berisa

Want to keep all of you informed. My Dad now is waiting to have the PCI treatment. Most likely start the first within 2 weeks. Really want this to be done earlier. My Dad now sometimes feels not well while he is in a crowd. He feels his chest feeling not well and difficult to breath, he feels that the air is not fresh. You know, in Hong Kong, it is really difficult to breath in fresh air. Beyond that, he feels good, he thinks he is healthy. Although no CT or PET scan had been done after chemo & radiotherapy (doctors said they are not ncessary, X-ray is good enough), but the recent Brain CT showed no brain met as of 9-15. My Dad stopped taking TM around 1 week ago as he always thinks this is for those in Stage IV and he doesn't want to be a "rat" at this moment. Moreover, he said after taking TM, he had the shortness of breath etc....whatever the reasons, he refused to take TM anymore even after my several times persuasion. Now he keeps on taking chinese herb medicine and exercising 'Qigong' everyday. Everyday he walks up the mountain and exercise "Qigong" twice a day. He believes that he can beat the cancer. He tells me that his hair is turning black after exercising "qigong' and he tells me his skin turns whiter and smoother, he relates this to the chemo!! He said, maybe the chemo helps to clean up the sewage inside his body....... Yesterday, my Dad, mom and my brother, myself and my husband went to a beach watching the sunset. It was really fantastic as we have a long time not been to a beach together. It was really good. The sunset is really fantastic. My Dad really wants to swim yesterday, he likes swimming very much. Really don't know when could he swim again. In fact, after my dad being diagnosed, I bought a video camera, we record all memorable memories and moments that we have. I am that kind of person, who always playing two roles, one side keep on doing positive and agressive, the other side thinks negative, thinks "what-if". I tell myself that I have to believe that my dad could fight this horrible cancer even the stats is not optimistic. I have to remind myself always..... I have to give confidence on my Dad, I have to believe what is now happening on my Dad...I have to believe in Miracles.....I am that kind of person who has a little faith like a mustard seed. Thank you for your kind listening.

Joe, no words can describe my current feelings and emotions. This is very complex. Your Dad and you are in my prayers. Maybe try to open some options to your Dad later while he has a better mood. Don't give up and encouraging him continously.

hi, i could give you a hand to buy green tea loose leaf from hong kong and ship to your appointed address. The price is far cheaper than U.S., (certainly shipping cost is a fixed cost that the more you buy the lower the shipping cost). Here in Hong Kong for a bag of ORGANIC Green Tea Loose Leaf weighted 3.5oz (100g) costs only US$7.00 (excluding shipping cost), I could buy for you guys here. If you are interested, feel free to send personal message (PM) to me directly. P.S. the shipping cost of express parcel from here to U.S. is around US$20 for 10 bags (estimated), the final shipping cost could be checked.

Hi Jenny this is the first time i hear about the crease in ear lobe, I don't know whether it is from chinese medicine perspective but i guess it is not from chinese bcoz usually only relate the tongue and pulse. One of my auntie has heart disease, maybe let me check it later. But i don't understand what do you mean of "Ear lobe". hehehe Sometimes, I just think those signs may be the facts. You know, from scientific perspective, maybe it is the DNA issue that causes some body changes. I find these are interesting bcoz like watching Discovery Channel. But for those who find a straight line cut, don't be panick, because I really don't know the answer, i am just telling you what i heard and wonder whether it is the fact only.

It is really great! I can feel how nice of the sunny sky you saw.

Gina, the straight line in the middle from up to down in fact, looks like the tongue is cut by knife that the the surface is not smooth and not in the same level, I don't mean this straight line is the natural "valley". What I have on my tongue is cut by knife in zip zap direction, not a straight line cut. This is told by one of the chinese writers who now live in Toronto that he told us. Norme, in fact, dont worry too much, i am just told about this.

sorry all, maybe what i mentioned was not good enough because my english isn't good enough to explain and describe accurately. What I mean (I am trying again ) is, there is a long "line" placed in the middle of the tongue and it is from up to down. For other shapes you find mean other things but not cancer in Chinese Medicine Perspective. Sorry that "I" is not the most accurate meaning, should be " l " , a straight line "l" (not zip zap line) ..... I don't know why you guys think this action is silly , maybe this is cultural differences. Anyway, thank you for telling me.

Thank you Gina. You are very nice.

while my Dad had both chemo & radiotherapy, he was crazy, he can't fall into sleep, had the restless legs, the temper became very worst that always scolded, he thought weird that he thought police would arrest him AND we brought him to see the psychatrist once. After the radiotherapy finished, he became better and although there was fatigue still. Now he feels better and he is tired bcoz of the little anemia occurred. But if you refer to what i posted here few weeks ago, the article tells that age will not affect the treatment performance. The topic is "News sharing" under this "GENERAL BOARD".

good news MORE!!!

My Dad told me that what the hospital did on him this Monday is not LUNG CT Scan, it was just BRAIN CT Scan only. My Dad is going to have the head moulding tomorrow morning for PCI. The hospital didn't do any CT Scan and PET Scan for my Dad after diagnosis. Only X-ray. Both oncologist from governmental hospital & private clinic said there is no need to have the CT Scan, even CT scan tells not NED, they can do nothing to my Dad at this moment. The doctor from governmental hospital said my Dad's progress is excellent. There is only 1/10 of the orginal size shown on X-ray and said it may be scar tissue. Is that true if in case not in NED situation, no more chemo could be done? What should we do? My dad said he prefers to have the CT Scan after PCI finished, he agrees with those doctors and he said he doesn't want to know too much....

Hi, we have been told that in Chinese Medicine perspective, cancer patients always have one common sign, that is there is a "cut-alike" on the surface of the tongue, from up to down, located in the middle of the tongue -- like " I " shape. I don't know how to describe, but my Dad did have that cut-alike "STRAIGHT line" from up to down in the middle of the tongue. Do you mind telling me do you have one like what my Dad has???? I know this does not mean anything, but if it is a fact, I just wonder is that an earlier signal ??

hi gaia, I strongly suggest you go to have the LUNG CT Scan if you are panick. Either for yourself and the baby, you should do some further checks. You know, uncertainty makes one nervous. There is a lot of room for yourself to imagine and think negatively. Take it easy and go ahead to be checked.

I can say, this SCLC is very terrible, in my Dad's case, he had his body check last year September, the lung x-ray was extremely normal and no any shadow-like or even a spot there last Sept. Just only around 6-7 months, my Dad started to cough with blood and bcoz we were afraid of getting SARS at that outbreak that finally my Dad went to hospital for checking, then X-ray shows a mass around 2cmx4cm with 1 nearby lymph node met (with CT & PET scan). I just wonder, yearly regular body check in fact, is not enough to detect the cancer earlier. In just 6 months, everything was changed. I really wonder how fast the cancer spread and grew..... I just wondered, does it a fact not to quit smoking if you have smoking for many years. My Dad just quit smoking for 2 years.

Judy is in my prayer.

I am sorry to hear about that. Your friend is a very special special man who makes the life more beautiful, the sound of music lasts forever.

Susan, definitely pray for you and your mom. No words could comfort you and your mom except God's words.

David, I have sent a prayer for you.

Hi Kathi, sorry for I have no knowledge on your question.

Thank you for your all answering and listening. We consulted another oncologist yesterday and he said 6 rounds of chemo is enough. He said CT Scan is good enough to evaluate my Dad's progress, he said CT Scan can only detect abnormality of where there is already more than 1 billion cancerous cells. Whereas, if the no. of those cancerous cells at one spot which is less than 1 billion, CT cannot detect. He also said, there is no need to have the brain MRI because CT scan plays the same role as MRI already. Is that true? Pray for my dad's scan result. Forget the capability of CT, Hope NED at all.................

hi, welcome you. As far as I know, if you take the advice to get the chemo, it will minimize the chances of spread and recurrence of cancer. The dose or frequency may be less comparatively. Don't be afraid, this is good for you. Many patients experience being treated by chemo and they are fine. There is nothing to be afraid of, many side effects will be gone after all chemo finish, the side effect is temporary. Think positive and it does help your progress as well. Don't smoke anymore and it will hinder the progress of treatment (proved with scientific research already). You can do it, believe yourself, you are suggested to come to this board more frequently. You are not alone and you will feel better when you read more stories of us. Welcome and think positive.

hi Hebbie, I saw an article that against "Sharks Don't Get Cancer", it said some sharks have cancer. For me, I will suggest to save much money for another alternative instead.

thank you Jenny.

My dad is scheduled to have the PCI very soon. My dad is going to have the CT Scan next Monday (9/15) for evaluating the chemo & radio performance and will have the head moulding for PCI either on 9/15 or 9/17. My Dad asked the Dr. what if the tumor is not completely shrunken, will he need to have more rounds of chemo. The Dr. answered that they will not do any further rounds of chemo even the tumor is not completely shrunken bcoz my dad could not afford additional rounds of chemo (But, I don't think so, this in fact is not the reason bcoz my Dad's health condition is very good). Is it the normal practise? The Dr. also didn't mention to do the brain MRI prior to doing PCI, is it a MUST to have the brain MRI to verify no met to brain before doing PCI?? Please help answering these 2 questions. Thank you.

Aventis says Taxotere helps fight early lung cancer Thu August 14, 2003 03:25 AM ET In PARIS story headlined "Aventis says Taxotere helps fight early lung cancer" please read in first paragraph ...Franco-German... instead of ...Franco-American... (correcting nationality) A corrected version follows: PARIS, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Franco-German drug maker Aventis AVEP.PA said on Thursday recent studies showed its Taxotere drug was beneficial in initial chemotherapy to fight non-small cell lung cancer. A French Phase II study showed a doubling of the three year survival rate when Taxotere was administered with chemotherapy agent cisplatin followed by cancer-fighting drug vinorelbine versus a dose of cisplatin and vinorelbine followed by Taxotere, Aventis said. A German Phase II study showed a median survival rate of 8.5 months compared with 6.2 months when Taxotere was administered before gemcitabine as opposed to afterwards in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, Aventis said. A third study showed elderly patients with advanced non-small lung cancer who received Taxotere with a platinum compound had an improved median survival compared to a combined dose of vinorelbine and cisplatin, Aventis said. The studies were presented at the 10th World Lung Conference in Vancouver, Canada