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-Cheryl-

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Posts posted by -Cheryl-

    just a question

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Ray,

    Boy did yo have a nice week! Well atleast it hit you all at once while you took a few days off to take care of yourself! THis may not help you cause my radiation was in the chest, but I didn't start getting sick until a week after radiation....then I vomited everything I ate and I got really bad pains in my chest and back when I swallowed. I think Norme said her Buddy got esophagitis everytime he got radiation regardless the port of entry. The esohphagitis has improved about 80% now- three weeks later. Of course I got chemo too, and that added to the nausea and vomiting. I hope you feel better and pray for clear scans.

    Hey, Bob was right about your head.... You do have a nicely shaped head!!!!

    Cheryl

    Quick Update

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi Andrea,

    I am so glad to hear that you and your famiy got a vacation! I pray for your Mom's scans to be clear and that her shortness of breath gets better.

    Cheryl

    Surgery Scheduled

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    I met with the surgeon today. My scheduled surgery date is for the 15th! I am very anxious and scared. I have heard such horror stories. I have a lymph node swollen by the pulmonary artery which frightens me the most. It is not that large, but this is a delicate area. My doctor got my consent to use this experimental glue to seal my lung. It is a blind study, so I may not get the glue. The company will fly in some guy to watch the surgeon perform the surgery. I'm thinking the surgeon with perform better with an audience, huh!

    The surgeon sent me for a lung function and capacity test. I performed above normal for my age, weight and height! I am still a bit anemic from chemo and rad, but blood gases look good too.

    Anyone with positive insight about surgery would be so greatly appreciated!

    Thanks,

    Cheryl

    surgery coming - need info

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Keith,

    I was diagnosed with nsclc adenocarcinoma stage 3A. The staging was not fully determined until a mediastinoscopy was performed. My surgeon had planned on doing a lobectomy, but found the mediastinal nodes in my center chest were canerous. Surgery was then ruled out until the nodes in the center of my chest shrunk( mine were not that large and din't shrink much in the center of my chest. The tissue and nodes are probably dead, from the radiation, which will prevent excess blood loss dring surgery I think.) The tumor in my right mid lobe was very small- maybe 1 inch big. I just finished chemo and radiation, and will meet with my surgeon tomorrow to plan the surgery for a lobectomy and a mediastinal disection. I did 2 cycles of 6 chemos in a row, spaced at three weeks apart. I received cisplatin and VP16. I only got 25 radiations because surgery was the goal. Too much rad and surgery is out of the question, because the tissue won't close and heal after right after surgery? Not all Doctors agree that surgery will extend your life at stage 3A. Mine does, but told me that he would not do the surgery if I waited too long. I will meet with him tomorrow to talk about the surgery. A couple of people here on the board had their surgeries much later after treatment...Terrie and Ada W.. Hebbie had her's surgery before treatment as did Connie B..

    Keith, you sound young and healthy, so you should do well!.

    You need to talk to Donna G. here on the board who is a Pancoast tumor survivor! I don't know much about them. I have heard that they are located in the upper lung lobes and are larger tumors? Each type of cancer is treated differently. Best wishes in your treatment and kep us posted.

    Prayers,

    Cheryl

    Been better

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hey Len,

    I am so sorry you feel bad. I was in the ER a couple of weeks ago myself for dehydration due to vomiting. As soon as I would put something in my stomach my body would just reject it within seconds! I found pudding was the first thing to stay down. I would dry heave, but I guess the consistency of it made it stay in my stomach longer. The body can do without food, but not fluid! Get you some pedialyte or gatorade. The nausea medicine makes me so tired!

    You mentioned going back to work. How do you do it Len? I went back to work just recently, but will go out again for surgery soon. I will probably lose my job when I go out for surgery cause my FEML will run out. I will also lose my insurance and am worried sick about it. Well, I am sure this isn't helping you! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Cheryl

    Udate on Connie B, FROM: Connie B

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Connie,

    What a fighter you are! You continue to provide us all with inspiration. I am so glad that you are home and on the mend, improving daily. Your extrodinary determination and attitude kept this monster away for 8 years, you will conquer it again this time as well! Continued prayers!

    Cheryl

    My mom is going into surgery tomorrow

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Gina,

    I am looking at surgery myself very soon. Sorry I am not much help in "what to expect." However, I wanted to pass along some words of wisdom by Ada W., a member of this board that really helped me put things in perspective. She said, "Surgery is scarey, but I am more scared of the cancer!" This is an opportunity to get rid of the cancer permanantly! My prayers for your mother and you.

    Cheryl

    Off to the races!!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    David,

    You are such an inspiration to me and eveyone on this board. We so need that right now! Thank you! We will be with you in that race, all of cheering you on to the finish! God's Speed David!

    Cheryl

    Dear friends-

    in HOPE

    Posted

    Terrie,

    You are in my prayers. I would be a hypocrite if I told you not to be fearful or to worry. I so understand where you are coming from, as all of us here on this board do. I wish I could take away that fear. Just know that it is normal. Try to pre-occupy your thoughts with positive things. Talk to your supports. I wear a cross pin a friend gave me that simply says "Trust." It reminds me to put my faith in God to see me through tough times. We are all cheering for you!

    Bad Scan Results

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Sue,

    This news is a disappointment to you, but there is no cancer elsewhere. I don't know much about RFA, but it sounds hopeful.

    Sue you have always been so supportive to all of us here on tis board. We are here for you. You know....it is O.K. to not be brave all of the time. It is impossible to be. I try to put on a good front, but we all have those days. Just take it day by day. Today was one of those days for me...I came home from work feling defeated and quite nauseated too. I just crawled up in my big sister's lap and cried like a baby! I must say it made me feel better. She is such a comfort. I wish I were there to give you hug! So I a sending you a (((((((cyber hug)))))))))

    Cheryl

    Assorted thoughts

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Becky,

    THere is so much shame associated with this disease...as if lung cancer were a disease you bring on to yourself. I hate to even tell people what kind of cancer I have because they always assume you smoke to get it. I was a closet smoker, ashamed of the habit. I did not smoke in Public where people could see me. I quit right before I found out I had lung cancer. I do feel like I contrbuted to my cancer and it sickens me. People don't seem to be as sympathetic toward smokers. Nobody deserves this disease! But Becky is right, people just cannot imagine nonsmokers getting this disease, and they do. 40% of people with adenocarcinoma have never smoked! Several people in my family have gotten this disease, one never smoked. I want to educate people too about lung cancer, and feel my job is a good spring board for that. I work with kids ages 3-18.

    Cheryl

    ONCOLOGIST NOT TRUTHFUL

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Donna, I have had many of the same problems with the oncologist and the overall care that comes with LC. I find the tacticts that some of these professionals use to be appauling and insulting. I must look like a stupid idiot by listening to some of the excuses and explanations my onc has given me. Yes, I am sure there are some great,caring physicians out there (Sam for one), but as a whole, there is little to be desired. I am not unlike Mainecoon, I think they are simply mechanics in white coats. Only difference is, the auto mechanic has to make good on his work before he gets paid...the doc gets paid either way.

    My wife is receiving treatment at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. From the Receptionist desk all the way up to the Doctors office, it is complete turmoil... the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. They make you feel like you have just walked into the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Granted, once you finally receive treatment (chemo and radiation) and you are away from the front desk and docs office, it's all good. The nurses and the radiology techs are very efficient at what they do, and it's probably like that in most cases everywhere

    I'll tell you right now, I don't recommend one to go to Baylor, especially if you are older. They could care less if you find where you need to go or not...We are younger, and though we could physically get aroud the complex and find our way, the older ones were left out to dry. I spent half of my time there helping the elderly patients find there way around. It's sad to watch them walk aimlessly around the halls. No help from Baylor though... as I said, they could care less. Doctors put their pants on just like the rest of us... one leg at a time. I think after I had a meeting w/ my oncologist, he got the idea that if he told me one thing and did another, I would flatten his nose... guess what? He is right. Call me any name in the book you want (redneck doesn't bother me). He has not been true to his word on many occassions and I told him that I would not listen to another lie. When you don't tell the truth, it's called a lie, even if you are a doctor.

    Drs. have to answer to nobody and I think there should be a forum for people on this website to state names and locations of Dr.s that they are dissatisfied with. How else is one to know without finding out the hard way.

    NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE MEDICAL FIELD!

    -Jack-

    PET Scan

    in HOPE

    Posted

    Bonnie,

    Any and all tests are stressfull, Especially having them done on Friday and having the weekend to worry about them. I am sending prayers and good thoughts for your Howard.

    Cheryl

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