-Cheryl-

Kit, Have a blessed Holiday with your family. Glad your Pop is doing well. Enjoy your well deserved break from the studies! cheryl

That's the right attitude Betty... bow up and kick butt! Prayers your way!! Cheryl

I am currently being treated at Mary Crowley's and hopefully will start my second trial there soon. Dr. Nemunaitis is a pretty impressive guy and very down to earth. I believe the G-Vax is closed for good now, but there are other gene trials set to begin. I am trying the Epimmune trial and will report to you all about it. Hopefully, my blood counts will climb back up, so I can begin the trial. A blood test is required to see if you are a carrier of certain proteins that bond with the vaccine. You receive one shot for a period of six months. I have heard this vaccine is also treating Hep C and AIDS patients to boost their immune systems. I have asked about side effects and there appears to be few. I will keep you guys posted. Cheryl

Well thought out Elaine, thanks for your insight. Jack

Well said Addie! Jack

I never said it may not cause LC or "ill health" I said, IMO, to say it's the main cause and be satisfied w/ that, slows progress to curing the disease. I never condoned smoking, in fact I said it was a proven fact cigs were bad for your health for many reasons. Jack

THIS IS JACK Cigarette smokers run a lifetime risk of 1 in 10 in getting lung cancer. That being said, if 90% of smokers do not get LC, what is the other contributing factor(s) that team up to make this disease? That is the big question and the one that concerns me the most. Yes, smoking has been proven to be hazardous to ones health for many reasons, but to be satisfied that smoking is the main cause of lc and to be content w/ that, is hiding your head in the sand and slows progress. If I was diagnosed w/ lc and had never smoked, it would be a "no brainer"to me. Something caused my LC and I aint buying the Cig excuse. Cigarette smoking is a nasty, stinky habit that a lot of people don't like. When you have 10% barking at 90%, it's hard to be heard. We have to find the other contributing factors and quit wasting time whining about what we do know and be active and demand answers to what we don't know. THIS IS JACK

Hey Gang, Jack and I are not one in the same person. It was his post, not mine. I am sorry that you are hurt Heather. I don't think Cindy meant to insult you. Personally, when you have lung cancer, everthing with any risk has me taking cover. I use hairspray, but hold my breath and run into the next room! Ha! I wish I had your discilpline Heather, but still eat sugar on ocassion and have my nails done too. I take precautions, but try to live my live as normally as I can. Just about everything posses a health risk these days. It depends on the source and their motivation in various published studies. I take everything I read with a grain of salt. You can't allow the fear of death to prevent you from living. My love to you all. Cheryl

No, she's no guinea pig... she's a warrior! That's my girl!! Jack

Nell you poor dear! Hope you are better sweetie. SEnding out prayers to both Bob and you. I hope both of you find relief for your pain. Cheryl

I start the Epimmune trial soon. You must have these certain proteins in order for your DNA to bond with the vaccine. I will tell you all more about it as it transpires. Cheryl

Hey Group, I am very excited! I have the proteins for the RLA-2A Epimmune vacinne!! Only 40% of people with cancer qualify for this trial. I don't know if it is a cure, but it is suppose to prlong one's life signifigantly, or so I am told. I will start it soon. Thank you for your prayers! Thank you God! Cheryl

Thanks for the honorable mention Fay, but I'm afraid we cannot take credit... This was all Katie's doings! Thanks Katie and Rick! Cheryl

Beautiful outlook Lillian... thanks! If some would have truly read this message, they would not be trashing ones response. I respect your opinions Laura Ann. Jack

I see the stigma continues... hair spray and spray deodorants bother me. They have been under suspicion for damaging effects to the body for years. Do I ask the person next to me to not use these products around me? I agree second hand smoke could be a problem if one is around it all of the time, but smelling residual effects from someone that has smoked, yes, that is paranoia. I would expect someone to tell me where to go if I asked them to go and freshen up a bit. Just my honest opinion in which I am sure I will get blasted for. What do I know though, I am just a caregiver and to some on this board, caregivers just get in the way and are a bother. Sheesh Jack

Sandra, Welcome! I will say a special prayer for you that your gamma knife procedure goes well for you. I too am a strong proponent of immune boosting therapies. You can see the procedures I have had in my bio. I had a few peroxide IVs, and felt like it really aided in my own immune system's ability to fight this disease. I never had any side effects from it either. Some people on here felt that it could cause the blood to fizz up like an alka-seltzer. It does oxygenate the blood, but no alka-seltzer effect! I will probably resume treatments when my doctors give me the thumbs up. My insurance covered a lot of the treatments too! Cheryl

Sharyn, I can't stop the tears. You have brought such peace to me. I am touched by your example. I know you will miss your Dad, but will be reunited in Heaven one day. Praise God for your sign! All my love to you and your family, Cheryl

Lisa and Tariq, We are all so saddened by your loss. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you and your son. Please know that we are your family too and are there when you need comforting. My deepest condolences, Cheryl

TAnn, I can't help but shed tears for your loss. To have Cesar for 15 years is a testament of your love and care for him. Having lost him so fast makes dealing with your own grief even harder. I am so sorrow. Hugs, Cheryl

Surveyor, Great results! Keep us posted. Terri where have you been? Hope you ar well! Cheryl

Oh Peggy, Prayers, you got it! One of our own, who shall remain nameless here(Ray !!!), looked at his scans before giving them to his doctor. He believed the two black masses were brain mets....they were eye orbits. Point is, let the doctor do the diagnosing, after all he did go to med school or perhaps got on of those degrees through the mail. You'll drive yourself crazy! Prayers with you both. Love, Cheryl

Sandy, Sending up prayers right now. Glad you could enjoy a little bit of Fla.. Waiting for good news! Cheryl

Curtis, It sounds as if you miss the intimacy you and Becky shared. If it were just a sex thing, you could take care of that yourself, or hire a prostitute. It sounds also as if Shelia got scared and ran. Nobody wants to be a replacement. I know you are lonely. Despite Becky's illness, she fulfilled your's and Katie's emotional needs. When you say you just want a physical relationship right now, that is emotionally unfulfilling, I find that hard to believe. You have been through so much this past year. Some people have great difficulty separating themselves emotionally from the act of sex. You are a sensitive guy, and might fall into that category. Empty sex makes one feel void, used, and often guilty. My heart aches for you. Sometimes you got kiss a lot of toads before you find a princess! God will find the right mate for you, when you are ready. Don't be side tracked by appearances. Relationships fulfill different needs. Are you lonely, do you want someone intelligent, your equal, attractive and sexy, a tophy wife, a good mother to katie? Don't see what you want to see. Nobody will meet all our needs. Figure out which ones are most important, and start from there. Cheryl

Beth, Tears fill my eyes, has I think of you and your son. Curtis, I am so sad for you and Katie. Peggy, we all share something in comon. Cancer effects everybody in the family. I think on some level this disease connects us to one another. I thought of several people tonight, who passed away very quickly. They were so hopeful and positive. I feel better for knowing them. I can only hope that I have as much courage when my time comes. I don't know why I am still hear. I am no more special than them. WE want to live. and love, and experience life. Life seems like a blink of an eye. I will never sit around and complain about my life ever again, God has given me this life, and I will make the most of it. Cheryl

Becky, Staying busy does help to relieve slight depression; however, it may be a way of not dealing with the problem too. In which case, only ads to the stress and overwhelmed feeling. The first thing to do is identify what it is that is bugging you, then make up a game plan to tackle each problem. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed, extended, unable to say "no", guilty, used and abused. You need to take it one problem at a time. Not everything is "fixable." You are not perfect, and that is ok. Try not to beat yourself up when things don't go your way. That is hard for me, cause I am in the "helping business," not the "fixin business." I have to try not to "fix" everything. When you look at everything you do, who would not feel overwhelmed! You really make for a top list of stressors! (Move to new house, working mom, cancer survivor, practically a newlywed, Christmas, and the list goes on.) I am glad you are getting counseling and taking meds to keep the monsters at bay. You are doing all of the right things to prevent serious major depression from occurring. If I can ever help, you are not alone. Hope things improve, Cheryl