Raindog

Would my kraft Dinner and Tuna be worthy? It's in my book "How to Eat on $1.25 a Day, The Musicians Survival Guide to the Galaxy"

Hi Amanda and welcome, You have come to the best place for support and advice. 50% Shrinkage is FANTASTIC news for your family! My Dad was diagnosed July 4th, 2006 and after just 2 chemo treatments he has also shown shrinkage. I'm so happy I can't see straight! I wish continued success, shrinkage, health and happiness for your Dad and all of your family! Best wishes, -Rod

Congratulations Heather! What a fabulous story of strength and courage to share with the world. Truly inspiring! I wish you continued good health and happiness. Warmest wishes, -Rod

Hello and Welcome Evalani, This board and the folks on it are life savers. Sounds to me like you are living just fine,crazy daughter and all I know anxiety and the thoughts of what "if" can be very taxing at times. Read around this board and draw strength and inspiration from these wonderful folks. They get me through mine and my Dads dark days. I'd be lost without this place. Best wishes to you and your family, -Rod

Hi Jen, It's shocking to me that anybody would be offended by your prayers. Even if a person is a devout athiest they surely could appreciate the sentiment and care that is behind your kind words, wishes and beliefs? Don't ever apologize for some other persons ignorance. You do wonderful work here, and I, for one, REALLY appreciate it ! I'll do you one better... I'd sip wine with the devil himself if it would cure the suffering of good people. I wouldn't like it, but I'd do it. My prayers and best wishes to you my dear, -Rod

Hi Tracy, I pray that the karma police site these S.O.B's. I had to edit. In my haste I thought that this had taken place in Canada I hate thiefs and I truly believe that what comes around, goes around. Best regards, -Rod

Welcome Lisa, I'm so sorry for all that you are going through. You have found a wonderful place filled with wonderful people to help you along the way even if it's just for an ear, or in this case eyes, to vent on. Whatever gets you through each day is all that matters. Try and take things one day at a time. You are in good company here. These kind folks have gotton me through many a dificult day and night. They have much to share and this joint is open all night long! Wishing the very best for you and your family, -Rod

Hi and welcome, Thank you so much for sharing your mothers success story. Good news and inspiration are GOLD! Continued good health to you and your Mom! Best wishes, -Rod

Hi Meg! I'm sending you a great big hug! I'm So sorry for your losses, it's just not fair to have lost both parents at such a young age. I would give anything to take cancer out back and kick the living S**T out of it !! It makes me so god damn mad!! Stay strong. You have found a wonderful place for kindness and support here. These great folks have helped me so much in dealing with my dads new diagnosis - I would not be nearly as together as I am without this place. Welcome! My warmest regards and best wishes to you, -Rod

Thank you all so much for your help. It's MUCH appreciated. Best to you all, -Rod

Hi and welcome Troy. I have no advice to share with you as I am also new to this challenge called cancer. When my Dad was diagnosed I started reading as much about this desease as I could find. Knowledge is power! When I found this board everything really kicked into HIGH gear. These folks are amazing and will guide you with the best advice possible. Stats and numbers are B.S ! I have learned that from the very folks on this board. You hang tough with your wife and family. It gets easier once the treatments get under way. I was a wreck until we got a game plan together. Now I know the battle is on and that makes us all feel better. The sitting and waiting part of this S**T is what drove us nuts! I also wanted to get my Dad a second opinion. We decided not to as my Dad really likes the Oncologist and was tired of all the tests. We took great relief that the treatment was designed and approved by our local cancer clinic. I think if your wife and you are comfortable with your Doctors it's probably a good plan. Take it one day at a time. I firmly believe that attitude will go a long way towards kicking the crap out of this thing! Best wishes to you and yours, -Rod

Best wishes and prayers to Rich.

Hi All, My Dad finished his second round of chem last Tuesday his treatment is: Carboplatin (every other session) and Gemcitabine (every session) The last session was just the Gemcitabine. Since then he has been ice cold, not like chills, he describes it as like having ice water running through his veins. My question to you all is: Does this seem like a typical side effect or more like infection (febrile neutropenia)? He has a hard time getting warm. We got him a heating blanket and that seems to help out alot. It's just hard to see him like this as the temperature in B.C right now is about 90 degrees or better. As always, any help or advice is MUCH appreciated. Hope you are all well. Best wishes, -Rod

Welcome Angela, I have very little in the way of advice, but the other veterans of this wonderful community will be along shortly with much information and support. They are wonderful! I wish you and your Mom all the best for an expediant recovery. Sounds to me like she is well on her way! Warmest regards, -Rod

Hello and welcome, Thank you for sharing your wonderful success story! This is a HUGE inspiration to me and my Dad who is currently battling lung cancer. We need to hear as many success stories as possible and this is a GREAT one!! Continued good health and living to you. Best Regards, -Rod

moved to general discussion

Hi Chris, Thanks so much for your thoughts and follow up. Dad to agreed to a second opinion at our Cancer clinic here in British Columbia. Here is the kicker: We can't get him in for 3 weeks and he is scheduled to start chemo this friday. I am very concerned about complicating any future treatment once Dad has had a complete work up for staging and potential mets, etc. I read my Dads report, and it is alot of asumption on the part of the Doctors. The only certain result is "a fragment of squamous carcinoma in situ" from the bronchoscopy wash of the right side of his chest. We have decided to keep the appointment at the cancer clinic for the second opinion, etc, and proceed with the chemo treatment this friday. We just feel the sooner we get at this thing the better. Dad is in relatively good health, aside from the LC, and his spirits and attitude are excellent. He is still doing all his normal day to day activities with very few symptoms of anything other than what I would think is mostly stress. He still is coughing up alot of phlem, mostly green in color and occasionally there will be blood. This has been going on for several weeks now. It's not a violent cough, it just happens here and there. The strange thing is -- my Dad has also been blowing his nose and having nasal drip. The Doctor totally blew this off and didn't recomend any antibiotics or even look into what might be causing this. Strange! Thank you so much again for your thoughts and concern, I really appreciate it. Warmest regards, -Rod

My continued thanks and prayers to you all. Thank you for all the wonderful advice and encouragement. I don't think myself or my family would be holding up as well without this wonderful community. Warmest regards to you all. -Rod

Hi Kim, I'm new here also. I can really empathise with how you feel. My father was just diagnosed with nsclc and I am also feeling both lost and scared. Read around this message board. It will bring you great comfort, courage and inspiration. These wonderful folks have all been in our shoes as survivors and caregivers/family members. The advice I have recieved personally and through other posts has been uplifting and wonderful. I honestly don't think I would be capable of coping if it were not for these fantastic people. I can't offer any advice, but I can and will send you positive thought and prayers. -Rod

Hi, Thank you so much for all of your excellent advice and kind thoughts. I am going to try and push Dad for the second opinion at our cancer clinic here in British Columbia. I brought it up today, but I don't think Dad is ready for more tests and stress, etc. I think I will wait for the end of the weekend to have a serious talk about this, that way he has a couple of days to relax and absorb what is taking place.lord knows we could all use a few days off. Again - I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of your help, thoughts and prayers. It has got me through many dark anxious nights and days. My thoughts and best wishes to you all, -Rod

Greetings to all of you, I have been lurking on this board for a few weeks now and I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful you all are. Your stories and advice have helped me get through the beginnings of this new life changing event called cancer. My father had a CT scan a few weeks ago, it showed a Mass in his right and left lung with suspicion on his liver. The masses are 2 cm and 3.1 cm respectively. Dad went for a bronchoscope last week. The resperologist told us he got one "big" sample from one of the leisons, but he was unable to get the scope to the other mass for biopsy. The resperologist that did the scope met with my family (I was not present) upon receiving the initial pathology, He told us the tissue sample had come back as "not cancer". He would not give any hope or encouragement about this (what we thought was good news) and proceeded to give my family time frames and numbers including the stage of the cancer,etc - without any conformation. It was if he wanted it to be cancer and would not encourage anything to the contrary! The following Tuesday July 4th the wash and brush results came back from pathology and confirmed that it indeed was Non Small cell Squamous cancer of the large cell variety. This was devastating! not only was it devastating - the results were read to my Mother over the phone by the Doctors receptionist as he was in surgery!!! Dad went to see the Oncologist yesterday, he was mostly examined and advised by the Oncologists Intern. Once the Oncologist arrived he said they suspected mets on his liver and, as there was a mass (not biopsiesd) on the other lung, that the cancer had spread and that chemotherapy was his recommendation. My concern and lack of knowledge is this: Should they not be doing more to confirm diagnosis, such as pet scans, bone scans, etc? The only staging we received was stage 4 from the resperologist during the "it came back as NO cancer" consultation. In other words - before it was confirmed as cancer! I am worried sick, as is my entire family over how this has all been handled. I am led to think that the Onc is treating this as palliative care without telling my family as much. Being that we have never been down this road we have had to decide to proceed with the Oncologist recommendation. My Dad is 71 and is a life long smoker with Diabetes. He likes his Oncologist and feels he has had enough stress over the past few weeks and wants to proceed with the chemotherapy plan. Dad is strong and aside from the stated - is in pretty good health. His attitude is to beat this and he is determined. We all support him and do NOT want to do anything to discourage him from his mental set. We are all terribly upset and obviously extremely anxious over this entire situation. I am so grateful to all of you for your courage and inspiring advice. Any help or feedback would be MUCH appreciated. Thank you all so much, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Best regards, -Rod (Canada)