EastCoastLadi

Brian, Thank you again for the update. I can't believe all that Joanie has gone thru! I'm sending my prayers her way for a speedy recovery... Grace

(((Kim))), I'm so very sorry you have to go thru such pain. Please know we are here for you. Grace

Lynda, I am so sorry about your dad, please know my prayers go out to you and your family. Grace

There were four country churches in a small TEXAS town: The Presbyterian Church , the Baptist Church , the Methodist Church and the Catholic Church Each church was overrun with pesky squirrels . One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels. After much prayer and consideration they Determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will. In the BAPTIST CHURCH the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week. The Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creation. So, they humanely trapped the Squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back. But -- The Catholic CHURCH came up with the best and most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter

John, I'm very sorry for your loss. Please know that there are many people here who will be here for you. Grace

Flowergirlie, Welcome to you, unfortunately I too have walked in your shoes. I feel like I'm an "old pro" at this. My husband has extensive Small cell. First what you are experiencing is perfectly fine, by that I mean, it's ok to feel overwhelmed, angry, sorrow, fear...listen you just got hit with a ton of bricks! I have told others who come on here w/ Small Cell lung cancer to read my profile and see what my husband has and is going thru. I want you to know that your husband is young and that is a good thing, because the drs. should be throwing everything they can at him, thats' what my husbands' onc. did to him, he wasn't sugar coating it, and I think my husbands' overall health( which is good) and being somewhat young ( 53 ) works in his favor. I also have young children 8 and 11 and it can be and has been difficult on them, but they're great and dealing with daddy one moment at a time. I would have to say that is one of the biggest differences now in our lives....one moment at a time. please, don't hesistate to pm me, because like I said, been there, and have done "that" for many months...... Grace

Dar, you stay strong! you're alot stronger than you think you are....I'm glad your mom is home with you, it won't be easy and you're only human you're going to have those "moments" ....it's OK....you know where to come when you need big shoulders..... Grace

Tracy, Welcome back! I'm so happy about your news.....seems like you bought back the magic from Disney!!!! ......... Grace

Liz, My husbands' radiologist is monitoring some tumor markers in my husbands' blood samples. His highest was 107 and now since he had taken etoposide, last month and w/ his IMRT and rad on his lungs/liver his marker has dropped considerably....he is last time checked 4.7 so he is in the normal range! .....the Rad. is very happy w/ this, and even his oncologist who isn't that big on tumor markers believes that this form of treatment for my husband is working....to what extent...he will have to go for more tests MRI, CT, PET to find out..... Grace

Bucky, I'm wishing all the best for you... Grace

http://www2.townonline.com/wellesley/ar ... eid=593464 Pan-Mass Challenge founder Billy Starr to be honored by Lung Cancer Alliance at Crystal Ball Thursday, October 12, 2006 Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, will receive the life-time achievement award of the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), a national organization that raises funds for eradicating lung cancer. Starr, a Wellesley resident, is one of six to be honored at the LCA's Crystal Ball. He was selected for his leadership and the unmatched fundraising accomplishments of the Pan-Mass Challenge, which Starr founded in 1980, and is now the most successful athletic fundraising event in the world. The PMC has raised more than $170 million for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. More than $15 million of that sum has funded lung cancer and related research at Dana-Farber. Starr is the only non-medical professional who will be honored at the Crystal Ball, which will be held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston on Oct. 21. To be recognized for their incredible contributions to lung cancer research are: Dr. Judah Folkman, Children's Hospital; Dr. Bruce E. Johnson, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Dr. Thomas Lynch and Dr. Douglas J. Mathisen, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Daniel G. Tenen, Harvard Medical School & Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Dr. David Sugarbaker, Brigham & Woman's Hospital; and Dr. Christina Williamson, The Lahey Clinic. "I am thrilled to be honored alongside these eminent doctors," Starr says. "It is a recognition that dreams can blend together seamlessly in common cause." Event proceeds will benefit LCA's efforts to make lung cancer a national public health priority, as well as support lung cancer research centers at the honored doctors' hospitals. About the Pan-Mass Challenge The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), presented by the Boston Red Sox and Overstock.com, is the nation's original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. The PMC is a model of efficiency for all nonprofit organizations. Last year, the PMC donated 99 cents of every rider-raised dollar directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC generates nearly 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and is its single largest contributor. In 2006, 4,300 PMC cyclists rode to raise and contributed $25 million to the Jimmy Fund, and to bring the PMC's 27-year contribution to more than $170 million. For more information about the PMC, visit pmc.org. About the Lung Cancer Alliance The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer and those at risk for the disease. Lung cancer causes more deaths in the United States than any other cancer. Over 60 percent of new lung cancers are diagnoses in people who never smoked or who quit smoking decades before their diagnosis. LCA initiatives aim to make fighting lung cancer a priority for more people and change public perceptions about the disease. For more information, visit lungcanceralliance.org.

Lillian, that happens to be one of my favorite poems!!! Grace

Congratulations Don!!! That is wonderful news!!! Grace

Sarah, loss of appetite is very common, if she can eat small amounts of food thats' ok, definitely the boost or ensure does help, also if she likes shakes those are good too. in terms of the brain lesion, just ask the dr. why, it could be for a number of reasons. With my husbands' sclc, they can do PCI ( profilatic cranial irradiation ), I don't know what type of cancer your mom has...but don't be hesistant to ask any and all questions to your moms dr. Grace

Brian, I'm so sad to here that Joanie is in the hospital....please let her know I'm am praying for a speedy resolution and recovery... Grace

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4275387.html Lilly Begins Alimta Lung Cancer Study © 2006 The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. said Friday it started what promises to be the largest clinical trial studying a form of quick-spreading lung cancer. The company hopes to see whether its cancer drug Alimta will be effective in treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, a form of the disease that spreads rapidly and accounts for about 15 percent to 20 percent of all lung cancers. Alimta is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of lung cancer. Lilly plans to enroll about 1,820 patients with extensive-stage SCLC and give one group Alimta combined with the chemotherapy carboplatin and the other group the chemotherapies etoposide and carboplatin. The primary endpoint of the trial will be to compare how long the treatments extend patient survival.

(((Beth))), you're only human....no need for apologies, it hurts that it hurts so hard.....there are no answers...just living moment to moment......you're not alone.... Grace

... I just read your update, and it jolted my mind about something my dad said when he was dying last year. He felt like he "deserved" all the pain he was getting because he had done some very bad things to the family......we told him, that wasn't the case, and we forgave him long ago...but perhaps this is your mothers' way of thinking she deserves it.... Grace

http://www.cancerpage.com/news/article.asp?id=10188 Cancer Survival Tied to Season of Diagnosis, Sunlight Exposure NEW YORK OCT 18, 2006 (Reuters Health) - The season in which cancer is diagnosed appears to affect survival, as does sunlight exposure to some extent, according to a study published in the October issue of the International Journal of Cancer. "Sunlight is essential for the production of vitamin D in the body," Dr. Hyun-Sook Lim, of King's College London, UK, and colleagues write. "Evidence exists to suggest that vitamin D metabolites may have a role in tumor growth suppression." The researchers used data from the Thames Cancer Registry to assess survival for cancers of the breast, colorectum, lung, prostate, and all sites combined, in relation to season of diagnosis and sunlight exposure. Patients who were diagnosed with cancer in summer and autumn had better survival compared to those diagnosed in winter. This was especially true in female breast cancer patients and both male and female lung cancer patients. The beneficial effect on survival was also observed for cancers at all sites combined in both sexes. Cumulative sunlight exposure in the months preceding cancer diagnosis also predicted subsequent survival. However, season of diagnosis was a stronger predictor. "Our results add to a growing body of evidence that vitamin D may play an important role in cancer survival," the investigators conclude. SOURCE: Int J Cancer 2006;119:1530-1536.

Darrell, miss you, you come back here soon!!!! my husband is going thru something similar to you......but just take it one moment at a time!!! Grace

I hate that you have to be in this situation! My heart is breaking just hearing what you have been going thru. All I can tell you is that when my dad was in his last weeks, the one thing that we wanted to make sure of was that he wasn't in any pain... Of course this is my opinion and everyone may think differently, you know your mom better than anyone else, she really doesn't want to be in pain. Her dr. really wants to help you out.....please, I've seen my dad in awful awful pain and I promised him that I would make sure he wouldn't be in pain, it took a little bit, some not so good results, but he wasn't in that agnozing pain. Work w/ her dr. if it was me, I'd get him to sign the papers.....I know it is difficult...you want to respect your mom, but you don't want to see her suffer........ please know we're here for you.. Grace

Netadmin...sorry about your mom...by all means talk to her onc. also if she is in the hospital, talk to the social workers, they can help you with everything you need to know about hospice, and get you started if you decide your mom needs it. Please know we are here for you..... Grace

Jen, sometimes it gets just too damn exhausting! my brain gets like mush, and I don't even know if i'm making any sense at all. I hate the fact, we wake up with cancer and go to bed w/ it every nite! but now the most interesting thing is happening, i'm taking my husband everyday to the hospital for his imrt/rad treatments and coming across new patients and families, and I am sharing our experiences and by that I mean not only my husbands', families, but here! and what i have gone thru here! The best part is that I'm educating people that I never thought I would be doing before and it is thanks to all the wonderful people here, your advice, knowledge and experiences......and btw - my husbands' dr ( radiologist - totally harvard u know), very nice....tells his patients and families, I know alot about this!!! so. don't worry.....sometimes being in the background is needed, and sometimes coming out of the light is needed too... Grace

I think what that may mean is with the "shoulda and coulda" things.... Years ago a very special person told me that you have to stop "shoulda-ing" all over yourself...... I think we all have regrets...... Grace

Chris, I'm so sorry that Meg is having problems. I know all too well how much we worry about our children. You know my prayers are going out for her and you and your family. I'm going to be sending those "positive vibes" your way......let me know if there is anything I can do. Grace