LindaMRG

((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))), my friend. Love, Linda

What wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Friends, Ive been researching all the websites for Essiac Tea and read the story of Nurse Cassie who founded it. Im confused because the more I read, the more that each website claims they have the correct recipe. I am very interested in purchasing this for my father. Can anyone lead me in the right direction as to where I can get the legitimate product? Thanks so much!

Just bumping this up because it is the treatment my father is receiving for the tumor and mediastinal node: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy IMRT permits the delivery of a high dose of radiation to the cancer while minimizing dose to other sensitive organs. Here multiple beams are all focused on the prostate. Each of these beams has a number of sub-beams or segments, and the intensity of each segment is varied according to the treatment plan. The figure shows an IMRT plan for treating prostate cancer. The area in red is the prostate gland; the area in blue, the rectum. IMRT focuses high doses of radiation on the prostate while keeping the dose to the rectum at a minimum. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a powerful technology that has been offered through the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville since 2002. It can be used to treat many different tumors, including cancer of the prostate, breast, brain, lung, head and neck. The list continues to grow. An advantage of radiation therapy is that it affects only the tumor and surrounding area. The challenge is to improve the planning and delivery of radiation beams to effectively target the tumor while reducing the damage to normal tissue and subsequent side effects. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT) combines digital diagnostic imaging, powerful computers and specialized software to conform the radiation beam to the shape of the tumor. IMRT is the latest advance in 3-D CRT. Not only does IMRT use three-dimensional imaging and treatment delivery, it also allows varying intensities of radiation to produce dose distributions that are far more "conformal," or precise, than those possible with standard 3-D CRT. In IMRT, very small beams, or beamlets, with varying intensities can be aimed at a tumor from many angles. The intensity of each beamlet can be controlled. During treatment, the beam shapes change hundreds of times. The radiation dose can be made to bend around important normal tissues in a way that is impossible with other techniques. Because these motions are so complicated, special high-speed computers, treatment-planning software, multileaf collimators, diagnostic imaging and patient-positioning devices are used to plan treatments and control the radiation during therapy. IMRT may improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy by delivering more radiation dose to tumor cells while reducing the exposure of surrounding cells. A special computer planning system and complex, precise mathematical computations are used to calculate the dose and distribute the radiation. IMRT uses a technique known as inverse treatment planning. The desired outcome is entered into the computer, and the computer determines the ideal beam arrangement and intensity. The computer can craft a treatment plan from a range of possibilities greater than would be practical for a clinician to test one by one. For IMRT to be effective, the anatomical position of the tumor and surrounding normal tissues must be accurately defined. CT (computed tomography) and MR (magnetic resonance) imaging provide the necessary three-dimensional anatomical information. It is also important to accurately position and immobilize the patient during treatment. This may be done with devices such as the GTC (Gill-Thomas-Cosman) stereotactic head-frame or the BAT ultrasound device. IMRT does not completely eliminate the radiation dose to surrounding tissue, but it reduces it substantially. This decreases side effects and makes it possible to deliver a higher radiation dose to the tumor, which increases the probability the tumor can be completely destroyed. IMRT is usually given five days a week for six or seven weeks. The total dose of radiation and the number of treatments needed depend on the size, location and kind of cancer, the patient's general health and other medical treatments the patient is receiving.

Thank you for doing this for all who have lung cancer. May God Bless you with TERRIFIC results!

I was sent this info from another lung cancer listserv that I belong to: Pharmacyclics Receives FDA Fast Track Status for Xcytrin Sunnyvale, CA December 2, 2003 Pharmacyclics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCYC) today announced that the company has been granted fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational drug Xcytrin® (motexafin gadolinium) Injection for the treatment of brain metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain from another part of the body) in patients suffering from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The FDA designated Xcytrin as a fast track product based upon the results of previous clinical trials with Xcytrin Injection in combination with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) that suggested clinical benefit for lung cancer patients with brain metastases and its potential for the treatment of brain metastases in NSCLC patients, a serious and life threatening condition. In addition, it was designated based upon the company conducting its ongoing SMART (Study of Neurologic Progression with Motexafin Gadolinium And Radiation Therapy) clinical trial. The SMART trial is a randomized controlled pivotal Phase 3 study to compare the effects of WBRT alone to WBRT plus Xcytrin in lung cancer patients with brain metastases. “We are pleased to receive FDA fast track designation for Xcytrin,” said Richard A. Miller, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Pharmacyclics. “Of cancer related complications, none is more devastating than the development of brain metastases, which occurs early and frequently in lung cancer patients, the target patient population of our pivotal Phase 3 SMART trial.” Fast track designation means that the FDA will facilitate and expedite the development and review of the application for the approval of a new drug, if it is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need. The Pivotal SMART Trial The SMART trial is a randomized controlled study that will enroll 550 patients at leading medical centers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. It is designed to compare the effects of WBRT alone to WBRT plus Xcytrin for the treatment of patients with brain metastases from lung cancer. Through the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has agreed to the approvability of the trial’s primary endpoint which is time to neurologic progression as determined by a blinded events review committee. Survival and neurocognitive function will also be assessed as secondary endpoints of the trial. About Xcytrin Xcytrin is the first of an investigational class of drugs called texaphyrins, which are rationally designed small molecules that have a unique way of working inside diseased cells. Xcytrin targets tumors in a new way. After administration, Xcytrin selectively localizes and accumulates inside cancer cells where it disrupts cellular metabolism, interferes with the flow of energy, and ultimately causes programmed cell death, or apoptosis, leading to the selective destruction of the cancer cells. Preclinical studies have shown that Xcytrin enhances the efficacy of radiation therapy and that of several commonly used chemotherapy agents. Currently, Xcytrin is being investigated as a potential therapeutic in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy and as a single agent for various types of cancers in several clinical trials sponsored by Pharmacyclics and/or the National Cancer Institute. About Pharmacyclics Pharmacyclics is a pharmaceutical company developing products to improve upon current therapeutic approaches to cancer and atherosclerosis. The company’s products are rationally designed, ring-shaped small molecules called texaphyrins that selectively target and disrupt the bioenergetic processes of diseased cells, such as cancer and atherosclerotic plaque. More information about the company, its technology, and products can be found on its web site at www.pcyc.com. NOTE: The statements made in this press release about progress and reports of clinical trial results including the potential for Xcytrin to enhance the therapeutic effect of radiation and chemotherapy drug regimens, clinical development plans, and product development activities other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the initiation, timing, design, enrollment, and cost of clinical trials; the progress of research and development programs; the regulatory approval process in the United States and other countries; and future capital requirements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information about risks that may affect the actual results achieved by Pharmacyclics, please see the company's reports as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including but not limited to, its reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Pharmacyclics®, the “pentadentate” logo® and Xcytrin® are registered trademarks of Pharmacyclics, Inc.

Hi Ray, he is going to have 15 whole brain radiation treatments, then they will see if that bigger one is still there and do stereotactic if necessary. Then they need to get back to the lung tumor and mediastinal node. Youre an inspiration to my father, believe me! Dear Katie, Im so touched by the compassion in your note and how you can give so much with all you have been through. What a special person you are. God Bless you both.

Dear Friends, You are the best, thank you again and again for getting me through this terrible weekend. We went to the radiation oncologists today and they started whole brain radiation right away. They are putting the tumor and mediastinal node on hold till WBR is done. She said she did see some shrinkage in the mediastinal node. They are confident this will get rid of the two brain mets that are less than a cm. If need be they will use stereotactic surgery on 1.2cm met. Sounds like you, right, Ray. They said it was good in a way that he had the symptom (seizure) so they caught these mets early, just like you said, Katie. So, another plan in place. Lots of praying and you, dear friends, once again got me through. Much love to each of you.

Cathy, Thank you so much for your prayers, means more than I can say, I mean that sincerely. Shellie, Yes, he is on Dilantin and I will surely look for those side effects, thank you very much. Mo, Thanks for that info, always wondered what that was. Wishing you MUCH success!!! Love you all.

Dearest Friends, Thank you, thank you and thank you again. I am printing this whole thread to give to my father. I told him your stories verbally but it will be good if he has them to look at when he needs to. Rich, many thanks again for that valuable information that I now have to ask oncs about. Mo- What exactly is PCI? Also, thank you for your encouraging words. Katie - thank you for your positive encouragement, I could hear the sincerity of your words, and they truly lifted my spirits. JudyB- thank you for always being there to cheer me on when I am at my lowest. Peg- thank you for sharing your story and positive encouragement. It helps not only me, but my whole family. Francine - wishing you the very best with your treatments and please do let me know how your treatments go. I do want to know. Ray- thank you for sharing your story again, I knew you had brain mets, just didnt remember the details. Ive shared your story with my father, as it is very close to his. Wishing you the very best. Once again, this board saves me from drowning. I love you.

Rich, I cant thank you enough for the wealth of information you gave me. It is printing out as I type this. So nice of you to take the time to prepare this for me. Its the first spark of hope in 48 hours. God Bless you.

Dear Friends, Last night my father had a seizure, was brought to ER, then had another seizure in ER. CT showed 1 1cm brain met and two smaller ones. There is swelling which caused the seizure. He is on anti seizure med and a med to reduce the swelling in the brain. Please help me, what are the options for brain mets? What is gamma knife/cyberknife? Can he have the same radiation he is having on his tumor done on his brain? I feel like Im having a bad dream. Any information and prayers are so appreciated.

You dont even know how much I needed to find this post tonight. My father was restaged to IIIb and your post gives me so much hope that my prayers will be answered and we will hear remission too. God Bless you and your dad, and thank you so much for sharing this news.

This is GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can understand why he broke down!!!!!! Those three letters NED will do that to ya!!!

Its so nice to get some good news, isnt it!

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEYYYYY!!!!!!!! So glad to share in this GREAT NEWS!!!

Hi Francine, I didnt see your post till tonight. Im sorry about this new development but as youve read here on this board, many are surviving news like you got. There is so much out there that can be done. It sounds like you have a good plan in place. I pray for this board every day, so youve got regular prayers going up.

Don, I had been wondering what happened, and I havent been on the boards for a few days, I was so happy to find this post today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It certainly does belong in the GOOD NEWS column!!! God bless you both!!!

When my father was given neupogen he was told whatever he didnt use to bring back to the office and they would distribute it to people that couldnt afford it.

Prayers going up

Prayers being said.

Hello Friends, I asked all of you in another post what you do for coughing so I wanted to share what the doc gave my father yesterday. Radiation onc recommended benzonatate, and my father was discouraged because it didnt help. Today, his ENT told him to double the dose and it did help a lot. It might be making him a bit tired but he still went shopping today with my mother and did a few things, just went to be a little earlier. So, we'll see what happens but I just thought Id share the info for some of you who might need it. I was having my own pity party today, Norme, so I know how you are feeling. I started crying at work today and this woman came and prayed with me. Later in the day I heard my father was doing much better with this new drug. Natalie, Im crying along with you. Youre right, this is one of the only places you can come and everyone really understands. All of you wonderful people are always in my prayers.

Hello Friends, My father has started his IMRT and all was going well. He had started with this small cough right before starting the IMRT. Now it is getting worse. All docs have differing opinions, ENT said its acid reflux and gave him Nexium, oncologist said nasal drip and gave him Zyrtec, some say it could be from the weather, the cancer or the radiation. Its a dry type cough. Onc gave him codeine. Seems to be helping but now he's tired. We thought he wouldnt have side effects from this type of radiation but his rbc was slightly low so they gave him some Procrid, and he is tired. Dont know if he's tired from the codeine or the radiation. What are some of your remedies for the coughing? Now his sides hurt. He doesnt cough when he's laying flat on his back. Have any of you had this type of cough and then it got better? Have any of you had this type of radiation and got better? I need you all tonight, Im so depressed.

Dear Sweet Andrea, I just said that Hail Mary for you. ((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) and love, Linda