karen335

Dear Tanya, I am truly sorry about the loss of your father. Prayers for you and your family. God Bless Karen

Hebbie, Way to go, your letter was great. Hopefully it will get the attention of the media and doctors, nationwide. God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us. Karen ***************** Dx'd 3-03, 3a, nsc radiation and chemo taxol/carbo

Hi All...... I have a question. I hope someone can help me with an answer. Can a doctor tell if you have cancer by a blood test, or does it have to be a scan, biopsy or ???? My onc said in April, I guess the cea (not sure if this is what it is called, how do tumor markers work? Please, educate me) was 13, dropped to 12, in June was 6, now says 1.8. The onc doesn't really explain anything, only says you are doing great, don't worry about it. I have not had a CT since June 10th, will have another in Oct. (Started chemo 7-23 again, only 3 wk cycles this time) Is this normal for scans to be so far apart? Also had pet on June 28th, (demanded Pet) onc said I did not need. How do they determine what you need? Also, I have never had a scan of the brain, is this common? Onc said after 4 cycles of Taxol/carbo she is going to start me on Taxotere. If Taxol is working why rock the boat and change....... Have had 38 treatments of radiation and 8 weekly treatments of taxol/carbo, tumor shrunk 60-65%. The onc doesn't seem to want to do tests. (((((((PUZZLED))))))) What is right??????? Everyone on here is so helpful and I trust what people have to say on here. Praying for all of you and the "CURE" for all of us...... Thank you so much. Please reply........ God Bless Karen ********** Dx'd 3-03 nsc 3a Radiation and chemo taxol/carbo

Thank you for sharing..... Katie and her family are in my prayers...... God Blessand praying for a "Cure" for all of us Karen

Gloria, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us....... Karen

Donna, Thanks for the update on Connie. You are so kind to take the time to find out what is going on with others from this forum. It is greatly appreciated and we are all honored to know you in the way we do. People from Minnesota are such kind and special people. I know, my father was from there. You and Connie are in my prayers as well as everyone else on this board. God Bless and praying fpr a "Cure" for all of us....... Karen ********** Dx'd 3-03, nsc 3a, Radiation and chemo (Taxol/Carbo)

Annie, Special prayers for you and Tim. Clean scans and surgery a success....... God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us....... Karen

Janet, Congrats!!!!!!! The words we all long to hear. God is good and he hears our prayers........ God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us Karen ************ Dx'd 3-03 , nsc 3a, Radiation and chemo (Taxol/Carbo) restarted chemo 7-23-03 (every 3 wks)

Shordy, I am sorry about the loss of your dad. You are in my prayers...... God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us Karen

Joanie, I am so sorry about the loss of your beautiful daughter. My prayers to you and your family. Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute with us. God Bless and God's speed in healing all of us..... Karen

Terre, My sincere condolences for the loss of your mom. You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless, Karen

Hi all, The sad situation is that a lot of people don't think to have these tests done or are not aware of them. When we go in for a physical, bronchitis, coughs and etc., the doctors don't send us for any tests. They just hand you prescriptions and pain killers. You tell them what you want and they give it to you. I know back in 1999, I had bronchitis so bad, I couldn't hardly breathe. I didn't associate LC and bronchitis, doc gave me three /four different anibiotics til I finally started to get a little better. It took me 3/4 months to start feeling better. If doctor would have given me chest x-ray, maybe this diease would have been caught earlier and surgery would have been an option for me. I know it is my fault that I smoked, but I also blame alot of these doctors who either don't have the knowledge to diagnose properly, they only look at the $$$ it costs to find out what is wrong with a patient. Then sometimes it takes too long for them to find out and it is too late. It is sad but true how are health care system is faultering. A lot of these doctors are just out right lazy too. I know, my husband works in the health care industry, nucleur medicine (engineer). He repairs the equipment in a lot of the hospitals in Southern California, Nevada in their Nucluer Med Departments. This is where your bone scans, Pet scans and etc. are done. The condition of the equipment at some of the hospitals and clinics is horrible and not taken care of properly because they don't want to spend the money to fix them properly. Quick fix, put a bandaid on it and continue to do all these scans that are not accurate. It is so sad that the almighty dollar has so much power over healing and curing people. Bottom line is, how much money are we making, instead of how may lives are we saving...... Sorry to sound so negative, I apologize, I don't mean to offend anyone. It is just frustrating to think that there are so many people with this disease, especially the young and the people who have never smoked and that we are not finding a "Cure" fast enough........ Sorry for all the rambling. Sad but true. God Bless and praying for a "CURE" for all of us....... Karen ****************** Dx'd 3-03 , nsc, 3a, radiation, taxol/carbo 3-03 to 5-03, restarted chemo 7-23-03 to present (3 wk cycles) By his stripes we are healed....Keep the faith, I truly believe, God is good

Rick, Special prayers for Katie and her family. Praying for a miracle for Jesse. God is good, he does hear our prayers. God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us.... Karen

Terrie, Prayers to you for good test results...... God Bless and praying for a "CURE" for all of us........ Karen

Sandy, This is such wonderful news. You are truly blessed. I am so happy for you. God Bless all of us and praying for the "CURE"....... Karen

Jay, You are important to all of us. We really love hearing how you are doing. Please keep us posted and as Donna said there is a person in Ireland that really needs to hear from another young person like yourself. You are very upbeat and inspiring, so please keep on posting. I am sure he would appreciate your posts also since he is about the same age as you (18) I believe. We miss you. Congrats on the new girlfriend, it's always nice to have someone special. Hope they find the problem with your headaches. Praying for you. God Bless Karen ********** Dx'd 3-03, nsclc - 3a, radiation and chemo

Dear Al, My heart goes out to you. That was such a beautiful letter about your precious and beautiful Margaret. She was such a special lady and she is watching down on you now. She no longer has any pain and is with our precious Lord Jesus. Please know that you are in my prayers and I pray that the heartache and pain will ease with time. God Bless you Karen ****************** Dx'd 3-13 , NSCLC 3a, Radiation (38 treatments) March -May 2003 and chemo taxol/carbo April - May, two month break, started chemo again July 23, 2003 taxol/carbo (3 wk cycles)

Michael, Thanks for the information. Any medical news that we all can read that is beneficial to all who read it is truly a plus. I know speaking for myself, I didn't know all the tests or things I should be aware of being a smoker. We didn't have all the warnings about the harm we were doing to our lungs and body. We smoked and became addicted and it was the cool thing to do. Now we are paying the price for ignorance. But we will beat this ugly monster. I truly beleive there is a "CURE" in the horizon. I am so glad that the news media is finally promoting the stop smoking campaigns. The states are finally spending the tobacco money awarded for something other than special interests. I wouldn't have said this back in January, but I think cigarette tax should be imposed each year until it gets to the point of where no one can afford to buy them. Then a law needs to be written that the money cannot be used for anything else except research and promoting stop smoking ads. I guess I'm just ranting. Thanks for listening. Bob, you are very welcome. God Bless and praying for a "Cure" for all of us.... Karen

Dear Lucie and Don, So happy that you are home. We know that Don sure missed you. After being married for such a long time, any length of time seems like an eternity to be apart. No more hospital trips. You two are such an inspiration to all of us. You are both truly survivors. Our Lord, Jesus has truly blessed both of you and continues to watch over you. God Bless both of you and praying for a "Cure" for all of us........ Karen ******************* Dx'd 3-03, nsclc 3a, radiation (38 treatments), Taxol/carboplatin back on Taxol/Carbo 7-23-03 (3 wk cycles) til 9-24-03 then CT scan Praying for total healing.....

Don, Congratulations are in order. You are "AWSOME"..... Lucie is such a trooper and fighter..... Bless her heart, she has so much stamina and is such an inspiration for the rest of us. If she can beat this ugly disease, which she is doing, then we all can do it. Lucie, you keep up the good work and I am praying for you every day. I knew you would beat this thing. Keep the faith. God Bless you and Don...... Praying for a "CURE" for all of us. Karen

Sandy, You are always in my prayers every day. Special prayers for your scan today. Keep the faith and God is good. He hears our prayers, all we have to do is ask. Next time we hear from you will be in the good news post.... "SCANS CLEAN".......... God Bless, Praying for a "CURE" for all of us......... Karen

David, Congratulations on your accomplishment and the win. Whether it is 1st, 2nd or 9th, you are a winner in our eyes. We can never say Thank You enough for getting LC in the news. You are deffinately a person that we all are inspired by. Knowing a person like you with all of your motivation, energy and stamina is truly an honor. Praying for a "Cure" for all of us..... God Bless Karen ********** Dx'd 3-03, 3a, nsclc Radiation (38) treatments 3-25-03 to 5-15-03 taxol/carbo 4-1-03 to 5-20-03 taxol/carbo 7-23-03 (every 3 wk) 6-8 cycles

Gina, It's been nine months for me. I quit on January 10th, 2003. That was the day my primary care doctor after looking at my x-rays said to me, does lung cancer run in your family. Scared the day lights out of me. I walked into his office and had just put cig out and when I walked out, I said no more. I didn't use any aids to stop or anything. I smoked for 38 years never quitting once (smoked 1 pkg per day). In fact the day that the doc asked me that scary question, we had plans to go to the Indian casino in Temecula, CA.... I was around people there smoking and I didn't even crave one. The only problem I had was I couldn't stand the smell of the smoke and cigs and still cannot stand it to this day. I truly feel the Lord had something to do with me being able to quit. I do not crave a cigarette, and I have never been able to go for any more that a couple of hours without a cigarette. I know that since he cured me of smoking he will cure me of this awful disease. I truly believe. Praying for a "Cure" for all of us........ Karen

Ray, Happy B-Day!!!!! Hope you had a very special day...... God Bless Karen

Hi All, Just finished watching ABC news here in California. Lung cancer in the news for advanced LC. New meds Avastin and Tarceva. Has anyone heard of any Clinical Trials using these targeted medicines or id anyone in these trials currently? Please post any information you may have regarding these meds or whatever you may know. Go to abc.com Go to: Shows A-Z, then ABC News, then World News Tonight, then Hope for Lung Cancer.......... Praying for a "Cure" for all of us. God Bless Karen