Remembering Dave

Wow - I LOVE THAT! I was just talking to a dear co-worker, who's father has been recently diagnosed with NSLC Stage IV. She was saying how many good things come out of this terrible situation, good comes out in people, etc. So I shared this post with her. Thanks, Don! God Bless, Karen C. p.s. I want to know why we don't have an angel emoticon if we have not one, but TWO devil ones?

Dear Ray, This is Karen C. I've been wondering about you. I see by your profile that your treatment is working! I'm so glad to see that! You do what you need to do. Everyone understands! By the way, Dave is doing GREAT, if that helps! He had a PET Scan and a CT scan and a chest xray, all within the last month or so, and although the doctor can't say for sure that he's cancer free (there's something in there but can't say if it's scar tissue or a tumor) he feels that he is. In any event, he's feeling good, which is what matters! So I hope that's a little bit of good news to help counteract the bad news. Dave probably hasn't posted too much about it because we're just not sure. You have a wonderful Christmas! God Bless, Karen C.

Hey, Shawna, from reading your new post about your Dad now being no evidence of cancer, I'd say that HE is now a good survivor story! You're a great gal! God Bless, Karen C.

Shawna, sounds like a true miracle to me. I bet you have been praying HARD for your father. And I bet God listened to you! I tell you what - TAKE IT! And don't worry too much about the doctor's reaction. They're always afraid to get too excited, get you too excited, and then if something bad happens . . . Dave's oncologist is a dear sweet man, and even when he is really excited, he doesn't physicall show it too much. We've gotten used to that. Dave complained to him that the radiologist was too dry, so now the oncologist tries to be funny, and he just can't quite do it. Too many years of trying not to show emotion, I guess. Keep praying, and have a Blessed Christmas! God Bless you, your family, and especially your dear ole' Dad! Karen C.

Deepest sympathies from the Chapman Family. God Bless you.

In laymans terms it means preventative brain radiation. From what I understand it is only offered for SCLC patients Who have no evidence of disease after chemo and radiation. It is a low dose of radiation given to the brain to kill any cancer cells which may be floating around due to chemo drugs cannot effectively get into the brain. This is my understanding, hopefully I am not too far off but I am sure someone will post more technical info if I am not quite right............OK, no comments from the peanut gallery. David C

I have no words to express my feelings over this news. I am so very sorry. I felt a special bond with Greg since we were diagnosed about the same time and we actually hooked up on another web site before coming to LCSC. I will miss Greg and his postings. My condolences go out to his family and you will all be in my prayers. David C

I do not have any answers but I to will have you and your family in my prayers. David C

Anne, I am so sorry to hear the news about your mother. Please know that you and your family will be in my prayers. David C

Hey Greg, glad you went to the hospital so they could get your sodium strait. Thats how they found mine and I understand low sodium is pretty serious. Sounds like they gave you some good pain meds. Hang in there buddy, my prayers are with you. David C

I had been having recurring bronchitis for approx. 5 months and then I started feeling very tired and coughing a lot. I attributed the cough to the bronchitis. Then I started getting leg cramps and the cramps got so bad that it looked like electrodes were attached to my calfs-it was like deep sea waves rippling through the muscles in my calfs. My wife took me to the emergency room were a blood test showed extremely low sodium in my blood, caused by the tumor in my lung I was told. My sodium was so low the docs said that if I had waited another day or 2 the low sodium would have put me in a coma which I probably would not have come out of. A CT Scan the night I went to the emergency room showed something in my left lung. It took them several days to get my sodium up to a level where they could do a biopsy. Had the Biopsy on Tuesday, had my porta cath in on Wed. and started chemo Thur., Friday and Sat. So started my journey. David C

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heart, heart, heart, heart,heart. Hey great news Sandy-sorry about the heart but they can do miracles with a heart. Mine is a little off also they say due to the treatments but hey, I will take a weird heart anyday of the week because we are here for the LONG TERM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! David C

You sound as if you are par for the course as far as reactions to all the treatments. I am still tired!!! It does get better. I can tell everyday thyat I am getting stronger and stronger. I still have my bad days but those are getting fewr as time goes on. Don't try and shovel too much snow up there. David C

My thoughts and condolences go out to you and your family. It is so unfair for him to have lost his battle at such a young age. My prayers will be with you and your family. David C

I had some 98% pure Aloe cream I slathered on my noggin everyday during my PCI and never had a problem. Try getting some Aloe........really good, pure aloe cream and see if that helps. David C

Hey Greg, so glad to hear you are out and back in fighting mode. We are all here for you. Looking forward to seeing the article, to get any article published is doing a great job, in my opinion. David C

Deb, we all know how you feel. Don't worry about it, just do what you can. Asthma is no fun, period. I have had Asthma all my life...............and smoked for 20 years and now.........well......... Hang in there, get the astma checked out and let us know whats going on. David C

I am so, so very sorry for your loss. My prayers will be with you. David C

Greg!!!!!!!!! Man, that sucks. I sure hope they don't subject you to hospital Turkey, that would really suck. Hey man, my prayers are with you. Hang in there and get some real turkey. David C

Cathy, I cannot imagine what Thanksgiving would be like after losing a loved one. Please know that there will be many prayers said for you and your family. David C

he IS a goofball!!!! Karen C.

My eyeballs hurt. David C

ATM, My father had an abdominal aneurysm. They run in families, so depending on your age, you need to have that checked out whenever you have a physical exam. They tell you to start checking it around 50, and I'm 45, so I'm starting soon. Anyway, I hope your grandmother recovers fine from that. I think there is a new surgical procedure that is less invasive than my Dad's surgery. He was in the hospital for three weeks. This cancer could have started anywhere. There are other cancers that like to spread to the lungs. I'm sure they biopsied what they got, but she also needs a full body CT scan and bone scan. I would think the doctors are ordering that, but make sure they do. Keep us posted. I hope she is a healthy and strong person, and that if it is cancer it's manageable. I think 78 is young! My Dad is now 74 and he seems like a young man to me. God Bless, Karen C. (Dave C.'s wife)

Kathi, AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! Go celebrate!!!!! Greg is right, Push for a PET Scan. I did not get one until after I finished my PCI but had to push my Onc. for it. I will be being scanned every 6 weeks, from what my Onc said. God Bless you all. David C