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Anais, I am so sorry to hear about your mother, but welcome to our board. I don't know anything about alternative medicines, but why is the doctor so negative?? If you don't know, ask. Can they do surgery?

Terrific news, Shannon. What's next???

If you read my other posts you know Earl was really sweating the results of a biopsy on a lump on his neck. I have never seen Earl this nervous. A sample of the lump was cut on Tuesday afternoon and we didn't get the results until this afternoon. 48 hours - more like 48 years. The doctor called and just said "He's fine" Best 2 words I have heard. Chemo is now scheduled for monday morning. As you know this is preventitive - both his brain MRI and chest CT are clean as of tuesday. Hope all of your news is this good. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Len, There are a whole lot of 'wired' friends here cheering and praying for you. Keep your chin up so you can see the fight.

Wow Dave - palpate - a new word. But since the Dr. couldn't do it - I am not going to look it up. Great news friend - you have a lot of friends here that need to be invited to that 50th party.

Dear Ronna, Welcome - many good thoughts and prayers on your test results.

Michelle, Earl just finished 28 rad treatments on 4/16. He fortunately did not get esophagitis but was taking carafat all during treatment. His voice has been weak since he had a tracheostomy. It can be stronger in the morning and then as he gets tired it gets weaker. Is your husband coughing? The dr. should be able to presribe something to help - don't let them overtalk you. Tell them you want SOMETHING to help and keep saying it until they listen.

Well we are just back from the oncologists office. Almost bad news. But we did have 15 minutes of sheer PANIC. Earl has had a small lump on the front of his neck. We asked the dr to look at it. He got VERY concerned and went out and got a head and neck surgeon. He got VERY concerned. They then numbed and cut into the lump. As soon as the neck dr got into the lump - he said "Did you have a stitch there?" Yes, Earl had, when he had his tracheostomy and that stitch really bothered him. So they are 99.99% sure it is not a met but we will get the final news tomorrow. In the meantime, we are holding off on the chemo until the final results. Hopefully they will not have to do the blood work again if he has the chemo this week. Oh by the way, his chest CT looked great. ups This damn disease has so many and downs. Will let you know tomorrow.

times infinity You go celebrate big time!!!!!!

Busy day today. 9:30 Follow up with Neurosurgeon - good news - Earls brain is empty - YEP nothing there. Thank you God. And he can start to stop taking the Dilantin. Always happy when we can stop a med. This afternoon at 2:00 Earl has the 1st of 3 Taxotere treatments. We have a CT scan from last Friday for the Dr. to read. The Dr. said this scan is just standard operating procedure prior to chemo. Fingers crossed. Hoping that the fatigue caused by chemo will be somewhat offset by the the fatigue caused by the Dilantin. Talk to you all later.

Fox Chase CANCER Center has a smoking area right outside the door to parking garage. YEP, you can find your nurses right there - HOW STUPID

Shelly, Devastated, depressed, constant crying, scared to death - these are just a few of the feelings I was having in the beginning of my husbands dx. But then I realized that none of us has a guarantee - that sometimes life hands us bad news. So I made a decision - I was going to work as hard as I could to do everything possible to get my husband better. Then I was going to work as hard as I could to make our lives as ordinary as possible in these circumstances. LC is always there. You live from scan to scan. BUT life continues and I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART that we should live it. My husband knows that I love him totally and that I am scared to the bone about the possibility that he may not get better. BUT, we put those fears aside as much as possible and live an ordinary life. I want to laugh with him alot and only cry with him a little.

Dear Mom, Sorry to meet you this way - but WELCOME. My husband took Carafat during his radiation and continued it until the Rx was gone. He also had an Rx for "Magic Mouthwash" which numbs the esophagus for a few minutes so you can eat - you need the nutrition. That is really the name that the druggist typed on the bottle label. Glad you are here - you will find this site very useful and comforting.

Shelly, My husband had a craniotomy to remove 1 tumor. An MRI the day after surgery showed what the neurosurgeon said were two new tumors that were not there on the MRI taken the day before surgery. It was devatating news - I felt like my husband had a gatling gun shooting tumors in his body. The surgeon told me that while whole brain radiation could eliminate tumors - it mostly shrank them - but in some instances they did completely eradicate them. When the radiation onc. looked at the MRI he did not thing they were tumors but as a result of the surgery. Earl had 14 radiation treatments ending 11/6/02. The end of Feb visit with the neurosurgeon showed NO turmors at all. Were they really tumors - who knows, I just know that, thank God they are gone. I have an MRI sitting on the dining room table right now taken last week. We see the neurosurgeon on Tues.

WOW Terrie, What WONDERFUL news.

Bob, Welcome, so very glad to hear you are stable. My husband starts Taxotere on Tuesday - 3 infustions - 21 days apart. Glad to hear also that pain in NOT cancer related. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Anniemac, My husband had surgery on 12/3/02 to remove the upper right lobe. The surgery is tough, there is not question about it. But he has had no lingering pain from the surgery. The brain and chest radiation have been tougher in the long term than the surgery. Good luck and blessings to your husband.

Dear Steve, Welcome, but sorry you are here. There are a wonderful group of kind and knowledgeable people here. They have comforted me when I have been down and cheered me on when news is good. Come here as often as you need. Post questions, vent anger whatever, it is very comforting.

Prayer said. Noted calendar for tomorrow a.m. to remember you and for tomorrow night to read Good News.

Lynn, There is probably no decision you could have made in this situation that would have made you feel good. I think you made the right decision for all concerned. Just visit him often and tell him you love, love, love him.

FINGERS CROSSED LEGS CROSSED ARMS CROSSED EYES CROSSED CROSS MY HEART AND PRAY TO GOD

Natalie, RFA = Radio Frequency Ablation - from what I understand they use radio waves instead of surgery to get rid of tumor. Not everyone is eligible. NED = No Evidence of Disease = GOOD NEWS My husbands profile looks very similar to your Mother's so please ask me any questions you want - you can email directly if you would prefer. Ginny

Yep, hope you got some rest David. You need to party based on that GOOD NEWS.

Welcome David, Wish you didn't have to be here. What joy to have your new baby daughter, she is beautiful. Also, what is it with the name David - David A, David C, David G and David P. Only need 22 more Davids to complete the alphabet. Good luck on your journey - your attitude will help you tremendously.

Fay, Prayers for a SUCCESSFUL surgery. You update us as soon as you can.