-Cheryl-

Heather, I just bought some Wakame to add to Miso. I haven't tried it yet, but am experimenting. Jack was all entusiastic about the macrobiotic diet, but politely passes on the meals I cook. Instead, he opts for Oscar Myer. I thought he would eventually cave, but I can't even get him to even switch from whole milk to 2% milk! How is your family about it? Cheryl

Heather and Cary, Very interesting articles. Thanks for the information. Cheryl

Dear Sweet Norme, I am so very sad about Buddy's passing. I wish I could come through the "puter" to hug you, and care for you till you were ready to put one foot in front of the other again. You have always provided us with words of wisdom and comfort, I only wish that I could provide for you the same. I am in awe of your relationship with Buddy, 51 years! Norme, you do not have to be strong right now. Allow yourself to be whatever you need to be. It will difficult without Buddy, you will run through so many emotions. Do not feel guilty if you do find joy in your life, because Buddy would want that for you. Meanwhile, Buddy will patiently be waiting for you on the other side. Please rest and nurture yourself right now. You need some healing my Dear. Cancer has touched yor life too many times. I would be honored to talk anytime you need to. Love you Norme. Cheryl

Last response on this post: If a person is on fire, do you warn him/her not to jump in the water because they could drown? Jack

Hey Everyone, I wish I could be more definative about my diagnosis, but the truth of the matter is that I feel I know no more than I did before. I had no tests done today, just met with onc to go over last CT. Basically, he said that report read that there was a met to lymph node in medastinal area on wind pipe, but lymph node was not significantly enlarged. Onc thinks it could also be from all the trauma endured from radiation ans surgery. He said, "Scans will continue to change post treatment. As long as I don't see any major changes, we will just continue to watch. We just can't do chemo every time we see a small change." I also found that there are three nodules in my left lung... could be cancer or scar tissue from a previous infection. So you see...I know nothing. It is a wait and see game. He did say he would call a doctor he knows doing studies on lung cancer and genetics to see if he is interested in me for a study to test my P53 gene. Won't help me none, but maybe others on down the line. I will see him again in 2 months. I also posted as a guest about an open trial that some of you may be interested in (stage 3b and 4). Check out the post to get the web site. It is going on all over, not just in Texas. Cheryl

Becky,Heather, and Becky G, So glad to have you all with us!!! Congratulations! Cheryl

Cindy, Sending up prayers for clear scans tomorrow. I hope your hubby is better. Jack tore his bicep and refused to come out of a baseball game to go to the hospital. He never got it fixed...pretty stubborn, Huh? I hope all goes well for you both. Cheryl

Rochelle, Have fun in Boston! You deserve a little break! I'm not to sure about leaving David A. in your charge to watch over us though. Who will censor his chokes....oopps I meant to say jokes? That was a Freudian slip. Ahhh, it's all about the love David. Cheryl

Rochelle, Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate the support you have shown me and everyone on this board. You are a vital member to us all. I am praying for you and your hubby. Cheryl

Hi Guys, Thanks for helping me through yet another bump in the road of life. I must say that I was very depressed for a couple of days, but the members on this board really inspire and motivate me. I feel selfish when I do feel sorry for myself because many are far worse off than I. When I look at my life...I feel so blessed. I have a cantankerous (is that a word?) husband who always puts me ahead of his own needs, a pofession that I would get up everyday and do for free ( If I could afford too), Critters galore, and a home that is comfortable. But most importantly, I have a lord that provided me these things and will continue to take care of me. I just need to trust in my God. I will let you guys know what my onc says. I am praying for all of you as well. Cheryl

Hey Folks, I am so disillusioned right now. I went to see my surgeon for a post follow up. I told him I recently met with my onc and had a CT. He asked how it read, I told him my onc said that "there was some slight changes in the nodules in my left lung, but no other cancer was seen anywhere." He called to get the report, then announced, "Well it says here that there is slight growth in the nodules and a mediastienal lymph node is enlarged on your wind pipe!" Tears filled my eyes and I was dumbfounded. Why did my onc not tell me? All he said was lets meet in 1 month... and "the slight growth is probably just the angle of the picture taken...kind of like take a picture of an orange, the size will vary." My surgeon sounded concerned and asked..."Why am I out of the loop? Let me talk to him first." He also said the x-ray he took that day looked better since the last one he took . These nodes have been there since the begining, but never lit up on a PET scan. I am supposed to meet with my onc next week on Wed., for my 1 month follow up. I guess I am feeling lost? What is next? Anyone out there know? My onc suggested at my last appt to wait and watch. But that was before I knew about the lymph node! I mean, I have adenocarcinoma- with BAC features. Isn't this the pattern, for it to spread into the in other lung? What is so weird is I have been feeling so good lately. Perhaps the alternative stuff is helping there. Help! Cheryl

Fay, Your message has lifted me! I needed to read your words today! I too refuse to "go softly into the night!" Cheryl

Hi Folks, I had a Diflucan IV today, which kills candida in the body. As I mentioned before, everyone has candida in their body; however, various illnesses cause the yeast to over grow. Some are curious as to how candida is diagnosed. A wet and dry microscopy of my blood was done, which indicated an overgrowth of the yeast in my blood sample. No side effects from the I.V. that I am aware of. I feel fine. I talked to an RN getting an infussion herself yesterday and asked her opinion on the embolism issue. She said, "no, that couldn't happen because of the H2o2. This could occur if air got in the line running the I.V. though." Also a man with testicular cancer who was getting a drip, overheard our conversation. He stated that he had actually "died in 1999" from a bad reaction to chemo. His entire body turned blue! His cancer spread to his lungs and liver. He has been getting these treatments to boost his immune system and is still here, very much alive! I would never advocate to anyone to abandon traditional cancer treatments, but the body can only take so much chemo and radiation. This is why this treatment is called complimentary and alternative medicine. For some people, who chose no treatment because their cancer is too far advanced, this would also be a viable option. Cheryl Cheryl

Peg, Aranesp is cheaper and only given every two weeks, instead of weekly. I had two shots prior to my surgery to boost RBC and platelets. Tell your onc who is "never wrong about his prognosis," that "I guess this proves that you aren't God, because only God knows the day, the min., the sec., of our passing." Chalk another one up for God! Cheryl

Sandy, So relieved for you! Now, put all of this behind you and have a fantastic weekend!~ Cheryl

MO, Have a safe trip. Please take good care of yourself! Tell Cindy "Hello" for us! Cheryl

Wait a min. That is THONG, not TONG; although, it might be more interesting to see David wearing a tong!

Hey how about $1000 to see David in a tong bikini in Drag. Any takers!!!! Cheryl

Thanks Mo, Becky, Don, Candy, and Cathy. I do need to be more patient. I guess I just expected more out of a psychiatrist....you know like some "comforting words." None of the psychiatrists I know actually practice psychotherapy, they only prescribe meds. They usually only spend 15 min. or less with a patient. People avoided me like the plague there after because they didn't know what to say to me. I am afraid my mood carried over into work this morning and I finally lost my temper. After growling at two busy bodies, I continued on my rein of terror. I was called into meet with the CEO. I also barked at him, mostly about work related stuff. However, his statement was "I didn't know you felt this way." He actually came down on one busy body in front of me....which left me with a smile. I sware I felt like sticking my tongue out at her, but chose to take the high road! Ha!! The CEO later called me back into his office to commend me on "the good job I have been doing." Then why do I feel like crap??? I hate to lose my temper. It makes me feel guilty, and like a loser! I guess I am only human. Cheryl

Hello Everyone, I went to a "Meet and Greet" tonight, held at a nice country club. It was sponsored by a private mental health hospital. The hospital hired a new medical director and a child psychiatrist. It was an opportunity to meet them and visit with other staff, who most I have known already for years. I am probably one of the biggest referral resources for that hospital's children's unit, and can't recall the number of court committments I have obtained for them. Yet, only a few people recognized me. One doctor came up to shake my hand and said,"And who are you?" upon hearing my name it registered who I was. The first question out of his mouth (just as it is with everyone else was..."Where is your long hair? Why the radical change?" My reply, "Oh...I had chemo for cancer and this is what grew back." That word cancer makes people so uncomfortable, or the just plain feel sorry for you. He said," Yeah, I will probably get cancer too." I somehow felt like I needed to make him and other people feel comfortable because I have cancer. Well, word spread faster than a fire. I just had to leave. It is actually quite funny...that is if it weren't that it is my life. I just feel like cutting to the chase and saying.."Hi, my name is cancer. So nice to meet you." Praying for strength...and hair. Ha! Cheryl

Rich, One of my employees quit just recently using Smoke Away. She swares by it. Cheryl

KC, Your Dad sounds like quite a fighter. Poeple have survived this disease and won at every stage. I can not imagine being on chemo for that length of time, whch is a testament to your Dad's will to survive. Attitude has everything to do with siurvival. Its O.K. to have some down time, but tell your Dad to put the gloves back on. He isn't through fighting yet...He has a grandaughter to watch grow up! Prayers for your Dad. Cheryl

Hi Heather, Candida is basically bad yeast that proliferates in the body. Everyone has candida, but they will tend to grow and multiply in people who have cancer, severe allergies, auto immune diseases, and various other illnesses. When they multiply, they will cause tears in the gut and bowel, where they flourish and multiply. Symptoms are feeling extreme fatigue, aches in joints, flu like symptoms, diarrhea, costipation, headaches, bloating, gas, Chronic Fatique Syndrome, eczema, body's inability to fight disease, etc. Avoid sugar, anything white, yeasts, and molds. A good book to read is "The Yeast Connection"- By William, G., Crook, M.D. Dr. Gonino suggests being on this diet for 90 days. I do the best I can. If I want a Snickers, I have it. Then just get back on the diet. Just don't do it all of the time. My onc disagrees with the sugar thing though. Dr. Gonino did not specify how many vegetables to eat per day. I think the USDA recommends about 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables daily? I can't eat that many either. I usually eat a bunch of one thing...like a whole bunch of asparagus. I hate to waste. Ha! Oh, he also excludes fruit juice because of the sugar. Keep me posted on how you are doing too! Cheryl

Bob, You got the right attitude to fight this beast. We are all cheering you on. I am with Sharyn, "Keep making plans for those trips." When I was very sick from treatment, Jack put a couple of chairs in the back of his truck and we drove out to a nearby pond. The bank was all grown up, and I swore that there couldn't be any fish in it. Sure enough, there certainly was. We sat in the back of the truck casting our rods to avoid the bugs and snakes! We caught several bass! Do go fishing and try to have some fun! Cheryl

Hey T-Bone, When I was going through radiation, I can remember leaving the room when the microwave was on? As if the radiation from it could add to the mega dose I was already getting from the giant radioactive megatron machine! I like Dean's description of the "asteroid" blasting machine! Counting down with you! Cheryl