Remembering Dave

Jane - yep, he's an interesting guy, to say the least! He was "dared" by someone on the board to dress in drag in exchange for a donation to the website. This head shot is his preliminary photo. He hasn't gotten around to dressing in full drag yet. What everyone must know about David C is that nothing happens very fast with him. It's taken me eleven years to accept that fact (BeckyCW is his sister and I think she can verify this). Please let us know how the doctor appt went! Karen C.

Great suggestions! Jane - don't worry, you'll be fine - this is so important you'll focus and not get emotional. That will come later - ha! I think it is wonderful your father is asking for your help. A strong support system, especially family, is very helpful in fighting cancer. And being involved will help you, too, because doesn't it always feel better to feel like you're actually doing something about it? Am eager to hear the results of Wednesday's appt. God Bless, Karen C. (p.s. this is NOT me in the photo, by the way, but Dave semi-dressed in drag!!! I'm not THAT ugly!)

Jane - Dave and I haven't posted much lately, so I'm sorry I haven't "talked" with you before. Your Dad sounds like he's doing really really well. PET Scans are HIGHLY sensitive and if only has one little hot spot, that could be something like a lymph node fighting off an infection - NON CANCER infection, that is! Dave had a PET Scan a while back, after CT scans showed no evidence of cancer - and he had a small hot spot in his lymph node in his groin, but not two weeks before that he'd had a procedure done where they punctured a large vein in his grown to run a wire up to his portacath and lasso it back in place when it slipped out place a little. Anyway, everyone just assumed that was from the healing of that puncture wound and didn't worry about it. Hang in there. If he's doing that well, you'll want to continue that chemo. Kill all those cancer cells! PM or email us if you want to ask more questions, it sounds like your Dad's diagnoses is very similiar to Dave's. God Bless, Karen C.

Hey, Cindy - Dave and I haven't been around too much either, but because we've just been busy - which is GOOD. I'm glad there's no change. Stable is good. Hopefully with time the fluid will slowly go away. I'm counting on it. By the way, I always have liked your quote about finding strength in Christ. It's something I try to remember, especially after reading it from you, and it does strengthen me! God Bless, Karen C.

Jamie - this is Karen, David C's wife. I often log on with his username. He was diagnosed with SCLC in March 2003 - just a little over a year ago. His was not extensive like your Mom's (his had not spread out of lungs, although he did have a big tumor on the lymph nodes between his lungs), but take heart in hearing that he is in remission, in fact, the first CT scan after his chemo and chest radiation were over showed no evidence of cancer - just last summer. Another thing, SCLC is almost NEVER operable, so the fact that your mom's tumors have spread like spider webs really shouldn't be an issue - the chemo and radiation should get to 'em. The good news is that SCLC responds, in most cases, very very well to chemo and radiation. Dave's oncologist told him that this type of lung cancer is almost always caused by smoking. Dave was only 38 when diagnosed and had smoked for about 20 years. But that should not matter either - I mean, it may have caused the cancer, but at this point just consider it irrelevant. I will tell you that Dave's oncologist told him that if he ever smoked again they cancer would likely return and nothing he could do for him would help. So hopefully she has quit, that will definitely maximize her treatment I believe. Needless to say, Dave hasn't touched a cigarette and I know he never will. There are lots of survivors on this board who have or have had extensive SCLC. And there are others, like Katie's dad, who lived well past the time the doctors gave him. I also don't like the idea of giving a person a limited amount of time to live. Anything is possible, especially with a positive attitude. Keep us posted, OK? God Bless, Karen c.

Bud - I was wondering about you the other day. Great News! Dave had the PCI and even though it "wacked" him out big time, he is starting to recover. That was last September. And I know he does not regret it, either - in our opinion, being wacked out by the PCI is better than the potential alternative. and I like the term cesspool, especially when referring to anything cancer! God Bless, Karen C.

Ginny, neither Dave nor I have been on the boards much lately, not even lurking, so I am just seeing your post, but it really grabbed my attention. Mostly because you LOOK and SOUND like the most vivacious person EVER, so this lethargic-ness must be really driving you crazy! It sounds to me like it's the Zoloft. I've heard that anti-depressants can do this, but I've especially heard this about Zoloft. I do know that you are never supposed to go cold turkey on any anti-depressant so cutting the Duke down to half a pill is a good approach, but please please talk to whatever doctor prescribed it and get their advice. I think the plan should be to taper him down and then start him on something else, but I don't know the best way to do that. Also, I've been on Celexa for probably five years now and I've never had any problems with it. Dave's oncologist put him on Paxil when he was diagnosed but it was doing strange things to him (can't remember what exactly now, but I think it was making him anxious) so he switched to Celexa and he's doing fine. Now, Dave Chapman is the last person you'd ever imagine needing an antidepressant, even with cancer, so I doubt he takes it for long. but me, well, let's just say "better living through chemicals." I just need them. My two cents worth. I was so happy to read down the posts and see that The Duke is getting his pep back and taking you out to eat - what fun! That must feel like a trip to Europe for you about now! I sure hope your sister does OK. I can't imagine how hard it is to not be able to go see her right now. God Bless, Karen C.

Ginny, neither Dave nor I have been on the boards much lately, not even lurking, so I am just seeing your post, but it really grabbed my attention. Mostly because you LOOK and SOUND like the most vivacious person EVER, so this lethargic-ness must be really driving you crazy! It sounds to me like it's the Zoloft. I've heard that anti-depressants can do this, but I've especially heard this about Zoloft. I do know that you are never supposed to go cold turkey on any anti-depressant so cutting the Duke down to half a pill is a good approach, but please please talk to whatever doctor prescribed it and get their advice. I think the plan should be to taper him down and then start him on something else, but I don't know the best way to do that. Also, I've been on Celexa for probably five years now and I've never had any problems with it. Dave's oncologist put him on Paxil when he was diagnosed but it was doing strange things to him (can't remember what exactly now, but I think it was making him anxious) so he switched to Celexa and he's doing fine. Now, Dave Chapman is the last person you'd ever imagine needing an antidepressant, even with cancer, so I doubt he takes it for long. but me, well, let's just say "better living through chemicals." I just need them. My two cents worth. I was so happy to read down the posts and see that The Duke is getting his pep back and taking you out to eat - what fun! That must feel like a trip to Europe for you about now! I sure hope your sister does OK. I can't imagine how hard it is to not be able to go see her right now. God Bless, Karen C.

Bless you, Berisa - isn't it something how you can be so much more at peace with things when you understand more of God's love and the role Jesus plays in our lives - and deaths? I try to remember that out of everything that seems bad there is some good, and even though your father is suffering so much in his earthly form right now, at least you, and him, are finding peace through Christ. Take care, and know we are thinking of you, Karen C.

Hey, nobody calls me a Chicken Butt!!! NOBODY!! Do chickens have butts? What came first? Why did the chicken butt cross the road? There was a boy scout a chicken butt and Jesse Jackson on this plane.......... PS: more to come David C

Hi, Greg's Mom. I hope you are feeling better soon. It is really hard to lose a son. I have lost three cousins in the last few years - one was 38 (breast cancer) one was 43 (suicide) and one was 48 (ruptured aneursym while jogging). I am watching my beloved aunts and uncle suffer with losing children in the prime of their lives, as Greg was. He was a super duper nice guy and quickly became a real friend to my husband Dave (who is doing pretty well for the time being) as they were diagnosed about the same time and were about the same age. Please hang in there and stay in touch with us. We love you very much. God Bless, Karen C. (David C's wife)

Hi, ya'll! Not chicken butt, not shy (NOT him - he performed on stage for years as a musician!). Just tired, busy, and sick. All three of us have had a bad cold for the last week, for instance. And blame BeckyCW a little too, we had to spend a weekend out of town visiting with her . . .(sorry Becky, just trying to spread the blame a little). It seems we're either on the run or recovering from being on the run . . . that being said, we'll make a big effort to get it done this weekend. I THINK we have all the necessary stuff! Stay tuned . . . Karen C.

Berisa, Have a beautiful day with your precious Dad. God Bless, Karen C.

Sounds like you're heading to SW Virginia - wish you were coming closer to us, we'd love to meet up with you. Our part of Virginia isn't near there, although I have family populating areas of WV and NC mountains nearby . . . Have a good trip, celebrating your PawPaw's life! God Bless, Karen C.

Haylee, you are living our dream, more or less. Dave was SURE when I took him to the hospital and they found a mass in his lung, that it was a big ball of infection - because we had just been to China to adopt our baby and SARS had just hit and all kinds of weird things were going on and he was just so sure it was an infection, not cancer . . . . but it was cancer. Sooo, GREAT NEWS for you! It's kind of interesting to see that it is a possibility to mistake a mass of infection for a tumor. Best wishes for healthy living! Karen C. (David C's wife)

Welcome, and sorry you have to be here. I agree, take a deep breath. when my husband was first diagnosed with SCLC I was in shock. We had just adopted our baby daughter from China and I couldn't imagine raising her without him, and being without a partner in life. but it's been a year now, and so far the tumors are gone. Keep a positive attitude, make sure your Mom has all the positive support she can get, and do everything you can to maximize her treatment. I would sit in the oncologist's office for at least the first hour of every one of Dave's chemo treatments and pray. I firmly believe that this type of support really makes a difference. Just don't give up. God Bless, Karen C. (David C's wife)

Jane, I just posted something to you in your posting posting about quitting smoking. etc. You are 39 years old - same age as my husband who has SCLC! People have a hard time hearing that someone so young has lung cancer, but there are plenty on this board. It seems like doctors especially, I remember going to my allergy doc a couple of months ago and telling him about Dave's SCLC, he couldn't believe it. but you have that on your side, you have a loving and supportive family which is important - keep a positive attitude and you will do fine. On another note - Dan baked a blueberry pie! Yum! That sounds yummy! God Bless, Karen C.

Jane - you can certainly beat the extensive SCLC. As far as smoking goes, Dave's oncologist (he has limited SCLC) told him that it was caused by his smoking and if he didn't quit nothing he did for him would help, the cancer would probably come back. Dave and I both wanted to hear everything single little thing we could do to beat this monster and were grateful he was honest about that. Dave quit cold turkey - and it's been over a year now since his diagnoses and so far he is NED (no evidence of disease). Unless you are terribly stressed and just can't quit, I would encourage you to. It has to maximize your survival and the effectiveness of treatment. It was really hard for Dave, I know - but he spent the first week of his diagnoses in the hospital and started his first chemo treatment there and then it was pretty much BAM - totally immersed in treatment - and I think that the difficulty of quitting was sort of mixed in with everything else he was going through. I think it's still hard for him, a year later, but getting easier. And I know he's GLAD he quit. hang in there and good luck, Karen C. (David C's wife)

It seems like you were gone FOREVER! Welcome back! Karen C. and David and Faith

Curtis, I second everything that the other Karen said and also what Gail said about cleaning out the ventilation system - get a professional company to do that. I would replace all the carpets and have the walls cleaned and painted. And I like the idea of trying to get the seller to pay for some of it. And definitely test for radon. I remember Becky posting one time that she wondered about the house ya'll lived in - was it in Florida? - before you moved to Nac. Keep us posted. Karen C.

Wow - good luck. He is one lucky guy to have such a strong support system. come back when he's better and let us know how he's doing, OK? God Bless! Karen C. (David C's wife)

Laura - I sent you an PM. You and your husband have the right attitude. I feel that he will be fine. Keep up the fighting spirit and positive attitude and keep in touch. God Bless, Karen C. (David C's wife)

From one Karen to another - YOU GO GIRL! Thanks for keeping us posted, Norme! God Bless, Karen C.

Dearest Berisa, What Sharon says make sense, but I think you can be honest with your Dad AND pray for a miracle at the same time. We're thinking about you and praying for your father and your family. God Bless, Karen C.

My husband, also named Dave, and also 39 years old, got SCLC lung cancer, which, the oncologist said, was directly caused by his 20+ year smoking. Others on this board much younger than Dave have gotten lung cancer and never smoked. So age should not disqualify a suspicion of lung cancer. Especially from a smoker (in our personal experience, anyway, not meaning to offend those victims who are non-smokers). Get all the tests you need - especially full chest CT scans - and then take it from there. Worrying will get you nothing, but thoroughly checking everything out will get you a diagnoses and a game plan or hopefully peace of mind. Please keep in touch and keep us informed and let us know whenever you have questions, concerns, or worries (because even if I advise you not to worry it's only natural to worry!) God Bless and good luck, Karen C. (David C's better half) p.s. One year after Dave's diagnoses he is in remission. The year was tough, no doubt about it, but this monster can be beat.