Carolyn Flournoy

Last year on Friday the 13th 2002 my husband of 43 years was told he had lung cancer and had 2 to 9 months. I don't remember asking for a time line but the pulmonologist looked at a x-ray and just announced this as fact. After a bronchoscopy with biopsy on the 19th of Dec. this same doctor told us to get his affairs in order because he only had 4 to 6 months. Well today Saturday the 13th 2003 he was out with his buddies shooting skeet. This doesn't go on every day he has his good and not so good days but it beats the prognosis of a year ago. Want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and knowledge it has given us hope and courage. THANKS Carolyn

Tracy Just a thought, could the extra work of Christmas, decorations,lighting,shopping.cleaning etc. plus the extra expense of entertaining the dinner, presents.goodies have anything to do with his not wanting to celebrate this year. If money is tight from medical bills and energy is low from treatments this could be the reason. The solution is easy if this is the case have Christmas at your house this year and next year will be his turn. Just a thought, Carolyn

Can't answer your question about why the dr. chooses one form of treatment over another. But would have to guess age,health,lifestyle. My husband was on carbo/gemzar and didn't lose his hair. But this time on carbo/taxol started falling out about the fourth week. Carolyn

My husband went to the doctor for his blood pressure med. he had been taking for years, that was in April of 2002. Doctor took blood test something showed up either to high or to low can't remember which. He sent him for a colonoscopy. Everything checked out just fine. until November 2002 had shoulder pain and was given a shot for joint pain. December 2002 having trouble breathing doctor had him see a heart doctor who put him on a treadmill and thought he had heart problems sent him home with nitro. Finally doctor had him get a chest X-ray which didn't look good. We got a pulmonologist and had a bronchoscopy with biopsy and then on to a oncologist. Carolyn

Thanks Bruce, My husband is on that combination of chemo. It's always good news to hear of treatments that have worked. The doctors tell you this is the best or the latest treatment etc. etc. But to hear from people you know that have benefited gives real hope. Thanks again, Carolyn

First we giggled then we chuckled then we laughed till it hurt. THANKS, Carolyn

Ginny So excited !!! about Earl's good news it gives us hope that we'll hear some good news too. Jim will get his c-scan on the 17th. Jim hasn't lost any weight either in fact he's gained a couple of pounds and I believe that's a good sign. Carolyn

Has your mother seen her primary doctor about her skin condition. After my husband had chemo and radiation he came down with shingles which I understand is not uncommon with cancer patients. They look like small red spots with little blisters (chicken poxes). It can be very painful if not treated at the onset. Maybe someone else has some other ideas about her rash that will help you. Carolyn

Yesterday is History Tomorrow is a Mystery But Today is a Gift That's why it's called the Present Carolyn

FANTASTIC !!!!! to have results and to feel great too. Glad this is your mother's miracle drug. With all that cooking and baking what a great Thanksgiving dinner your family will have. Carolyn

Symptoms of infection are a fever greater than l00.4 F. call your onc. she might need antiblotics. When on chemo your white blood cells decrease putting you at risk for infection. This is the season for flu, colds etc. right at holiday time. Carolyn

Sorry to hear this news condolences to her family and all who knew her. Carolyn

Clubbing I think I read somewhere was a condition that you see in lung cancer because of the decrease in blood oxygen. The finger tips look stubby if I remember the pictures correctly. Carolyn

Norme Sounds as if you have all the same day to day problems I have. flat tires, money, house, animals. Thought these were going to be our golden years that's what people say. My father-in law would say." getting old isn't for sissies" and were're not sissies so I just take one problem a day if there's more than one which happens often I pat myself on the back for taking care of the one. When they mount up I'm lucky like you, can call in the family for help. Know all will go well for you and Buddy on the 24th. Carolyn

Ginny Glad Earl is doing well on chemo. Jim has been tired these past few days also. Blood test tomorrow we'll see if all his counts are still up. He'll have his third dose Nov. 19 doctor hasn't talked about scans yet. Like to know what other tools Earl's onc. has in his arsenal if you find out let me know. Carolyn

When Iressa was suggested for my husband because of failing health do to chemo and radiation we went for a second opinion. He hadn't finish the treatments either. The second Onc. agreed that the side effects of chemo and radiation can do alot of damage with poor quality of life for some people. (chemo hadn't worked either) With Iressa he gained back his health we didn't get the results we wanted but his lungs stayed stable. Now he's back on chemo without all the side effects he had the first time around. Get a second opinion you will feel better about the treatment your mom decides to select. Carolyn

Ginny Since Earl is getting the same chemo as my husband I was wondering if he is also taking any medication before chemo. Jim takes Dexamithasone 4mg, 5 tablets 12 hours and 5 tablets 6 hours before chemo. I think this is a steroid he doesn't seem any more fatigued then he was before starting chemo. Have a good weekend Carolyn

Dean Go past your place every Wednesday I-8 but last Wednesday highway closed detoured on highway 94 going over to Scripps for treatments. Thought about you I'm glad you only lost meat from your freezer. Couldn't believe all of the destruction even in San Diego both sides of 52 were completely burned out. We were able to come back on highway I-8 going east stopped at the Golden Acorn they were using generators to operate the slot machines. A lot of mountain people at the casino having dinner so that area didn't have electricity either. My husband drinks a couple of Ensures a day to keep his weight stable sometimes more on bad days after chemo. Carolyn

Carlton My husband's last blood work print out says WBC range should be between 4.1 - 10.9. Can't tell you if to low or to high would prohibit chemo from taking place. Carolyn

How are you doing their in the hills of Alpine? Heard they were evacuating because of the fire. Hope this doesn't effect you or your property. It's such a beautiful area we pass it every week going to my husband's doctor appointments in San Diego. Sounds like you have some good doctors working for you because the choice of treatment depends on the extent of the disease. Carolyn

Ginny My husband just began same chemo as yours. He was on Iressa for 3 months but CT scan showed 2 new mets one on the liver and one on his kidney. Lungs are stable. After first treatment he feels pretty good. Good enough to go on a little vacation until next week when he gets his second infusion. Hope your husband feels as well with this chemo too. I asked the onc. nurse about taking Celebrex and she gave him some samples enough for a couple of weeks. Could you get some samples from your dr. while you wait on the appeal from the insurance? Carolyn

I too had been looking for her posts this last week. She always spoke from the heart with good opinions,insight and knowledge. Ada will be missed but not forgotten. Carolyn Flournoy

After chemo & radiation at the end of February my husband had a transfusion, pneumonia, SVPT (high pulse rate,low blood pressure all of these problems a couple of weeks apart and all taken care of in the ER at the hospital. Late May had been running a fever for a couple of weeks had informed onc. and primary drs. Primary doctor ups his blood presure med. and that night he had a seizure. Taken to the hospital by ambulance where ER doctor without test insist that the cancer caused the seizure. This is turned into the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) $4000.00 and 4 months later MRI and EEG (electroencephalogram) two onc. one primary dr. interview with Motor Vehicles and a driving test freedom to drive restored. Independence and freedom in that license and he has that back. Carolyn

Peg So glad you have a plan and renewed hope. It's so hard to do day to day tasks and duties without a plan for treatment. Now you can get on with your lesson plans and your husband can enjoy his mother's visit. Carolyn

luluc I've found that if I go to search on this website alot of my question have been answered. Just put in Iressa and there will be over 100 different post. In the middle of the night and I can't sleep and need information or inspiration on any subject about LC this is the place that I go to. Carolyn Flournoy