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Kathleen, I am so, so sorry thatyou have to go through this. The pain you must feel is horrendous. No matter what, be sure to take a deep breath every day, say a prayer to God for guidance, support, love, and like we always do...for miracles. No doc or person knew before cancer when your parents were going to pass, and they still don't...so don't get TOTALLY hung up on the "time frame" they gave you. It is in God's hands, as it always has been, and for that you have to be thankful, and have faith. Kathleen, you can count on my prayers, and please know there are so many wonderful people here to support you. This will become a haven of safety, support, and love for you. Dear God, please wrap your arms around Kathleen and her family, as they face these tragedies. Please bless them with strength, love, and peace, as you work your way with the family. Help them to stay strong as they walk the cancer journey, and may you grant them the miracle of healing for everyone. You have worked miracles before God, and I ask that you do so again. God bless you Kathleen.

Oh Trish, I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. This disease is so horrible, and it affects all in its wake...usually it seems to hit people over the head too...which really sucks! Anyway...I can say that we truly appreciated having a second opinion. I think it is a really good idea to do this, and it will give you peace of mind as well. The best docs it seems are compassionate, understanding, and thorough, and you have every right to require that for your mother. God bless you Trish, and I will most certainly keep you in my prayers.

Good for you guys. What do we have if we don't have hope? Hope is hope, and it is what oftentimes gets us through each day. It is our choice to seek the care that we seek...not someone elses.

Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about the last month and 1/2 of your life being so hard. This is such a waiting game. You have come to an excellent place though, and I hope you know how supported you are here. Please, keep us informed, and know that there are many of us praying for those with cancer, health issues, and lost spirits because of the "game" cancer puts us into. Take care!

Good for you Geri! Keep those legs -a -pumpin! Biking is one of my faves!

Oh Lor, I am so sorry to read about all of your frustration. First...the boogers at the insurance company have to be insane! Why not give someone the chance to try? I don't get it!!! Is your mom on antidepressants? That has been a HUGE thing for my dad. I am really impressed with how they are working. I assume it is standard fare, but you never know. Life is so hard. I will pray for you Lori. Keep your chin up and know we support you here!

Even though things aren't "back to normal" they are certainly up and running!! Thank goodness! I was even Googling your name to find a way to get ahold of you and find out if I was doing something wrong!!! Thanks guys!

Well, if you are loony then so am I. As I am reading this I am thinking about the spot on my armpit that has itched for months and months....There are lymph nodes there...should I be worried?

Congrats! Wish I lived there so I could buy one!

Oh Carleen...I am so, so sorry. This is just terrible. I pray every day that my friends here get blessings of healing...this disease is just so horribly strong. It is frustrating! Please know that I am praying for you and for Keith. My dad had the SVCS also, and it is scary. Stay together, pray together, and know you have people, all around the world who are praying for you as well. Dear Lord, please bless Carleen and Keith with strengh, hope, and peace. As always I pray for the miracle of healing for them, and for all others so plagued with this and many other diseases. God bless you Carleen.

Wow...and what a journey this cancer stuff is...I just thought I would update you all on my dad. We are doing VERY well, in fact it feels almost scary. I keep wondering when the bomb is going to hit, or when something is going to pop. Dad is now having radiation and chemo simultaneously, so he does feel tired...he is entering week three of radiation, and set 4 of chemo. He started on anti-depressants to sleep and help with his getting lost in emotions, and it is AMAZING! I would suggest this to anyone, as it has changed him. He is doing so much better. I mean, we all know he has cancer, and that sucks, but he wants to be a part of everything again, and even if he can't be, his desire is there, and that is so valuable. In fact this weekend we went boating, on a gorgeous evening, and I looked over at him, and there was so much peace there. I feel so blessed to have that view from where I stand, scared to death... Dad lives about 5 hours from Mayo, so he and mom go there on the weekdays and head home on the weekend. They were lucky to get into a place called the Hope House, or Hope Lodge or something like that. It is an amazing facility. They are having fun...can you believe that...FUN! with cancer. Weird, really weird. But, they are meeting people from all over the world, with cancers all over bodies, and with hope, lots and lots of hope. They eat together, pray together, enjoy various entertainment provided by the facility. They are really lucky. Again, another true blessing... At this point we don't know when we get to "see" the cancer again, to find out what all of this is doing, and I guess I keeping feeling like that is where my fear starts to take over again. Urgh!!!! Thanks for reading this. Anyway, I have rambled on enough. This site has given me so much peace. God bless you...as usual, pray for miracles, and for renewed health, strengh, and peace. Jen

Lori, You are such an amazing daughter. God will bless you a million times over for being so good. The ^&$&^ insurance company is a pain!!! Keep us updated!

Happy Birthday Katie B. You are such an inspiration. Thank you for all you do!

Greenlass, welcome to a wonderful community of listeners, advice givers, and information gatherer. Being a care giver is a HUGE task...it is a tightrope of push and pull...leave alone, prayers, and the list goes on and on. Continue praying to God for strength, and He will bless you...as you know.

Oh Carleen. I am so sorry...you can most certainly count on my prayers. This disease is so vast...I can't believe it. May God continue to watch over you and your family, may He bless you all with peace, renewed strength, and as always miracles...Jen

Lynda, May God watch over you, your family, and most certainly your dad through this trying time. May God bless your dad with peace, pain relief, and strength to get through each hurdle. May you and your family know the healing powers of God...as always at our house, we always pray for miracles too. God bless.

Urgh! How frustrating! I am so sorry that you and Jeff are going through this. This disease is so destructive, it stinks. I am such a newbie at this whole thing, and I know only dribbles of information about this type of cancer. However, from what I understand SCLC is one of the fastest growing cancers there is. When my dad was diagnosed, they told him that had he not saught treatment he could expect 2 months. They said the tumors that were huge on the cat scan would probably not have even been visable 6 months prior. In addition, from what I understand an individual can be diagnosed with both...meaning they have both SCLC and NSCLC or the tumors have characteristics of both. One responds well to chemo, one does not. I hope so much that you have come to some peace with this by the time I have read your post...I will certainly say a prayer. SVCS is so scary. My dad had the swelling as well. Be sure to seek other opinions as that has been so valuable in our case as well...the treatment options are so vast, it is nice to know what is out there. God bless.

I will most certainly have her in my prayers.

Laurel, Welcome to the boards. I am so sorry that you and your mom are going through this. One of the things you will find here is that many don't believe in the numbers game about time...we don't know God's plan before diagnosis, and we don't know the plan afterwards. I will say a prayer for you and your family. May you stay strong, steadfast, and secure in knowing that what is meant to be, will be, even if it is hard for us to understand. I hope you saught second opinions...they are so vital.

I don't know much about the diagnosis part but want you to know you can plan on my prayers.

I am so glad your trip was a success. I will certainly pray for your mom for this next phase of her disease. You stay strong!

If I haven't said this already, welcome! I am so sorry that we have to meet such amazing people and hear such amazing stories, because we all have a connection to this *&!% disease!

Lynda, I have no advice, but wanted you to know I am thinking of you and your dad. I pray for your dad's renewed strength and peace from pain.

Cindy, I feel at such a loss as to give you any advice on this situation. It is just so hard to see this disease take over, and to watch our parents become so trapped by its pressure. I do agree with Don though, in that your Dad needs to be a part of that decision making, and you can always support him no matter what he wants. I do think they get strength in knowing they are supported either way. Sometimes giving that support is just so frustrating for us though, so I want you to know I am thinking of you, and will pray for your situation. God bless you Cindy...

Jorja, I am so, so sorry to hear about your dad. This disease has such an awful wake. I am most certainly praying for you right now, and for your family. Dear Lord, I pray that you watch over Jorja and her family, and you place your loving arms around them as they search for ways to understand their current situation. Lord I ask that you bless them with peace, and renewed strength to understand, to fight, to accept, and to never lose faith in You. Dear Lord, you have worked so many miracles, and as I do every day for my own dad, I ask that you bless Jorja with the miracle of healing, and protection during difficult times. God Bless you Jorja. Please keep us posted. Jen