MsC1210

Good Morning Alyssa Yes, the awful taste is often a side effect of some chemos. It is a metallic taste that just makes everything kind of yucky. Jerry had bed sores that were so bad on his tailbone.. I know the V.A. hospital had a pressure type bandage on his at one point but then they said it needed to "air". I have to ask Mom what the ointment was they were using on it. I seem to recall A&D ointment but I am not 100% sure on that. I will find out though and get back to you either here or in a PM. If Mom is having pain other than the bed sores and it is not being controlled with the pills, you can ask the doctor about fentanyl patches. (not thinking I spelled that correctly, sorry) We do have members here who have used them and are still using them and with great results. Keep us posted~ Hugs Christine

I'm having a bit of a tough time the past few days. I am not sure if it is just cabin fever and being "stuck" inside so much but I am just kind of down. Mom is doing phenomenally well, she is working and keeping busy and is just amazing me with how well she is doing! I, on the other hand, seem to be stuck in a rut, thinking about Brad's last days, Jerry's last days and how much they both fought and the pain they endured and it just plain sucks. I miss Brad. I miss his wit, his humour, his ability to make sense of even the most ridiculous situations. I hate that Meg (my 18 yr old daughter) still feels his loss as much as she does. I hate that Jared (my 21 yr old son) is going to be deployed to "over there" for this insane "war" and Brad is not here to support him like the rest of the family is. I miss Jerry. I miss his dry sense of humour. I miss him calling Jared "The General" and how he teased Meg about her multi coloured hair! I miss how he played with my youngest son, his infinite patience with the never ending questions and comments and how Trevor just loved him to pieces. I miss it being Mom and Jerry.. I guess I miss what I used to know as "normal" and I hate it. Sorry for the downer of a post, I just needed to let this out and this is the only place that might actually understand.. Chris

Hello Vicuna and welcome to the site. As cat has already told you, you can use the search option at the top to get much more information about Tarceva. We do in fact have many members here who are on that particular drug and they are an invaluable source of information and advice. Please tell us some more about yourself as that will make it easier to help you with information etc. Have a look around the site and please keep posting and let us know how we can help you. Warmly Christine

Jude Thank you so much for sharing the details of the service with us as well as that precious moment you had with Don on Christmas. There are tears on my cheeks.... Please know that we welcome you here any time you would like to come and share with us and of course any time you need someone to lean on. With much love and gratitude to you and your family Christine

CeeDee The label on the bottle of Advil reads; Ibuprofen Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer (nsaid) You can get more information at www.advil.com Most likely it will be the same as or similar to the information Ned found but I thought I would at least share that Christine

Hi CeeDee There have been some members on here in the past who SWORE by Advil. For some reason the Advil had an incredible effect on the pain when Tylenol and even the Rx pain meds did not help. I hope this helps you.. Warmly Christine

You are so welcome!! I went through pages and pages of sites to find something that I could make some sense of! I was not sure that was what you were looking for but it did make sense when I ready it over. I agree with you about the doctors.. I wish they would think on a patients level when they are explaining things. I guess they all lose sight of the fact we are not all versed in doctor~talk! Hugs to you Christine

I googled the term cell cannibalism and this was the easiest to understand !!!! I hope it helps at least a little.. Warmly Christine http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_o ... c5a8fd7ff3 Cannibalism: A way to feed on metastatic tumors Stefano Fais, a, aDepartment of Drug Research and Evaluation, Section of Pharmacogenetic, Drug Resistance and Experimental Therapeutic, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy Received 6 June 2007; revised 10 September 2007; accepted 11 September 2007. Available online 30 October 2007. Abstract Cannibalism of tumors is an old story for pathologists, but it remained a mystery for at least one century. Recent data highlighted tumor cannibalism as a key advantage in tumor malignancy, possibly involved in resistance of tumors to the specific immune reaction. However, new data suggests also that metastatic tumor cells may use this peculiar function to feed in conditions of low nutrient supply. This makes malignant cancer cells more similar to microorganisms, rather than to normal cells undergoing malignant transformation. In cytological or histological samples of human tumors it is common to detect cells with one or many vacuoles, possibly containing cells under degradation, that push the nucleus to the periphery giving it the shape of a crescent moon. The cannibal cells may feed on sibling tumor cells, but also of the lymphocytes that should kill them. Cannibal cells eat everything without distinguishing between the feeding materials, with a mechanism that mostly differ from typical phagocytosis. Despite such phenomenon is considered mainly non-selective, a molecular framework of factors that contribute to cannibalism has been described. This machinery includes the presence of an acidic environment that allows a continuous activation of specific lytic enzymes, such as cathepsin B. Cannibalism occurs in apparently well defined structures whose main actors are big caveolar-like vacuoles and a connection between caveolin-1 and the actin cytoskeleton through the actin-linker molecule ezrin. Each of the components of the cannibal framework may represent specific tumor targets for future new strategies against cancer.

((((Alyssa)))) I am so glad to hear that Mom is home! I am wondering the same as the others, is this a reaction to meds. I know a lot of members here have been wiped out by chemo but this sounds like something more than that. I would definitely continue to ask the nurses and/or call the doctor. It could be something as simple as a change of dosing or a new med.. Keep us posted.. Hugs Christine

Hi all I've finally been able to get the second video done and posted. It's still such a surreal feeling to look at the pictures! It was (I hope!) a once in a lifetime storm! Christine

((((Randy))) I know. I understand. I get it. I'm here for you my friend... Lots of warm hugs~ and a fresh, warm, fluffy blankie straight from the dryer for you Christine

Marci So glad to read that Mom is home Sending you lots of prayers that the new chemo will work wonders!! Hugs Christine

You are so very welcome~ Keep posting Hope, we are here for you.. Christine

Pat Burns dealing with cancer for a third time TSN.ca Staff 1/21/2009 3:07:22 PM Former NHL head coach Pat Burns is battling cancer for a third time. Burns told Montreal's La Presse he was informed he had lung cancer after returning from the World Hockey Championship this past spring. Burns elected to undergo chemotherapy in his first two bouts with the disease but, according to La Presse, he has chosen not to go that route this time. He told the newspaper he will try other methods to battle the disease. He was first diagnosed with colon cancer back in the 2003-04 NHL season and then found out he had liver cancer in 2005. Burns was an NHL head coach for 14 seasons, including stints with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. He guided the Devils to a Stanley Cup victory in 2003, and won the Jack Adams Award three times (Canadiens - 1988-89, Maple Leafs 1992-93, Bruins - 1997-98).

Hello Jennifer and welcome As you can see this is a wonderful site for support and information! I hope you will continue to post and let us know how you are doing. Warmly Christine

((((Claudibird)))) I don't have any answers or advice, but am sending you tons of positive thoughts, hugs and prayers. Keep posting and vent all you want and need to. We are here and we get it. Hugs Christine

Joe and Gina CONGRATULATIONS and many best wishes!!!!!! Warmly, Christine

Hello Hope and welcome to the "family" I'm so sorry about all of the trials you and your family have been faced with! Please know that you have come to a wonderful place to find the support, information, advice and HOPE you need! I can see one HUGE ray of hope in your post already, and that was the doctor saying that the type of lung cancer your dad has is the kind that responds well to radiation and chemo! Once the treatment plan is in place and begins, things will become a bit more routine for you all. One word of advice... please get a small notebook or planner and write down ALL the questions you have for the doctor. You can then write his answers down and keep notes on the appts etc. Also, ask for and obtain copies of ALL tests and results, treatments and meds. Keep all of this information in one place, all together so it is easily accessible for future needs. Keep posting here and let us know how we can be of help. Warmly Christine

Hello and welcome mll0727 I'm sorry to hear about your Dad but so glad you found this site and have joined us. This is a great community and you will find a lot of great information and advice here as well as support. Please let us know how we can help and know that someone is always here to listen, Warmly, Christine

Hello Diane and welcome! I'm sorry you had reason to find a site like this but I am glad you've joined us. There are members here who have been diagnosed with BAC and I am sure that they will be along to share their stories. In the meantime, please feel free to read through the various forums here and don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have. Warmly Christine

Here is the post from mwga... it is in the LC survivors forum on Connies Survivor thread.... mwga Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 3 Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:53 pm Post subject: Two Time LC Survivor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm new to this site and saw your request for lung cancer survivors to share their stories, so here goes. In Dec. 1998, I was diagnosed with lung cancer in my left lung. Treatment was chemo (Taxol and Carboplatin) a treatment every 3 weeks for 3 treatments and 6 weeks of radiation. Treatment was based on possiblity of cancer in the plueral wall as well as left lung and they wanted to reduce the size if that was the case. I finished the treatments in January, 1999 and was scheduled for surgery but had to wait because of low white cell count. Had surgery March 3, 1999 and had 1/5th to 1/4 th of my left lung removed. Surgeon said he got it all and stated that my chance of getting cancer again was no more than anyone else. In October 2001, my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and told that it had progressed so much that surgery was not an option. He was told that he could live for approximately a year, but he got pneumonia and died 6 weeks later. The first of April 2004, I had severe stomach pains and my doctor decided to do a ctscan of my abdomen. I suggested that we might as well do one of my chest at the same time since I had not had one done on my chest for a couple of years. I still do not know why I had the stomach pains, but know that God works in mysterious ways. The ctscan of my chest showed a small mass on my right lung. A needle biopsy was done and was inconclusive. I had to wait a month for a petscan which showed "activity" in the upper lobe of the right lung and in the hylar node. At the end of May 2004, I had surgery to remove the upper lobe of my right lung. My doctor told me that this was a completely new cancer not related to the previous one at all but a new primary. I contracted double pneumonia while still in the hospital and ended up on a ventilator for 5 days, but recovered and after 24 days in the hospital was released. I stayed with my sister who cared for me and helped me to recuperate. In August 2004, I had another petscan as a follow up and it showed "activity" still in the hylar node. My oncologist said that this might be a result of the surgery (my surgeon had checked the hylar node when he removed the upper lobe), but that he didn't think we should take that chance. He suggested chemotherapy (gemcitabine and taxatere) which was administered 1 time per week for 3 weeks, then off a week, then another 3 weeks on, etc. for 6 months. I lost my hair again, but that is such a small thing in comparison to the larger picture that I was not affected by loss of hair. I bought a beautiful auburn wig (the color my hair had been when I was younger), which caused my sister to comment, "You look just like you did 20 years ago." I don't know what I would have done without her. She is a great sister. As a result of the chemo, I ended up on oxygen 24 hours per day toward the end of the 6 months. I had pneumonia again after finishing chemo and then a month later I had pneumonia again. I decided that I would not be on oxygen 24 hourse per day for the rest of my life and worked to build my lungs back up so I could get off of it, which I did about 8 months later. I have been cancer "free" now for over 4 years and remarried a year and a half ago to a wonderful man who lost his wife to lung cancer. We enjoy life together and make each day count. He was an avid golfer and at 70 years of age, I started learning to play golf. I enjoy playing and we play 3 or 4 times per week. There is life after lung cancer, but you have to think positive, have faith that you will survive, and be determined to live a normal life and not dwell on the past. If I give hope to even one person, I will be happy for hope is the first step to recovery.

Hello and welcome! I am so glad you joined us! ~Christine

Just a proper welcome to the "family"!~ I am sure you already can tell this is a great site. Please keep posting and let us know how we can be of help Warmly Christine

CMilo Maybe tbis link will help you... http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=40041 Warmly Christine

I'm so glad you got the doctor involved. Hoping that her strength and stamina will improve soon! Thanks so much for the update! Please keep us posted... Warmly Christine