patscan

Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful way to celebrate your mom and honor her life. Through her contribution to science, she will continue to impact others' lives.

Thank you for sharing your good news. HURRAY!!!!!

I agree that it is stress (anxiety)...I've been experiencing chest pain at night(when I go to bed, my mind races). I have used Tylenol PM a few nights to help ease into sleep. Someone shared this with me the other day, perhaps there is something that works for you: Spend 15 minutes a day in nature Spend 15 minutes a day in reflection Spend 15 minutes a day in gratitude Spend 15 minutes a day in silence Engage in something "creative" at least once a week

Just wanted you to know you were heard. I'm glad you posted (vented)-I have found it to be a very healthy way of coping with the pressure. Hope you can get lots of sleep this weekend.

I have no answers for you, but I wanted to tell you to hang in there. Candy

What a trooper my mom is. She was cracking jokes when the chest tube was going in. She called me at 0700 this morning to report "Nurses said no fluid for the entire night shift." Mom received the Talc this afternoon....no pain. My beautiful friends painted her house this weekend while my girlfriends and I went into operation "FAT PAT"---feeding her all she would eat. Professional housekeeping and carpets cleaning in the AM. Preparing for her to come home to a healthy environment. Her wedding anniversay is Monday. Her husband got her an IPOD, my husband put 565 songs on it and I downloaded pictures---she loves it. She loves music and I know it will help her through some of this hospital stay. The best part of the weekend is my mom felt sooo loved. Found blessings in cancer for the first time this weekend. Candy

Thank you for sharing your feelings--- I get it. Candy

I'm so sorry for your loss, it is unimaginable. My love goes out to you and your family. Candy

Ask MD for CBC, check sed rate. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be used to monitor inflammatory or malignant disease. Although it is a screening test (cannot be used to diagnose a specific disorder), it is useful in detecting unsuspected disease in which symptoms are vague or physical findings are minimal.

Thank you for the information, very helpful and helps to ease some of the anxiety. Blessings to you and your wife. Candy

Saw onc today. They highly recommend the Talc (Pleurodesis)procedure. Because her effusion has come back so quickly (within a week), they want to seal the lung lining before starting Chemo. The reasoning is that if she needs to be tapped during Chemo, the invasive procedure is more likely to cause infection which is a problem during Chemo. Chemo would have to stop, etc... They want to treat her aggressively with Carbon and Gemzar (spelling?) to start. My mom is leaning towards the Talc first, since it appears massive fluid continues to accumulate. This is a very hard decision, that has to be made by this Thursday. But I think she will go for the procedure. This sucks!

My mom has to make a decision. ONC wants to perform Talc procedure prior to starting Chemo. We are told 7-10 days in hospital for the procedure. What was your experience?

Saw onc today. They highly recommend the Talc procedure. Because her effusion has come back so quickly (within a week), they want to seal the lung lining before starting Chemo. The reasoning is that if she needs to be tapped during Chemo, the invasive procedure is more likely to cause infection which is a problem during Chemo. Chemo would have to stop, etc... They want to treat her aggressively with Carbon nd Gemzar (spelling?) to start. My mom is leaning towards the Talc first, since it appears massive fluid continues to accumulate. This is a very hard decision, that has to be made by this Thursday.

When the MD drained her today (twice the fluid in just 6 days)---he mentioned possible "chest wall" involvement and didn't seem optimistic about Chemo halting the fluid build-up. What is your experience with plerual effusion? My mom's effusion was positive for cancer cells. Onc appointment this afternoon, so tying to get more info prior to the appointment. Thanks for sharing your experience. Candy

I'm am so sorry. You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers. Candy

YES!!!!!! Good news indeed. Candy

Glad to hear treatment plan in place....will be keeping track of your progress and sending out good, healthy vibes your way. Candy

Welcome...I can relate as my Mom's only child. Stay strong, ask every MD lots of questions, take notes and take care of yourself. So sorry you are going through this, it's the pits! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. Candy

Mom's SOB increased this weekend. Another effusion. Although I begged the advice nurse for a clinic visit, instructed to go to ER. ER doc busy---did not feel it was an emergency and wanted to admit Mom. Mom did not want to spend the night in ER, we pushed back and they sent her home with Valium and a 0800 PULM appointment. Once we have a relationship with the PULM MD, we won't have to visit the ER and she can get "tapped" in the office. So tomorrow we will make 2 trips to the Hospital in the AM for the "draining" and the PM for the first ONC consultation. She's exhausted....really beat, but glad to be home tonight. Called my MD for valium--I'm having pain in my chest (anxiety). But we are all hanging tough. I bookmarked this site for her and when she has the energy she will check it out. I told her how helpful it is. So if you are reading this MOM...I LOVE YOU and I'm on your team. XOX Candy

Thinking of you both this afternoon. Candy

I'm with you....on your team. We'll get through this. My prayers go out to you and your mom. God bless oue moms.....they are the best. Keep us posted. Candy

Congrats to you and your family--and thank you for sharing, it inspires hope. Candy

I'm so thankful I found you...it has been helpful hearing about others' experiences. Our first appointment with the Oncologist is this Tuesday. Her PMD has ordered another CXR to see if the effusion is back...but Mom had to go to her favorite campground this weekend, so the CXR will have to wait until Monday. Again it has been so helpful to hear your stories, thank you for that. I've also started writing down my questions for the MD appointment (excellent advice), also comforted that some anxiety may pass after the treatment plan is in place. The wondering/guessing/speculating/ is the worse. Also found a great "wellness journal" online and Mom has been journaling when she feels like it. Again, thank you for your well wishes and sharing your stories. Candy

Last Saturday morning, my mom called me complaining of Shortness of Breath. When I arrived at her home, she was clearly in respiratory distress and had absent left lung sounds. A trip to the ER and 5 days later we are dealing with non-small cell lung cancer. CT scan shows a pleural effision, 1.8 cm mass in the left lower and 5 mm in left upper. Pathology confirmed the malignant cells in the pleural fluid (Stage IIIB/IV). Our first Oncology appointment is Tuesday. Not sure what to expect. My beautiful mom is 56 years old, heavy smoker since age 15. I am her number one biggest fan, her nurse adovcate and daughter, age 35. We both quit smoking last Saturday. Her biggest fear is her breathing...she continues to have SOB (and looking back realizes many other symptoms--cough, fatique, easily winded). Will the oncologist treat the SOB with oxygen, steorids, inhalers? I just want my mom to have some relief. Is it likely the fluid will build up again? The past 5 days have been horrific. The fear of losing her or her suffering is with me every waking moment. I just want her to be able to BREATHE-I know she is sooo scared. I'm battling between thinking like a nurse and being her daughter. Please pray for her.