-Cheryl-

Way to go Heather! You and your Hubby are incredible! Thank you!!!!! Cheryl

Yes, this is LC awareness month but you would hardly know it. After the hangover from Breast Cancer awareness month, I am afraid LC will again be transparent in the public eye. I applaud the super organized effort that has been put into BC activism and awareness. I was bombarded with commercials, newspaper adds. radio spots and news reports. They are making tremendous strides and are driven for a cure. I could only hope their research would find a cure for all cancer so that Lung Cancer would disappear. I certainly see little interest in people speaking up for ones stricken w/ this disease. The activity on this thread is a good example. What a shame. Jack

I am going to go out and buy me some ASAP!!!! Cheryl

"K", I am so sorry about your Dad. I pray that the nodules are benign. There is so much they can do to treat this disease today if it is cancer. Qaulity of life is first, at your Dad's age. Usually Doctor's will suggest a less aggressive treatment due to the side effects. If it is cancer, and stage iv, then radiation is not recommended. It can be used pallatively to help stop pain. Chemo is normally given in combinations, but for many older patients the use of one drug is preferred. Many handle it well, if no previous health problems exist. Best of luck, and visit us often. Welcome, Cheryl

Nell, Yes, please tell Bob not to get discouraged. They have so much they can do for pain now. I hope he finds relief soon. Saying prayers for him now. Cheryl

Thanks guys! I am feeling better already- maybe that is psychological! Ha! Gina, I love those pink boots. They feel like house slippers, which are good for neuropathy ridden feet. The hubby said they make my feet look giant! Yeah, I have to agree with him. I had to get a size "9", cause they were out of "8's." I just wear bigger socks! Ha I opened the picture on the avator to only see these feet the size of "Big Foot's." My sister put it on the avator for me. You can't really see my baby, because the picture is too dark (o.k... the feet do take up quite a bit of room too, but I mean really now.) I will put up another picture soon to show off the colt. His name is still undecided. He is so funny and cute. He bucks at his Mom all of the time, but falls cause his legs all land at different times. Ha!!! Cheryl

Hey Nancy, How are you doing? I am so sorry to hear about the reoccurence, but you are one tough cookie. Soon you will be back to the marathons! I hope all goes well. Cheryl

My hair came back dark and curley. I try to blow dry it straight, but it ends up curley within minutes. Some people want it blonder, while others love the curl. I have had people to even tell me "wear the wig till it grows long again!" I like it fine- pleased just to have hair! I didn't lose it with this chemo. Thank goodness! Cheryl

Glad to know you are still here! Hope things are worked out with your insurance company. I work mainly to continue my coverage. Welcome back! Cheryl

Hello, I just got home from the hospital, where I spent the day receiving a blood transfusion due to my low blood counts. I got a call from my doc telling me to get back in to the hospital yesterday for a blood tranfusion. It wasn't bad, just boring. My boss seemed human about my taking off yet another day of work. Just in case you haven't noticed, My new keyboard came!!! Yeah I hate not being able to respond to you guys. Hope you all had a spooky Halloween! Cheryl

oops

You guys have come up with some really good names. We haven't agreed upon one, so we continue to call him baby for now. I will put better pictures up of him. He is too dark in that picture. He is gaing weight fast and has two bottom teeth. He is like a puppy , wanting to chew on everything, well atleast his teeth are flat and don't hurt at this age. You should see the little guy buck at his momma- just meanness I guess. You should hear his little whinny. So cute! I have been trying to find a key board on e-bay. I haven't had any luck yet. I got some numbers to call though. Keep your fingers crossed. Cheryl

Greetings All and a Happy Halloween, My neuropathy makes me feel like the Bride of Frankenstin, because my feet are so numb. I feel like I am walking funny. One of my coworkers commented,"Yeah I noticed you were walking funny." Gee, thanks for noticing. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I bought a deluxe foot bath, and it definately alieves the "asleep" feeling temporarily. Also effective are massage socks you can buy at the GNC health food stores. My counts were low still, but I did get half a dose of chemo. This chemo is keeping me stable atleast. When asked "How long must I continue it?", my doc replied "as long as it is working." Now there is someting to look forward too! I asked him to put my name on the list for a trial using a vaccine, starting possibly in Jan. Might as well, since I am the human experiment right now. Did any of you catch "Scare tactics" on tv? I feel like a DNA experiment gone bad, half human and animal anyway! HA! How funny that show is. I just want you all to know that I am praying for you. I haven't got my key board yet. I can't find anyone to make one to fit my web tv. So I can only get on briefly at work. Know also that I read your posts, but cannot post due to the key board thing. Take Care my friends. Happy Halloween!!!! Cheryl

Cat, Keeping you in my prayers. Just concentrate on you right now. We love you! Cheryl

Lil, Check out "My Story" under Terrie. She has had the procedure a couple of times, which has been successful. She swears by it. Cheryl

KitKathi, I had a pericardial window about 3 months ago. I was in the hospital for two weeks. I was ready to go home sooner, but my doctor wanted to make sure I drained off all the fluid, due to risk of heart attack. I felt little pain, except for the incision site in my upper abdomen. Just below that were two tubes for drainage- now those puppies were uncomfortable. The actual procedure involves cutting the sac of heart at the top to allow drainage, so it will not allow fluid to build up again. I have had no problems since. Hope this helps. Cheryl

Fay, That is good news. What is wrong with the liver? I hope that surgergy is not necessary. Breath a good sigh of relief. LOve you girl!!!

Lisa, it sounds like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Be very careful about not taking time ti care for yourself. Perhaps you can enlist your son for just a little time of relief. Many of us hve been through this battle several times, and there is no easy way. We are here to support you and listen. PLease post when you can, we are here for you. Cheryl

Hey Folks, Just wanted to let you all know that I am still out here in cyberland, waiting for my ordered key board to arrive. I can read your posts, with the use of a remote control, but not posting- which I hate. I am using my computer here in the office right now, and only have a few min. I tried to put a picture up to show you my baby horse, but it came out too small. I am afraid I will need Rick's help on this one. I haven't named him yet, and am hoping you guys can help me come up with one. He has a star on his forehead and one back right sock. He is charcoal colored with a black main and wavey tail. That could all change though. He is quite precocious, and loves to buck and run. We have been picking him up, so that when he gets older, he will remember that we can pick him up and we are bigger than he is. My blood work was still too low to get chemo last Thurs. I will go back tomorrow. Fun, huh? I have gotten a few shots of arenesp to boost my red blood cell count, along with platelets too. I was so very tired, and short of breath. I can atleast breath better, so my counts must be climbing. I asked the doc how long will I be on this chemo? He said "as long as it keeps working!" I also asked him about the new vaccine, using other's cancerous tumors to make the vaccine. He said that would probably not start until Jan.. Sign me up, I have heard good results from it. Why not? I am just a guinne pig any way, Ha! Good luck to the many of you waiting for results and those of you having tests. I pray for you all every day. I miss posting, and will try to sneak on at work if I can, until my keyboard arrives. God Bless, Cheryl

KIm, The injection itself hurt like He**! I also have some pain in my joints and bones. I am not sure if it is from the chemo I am doing or the aranesp shots. I take tylenol, and if really bad, hydrocodone works for me. The Flu shot ached like you described though. Hope your mom is better. Cheryl

JC, Glad to have you back! I hope your surgeon can get you worked in. I hate that you have to go through what you did. Cheryl

Cat, It is on a Fri. night and I ran to work to use my computer. I can't post at home, because I spilt coffee on my key board. My web tv is so old I can't find anyone makinf the key boards these days. I have been everywhere. Anyway, just want ed you to know I am saying prayers for you and keeping you close at heart. This treatment will work! LOve, Cheryl

That is right! sometime at the crack of dawn, my mare named chula, had a black filly with a little star on her nose. She is all legs! I thought she would never get here. She is so adorable with her wobbly legs. I on the other hand am exhausted and at work. I am sorry that I have been off the boards for a few days. I spilt coffee on my key board to my web tv. I will have to find if any one makes them still- Walmart doesn't anymore. My CT scans are all stable, even with a small shrinkage. I have a few more left then, will probably do a vaccine if treatmnt is necessary. I have been suffering from neurapathy in my feet pretty bad, My feet feet asleep or frozen. Any suggestion out there? I am also experiencing bad nose bleeds. Dr. McCullum from Mary Crowley's suggested neosynephrinie nose spray, which worked like magic! It was gross, coming out in streams with huge clots. My platelets were low, which is why this happened. I was pretty scarey because it just poored all over my clothes and into rags. Might I also suggest, to pack your nose and tilt your head back. An ice cold rag helps too. Good to talk to you all, It will be a couple of days probably before we find the right board that mathces our web tv. Take Care, Cheryl

Angie, Rest my Dear, you probably have not slept well the past 17 months, since your father's diagnosis. I am glad to know that he wasn't in any pain. It will seem odd at first not fighting this disease now that he has passed, I can recall not knowing what to do with my time. PLease take care of yourself. I imagine that your mom and sister will need support as well. May God see you through this difficult period. God bless, Cheryl

TANN, Hurray!!! Congratulations girl!!! This was a difficult task, but it is all behind you now. We are all proud, and cheering you on for a complete recovery. Cheryl