Debi

Welcome and congrats on the 4 years! I know how you feel about being afraid - even though I know that I was lucky to have been caught early - I still have days sometimes where my fears threaten to swallow me whole. As you know, it gets easier as time goes on but it doesn't take much to trigger anxieties. I'm glad you found us and hope you keep posting!!

Wow, I just finished reading my first whole book since my son was born almost 7 years ago!!! Anyway, it was Ghosts of the Titanic - I'm a Titanic enthusiast (did someone mention freak?), from the days before DiCaprio made it cool. I even have a lump of coal that I bought about 12 years ago, that was from the Titanic. Okay, I'll go now...

My Pulmonary Specialist did give me an exercise to do after surgery. He told me to stand fairly close to a wall, facing it and 'walk' my fingers up the wall and down as far as I could make them go. This was all he suggested, but he said that it would improve my range quite a bit. I did do it a bit, but being the self-disciplined person that I am, it was a bit sporadic.

Sandra, You may try our Alternative & Complimentary forum- there are quite a few posts on there concerning cancer and certain foods. http://lchelp.org/community/viewforum.php?f=10

Wooooo Hoooo

HA! Cute one!!

congratulations all around and on the birth of Jasper!!! You made me homesick for NY...I love Woodstock - I used to drive up there and buy incense from some guy who sold it on the front lawn of a home, but I can't remember his name. Lots of colorful characters there!!

Hey there! Your story sounds similiar to mine. They first found "something" on an xray actually in January- then I went for a CT in February, along with a Pet Scan. My nodule was too small to biopsy (9mm), and the PET didn't really show anything. I went back 3 months later for another CT and my nodule had grown to 13mm. THey couldn't run any tests because of the size and location, so since it had grown, had to go in and take it on out. I understand exactly how you feel right now. The important thing is try not to panic (I know, easier said than done!). There is a chance that it isn't cancer, and even if it is, you are one of the 'lucky' ones (one day you'll feel lucky, I promise!) and can have it surgically removed. The surgery itself is doable - this coming from someone who's only hospital stay besides childbirth was getting her tonsils out when she was a kid. You CAN do this- just put one foot in front of the other. When you get the time, you can browse around Newcomers and also Early Stage. There is lots of info in these forums concerning the situation you are in. Keep posting, we'll get you through this!!

Bob, As you know already, your loss is shared by many. Thank you for recognizing that and posting Fay's obituary. I hope that whenever you feel the need to, you will come here. My sympathies to your family...

1. Started smoking in 1971 at 15 for real-I stole my mothers cigarettes on occasion before that but never really 'smoked' them- I just blew the smoke in and out of my mouth. I have always had a very vivid memory of getting a pack of Kools out of a cigarette machine at the movie theater. I remember putting the quarters in (3), and pulling the knob and the excitement of hearing the pack of cigarettes drop. I just realized that this memory that I have had all these years is of the first cigarette pack I ever bought- stored right htere with the other 'important' memories in my life . Anyway, I was unaware of any health risks or at least don't remember knowing of them- my high school actually had a Senior Smoking lounge (they did away with it during my junior year!). YOu also smoked EVERYwhere.. in the movies, the supermarket, etc. Smoking was such a 'normal' part of life then. 2. Like John, peer pressure and the need to be "cool" was my reason for smoking. Advertising only helped to determine what type of cigarettes I would smoke in the future. 3. I have heard people say they quit because of all the possible health risks. 4. I quit cold turkey, the day of my surgery when they removed 2/3 of my lung. For me, quitting was always something I was unable to do. That thought keeps me from lighting a cigarette- I know that to be able to quit was a miracle, and I doubt I have another one coming to me. Good luck with your paper Rachel - I totally agree with your views. Have you ever checked out www.thetruth.com?

Yes, I also am a bore - 21. I missed the damn soup can also and I am still trying to figure out how pencils have sides. ! Anyway, that was fun John!

Welcome home Rich!

get really, really cranky. My favorite holiday is __________.

Michael, I don't really cry easy but I cried tonight when I read your post. She will be so missed. I'm sorry for your loss, your family's loss and for all of our loss.

Thinking of Rich and hoping he's out of there soon..

Hey Ginny, I'm not sure how many are out there, but if you find one, ask him if he has a brother.

Bruce, Glad you got the antibiotics and are taking care of that pneumonia.. As you know, I work in a call center and have contact with upwards of 450 people daily during busy season, 300 during "non peak" periods. Sometimes, the floor sounds like a sick ward with people hacking away. If I thought about the amount of germs flying around that place, I would never get out from under the covers. But the bills need to get paid.. I guess the answer is what the others have written, keep hand wipes for your hands, etc. Other than that, what I have found is the only preventive measure is to run to the doctor as soon as I start to feel sick. I don't mess around anymore with slight fevers or colds. I want to head off everything at the pass, and not give any 'bug' a chance to settle in on my less than perfect immune system. Hope you feel better Bruce day by day. If the antibiotics don't help, you know a trip to Dollywood is just what the doctor ordered.

I OWE MY MOTHER 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning." 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!" 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why." 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me." 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." 7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!" 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!" 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." 14. My moth! er taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!" 15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do." 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home." 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!" 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way." 19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?" 20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN adult. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." 22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father." 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?" 24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." 25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"

OH Frank.. You know I have thicker skin than that!! However, please keep in mind that my mother still lives in NY and if she starts out in the morning, she should arrive to your home in the afternoon...

Fay, I keep coming back to this post, trying to formulate some sort of response, some sort of goodbye. It's not really coming to me. I want you to know that besides all your wisdom, all your strength, the one thing I always remember is our phone conversation. It made me feel much better that someone had similiar experiences after surgery, and to this day it comforts me. You have been a great teacher to many. I join the rest of the people above me who recognize that we have a responsibility to others, to be here- amazingly, you are still showing us that. On the days that I have a hard time staying here, I promise Fay, I'll think of you, and stay. I wish you much peace.

Meanwhile, many marvelous missionaries made missing, mellow monkeys mildly melt more mini marshmallows, monthly mid morning. S?

Woooo Hoooo Connie!!!!! I am SO glad you're here!!! (I wish that you didn't have to be of course but since you are, I'm glad -I'm selfish that way )

I can't believe I actually miss ice and snow...

Fay, Thinking of you today and hoping that you can feel all our thoughts beside you.

Rob, I, too, am sorry that I am late arriving to your post. Someone from this board gave me great advice when I was waiting for my surgery. They said that at first it would feel like a fleet of trucks hit me, but every day, there would be one less truck. That visual helped me when I was in the hospital because I always knew the next day I would feel better than the day before. I got operated on Monday morning, and by Thursday I really did feel pretty good. And let me tell you, even though I am the world's biggest chicken, the surgery was entirely doable. When I came home from the hospital, for all intents and purposes, I was alone. My son's father was at the house to take care of my son because there was no way I could take care of him, but I pretty much took care of me. Buy alot of extra pillows because you will want them in your bed- that was one thing I didn't do and a friend went to Walmart and bought me about 6 of them. The first few days you are home, you will most likely take pain pills so you will drift in and out of sleep. I only woke to microwave myself something or heat up soup, watch TV a bit and then would go back to sleep. After about a week, I was ready to join the human race somewhat. I did have a local home health aide come to the house twice a week- this was covered on my insurance. She came and took my blood pressure, etc and to check on my overall progress. She only stayed about a 1/2 hour, but at least it was some sort of support. I found out the hard way that about half the people in the world don't really know what to do when your sick, so they basically avoid you. Anyway, good luck, and I don't think the stairs will be an obstacle. You will just have to take your time with them and make sure you remember to bring everything you need upstairs with you the first time! You'll get through this... hang in there...