That was amazing. I still have tears in my eyes.

After reading this article yesterday, I was a little down. Ater giving it some thought, I said the research may be right. But I refuse to stick my head in the sand and let the cancer control me. Quality of life is so very important and I will try each and every day to live with Hope and positive attitude about the future. A Positive Outlook Doesn’t Change Cancer Prognosis As reported by BBC News. 2007 Oct 22 Keeping an upbeat attitude is important to many people during cancer treatment, but it won’t help them fight the cancer or improve their odds of survival, according to a recent study. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania followed 1000 patients with head and neck cancer and found that high spirits had no bearing on the state of the disease. Patients should not be discouraged from keeping an optimistic outlook or seeking emotional support from groups or counseling. These coping strategies can help cancer patients deal with the rigors of treatment and the emotional turmoil of having cancer, which can help them maintain a better quality of life. The study offers a bit of relief for people who don’t feel optimistic while being treated for cancer. Patients are often encouraged to stay positive and told that having a fighting spirit will help their bodies fight the disease. The study shows that this is not the case, and they are not more likely to die if they feel anxious and discouraged during treatment. A positive attitude may help patients return to their normal daily life after cancer treatment finishes, but a negative attitude won’t hurt their chances of surviving the disease. What are your thoughts?

Such great news. What an inspiration!!! Congratulations.

Sending all positive thoughts and prayers. Congraduations on one year. Tarceva is a good med. and has done wonders for a lot of people. Hope it does great things for you also. Stay strong.

I lived all my life in New England. A great area, but right now I can't stand the cold and snow, or I should say my body can stand it. I'd have to go south, anywhere warmer.

Just sending strong and positive thoughts for good results from the scans. Think positive. If he is going to have chemo, a port is the way to go. A lot easier on the veins. Wishing him all the best.

Welcome to the site, sorry to hear about your Mom. There is a lot of good people here, let me phrase that, a lot of awesome people here that will be very happy to assist you in any way they can. The one thing you said is your Mom has a great attitude. That is a big part of the battle. Keep her spirits up and stay positive. All my best

I am so sorry that you had to find a support group, but you have joined the best. A lot of great people here and long time survivors. Please feel free to ask anything, someone will have an answer. Stay positive.

I was a little down today and then read your post. All I can say is "THANK YOU"

Dave, as you can see I am not exactly a gun ho poster. Like you I come here often during the day and read the forums. There is nothing that pleases me more that to hear good stories and how well people are doing. That is so encouraging to me. I know there is a lot of sadness also and that really bothers me deeply. No one should shy away from posting good news. It is so,so helpful to newcomers. Just wanted to say something about your excellent post. Thanks.

Hey, just wanted to let everyone know that I am still around. Sorry for not posting anything in a while. Also like to thank Maire for keeping everyone aware of me. Just healing slowly from my kidney turmors surgery. Lung cancer seems to be in remission. Nothing else new.

With you all the way, Great News!!!!! Continue to be Positive.

Just thought I'd check in. Have not posted in a long time. Did post to this thread in April last year, I was just starting then. It make one year this month and I am still kicking and hope to be for a longtime. I have been in chats on Tuesdays and read a lot. I was encouraged by this thread back in April and it encourages others.