LindaMRG

SOOOOOOOOO glad to hear about that clean heart and those pink lips!!!

I agree this was a post worthy of GOOD NEWS!!! Its great that the onc is so positive!! Gives us all hope!!!

Kristy, Im so sorry for all your family is going through. What about a port for the chemo instead of using her veins for IV? My father has a port because they could never find his veins due to so much chemo. Im not saying what you should do, just saying if you decide to go with more chemo, maybe a port is better. Keep us posted.

I am truly, very sorry for this tremendous loss.

Ive been thinking about you, Im glad to hear about this development. Its so important to feel confident in your doctors. I cant wait to hear that you are in a study. Youre such an inspiration, Dave.

My father was just restaged to IIIb because they found supraclavicular node involvement. He's not a great chemo candidate so they are doing IMRT (its a form of radiation targeted just at tumor and node involved) If you are interested I will send you some info. I know EXACTLY what you mean. It would wake me out of my sleep worrying that so much time was going by between appts, etc. to get treatment started. Hang in there, let me know if I can help.

Standing behind Margaret on the prayerline.

Thanks, Bob, I was just going to post the link, and I agree, nothing that we havent discussed here before. He did mention the type of radiation my father is getting - stronger doses with pinpoint accuracy - IMRT. We did go to Sloan Kettering in NYC today for a second opinion. It turns out he agrees my our oncologist, go ahead with IMRT and see results before going any further. I guess I was expecting him to pull a miracle out of his hat, I guess Id better leave that to God! Anyway, he did say he was confident the radiation was going to be successful.

Hi Friends, There was a live chat with Dr. Mark Kris from Sloan Kettering today at plwc.org. I tried to get in but couldnt - probably my computer - but anyway tomorrow they will have the transcript from the chat. He is the doctor my father's oncologist wanted him to see, but he only sees brand new no chemo before lung cancer patients so we are seeing his associate tomorrow at Sloan. We're praying for some good news and good options. He started IMRT this week and so far so good. Anyway, I plan on looking for that transcript and I'll let you know.

Prayers goin up every night for this board, so that means you!

LOVE AND ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))) to Dear Connie!!!!!!

It mustve been so hard to hear that news, but please do what you always have done - roll up your sleeves and say,"okay, so what do I do about this, doc?" Im sure it must be hard to always have to pick yourself back up, as Norme always puts it, this sure is a rollercoaster ride - good news, bad news, discouraging news, waiting........on and on. Please take the advice you have always given us when we needed it. Get back in and fight. Youre our hero!!!

HURRRRRAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad you dropped by to let us know youre okay!!! ((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))

A GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I read your story, thank you so much for sharing!

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is FABULOUS, FABULOUS news!!!!!!!!!! Wishing you a LONG LIFE of CLEAN SCANS!!!!!!! God Bless you, Cheryl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HURRAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!! Dont ever feel bad about posting good news, we NEED to hear it!!! Im doing like Norme does and reading GOOD NEWS before signing off!!!

So glad to find your post tonight, Judy!! So sorry for all youve been going through. PET scan missed my father's spread to supraclavicular node, surgeon felt it at the 11th hour days before surgery. He will now have IMRT. Surgeon said if he ever saw enough shrinkage he would consider surgery again. Its scary that we rely on these tests, but they could be so wrong.

Sorry about your dear dad. I just wanted to share that my father is having IMRT, Im not sure if its something for your dad but I wanted to pass it along anyway to ask onc: Frequently Asked Questions: Arnold M. Markoe, M.D. Dr. Markoe has practiced IMRT (modulated radiation therapy) for four years. What is IMRT? Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a revolutionary type of external beam treatment that is able to conform radiation to the size, shape and location of a tumor. How is IMRT different from other kinds of radiation treatment? Although IMRT uses X-rays from linear accelerators just like other types of radiation treatment, it tries to treat non-uniformly so the target(s) get high doses and normal tissues are spared. How does this impact me? If normal tissues get less of a dose, the chances of side effects for the same dose to the cancer goes down. If the side effects are less, this means you can give the cancer more dose, which may lead to better control. What cancers can be treated by IMRT? Theoretically, all cancer can be treated by IMRT, but realistically we treat cancers where we want to protect adjacent tissues and their formation. Will this treatment be covered by my insurance? Many companies fully cover this type of treatment but you or your doctor should make sure. Medicad does not cover all tumors for treatment by IMRT. Can you treat lung cancer by IMRT? Yes, but you need to make sure that the tumor stays where you planned it. This is done by getting the accelerator to deliver doses only at action motions of the breathing cycle. Does IMRT cost the same as non-IMRT radiation? No, IMRT is highly technical and physician-intensive. Because of this, the costs are higher than more conventional radiation treatments.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FRIEND AND OUR INSPIRATION!!!

Hi Denise, Just wanted to give my two cents since Im the one asking all the questions for my dad. Ask onc what you just asked us. Is this enough just to scan the sternum area. On my father they do the chest and down to pelvic area. He had one bone scan in June, after diagnosis in May. My father never had radiation but is having it now. He's having IMRT. I'll be happy to supply more info if you are interested. Its a form of radiation where they target the tumor and surrounding tissue is not affected so he will not have the usual side effects from radiation. They will do this on his lung tumor and mediastinal node. He is not a great chemo candidate so this is a good option for him. He had a PET scan upon diagnosis and after his chemo. Keep us posted on onc's answers.

I dont know a thing about sclc since my father has nsclc. But, dont kick yourself about that PET scan. True, who knows what "wouldve been or couldve been" but for my father PET scans have failed him twice. First, a year and a half ago when onc first saw tumor on his lung, PET did not light up. By the time it did, he was IIIa. Then in Oct we were all set for surgery, he goes to surgeon for pre op and surgeon feels supraclavicular node that did not light up on scan. Biopsy confirmed cancer spread. So, just know you have done your best within your power to do the right thing. Wishing you the very best.

(((((((((((DEAR SWEET WONDERFUL NORME)))))))))))))))))))))))) Okay, so we need a plan for that colon and thats why those markers are up, could be worse right? Ask onc about that CPT-11 that someone mentioned. Go take care of yourself too, dont wait to get things going with Buddy. You need to be healthy too. Your such a source of strength for all of us, I want to send some back your way tonight. I havent said my nightly prayers yet where I mention this board, so you've still got prayers going up for dear Buddy yet tonight. Much love dear friend.

Im sorry, I dont want to misinform anyone, onc just said dont believe what you read about shark cartilage, I didnt question it any further than that.

I know this is an old post, but I thought Id comment on it. I asked my father's onc about all these other things to do like green tea, coral calcium, juicing, etc. and he said green tea and juicing certainly cant hurt, coral calcium is a waste of money and the shark cartilage is completely WRONG. So just thought Id add my two cents!!