recce101

Hi, Nova, and welcome to the LCSC. This is one of those rare places you can express your deepest feelings ("let it all hang out," so to speak) with no fear of ridicule. On the contrary, you'll find many others who have shared those same thoughts, and you may find a perspective or way of coping that you hadn't previously considered. In case you were wondering, you can create the chronology of symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, etc. that you see at the bottom of most of our posts in the same way you added the "ray of light" quote. Click "My Profile" at the top, scroll down to "Signature," enter/update your information, and ensure "Always attach my signature" is marked "Yes." If you like, add a photo using the "Avatar" feature. An up-to-date profile will save you lots of time in the long run -- just plunge into the subject at hand and submit! Best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Hi, Tiny -- and a BIG WELL DONE for your accomplishment. Sounds like you've been celebrating already! Best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Cheryl, that's terrific! Having great family support in such a positive event as Relay for Life must be a large part of your joy. I have a feeling you'll be doing this or something similar more than once. Congratulations and Aloha, Ned

Doctors' vacations seem to come at the worst possible times, don't they? There's a lot to be said for the rural lifestyle (I grew up in three very small towns in Central Texas), but it's true that specialists are a lot easier to find in the big cities. If a particular one is on vacation or a business trip, there's usually a colleague to fill in for him, perhaps one of the other doctors in the specialty clinic they formed to share overhead costs and give themselves a bit of scheduling flexibility. And if it's an oncology clinic or major cancer center, I doubt if the Medicare question is a factor in their accepting new patients, since Medicare patients form a large part of their business (no one has ever told me that -- it just seems reasonable ). Best wishes and Aloha, Ned

65% Dixie. Well, I admit I started out in Texas, but I haven't lived there for 50 years. I should make up a test on the various ways of pronouncing "Hawaii" -- 1. HAH-WAH-YAH 2. HOW-WAH-YUH 3. HOW-WAH-YEE 4. HAH-WAH-EE 5. HAH-VAH-EE Add others that you've heard, then we'll try to figure out what they all mean! AH-LOOOW-HA, Ned

SUPER!! I didn't see your post until just now -- helps get the weekend off to a good start! Aloha, Ned

I've had the same thing going on for a few years, long before I got involved with the cancer crowd. I'll be working with something on the kitchen counter, for example, and a roach or some nondescript bug will catch my attention in my peripheral vision to the left, darting further left and out of view. If I turn to look, there's nothing there. Moves much faster than the standard "floaters" which most people have from time to time. But I didn't realize there was an x-rated version available. I should probably upgrade my subscription! Aloha, Ned

A rising tide lifts all ships. Emphasis on colon cancer a few years back produced Avastin, which is now approved and very effective for many with lung cancer. The fact that we "don't get no respect" (a la Rodney Dangerfield) maybe causes us to try harder, and that might produce a benefit for some other form of cancer that gets even less respect. Aloha, Ned

Me too, and even as a "macho male" I'm not hesitant to say it. If Taylor can do that as a seventh grader, then WOW... Her face radiates intelligence and caring -- the world is and will be a better place because of her. You have every reason to be very proud! Aloha, Ned

Doug, that's terrific! It's also encouraging to hear a "good" VA story for a change. Aloha, Ned

That sounds reasonable, and I would have thought so too not long ago. But now I'm not so sure... I had 6 cycles of taxol/carboplatin/avastin at 3-week intervals October through January, and have now had 3 infusions of avastin alone, also at 3 week intervals. Mucous production, flow from tear ducts, and nosebleed tendency are now much less than in January and early February at the peak of my side effects from the 3-agent regimen. I had assumed the nosebleed part was from the avastin component of the combo therapy and would continue, but it hasn't, at least not to the same degree. One factor might be that my mucous membranes, especially the nostrils, now feel a lot more normal (less fragile) than a couple of months ago, maybe from being off the taxol/carbo or because of warmer weather or both. Bottom line: I would no longer place any importance on nosebleed tendency in trying to determine if what's called avastin in the trial is real or a placebo. So far I have felt zero side effects from the avastin alone, even during the first few days after each infusion. Every side effect I experienced from the 3-agent therapy has practically disappeared, and I'd love to stay on this track indefinitely. Aloha, Ned

Right on -- LOVE IT!! Aloha, Ned

Peggy: The LCSC has come together for you and your mom in a big way. I've read this site daily since I joined last September, and I can recall only a couple of times the messages have been so intense, focused, and unanimous. I have NEVER seen so many members lined up against a particular physician ("ditch the doctor," "gave up on her without even a fight," "doesn't know or understand anything about lung cancer," "does not sound like your mom has even been diagnosed properly," "such uninformed statements." It's one thing for a qualified specialist to give an opinion that comes across as blunt and insensitive, but it's quite another thing to get a bleak prognosis from someone who is neither certified nor even reasonably up-to-date in a specialty that changes as fast as lung cancer. It might even cross the line into malpractice. I know you're doing as much as you possibly can, and my heart truly goes out to you. Maybe your brothers can help you turn the tide. If your mom is in constant pain, that can really warp her perspective, especially if she doesn't yet see any hope for improvement. My very best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Another great trip, and such hospitality! Aloha, Ned

Hi, Peggy, and welcome to the LCSC!! I think the family practice doctor simply hasn't kept up with the remarkable advances in lung cancer treatment that have occurred in recent years. Otherwise he wouldn't have made such -- I'll be charitable here -- such uninformed statements. Your instincts are exactly correct. A pulmonologist and then possibly a thoracic surgeon would be a logical sequence, followed by an oncologist after cancer has been confirmed and the cell type determined through biopsy. Here's what I suggest as a project for this weekend: Spend as much time as you can on this site, giving special attention to the profiles at the bottom of the messages, looking for members whose initial diagnosis was advanced lung cancer (this would be called "extensive" for small cell lung cancer and "stage IIIB" or "stage IV" for non-small cell lung cancer). Become familiar with the various tests and consultations each person went through in preparation for treatment, and what that first treatment was. Also note the large number of people who went for second (or third or fourth) opinions before treatment actually began. Then you'll see what I mean about your instincts being correct. This stuff about giving her 6 months is (excuse my French) a bunch of ##%%!! Next, show your mom what you've learned and let her read the stories of some who are doing quite well years after that first shocking diagnosis (this will include a number who were not in nearly as good health as your mom is right now). Third, if your mom agrees, expend as much energy as you can muster getting your mom medical care which is up to the standard she deserves. Keep us posted on new developments, ask questions about anything that's not clear, and save yourself a lot of future typing effort by starting your own profile on behalf of your mom. Click "My Profile" at the top, scroll down to the "Signature" block, enter/update your information, and make sure that "Always attach my signature" is marked "Yes." Best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Hi, and welcome to the LCSC!! I'm one more you can add to your list. Though I did smoke moderately for a few years in my 20s, it's been over 43 years since I quit and my oncologist says that puts me "almost" in the same category as a never-smoker. That status might come in handy some day when my current treatment stops working and it's time to switch to another drug -- some of the new targeted therapies such as Tarceva have been found to be most effective in people who have never smoked or who quit decades ago. Along with several others, I too encourage you to start a chronological profile of treatments, side effects, test results, etc. like you see at the bottom of most of our messages. Click the "My Profile" link at the top of the screen, scroll down to the "Signature" block, enter or update your information, make sure that "Always attach my signature" is marked "Yes," add a photo in the "Avatar" section if you like, then "Submit." All of your messages that have a profile attached will automatically update. It also relieves you of the need to give background information every time you post a question or comment (which we hope will be often!) -- just plunge into the subject at hand. Best wishes and Aloha, Ned

That's great news, Lynne!! Very happy for you. Aloha, Ned

Heather: Does your onc know about the neuropathy? I was starting to get it during my 6th Taxol/Carbo/Avastin cycle, so I tracked down my onc by phone and he called in a prescription of Neurontin to my local pharmacy. It worked in just 2 or 3 days, to my great relief (see details in my profile). Peripheral neuropathy can be BAD NEWS, even permanently disabling if it goes too far. If you can beat it back, you might feel better about doing another chemo cycle. Please keep us posted. Aloha, Ned

Maybe we know each other! I'll PM you with my name and assignment specifics -- click the My Mail link at the top. Aloha, Ned

Thought I was reading about myself for a few seconds! It seems that quitting smoking decades ago, or never smoking at all, does not provide as much assurance against developing lung cancer as we used to believe. There's still a "you did it to yourself" stigma attached to lung cancer which we don't see with breast cancer, prostate cancer, and many others. It appears that your dad's cancer was found relatively early and that he has been getting excellent, aggressive medical care. Adenocarcinoma is a very common NSCLC cell type, is well studied, and can be treated in a number of ways. Is chemo planned when he has recovered sufficiently from the two surgeries? Give us some more details about his condition and treatment (preferably in a "profile" like you see at the bottom of most of our messages), and we'll learn from you as you learn from us. A warm welcome to the LCSC, along with my best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Sonia, what you and your family did for your dad was marvelous, and you'll never have any regrets. My heartfelt condolences and warmest Aloha, Ned

With Stage IV that may be a correct statement technically, but SOME time may well be a LONG time. Your dad has amazed 'em in the past, and he can amaze 'em again. Stable is a good thing, further shrinkage is even better. Your dad's perspective is right on -- enjoy the break along with him! Aloha, Ned

GOOD SHOW -- looking for more to come!! Aloha, Ned

George, my hearty congratulations! I've seen your posts before, but this one intrigued me so much that I went back and read them all again. The thing that jumps out at me is your attitude, not merely positive, but almost casual! At least that's the feeling I get from what you've written. It's as close to my own reaction to the cancer diagnosis as I've seen here. It seems to be widely accepted that attitude is a key ingredient in dealing with any serious disease. We often hear and say "be positive" or similar statements, but for most that's easier said than done. Many people newly diagnosed with cancer probably find the best they can do is to pursue other activities and avoid dwelling on the illness. To be truly positive and even relaxed about cancer implies a good sense of "connectedness" or "oneness" with the universe. Some achieve this through religious faith or a study of metaphysics, while others are apparently just "that way." I also think age has a lot to do with it. If I had received the same diagnosis in my 30s, with small children and a budding career, I could not have been nearly as accepting of the situation or "positive" as I was at age 71. I have profound admiration for every young person (definition: under 50) who is effectively dealing with cancer. My best wishes and Aloha, Ned

Wow, that's terrific!! The enlarged lymph nodes turned out to be of no concern either? We could use more stories like yours! Aloha, Ned