Hello everyone!
I have been reading the posts here for a few weeks and just lurking about, but encouraged by all of your stories and the warmth and caring I have found here.
My 57 year old husband, Tim, was dx in Feb with two primary tumors, transitional cell kidney cancer and NSCLC-squamous cell-IIIA. Of course a lot of tests went into getting the final answers to all of this. At first we just knew he had some type of lung cancer and something wrong with his kidney. A PET scan showed that the kidney was cancer and they removed the kidney by laprascope on March 27. They found that his body had walled off the tumor and it is considered Stage 1 (thank God for that!). So the kidney is not a great concern now. The LC is in his left lung and he will have surgery to remove the entire lung June 11. He has had radiation and chemo (carboplatin and taxotere) for five weeks and will have follow-up chemo after the surgery.
We have the best doctors, thanks to Allcase-it was the first place I called and when I told them I was in the Seattle area they told me to go to Dr. Howard West at the Swedish Cancer Institue. Thank you, Jan! It was the best advice we were given. He is Tim's oncologist and has been great! He says we are going for a cure...and I believe him. Tim went through the chemo very well, very little nausea and some fatigue a few days after each treatment. I think he was on lower doses to protect his one remaining kidney. No hair loss and he actually gained weight-almost 12 pounds!! So far--so good. But we are worried about the surgery and the recovery. It seems some of you sail through it but some are still having trouble six months out. Not sure why that is. I am trying to hang in there and I take care of him and all the medical insurance paperwork, go to each doctor visit and take notes--so much info all at once. I just wanted to thank all of you for being there for me--even if you didn't know you were. It's been such a help to know that people can get though this without becoming insane with the stress.