-Cheryl-

Dear Norme, It could be nutrition as well as the meds. He is not eating, and may be dehydrated. This was my aunts problem most recently, getting her hydrated and nourished improved her mental function immediately. Our prayers are with you both. Love, Cheryl and Jack

Becky, We all appreciate the report and share in your disappointment. Something will manifest to treat your cancer soon, we will all be on the lookout for you! As always you are in my prayers. Cheryl

Hey Everyone, I don't know whether I should laugh or cry about this one. I saw several clients today for the first time since the holiday (they haven't seen me without my wig yet.) I bebopped into the lobby, not even thinking about my hair. Each time people were shocked by my hair, exclaiming "Why did you cut off your hair?" Then I would have to explain I had cancer and went through chemo and blah..blah..blah.-I had a really good wig! These people knew I had cancer, because I had been out from work. Now the entire lobby knew I had cancer too. The children I didn't mind so much when they said "I like your wig better!" However, when I had a father tell me "You should wear your wig till your hair grows back out!" I felt it necessary to set him straight that "I like my real hair better!" Oh but, I really don't. I have a small afro. My hair is so curly! I think it will look good once it grows, but the curl is a little too tight for now. I just want to put my wig back on till my hair grows out, but the wig is too itchy. Anyone else experience this? Cheryl

Hey Mo, A fourth grade teacher, age 32, died 2 days after giving birth. Autopsy revealed an embolism. Also the head high school football coach, age 42, died this past week of a heart attack. I guess only God knows? Cheryl

Denise, How beautiful you are! I am so very sorry that you have had to endure all that you have been through. There is a saying, "That which doesn't kill me only makes me stronger." (Victor Frankl) I would imagine that you are about one of the strongest women out there! Keep the faith and trust in God to see you through these tough times. Cheryl

Joe, Hang in there guy. Just stay away from people for now. Carry antibacterial gel with you. Wear a mask if you do go out! I never had a problem with the white blood cell count, just the RBC. I am impressed also that you had an appetite during chem! Good for you, you need your strength! The steriods made me restless with absolutely no appetite, I lost about 15 pounds. However, the weight loss could have been caused from the radiation too. It will be up in no time! Cheryl

Allison, Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of you dear Dad. Cheryl

Dave, Happy Aniversary!!!WE need to have a huge blow out still for the 50th! Chery

Becky, Happy Birthday! I am anxious to see what MDA says. I to may have something in my other lung and want to know that there are options if it is cancer. Cherryl

Hey Sandy, Saying prtayers for you now that your scans are clear for the New Year! Cheryl

Connie, That is amazing! I am encouraged by this reduction, because I recently exprienced something similar to you. You are my inspiration Connie B.!!!!! Love ya!!!! Cheryl

Dear Family, PLease accept my deepest sympathy. I am shocked by his sudden loss. I recall an e-mail that Sam and I exchanged once, discussing life after death. Sam had a strong faith in God. Through his faith and kind words I was comforted. Sam touched many people and was so unpretentious. That is rare with somebody of his caliber. We will not be the same with out him on this board. Cheryl

Janet, It is my understanding that artemisinin is derived from the wormwood plant. I just started takng this supplement, which was suggested to me by a medical doctor that I am seeing now. He uses a mix of both taditional and nontraditional medical approaches. I am no doctor, but I have read that this chineese herb has been used to to treat malaria, and more recently cancer. Cancer cells selectively accumulate iron (required for cell division.) Artemisinin is attracted to transferrin receptors on tumor cells, which are killed by artemisinin. It also crosses the blood brain barrier. Some doctors believe you should wait one month befor having radiation because the herb causes the tissue to slough at radiated site. Others have not had that experince. See www.doctorrowen.com, or contact drrowen@att.net. To order artemisinin www.allergyresearchgroup.com. I think therapeutic dosages range around 500 mg. per day? Let me know how you are doing! Cheryl

Lori, I cannot imagine the pain you are in right now. Take comfort in knowing that Lenny loved his family more than life itself, and his spirit will transend death. Cancer did not kill that man's spirit. I was so inspired by his strength. I mean that sincerely. He motivated me to live life to the fullest. It will take time to heal from your loss. However, may I offer some suggestions to help. Do not isolate yourself from family and friends. Allow yourself to grieve and realize there is no set way to do it, everyone is different. Seek support from other's who have had similar experiences. Help your boys to grieve too, by doing various activities in rememberence of Lenny- go on that family bike ride and tape a picture of Dad to their bikes. Children need closure also, and are often shielded from the dying process. Help them put together an album to memoralize Lenny. Send a ballon up to heaven with a letter attached for Dad. Visit the grave sight and let the boys place something symbolic of their love for ther Dad on his grave. Go agead and cry, it shows them that it is O.K. to express your feelings of sadness. Do things that make you feel happy and try not to feel guilty about that. Take a break from your grief. Most importantly take care of yourself Lori, because you will be no good for your boys if you don't. God Bless you and your children! Please stay with us Lori, we care about you and your boys and will support you in any way that we can. Cheryl

Betty, Keep up the great progress! We really need to hear news like this!! Cheryl

Hi Guys, I went to have a vitamin IV today during my lunch!. There were several people having the procedure done while I was there, including a child who had Epstine Bar Syndrome as a result of having had Mono. If anyone is considerng this procedure, eat before you have it! It is like taking vitamins on an empty stomach. The nurse brought me a protein shake which took away onset of nausea. I felt pretty good the rest of the day, went rght back to work. Do not take vitamins the day of the procedure either, due to potential toxicity overdose! I will keep you posted on effects. Cheryl

Crystal, I am saying paryers for you and your family. This must be so devastating for your family. My heartfelt sympathy. Cheryl

Cathy, I sometimes feel so alone in my diagnosis. My friends, and family offer what support they can, but nobody truely understands what we are going through unless in our shoes. My husband will say "The internet brings you down, so you need to stay away from it!" Yes, the internet does bring me down at times, but this board lifts me up! The people here know my pain and have walked in my shoes. No where else have I received this kind of support. However, I must admit that I have invested myself emotionally in the members of this board and share in their triumphs and sorrows. I sometimes have to take a timeout to strike a happy medium. I do my best to do things that give me joy. I agree with the above posts, read positive books, take a hot bath, walk, talk to people, start a hobby, volunteer (helping others takes the focus off myself), attend fellowship services. The list goes on and on. Cathy, I remember thinkng..."I cannot plan for the future, because this disease will eventually take me. O. K., I rationalized, but when? I could be here for ....perhaps years. What am I going to do...sit around and wait for it. NO!!!! Live! Live! Live!" Cathy, I struggle with depression, and my "self-talk" isn't always so positive. I realize that I have been maintainig my own depression. So, I had my doc change my antidepressant, which wasn't working very well (if not on one please consider it.) Also, seek counseling, it does help. I know your anxious about chemo. I will not sugar coat it, it was tough. Mainly due to the fatique. My hair loss wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be. My wig was really cool! I had problems eating due to the radiation, which I did at the same time. But atleast I was fighting this disease!!! I remember climbing into the recliner for my chemo and thinking " Give it to me, I am ready to kick this "f-ing cancer." Mind you I don't normally sware, but cancer really pisses me off! Ha! I refuse to go "silently and softly into the night!!!" Nope, it will have to take me kicking and screaming!!! Cathy you just had the wind knocked out of you, but get mad at this disease and we are here to help you fight! Cheryl

Peg, When your oncologist is discouraging it is hard to maintain hope. I want to pass this along from "Chicken Soup for the Sourviving Soul." I shared it once befor, but felt it was worth sharing again. As I ate breakfast one morning, I overheard two oncologists conversing. One complained bitterly. "you know, Bob, I just don't understand it. We used the same drugs, the same dosage, the same schedule the same entry criteria. Yet I got a 22% response rate and you got a 74%. That's unheard of for metastic cancer. How do you do it?" His colleague repled, "We're both using Etoposide, Platinum, Oncovin and Hydroxyurea. You call yours EPOH. I tell my patients I'm giving them HOPE. As dismal as the statistics are, I emphasize that we have a chance." William M Buchholz, M.D. Peg look at ow remarkably well Don's Lucie is doing! Hang in there, keep the faith. We are all praying for you and Bill! Cheryl Cheryl

DeanCarl, Nice to meet you! It is a good thing that I am not on the "Welcoming Committee!" Ha! I have read your posts often and you are a man of such wisdom. Because of your picture, I always hear the actor Sam Elliott in my head when I read your posts. Ha! Anyway, I especially like the "spirit pool anology." I totally agree with you. These folks are such an inspiration to me. I am in awe of everyone on this board. People are so supportive, despite their own struggles. You included! Cheryl

Dave, I adore your rat....opps ! I mean dog! Ha! Glad to hear about the stable liver! You hang in there my friend!!! Cheryl

Bruce, Sorry you are feelng bad, but happy for you about your results! Cheryl

Dear Katie and Rick, I have tears of joy for you. How I wish that I could adopt, but have to be in remission 5 years. Lung cancer survival rates are not very encouraging I am afraid. I have not given up on being perhaps a foster parent if I stay healthy though. God has heard your prayers sweet Katie, he has brought you joy and life! Cheryl

DEnise, I get some pretty tough headaches- the cause ranges from hormones to sinuses. Congratulate your Mom on her induction to " The Empty Headed Club." We are always happy to increase the enrollement! Yeah!!! Cheryl

Dear Friends, My Onc called this evening to give me the results from the CT done this morning. Yes,the nodules in my left lung have grown a couple of millimeters. However, my onc explained that "this can occur when measurements are taken at different angles.....like taking a picture of a sliced orange and turning it. When you turn it, it gets larger at different angles." He also admitted that on Mon., he "didn't mean to sound like an alarmist," but was "concerned" about my back pain location. Fortunately, the CT showed NO CANCER elsewhere in my body. He will see me in a month to follow up. There is no way to tell if nodules are cancerous unless biopsied, which my onc does not want to put me through. Also, the nodules are probably too small to light up on a PET scan still. We will continue to watch them for now. I hate having them there inside me, and really wish I could have them taken out. However, my body needs to continue to heal from the surgery I just had. Thank you guys for your support! My Onc also changed my antidepressant to Lexipro, which supposedly has fewer undesired side effects. I will keep you posted on their effectiveness. Thanks again to my family here at LC Survivors for your support, I am praying for all of you! Cheryl