golden275

Connie, I'm pretty new here also. I don't post much because I have nothing much to say. I do like to read though. Second, I don't read posts every day because I just want to forget about the whole thing and not be reminded I have a problem. I am in here once or twice a week reading. I only post if I feel my answer will help in some way. Maybe most people feel this way. But wait until my doctors visit start again - 3 different dr's in one month . Then I'll start to compain about stuff.

Ralph, even after 5 years I occasionally still get fearful and can't wait for the visit to be over. I feel like whatever you're going to tell me, just tell me and let me go home. However, it does get better. After the 2nd or 3rd year I started to feel it was just a check up and a waste of my time to be there. I had better things to do than sit in a doctor's office. Maybe I've just seen too many doctors.

Maryanne that was so so bad ok so I laughed out loud

Just want to say thanks for everyone's support and encouragement.

Kasey - my pound dog is an overweigh beagle named Buddy. He's over 6 years old . Someone turned him in because they couldn't keep him. His back legs are bad and if he tries to run , he falls over. That's probably why they got rid of him. Breaks my heart to think someone could be so mean. However, he has it good here and we'll take good care of him. However, he discovered my quilt, took it mostly off my bed, wrapped himself in it and slept all night while I froze. He needs his own quilt.

Don - your comment on not being a cancer victim is just what I do. I don't think about it unless I'm having a physical problem or go to the doctor for a check up, and then they remind me I have cancer. I try to do things I enjoy also. Been working outside a lot , when the weather allows. My asthma doesn't let me stay outside long on hot, humid days with bad air quality. But I managed to get outside every day this summer and do some work. My oncologist's office had a brochure about using imagery and I use that technique when taking my meds (tarceva). I'm now planning things in advance, which I at first hesitated to do. I feel better not thinking about what may happen or when.

As of September 10th, it has been 5 years since my biopsy. Cancer returned in 2004 but I'm still here. One doctor thinks I healed myself. He tells me how lucky I am and it is like winning a billion dollar lottery. I find that other peoples opinions (or nastiness) don't affect me as much as it did years ago. Whatever, I'm just trying to enjoy the rest of my life. Have a new pound dog who is a a darling, chubby , beagle. He keeps me going.

Congratulations. Hope you have many more.

Congratulations. That's great news.

Larry I so agree with you. It wasn't until I started reading this message board that I realized other people felt the same way I do. And also I can say something about the stupid questions they ask. It annoys me if the first thing they ask is if I smoked. Every single person I came in contact with asked me that. Maybe I can't totally change the way medical people act but I can try and get them to stop asking that question. I can see my dr's asking me the first they met me and needed to know, but not every single nurse and technician. I used to smoke but quit. they all act like I brought this on myself. Since reading this board I'm now asking questions like fireman in big cities get exposed to smoke all the time. do they all end up with lung cancer. If not, than stop asking that question. Thanks for letting me rant also.

I had 1/2 my left lung removed 4 1/2 years ago. I also have breathing problems. I had a pleural effusion and had surgery to correct it. My problems stem from my asthma and COPD. I have a nebulizer now and feel this really helps. It put in albuteral. I had been using it 3 times a day before my 2nd surgery and now use it once a day in addition to my asthma meds (Advair, singular, and antihistamins) I often complain to my dr's about my breathing but they say my lungs sound clear. I try to remember to do breathing exercises . They usually help if I can remember to do them.

I've not heard that Tarceva doesn't work as well for people who smoked. My oncologist said tests show that Tarceva works best on patients who get a rash from the Tarceva. I got a very bad rash. He lowered my dose to 25mg per day (from 100) and I get a very mild rash now on different parts of my body. I'm lucky I guess because my State helps with the cost of prescriptions if anyone is below a certain income. I hope everything has worked out for you.

I think it depends on your State laws. In NJ as long as there is no break in coverage, they have to insure you. I retired early (because I felt so sick, found out I had cancer) and was on Cobra for a year and then I paid for insurance on my own for 2 years. Since there was no break in coverage they had to continue to cover me. Different states have different laws. Does your State have an insurance department you can call?

I did react differently to the same drug. I took Tarceva last year for a month and got a terribly rash, like a million bug bites. The cream and ointment prescribed didn't help. Oncol did not renew the Tarceva. He put me on Tarceva this year at a lower dose. I got terrible diahrea and sleep disturbance this year. But only a minor rash. I took myself off it for almost a month and started to sleep better and diahrea disappeared. I'm back on it again and again I'm unable to sleep all night but the diahrea is mild and there is almost no rash. An interesting note is my oncol said studies show people who get a rash from Tarceva seem to do better than patients who don't get a rash.

I'm so glad you started this whining post. I whine a lot but mostly to myself. I delete things before I post them. There are so many posts here that I want to respond to and give my support, or understanding, or just laugh with. I don't even know where to begin. So many people feel just like me. Although my favorite whine is when I had an asthma attack and was told to go to the ER, my sister was away, and I had to call a taxi. Jerk didn't know where he was going and kept looking at a map until I got agitated and told him I needed to get to the ER. He turns around and tells me "you don't look sick". I was practically screaming at him but didn't have enough breath to yell much. Jerk. I'm laughing now but it wasn't funny then.

In May 2004 I had a pleural effusion drained and was told my cancer returned and I was told I had 6 to 12 months to live. I had taxotere treatments. I did have reactions but the worst was about 3 days after my treatment I was so tired I could barely get up and slept in my recliner for 2 or 3 days so I wouldn't have to climb stairs. It really hit me hard. However, I am still here and credit the Taxotere. I told my oncologist that it must have really helped me. My cancer is still here but I am stable and have been put on Tarceva.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I really appreciate it. Reading posts here has helped me already. I had the same problem with Tarceva that another poster had. I like others posting on various topics so I can see what they are going through or have gone through. It's encouraging to me and helps. There is so much to read that I'll be reading for weeks. Thanks again.

Just found this board the other day and it looks like a good place to be. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2001, had chemo, had surgery in February 2002 where they took out 1/2 my left lung, had pleural effusion and it was found cancer returned in 2004. Had chemo again in 2004 and am still here. Now on Tarceva. Finally refused to just sit around and feel sorry for myself and started planning my life as if I were well. Guess I could be called a survivor.