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ursol

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Posts posted by ursol

    Scan results

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Ernie,

    Hope the treatment goes well for you. I have had both Alimta and Gemzar but not together. Gemzar tends to knock the white cells down rather quickly so watch out for that. I found Alimta to be fairly mild. I have never been on Avastin.

    Lilly

    A little scared

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    To my friends,

    I thought I would tell you that I'm getting nervous now that the adrenolectomy surgery is around the corner. They called me from the hospital today to tell me that my surgery monday morning is at 7:30 AM ET. I need to be at the hospital at 6:30 AM which means I'm leaving my house at 5:30 AM or so. Now that it is soo near I am really getting scared. I tell myself not too worry but I'm always fearful of complications. I also think what if I wake up and my husband tells me that they found a ton of cancer and couldn't move forward, how will I take that kind of news. I try to pretend to everyone that I'm not scared and this is no big deal but deep down I am always terrified. Anyhow, I know many of you understand what I'm feeling. just thought I would share my thoughts on surgery.

    Lilly

    High pulse rate after surgery? Beta blockers?

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    Barb,

    Since my lung cancer diagnosis and spending more time around dr.'s I noticed a fast heart rate as well (118 to 130). I'm not sure if it started before or after my lung surgery in Oct. '06. My oncologist never was concerned enough to send me to a cardiologist so I thought nothing of it until I went into A-Fib in November. My heart rate jumped to 230 after a panic and asthma attack.

    I am currently on Beta Blockers (daltiazem and sotalol). I had a stress test this morning but without exercise. They gave me a drug that imitates exercise on the heart. I had to do 4 minutes on the treadmill while they injected the drug. It was not easy to say the least.

    The medicine is keeping my heart rate in the 90's but now my blood pressure has lowered to 90/60. The cardiologists have not given me yet a good explanation of why I have developed Atrial Fibrillation.

    Lilly

    wine

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    My medical oncologist let's me continue to have my glass of wine with dinner (merlot). Whenever I get new meds, my first question is "can I drink wine". They are getting used to me. I gave up the cigarettes, I can't give up all my vices.

    What I have noticed is on the days that I have had chemo if I drink wine my face turns cherry red. It scares the bejesus out of my husband so he won't let me drink on those evenings anymore.

    Lilly

    Surgery is a go!

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Just wanted to let everyone know that I met with the oncological surgeon to discuss removing my right adrenal gland tumour and a lymph node that has been lighting up on PET. Although he wanted to make sure I understood this is not a cure and he could not guarantee whether or not the cancer will return somewhere else after the surgery he feels I should get aggressive treatment. Surgery is scheduled for January 14th. Because of the size and position of the Adrenal gland tumour he said the chance is 50/50 on whether he can do the procedure laporoscopically. He will try but said he may have to open me. I'm actually very excited to try this.

    Happy New Year to all!!

    The stigma of lung cancer

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Ghita,

    I smoked for 27 years but don't feel that guilty about it anymore. I had to make peace with that. When I was growing up we all smoked, we don't all have lung cancer, I finally decided that I was destined for this disease with or without the cigarettes. My children though on the other hand suffer about this I think. Yesterday my son saw a commericial for a new device to help smokers quit and he said "I wish they invented this sooner".

    When others ask me if I smoked, I now respond "Yes I did, but I have met so many lung cancer patients that have never smoked".

    Update: Cyberknife or Surgery

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Just wanted to give folks an update. I met with Cyberknife radiologist regarding my Adrenal gland tumour and the potentially cancerous lymphnode in the same general area and whether cyberknife would work. He told me that he spoke to my oncologist and I should go for the surgery but if for some reason the surgeon would not do the surgery then I could go back to him and they would look into the risks with Cyberknife further. There is some concern that the radiation dose that cyberknife would give to the Adrenal gland could cause havoc on my blood pressure.

    I have an appointment with the surgeon next Thursday to discuss the surgery. I just hope they can get this done as quickly as possible since it has already been about four weeks with no chemo.

    I'll update again once I have spoken to the surgeon.

    Lilly

    Cyberknife vs Surgery

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    I was sent for an Echo, PET Scan and MRI of the brain yesterday and I just got off the phone with my oncologist. I was sent for the scans after I insisted I go see the Cyberknife radiologists in Hartford, CT. My oncologist wanted to make sure my cancer was still stable.

    MRI of the brain is clear...Adrenal gland tumor is the same and they confirmed the existence of a potentially cancerous lymph node in the inferior vena cava that they have seen before but have not been sure about.

    After the tumor board meeting today, they have decided that they should send me to a surgeon for laparscopic surgery to remove the right adrenal gland as well as they lymph node. My oncologist will talk to Cyberknife as well and I will still go to the apt. on Wednesday to discuss the best option, cyberknife or surgery. I can not believe that they are considering this. Thank you God and all my friends in this forum. I know even if they do the surgery it doesn't give me any guarantees that a week later, I won't have more cancer but it's a shot in the dark and one I said to my oncologist I deserved.

    How do we convince the world to fund lung cancer research, it is sooooo needed.

    Lilly

    Gamma Knife

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Patti,

    I had Gamma Knife to the brain last December to radiate two Brain met lesions. They screw a halo (metal ring) on your head first. It is fairly painless and works pretty well. Many times it is used instead of Whole Brain Radiation provided you have four or less lesions.

    Lilly

    Women and Their Hair

    in LC SURVIVORS

    Posted

    I just want to tell everyone that I did it. I walked in to work today without my wig. It felt really good. Some people pretended like nothing was different, others complimented my new great haircut:). And my close friends at work even wanted to touch my hair, they were excited to see that my hair had grown back. All in all, you guys are right, people are far more accepting then we expect. I had a great day...I'm soooo happy to finally get that wig off. I feel like a new person.

    Lilly

    I Think It's Time For a Roll Call....

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Lilly

    Born in Hartford, grew up in the most ancient town of Wethersfield and now live in Rocky Hill, CT.

    41 year old (soon to be 42:)) mom of three kids. Katia (14), Alexandre (8) and Marilena (2). Married to Paul (43) for 15 years. We have a 130 pound oversize Doberman named "Kiko" and a little goldfish named "oddball". I also have the best parents in the world who live five minutes away.

    I am employed as a Sr. Director for the Disney and ESPN networks. Been working there for 14 years and thankful every day. I'm a UCONN alum.

    Fighting NSCLC stage IIIA now IV since June of '06.

    Besides spending time with my family in my spare time I love to read, scrapbook, update my facebook page, research my family history (I have gone as far back as 1771 so far), and take pictures.

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