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Hooray Fay We need a NERD CLUB with lots of members

Annie, Many prayers for successful surgery. My husband had his surgery 12/3/02 and right this minute he is power washing the deck (ok he just does a little at a time, but he is power washing)

Wow Rocco, That's two for good news from FCCC. Our third member is Beth and we have to get good news for her now. P.S. to Kelleyu Phila is either neighborhoods or parishes. I am a Philly girl, my husband is a suburban guy and it drives him crazy when I ask someone what neighborhood or parish.

Dear Michelle, You have had a tough weekend. Thank God your husband is getting the attention and treatment he needs. Can he fight this? I don't know why not. Keep telling him he can. My husband's voice has never been as strong as it used to be since his tracheostomy. He had a paralyzed vocal cord for awhile but that is supposed to be alright now, but his voice is still weaker. Thoughts and prayers for you.

Dear Connie, My medical degree got lost in the mail so I don't have a definite answer. A couple of things though, 1. Age - my mother who never cursed said growing older was fascinating, every morning it was an *ss or an elbow that hurt - never knew which one. 2. I have periodic pain in my forearems right below my elbow (here's that elbow word again. Hurts when I pick something up etc. When the pain starts to act up, I take glugosamine, condrodine (no idea how to spell) and rub Jointritis into my arms. This really seems to help and my arms are better for awhile. But, I know once you have been dx with a disease every little pain and ache raises a red flag. I think for PEACE OF MIND that you should have it checked.

Bucky, Welcome to our site. I hope you find the answers to any questions here. It certainly sounds like you have had good news. Keep getting those xrays and scans.

My daughter has a bunch of friends that are doctors. When her Dad first got sick she called every one of them. While none are oncologists, they ALL said - Let no grass grow under your Father's feet. Get all treatments ASAP. Cancer waits for no vacation. If the wait is longer than it takes to get test results - try to move on to another dr. or place. I have told more than one doctor that this is medicine and science and a way to make money for them - for me it is only love.

Dave, Glad to hear the transfusion helped. If you lived here you would have to take up yachting, all of our golf courses are under water. We had one, yes one, day of full sun the whole month of May. June has not been much better. It begins to get to you. Hope you shot low today.

Don and Lucie, I hope you had a fun and delicious dinner last night. You seem to have very thorough drs. and of that you should be thankful. I hear such alarming stories about drs on this site. We have been very fortuante that we have had caring, optimistic, smart doctors. Prayers heading up to ask that this just be one silly little bump and that the rad will take care of it quickly.

Wow Gail, Carleen just aged you five years - bad news - but made you over a five year survivor - good news.

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy, What wonderful, fantastic, terrific, out of this world great news. Yep, now you can do normal things - clean, cook, wash, iron etc. etc. HaHa Earl has gotten the same news and join us in having a SUPER SUMMER.

Earl had a follow up appt. with his thoracic surgeon the a.m. He told us there was no sign of disease and said "We are pleased with you". Are these wonderful words or what? Earl's surgeon, oncologist and radiation onc. are all at Fox Chase Cancer Center. They take a team approach to treatment and I have found they are all better safe than sorry doctors. Earl will still have the last two taxotere treatments, considered preventative. I asked the dr. about the report from the onc. meeting this week about the increased survival rate for patients having chemo after surgery. He said they have been tracking that since the late 70's at Fox Chase and have seen no scientific data to support that. But he did say that he was glad Earl was doing it since he seemed healthy enough to endure it and that it couldn't hurt. Also, this x-ray to CT debate. The dr. said come back in 4 months with an x-ray. I said please can we have a CT scan. He said Yes but said that really the x-ray and the consultation with the patient would be enough data to know if the LC had returned. But again it goes to my satisfaction with Fox Chase, that he gave me the Rx for the CT scan. (Earl wasn't happy, he would rather have the x-ray - no needles). Too bad my dear, I want you around for a long, long time. I told Earl that his chemo should be over by 7/14 and that he did not have another drs. appt until 9/30. So hopefully we will enjoy our summer. No plans for vaca since Earl is still weak and dizzy, but we see improvement here daily. I wish you all this good news.

Wow, a vacation - have a great time. Wow, no teenager - maybe the teenager may have a baby sibling after this vacation for just the two of you.

Tammy, Dr. Melvyn Goldberg at Fox Chase Cancer Center performed by husband's surgery last Dec. My husband has had no ongoing problems due to his surgery - no neuropathy etc. I would recommend him and Fox Chase. Dr. Goldberg is a Thoracic Surgeon and only operates on lung and esophagial cancer patients. He is probably 55 or 60 so he has probably done this surgery a bzillion times.

Hi Gina, Welcome to our small but wonderful group. I am a caregiver and get such terrific support and information from my 'wired' friends, it has made this journey somewhat easier. So glad everything was caught early.

Greg, Have you talked to the HR contact at your company? I would think that they could handle this for you. Or try calling Amer Genl and ask for a supervisor or manager and try to find out why they are doing this and what can you do to stop it.

Laurie, Can you call the rad onc and express your concerns? Is it an insurance issue? How about another med onc? Tough situation if your mother is not pushing for scans.

I posted the same ? a couple of weeks ago and no one has heard from her. Just hope she is okay.

Hip hip hooray. Now you have to find the Good News forum.

Veronica, Shoot the dr twice, the second time just to make sure. My husband is Stage IV and all of his drs are using the word curative. They have NEVER said it always comes back, or there is no chance - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. Go see another dr. fast before you pass out from fear.

LeeAnn, May eternal rest be granted to your Father. May you find peace in the remembrance of the love you and your father shared. Please accept my sympathy on your lose.

So glad the news was great. I sometimes think that once you have been dx with a disease like this you become much more aware of every ache and pain you have. This may just be the old 'getting up there in years' pain but when you have LC it becomes an 'oh my God, I have a met' pain. But it is always smart to get it checked out. Hope you are recovering well, Don.

Love good news. Keep up the good work.

Debi, My husband had the upper right lobe removed 12/3/02. This was after having brain surgery in Oct. and whole brain radiation so his body was already abused. The surgery was tough but NOT horrible. He had an epidural with a button for pain meds. Don't be strong - sissy is the right word here and take the pain meds. He has recovered wonderfully from the chest surgery. And EVERYTHING you read indicates that surgery offers you the best chance for cure. Do what Gail said and get that manicure and pedicure and I add hair cut and maybe a massage before the big day.

Sam, If you have read my posts in Good News you will know that Earl had a small nodule of scar tissue from his tracheostomy. Our med oncologist was very concerned and immediately got a head and neck doctor to look at it. He too was concerned and took a big slice out of it. The good news is that it was nothing. Hope you post the same news.