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gail p-m

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Everything posted by gail p-m

  1. Tim -- I wish you'd have a look at this Message Board. It's full of wonderful people who support each other. No one can go or should go this journey without lots of support. I feel like I know you through Kathy's posts and have been following your ups and downs which we all have. We call it a "rollercoaster ride." Whether or not you want to post on the Board is up to you but it won't hurt to have a look or to go to a group in your community where everyone is in the same boat. Thinking of you and hoping you'll seek some support. Prayers and thoughts are sent your way. Gail
  2. Just wondering if there is anyone on the Board from the Bellingham, Washington area or Mt. Vernon, Washington. Looking for an oncologist in Whatcom or Skagit County. Understand there is a real shortage of oncologists for Bellingham. Thanks. Gail
  3. So very sorry to hear of your loss. Please let us know how you are doing and let us be of support to you during this difficult time. Gail
  4. So sorry to hear your news. I'm glad that he is not suffering. I will be thinking of you and your family through this very difficult time. My prayers and thoughts are with you . Gail
  5. gail p-m

    Katieb's Dad

    Thanks for updating us about Katie's Dad. So sorry to hear that the road is so rough right now. But as others have said, Katie's Dad has fought back before when the odds weren't in his favor. My prayers being sent his way that he can again fight back and win. My thoughts, of course, are with Katie too who has fought alongside her Dad every step of the way. What a fabulous daughter! Please keep us posted. Gail
  6. So sorry to hear about your Dad. You were a wonderful son to him and supported him all you could. You also let him know that he was not leaving your Mom alone which I'm sure was a great comfort to him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Gail
  7. Many prayers and thoughts are being sent your way to the both or you!!!! Gail
  8. Just wanted to tell you that my Dad is 79 and has gone through 2 rounds of Carbo/Taxol. He has actually tolerated the chemo not too badly. (He does have other medical problems which has made this whole lc thing that much harder). However, I've been surprised at how he's tolerated the chemo. Yes, a lot of tiredness for a week to 10 days after but then he does not too badly. His doctors never gave stats as to how much time he has with or without treatment and I think everyone on this board will tell you it's an individual thing. Some with Stage 4 have lived for 2 or 3 years and enjoy a good quality of life. So please give it some thought -- perhaps even a 2nd opinion from another oncologist. Good luck. Prayers and thoughts sent your way. Gail
  9. Ray I'm so sorry to hear your news but as others have said, many have beat the brain mets. Keep your fighting spirit up -- you are due for a break!!!! I too think that the fact that you're a young and fit guy should provide you with advantage in this fight! We're all here for you -- thinking and praying for you. You keep fighting and keep us posted. Gail P-M
  10. Fay Everyone is entitled to a little pity party now and then. I can't imagine anyone on this board, lc survivor, caregiver or other relative who doesn't occasionally have a pity party. Welcome to the human race. I've always read your "upbeat" posts and admire your tenacity in fighting this disease. Believe me, I still do. You're one strong, optimisitc lady and apparently human too!!! Gail _P-M P.S. May I also inquire about something. You mentioned restrictions on travel due to l.c. I am hoping that my father can still at times fly out to visit me -- minimum of a 5 hour flight. Would the restrictions be if he were on oxygen and/or distance from his doctors that you were referring to or???
  11. So glad to hear the good news of the Empty Head. She deserves it. Hope you had a good celebration! Gail
  12. Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary. May there be many more for you! I admire your upbeat attitude and the way you can find postives in any situation. I hope you have a good trip to Nashville. Do let us know! Gail
  13. gail p-m

    Tired feeling?

    Jay, Exhaustion is normal from chemo. --- unfortunately. That's probably the thing first and foremost that everyone on this message board writes about all chemos. So what you're feeling is "right". Just take it easy and listen to your body. Don't push yourself too much. In time, you'll return to the "old" Jay though you might not believe it right now. I hope you're getting a bit of "pampering" -- I think all people on chemo need and deserve this. Please keep in touch with the Board. I have two sons myself and have been always watching for your posts though I'm not a regular responder. By the way, you're a good looking kid! Love that picture of yours. Take care and rest up. Gail
  14. I'm spending most of the summer, Sept and part of Oct. helping my Dad out. I live 3,000 miles away and have a husband and kids (youngest is 17) there. My Mom has passed away. Before this, my sister had spent a lot of time with him but she was out of sick leave, vacation time... As of right now, we don't know how effective the chemo has been.. (He has only had 2 rounds). Chances are he will need more at some point and I know this is a roller coaster ride. We will be at the point in Oct, certainly sometime in the future where we need to look for outside help. Will start on the phone tomorrow to find resources. Just wondering if anyone, esp. on Long Island, knows of agencies that will drive people to doctor's appts, chemotherapy... My father will occasionally need some temporary live-in help esp. after chemo. sessions and am wondering where to start looking into that. I hate to have to go this route but I don't know what else to do. I love my Dad very much but I also have a job at home, a family ... I wish I could take my Dad with me but I live in Canada and I'm sure there'd be all sorts of complications with the medical system, his Medicare...
  15. Hi Carol Haven't seen a post on the message board for the last couple of days. I realize that you're probably very busy right now but I'm wondering how Gene ---- and you are doing. If you have time, please let me know. In my thoughts and prayers Gail
  16. Carol-- You know my prayers and thoughts are with you and Gene. So wish I could do more for the both of you! Gail
  17. My prayers and thoughts are with you and Lucie. You're such a loving couple who have been through so much and give so much to others on this Board. Praying for a smooth road for both of you!
  18. From what I know, most people get 6 rounds of chemo. I just wondered how many rounds of chemo before new scans are done to see the effectiveness of it? How many rounds of chemo are usually needed to show some result? For instance, if someone has no change after 3 rounds, does that mean the chemo should be changed or might it be effective after 5 rounds. (I have so much to learn; thank goodness for this message board!!!!!!) One more question while I'm here == how do the doctors determine which chemo. to give? I've noticed many people get the Carbo. The other chemo is often Taxol, for some people Taxotere....
  19. I've read a bit about the effects of Celebrex making chemo more effective. When I asked my Dad's oncologist about this, his rather terse response was "Your father isn't in a clinical trial." That seemed to be the end of the discussion from his standpoint. My father is on a number of different medications already due to other health problems. However, since Celebrex is an arthritis drug, I thought that perhaps this could do little or no harm if added to his drug regimen. (I could be wrong here too). I also realize that we could probably get Celebrex through another doctor; unfortunately my father didn't really have an internist he liked when he was diagnosed with the recurrence. So one of the reasons that the pulmonologist referred him to this particular oncologist was because he runs a combination internist/oncologist practice. So that cuts that off as a source of Celebrex. If anyone has taken Celebrex with their chemo, I'd like to hear their results. Also given in the large doses that Celebrex is with the chemo, is anyone aware of possible side effects from the Celebrex. Finally, has anyone's oncologist encouraged them to go on Celebrex for "arthritis" so as to avoid liability for prescribing it since it's in clinical trials.
  20. Cathy, I don't have an answer to your question but I'm glad that you asked it because it certainly has been on my mind. My father had a lobectomy in Aug. 2000 and was Stage 1. No further treatment was suggested. Then 2 1/2 years later, he's stage 4. When they "opened him up", the cancer was right on the border where the staples were. Needless to say, I've been wondering if they had removed the whole lung, would he have had a recurrence. He's not David P's age either but his quality of life with 1 lung would most certainly be better than it is today as he is in the midst of his second chemo treatment and feeling pretty miserable. I can also relate to the "almighty" oncologist who doesn't like to be questioned and doctors who don't seem to quite communicate with one another. I'm sorry your Dad got some bad news. I know how hard this is. My prayers and thoughts are with you ! Gail
  21. My Dad had a slight tremor in his hands before the diagnosis of lc. It was deemed non-essential which means it's basically old age (for him) by the neurologist. However, now he has to take dexadron before chemo to lessen the chances of an allergic reaction. The tremor has certainly worsened and we think it's from the dexadron, perhaps the chemo. It seemed to lessen somewhat as he got near the end of the chemo round but has increased again since he had his second chemo round. Of course, the oncologist hasn't much to say about it.
  22. Many thoughts and prayers are being sent your way!
  23. Shelly My Dad deals with a lot of phlegm. He recently developed dysphagia which is a swallowing disorder. It began about 6 months ago -- he coughed up a lot of phlegm shortly after eating. Then he had his lung surgery in May. About 10 days after the surgery, he could barely swallow anything. The theory is that he was developing this disease (dysphagia) and then had the operation which weakened him so much that the full fledged dysphagia was finally able to "take hold." Anyhow, a modified barium swallow was given to him and that showed the difficulties. He's on a very restricted diet of foods that he can eat since they were able to test the consistencies of solids and liquids during the barium swallow to see which he could best handle. This is just what a patient receiving chemo does not need. Anyhow, Shelly, I hope your Mom's phlegm is due to something entirely different and is temporary. If you have anymore questions in the future about dysphagia, let me know.
  24. Carol Your post took my breath away. You were so assertive and got results. Go Girl!!! I am not a particularly assertive person either as you'll see in the "PM" I sent you. But I am coming to more and more realize that you need to be or you can well get "lost" in the shuffle. It's unfortunate that each lc patient seems to need an advocate but they sure do. Anyhow, Carol, you did a wonderful job there --- got eight docs together at once!!! I'm just so sorry that you had to do it --- How lucky Gene is to have you at his side and I know from reading your posts you feel just as lucky to have Gene at your side. Hope you two get a good rest -- sounds like you both need it. Prayers and thoughts are wtih you. Gail
  25. Tracy I'm glad to hear your father's treatments are underway. Perhaps he has turned a corner in his willingness to "fight". I think one of the hardest parts for my Dad was waiting for treatment to begin. You know there's this awful thing in you that's growing and you want to be doing something about it. Yet, you have to wait until the doctors do what tests they deem necessary and then finally -- you're given the chemo/radiation and you can start "striking back" at the monster. So perhaps your Dad and Mom have their spirits up because they finally have the weapons to fight with. (Hope this makes sense; sometimes I don't express myself as well as others on this board) Anyhow, Tracy, thinking of you and hope you're Dad keeps up his spirits. Gail
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