Remembering Dave

all the critters in our house hide all the time, but mostly from Faith. Imagine a 100 pound lab curled up like a cat under a wing chair? the cat hides from Faith all the time but lately since Dave is craving meat I guess she'd better hide from him, too! and yes, there are plenty of times I want to find a place to hdie but I won't fit under the wing chair! Karen

quadruple dittos.

Our deepest condolences. Please take care of yourself, you and your family did everything you could for your mother, most importantly, you loved her and she knew it. God Bless, Karen C.

Dave posted something under General, but we saw the brain surgeon yesterday, we both liked him, he spent almost an hour with us, explained everything in minute detail, asked Dave alot of questions. Still no answers, YET, but I feel a little better. Dave, I think, is still very scared, and of course he's the one who's body is going through all of this. He will have another brain MRI in 3 weeks, we have it done in the basement at the big cancer center then go straight upstairs to see the doc, who will immediately pull it up on the computer and read it. if the tumor has grown he'll just schedule a surgery to remove. so one way or the other this thing will be resolved soon. thanks for your good thoughts. it was a rather nerve wracking day for us, but we are on the right track. Karen

yeah, sometimes I want to go hide with the cat. karen

hey, guys, this is Karen. This guy used the phrase "i'm not convinced it's a tumor" a couple of times . . . and I think he wants to delay the biopsy in case he's right, which he also said . . . and, yes, I think the biopsy is not simple enough that he just goes in there and does it for the heck of it without alot of reason, so if the pea (it looks like one big pea but is two stuck together) grows then he'll just make a very educated assumption that it's tumor and take it out. I think he's pretty sure its radiation damage. I feel alot better after talking to him myself. Dave wasn't so convinced, but it's Dave's noggin, not mine, that's growing veggies. He said best case scenario he'd be watching Dave's noggin with MRI's every couple of months for quite some time, and I would be quite happy with that! Love, Karen

Well, Karen and I saw the Neurosurgeon today and got at least one thing settled. There is something in my head. (mixed emotions on that one). He took out the scans and showed them to us and sure enough there are 2 little pea sized spots just inside my brain. MRI scans were done exactly 1 month ago. He said that due to the location he wants to wait to see if they grow. He said there is a very good likelyhood that they could have been caused by the amount of radiation to that area and may go away with time......but then again the only way to really tell would be to do a biopsy and if he was going to do a biopsy he would just as soon go in and get them out. He also said that the area of the brain that they are located in is probably the best part and side of the brain they could be in as far as any complications from any possible surgury if it comes to that. He indicated that I probably would not be a candidate for the radiosurgury (Gammaknife) due to the large amount of radiation I have had already so any surgury would be done the old fashioned way. He made an appt for me to go back on Feb. 7 (I think) to have another MRI done that morning and the immediately after the MRI I will go up to his office to get the results (hows that for service!). We spent a good hour with this guy and both Karen and I are very pleased with him. He said that even if it is cancer that giving it another couple of weeks would not give it enough time to become a serious threat. I would have to wait at least 2 weeks for a biopsy so waiting another week to see if they are growing is not going to make that much of a difference. Although we do not know much more than when we went in we both feel better since at least know we have a game plan and know what we may be up against. Sooo, as long as my peas don't turn into Lima Beans or Brussell Sprouts I will be OK. Thank you all so much for the help, prayers and support you have given to both Karen and I. Words can not convey our grattitude. PS, the cat is still alive and kicking. David C

Oh, Becky, your new Avatar brought a tear to my eyes. I am on the computer in her room and she is asleep behind me. Thank you so much, and thank you to everyone here for your support. I am off to bed. Tomorrow Karen, Faith and I will go to IHOP for breakfast and then take Faith to Nursery school and then Karen and I will go on to the Massey Cancer Center to see the Neurosurgeon. I have been trying not to worry too much about it. I am on the steroids so my mind is really not working at 100% but have done pretty good so far--been craving meat....more meat....must have meat....mmmm meat....red meat.....chicken....saugage.......bacon.......pork.....buffalo.......ostrich.... pepperoni....HIDE THE CAT...MUST HAVE MEAT....... Can't wait to get off the steroids. Seriously, I am going to take myself off of them, I have already started reducing my dosage. I would rather take the pain pills than the steroids. I doubt anything will happen tomorrow proceedure wise but hopefully we will get a plan of action. David C

beth - brad pitt in a skirt? hey, guys, we had a sad day, went to a memorial service for a college friend of dave's who died suddenly last week. another trumpet player as a matter of fact. seems he had an embolism or something, been suffering from mini strokes and such for a few years. it was a hard day for dave. . karen

Awesomely great news!!! A good Steak Dinner is just what the doctor ordered. I really am so happy to hear your good news, it has made my day, seriously. I do know what you mean about the appetite, I have gained over 50 lbs. since first diagnosed, mainly from too many steaks, ha,ha. Keep up the good work, my prayers are with you. David C

Welcome back and a big Congratulations on NED!!!! Stick around and share with us. David C

We go to our Big Impressive Cancer Center (sorry, ripping off a phrase from www.momscancer.com) on Monday to see the neurosurgeon who does the gamma knife stuff about Dave's potential brain mets. Good vibes our way are much appreciated. Prayers that the peas aren't mets but radiation damage are really appreciated. As some of you may have noticed, we changed our user name to reflect the fact that we both use it. I think some folks had an issue with that - wasn't really sure how that could be an issue but I guess if you're looking for a controversary you can find one. . .. I hope folks did notice that I always sign my name (this is Karen) when I post, but it's possible some folks don't read all the way down . . . As an update to us (and hoping no one hijacks my post again) we are doing better. I think Dave needed to read my painful thoughts and see the responses, good and bad, to fully understand how I felt. He's not up to a conversation at all, and he's never been known as The Great Communicator. It's pretty stressful living our life and with me chronically ill since before Thanksgiving, it's doubly hard. Imagine two sick people, tired and stressed out, trying to parent a three year old? (excuses to those who get tired of me naming my stressors). I did see Dave's ENT doc this week who put her finger right on three issues I have, all of which were clear on the sinus CT scan I had done - the same CT scan my family doc said looked fine. the ENT doc prescribed some new meds and I feel so well now it's quite remarkable. And ready to delve right back into the stress. Saw my shrink yesterday and gave her the whole low down since I last saw her before Christmas, she, again, told me how amazed she was at all how I was holding it all together. I assured her I had some pretty close calls when I almost lost it, thank you God (I mean that) for not letting that happen. We had some other things going on as well, behind the scenes, and I think those things are also resolved. So we are ready for the real fight - the potential fight against brain mets. Those brain mets don't know what they're up against! God Bless, Karen C. p.s. We have been so blessed to have such good medical personnel, every nurse, doctor, technician, even the housekeepers and porters in the hospitals, have been nothing but wonderful to us. I look forward to meeting more of them on Monday. p.p.s. I am posting my intimate thoughts here because I HOPE I can help other caregivers who feel they are reaching the end of their rope. When you feel the end of the rope, just wrap it around your wrist and hang on tight, someone will come pull you back up sooner or later.

Ok, now I see where you are. Look, after you see the lung doc - get the biopsy done - and meet with an oncologist, things may look completely different. They may have some options for her. And she may realize that she can do the chemo and radiation - I mean she can as in she may realize she wants to. It sounds like until you have a biopsy there's no way to know whether it's non small cell or small cell. If it's small cell, surgery wouldn't be an option anyway. So her options may look better after you talk to the cancer docs. In my opinion, things are always darker when you don't know what's going to happen and you don't yet have a plan. After things start rolling I hope they improve for you and your family. I hope you go to those appts with her, I think you can be of great support. Hang in there and please keep us posted. Karen

Hey, yes, go to your family doc and lay it all out for him/her. I've done that, and mine has been very helpful in getting me what I need to get myself healthy, either mentally or physically. It couldn't hurt, and they may have some ideas/resources for you that you wouldn't have known about. Some good psychological counseling could help, too. It's bad enough to go through the anxiety and awfulness of a close family member with cancer, but when you've been beaten down with your own physical ailments it's ten times worse. I know. I can't believe your Mom's doc says no treatment at all. Is that because of her COPD or oxygen or something? Do you know WHY? I would try to, as calmly as you can, find out why. See what else you can find out, her diagnoses (small cell or non small cell), staging, etc and let us know. Do you live near your parents? Once you get yourself together, I think it's good to be as supportive as you can and do what you can to help them. but try to get yourself together first, that's important. hang in there and PM me if you want to talk more. Karen

that's good. the way he treated Cheryl was pretty unbelievable. KC

On order. and I also want to thank you, Teresa, for everything you do. it looks really good and I could especially use the caregivers part. it's a tough role. I noticed they also offer it in Chinese. English, Spainish and Chinese. You don't see that very often. KC

Beth, my husband is a genius! haha. KC

Hey Beth, when you are in the tube just think about that Single Wide on stilts that you approved for a 90% cash out where you actually used the appraised value, ha,ha. Hang in there, you can make it. David C

Hang in there, kiddo, you'll be OK. Can you go home? Someone's mortgage approval can just wait until tomorrow.

I am sorry to hear about this. Make it clear to her medical Onc and Radiation Onc. that giving up is not an option and tell them you want aggressive treatment. Like others have said this can be overcome, but not if the docs are going to give up--and if they are then get new docs. Hang in there. My prayers are deffinitely with you and your family. David C

WAY TO GO JEN!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations. Enjoy the time off, if at least for a little while. Relax a little. David C

NED is a beautiful dude. Sorry about the Migranes, I have never been blessed with them so, sorry, no advice there, just glad NED payed a visit. David C

Kel, so sorry to hear about your Mom. Beleive me I know how dificult this is for you and your Mom but she is lucky to have a team of Doctors and she is lucky to have you. Keep your chin up. My prayers are with you and your Mom. David C

this is karen. Addie - LOVE THE DOGGIE PHOTO! YA'LL, not only does he have pea brain, he's got decadron brain, too, he started taking it the other day, and decadron makes Dave, shall we say, a little AGGRESSIVE? I sure wish he would exhibit the sense of humor he has on this board a little bit around the house . . . . !! well, I truly believe that no matter what it is, it's been caught early and will be dealt with. I'm just disappointed that he can't start recovering now like we had planned. It's like riding a really crappy roller coaster. It's very likely that it's some sort of scarring from that area of his brain getting doubled zapped with radiation. On a slightly brighter note, at least people are starting to come look at the house. we had one couple yesterday and someone else coming today. so if we can get a contract on the house, we can start looking forward to a new life and focus more on the ins and outs of moving to take our minds off of this stuff. I'm also starting to think we need a truly fresh start, and think we should buy a brand new house in a brand new subdivision rather look for a preowned house. well, prayers appreciated, especially those to help me deal with Mr. Decadron! God Bless, Karen

Pea Brain, ha,ha I needed (and probably deserve) that. I told Karen that we need to have peas every day until we get it figured out. I was going to have some Split Pea soup for lunch but on secon thought maybe I should stay away from split peas, at least for a while. David C