prairiecrow
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Posts posted by prairiecrow
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Hello, aholler:
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. This board is a terrific place, you'll find a lot of good information, advice, and support here.
Blessings,
Laurie
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Hello, bellard:
When I did the research on small-cell lung cancer after my mom got diagnosed, the median survival time I came across (with treatments like chemo and radiation) was 16-24 months.
But of course this can vary quite widely, depending on how the individual reacts to the therapy. Some people are still around 5 and 10 years later. SCLC responds very well to chemo, and can be driven into remission.
I would echo the recommendation to get a second opinion on this. A medical team with a positive attitude toward treating the disease is essential at this point.
Laurie
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When my brother-in-law was going through advanced lung cancer, he sometimes refused to take his breakthrough pain meds, to the point of ending up in quite a bit of trouble because of it. My husband, who was his primary caregiver, came to believe that the reason Bill did this was because toward the end, how he managed his pain was one of the few things he still had control over.
As mixed-up as that sounds, I can sort of understand it.
And I came to wonder if for some other cancer patients, that might not be the case as well.Here's hoping that your dad finds good pain relief, whether through oral drugs, intravenous, or the radiation...
Laurie
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Help Me Rhonda (The Beach Boys)
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Those cheap Halloween molasses candies in the orange and black wrappers. That, or those equally cheap multi-colored candy necklaces.
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If you wouldn't object to a non-Christian praying for you, I will light a candle tonight and send up a prayer for you and your family.
God and Goddess bless,
Laurie
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Welcome, Linda! This is a wonderful community, I just joined it myself and have been very impressed with the quality of information and support I've found.
Wishing you good luck and all the best,
Laurie
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Hello, onlyone:
So very sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis.
Here in Canada we have an excellent cancer and palliative care system, where cancer patients who have no relatives living close by still get support like home care, Meals on Wheels, volunteers to take them to and from chemo treatments, etc. I've thanked the Goddess every day for the wonderful network of resources we have available to us. I can only hope that there's something similar in your area to help you out in times like this.
If not, I do hope that you can find doctors in your vicinity whom your mom can trust and who will give her excellent care.
As for denial... that's normal, I just found out my own mom has cancer and am going through the stages myself. If your mom is in a hospital right now, you might want to ask the ward staff about counselling services that she can make use of while she's there, and maybe about community support services to continue to counsel her after she's been released. Perhaps contacting the local branch of the Cancer Society would turn up some good leads.
Wishing you luck and strength in this difficult time,
Laurie
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Thank you all so much for your kind words of support and advice!
As an update: my mom is still in the hospital, but will be going home in the next couple of days (we hope). The oncologist sees no reason why she can't take chemo as an outpatient. They'll be using the drugs VP-16 and Cisplatinum (three days once every three weeks), and will be giving her a small dose of steroids on an ongoing basis to improve her energy and sense of well-being.
When asked to give a prognosis, the oncologist simply said: "Talk to me in four months."
Chemo will start later this week.
Home care is in place for her, as well as Meals on Wheels -- a big relief to myself and my husband, since we run our business from home (we're both freelance commercial artists) but live across town from my mother. Neither of us drive, but we were prepared to knock a couple of hours out of our day several times a week in order to bus it over to her apartment and help her out. With the home care and MoW she will be in a much better position to take care of herself, and she highly values her independence.
My mother's attitude is amazing. She's at peace with the idea that this disease may well kill her in as little as a few months, but has clearly stated that all she really wanted was a chance to "go down fighting". She is very happy that she's eligible for chemo, and looking forward to at least one more summer with us.
Myself, I'm still struggling with the diagnosis. I have my ups and downs, but I'm sure that with time I will come to terms with it. My husband has lost three family members to cancer, so he's gently and jokingly stated that he'll act as my "tour guide" on this journey that no one really wants to take. I'm very glad to have his support, and very glad to have found this online community.
Thanks again for your posts, they mean a lot to me!
Laurie
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Hello, patscan:
I'm new here myself, and just found out about my own mother's SCLC, so I know how it feels to be in shock over the discovery that something is so very wrong with someone you love.
All I can really say is, hang in there and be sure to take good care of yourself. Eat, sleep, take little breaks when you can... a pretty hard prescription (I'm finding it very hard to follow!), but I think it's essential.
Blessings to you and your mother,
Laurie
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Hello, Meg:
So very sorry to hear about your loss. I know words aren't much comfort right now, but time truly does heal wounds. Just remember to breathe, to take pleasure in little things if you can't seem to find it anywhere else, and most of all to take good care of yourself.
Blessings,
Laurie
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Hello, all. My name is Laurie, and my mother was just diagnosed with extended SCLC this afternoon -- so I'm still in a bit of shock. I'll be passing info about this message board on to her as soon as she gets out of the hospital (where she's been for the last 10 days, but they'll probably send her home middle of next week to take chemo as an outpatient).
This looks like a large and lively community. I'm very glad it's here as a resource.
Laurie
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So very sorry for your loss... love and light to you.
Laurie
And I came to wonder if for some other cancer patients, that might not be the case as well.
The Best Day of My Life
in HOPE
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What a terrific poem! Thank you for sharing it.
Laurie