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TracyD

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Posts posted by TracyD

    What's this?

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    So, after my doc tells me that my scans are good I go off for my infusion of Avastin thinking everythings just great. Then I get home and read the report, and it says that "there is mild central lobular EMPHYSEMA!" What's this all about?

    Have I now developed emphysema too? So after all those years of not smoking I managed to get lung cancer AND emphysema?

    Does anyone have any experience with this? I'll certainly discuss it with my doctor but I was hoping someone here might have some info.

    Thanks,

    Tracy

    Good news

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    I got my CT scan results today and it is mostly good news. It has been 2 1/2 months since my last chemo and since then I have had two infusions of Avastin alone. The results are in ...two of the nodules have almost disappeared and the "pleural spaces are clear"..woohoooo. BUT, the larger nodule has either remained stable or has grown slightly. My doc seems to disagree with the radiologist that there has been growth. When he did the side by side comparison there appeared to be no change, and his measurement indicated as such. So, we are staying with the Avastin and doing scans again in two months.

    Overall we are very pleased with the result as the cancer is a lot less than is was at this time last year and I'm feeling really well.

    Tracy

    Dana Reeve and my curiosity...

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    The memory of Dana Reeve dying from LC is one I will never be able to shake. On the day that I was to go for my first PET scan, after having been told that I probably had LC, I was browsing the magazines in Target trying to kill time until my appt. I came across the issue of People magazine with Dana's story in it and I almost fainted right there in the store.

    I remember thinking that if she couldn't survive it, with all her money and the best drs. available, how was I supposed to survive. I was so depressed reading the article. I kept looking for something that would explain why she died so quickly (at least what I thought was quickly), and I found no details.

    It took quite a while for me to get over those feelings. I eventually realized that all the money in the world can't save you if it's your time, and as for drs., I happen to think my doc. at Mass General is top notch. Dana didn't get any better treatment than I do, and she didn't fight any harder than I am. When it comes right down to it we are all just human, we can't compare our survival against someone else's, and only God knows when our time is going to be.

    Tracy

    Are You Moody???

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    I know exactly what you mean. I'm pretty good during the day, of course that's because the kids are all in school. I have a bit of patience when they get home, but as soon as I start to get tired, I just can't stand the noise anymore.

    There are moments when I just want to shout "will you just SHUT UP!" I feel awful because I didn't used to be like that, at least not on a regular basis. For me I think it's directly related to how tired and achy I am. I find that if I've been on my feet all day I'm tired and my lower back hurts, and that definitely makes me cranky.

    I often think that the pains are related to my cancer, but then I think ... I just turned 40 and I haven't exercised on regular basis in almost a year, could this be the source of my problems?!!!!3

    When I get to that place where I want to yell at everyone, I make myself a latte and head up to my room with a good book. Sometimes all it takes is a little down time to regroup.

    Best of luck to you!

    Tracy :D

    tarceva rash

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    I was on Tarceva for 3 months and I had a HORRIBLE rash. My whole face was covered with those horrid pimples, as was my chest and back. My doctor prescribed the clindamycin and minoclycline combo. It worked really well, clearing up the rash on my face in just a few days. Unfortunately it never did anything for the rash on the rest of my body.

    My suggestion is to go to the doc as soon as you think it's getting bad so that you don't have to suffer with the worst of it.

    Good luck to you and have a great vacation!

    Tracy

    Stage 3b

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi Suzy,

    I'm so sorry that your sister and your family have to go through this, but you've come to a great place.

    I am a stage IIIb/IV, have been for almost a year now. This IS survivable, there are many people here on this board that are living with this awful disease. It is not always easy, and with the chemo your sister is on there is a good chance she will lose her hair. I know that it is such an insult with all she has to go through, but keep your eye on the prize. The chemo can work, and hair does grow back.

    I did the same chemo back in the fall, along with another drug, Avastin, which your sister should look into. I had a good bit of success, my cancer shrunk a lot. There's no guarantee that it won't grow back, but if it does my doc says we'll just hit it again.

    Please keep us posted on your sister, and come here any time when you need anything at all.

    Good luck,

    Tracy

    Time for My Pick-Me-Up

    in SCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Hi Jen, don't worry so much about NOT worrying. Things are GOOD right now, don't forget that. Take every day for what it is, and if it's a good day with no worries, run with it! Worrying will not keep the cancer away, but it will put a damper on the good times you should be having.

    I'm so glad to hear that not worrying is your biggest worry right now.

    Have a Great Day!

    Tracy

    Riding a thru valley on this rollercoaster

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Oh yes, the rollercoaster. Normally I'm a huge fan of the them, the bigger, the faster, the scarier, the better. But THIS particular rollercoaster, this rollercoaster I want OFF!!!

    I'm glad to hear your MILs scans are good, and I will be praying that the pains turn out to be something more "normal", you know what I mean?

    As for the hoarseness and constant clearing of the throat, I have that constantly. It started after my second round of chemo and has continuously gotten worse. It has gotten worse lately, perhaps because of the cold, dry air. The result is that I how have a chronic sore throat and by the end of each day I can barey talk. My doctor thinks it's caused by the avastin and has suggested I see an ENT doc. I have an appointment next week so I will let you know what he says.

    Tracy

    Avastin & Body/Joint Pain

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hi Wendy,

    I have been on Avastin since July of 2006 and I have not experienced any joint pain at all. I took avastin with chemo for four months and have been taking it alone, every four weeks, since December. I don't think joint pain is a side effect of avastin, at least not a common one. I think you should let your doctor know about the pain if you haven't already.

    Good luck,

    Tracy

    Not posting as much

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hi Andrea, I'm glad to hear that you're taking a bit of "you" time, you absolutely need it!

    Don't worry about learning to do all the baby stuff, it really does come to you ... with a bit of practice. I remember when we were having our first baby I was terrified as I had never been around babies before. Charlie had lots of experience as he comes from a huge family, and he kept telling me not to worry (which of course I did), and he was right. I'm not saying it was easy, but I caught on, and I think my kids turned out okay!

    Take care of yourself and try not worry about the "other shoe". Having a baby (or babies) is truly one of the most amazing things one can experience, please don't let your fear taint the joy you are feeling now.

    Have a great weekend.

    Tracy

    The blues...Updated

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    I want to say a great big Thank You to my LCSC family for the outpouring of support this past week, it really lifted me up when I was very, very down.

    I have been doing a lot of thinking about why I was so down , and the best I can come up with is that the longer I survive, almost ten months now, the more I feel like the other shoe is waiting to drop. I am better now than I was ten months ago, the cancer is smaller, the symptoms are gone, I have lots of energy, my life is good. I think that the adjustment to the "maintenance" phase is a bit harder than I thought it would be. Now that I feel good I am pondering the "what ifs" more.

    I know that in time I will work this out. I have all of you here, as well as a wonderful husband who I know checks up on me here, and who is thankful that I have a place to turn to with the tough issues.

    Thank you all.

    Tracy

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