Gina D.

David C ~ Don't worry about the dogs howling! I have 2 Beagles, it's music to my ears. I do not believe in bringing the whole world in on my worries if there is a question. I have had 2 cancers now, and I did the same for both. I let the man in my life know what was going on from the begining so I would have a little help with the worry, but I never let on to my family until it was a "for sure" thing and a plan of treatment was in the works. That "man" ran for the hills with this last one..a whole other pain, but if it happens again, this cancer thing, I will lean on you folks if needed, OK?

No I am afraid I haven't! Sounds interesting tho, I'd like to hear it. He has a good point there

WELL is good! Welcome home!

I have just had a big scare. For the past week + I have had moderate to severe chest pain, in the same spot..a "burning lump" kind of feel. This is accompanied with back pain and pain under the shoulder blade. I also have had some back pain and a slight bloody nose, and I can't get rid of bronchitis. All this accompanied by a sudden increase in my shortness of breath triggers. My pulinary doc immediately scheduled a chest XRay and blood work when I reoprted this to him last week. Today my GP gave me the good/bad news. She was great, the very first thing she said was "The cancer is not back, don't worry" There is NED on either the film or indicated by the bloodwork. She determined my pain is topical, a stress and diseased cartlidge between my upper ribs where they meet my breastbone, and an inflamed muscle in my shoulder and neck. The Xrays did reveal a case of COPD in my LEFT lung (Surgery was on my right) that she feels was caused by smoking, but it could also be blebs. My CT is scheduled in a couple weeks, that will give us more detail. So, with the "lump" I felt, I was sure there was a golf ball sized tumor in there, but there is none, and I guess I need to learn to lift correctly or something Bronchitis and nose..she thinks is allergies as it clears up as soon as I climb up here above the smog belt everyday. I live in the mountains ABOVE LA. I am in a much better mood tonite than I have been, but man..the scare! I still get to have my regulars next month too..double check for this summer. Yay!

So..does this mean he can play the piano now??? Great news!

YEEEEEE HAAAAAAA!!!!

Thank you everyone, and CONGRATS to everyone here who has kicked this ugly habit. It is a tough thing to do, even for the lightest of indulgers. Someone I know said "I may die from smoking, but I won't die a smoker". I feel the same. The damage it has done to all of us, even outside this ugly cancer is unbelievable, and will never go away. I have been stressing for a week or more over some severe pains in my chest and back, + a couple of other issues that were very out of the ordinary for me, even with the surgery. XRays were done, tests were run, and all came back negative for cancer (PHEW!) but showed COPD caused by the years of smoke and the surgery. Why it hasn't shown up before now, they don't know. Chest and back pain were/are topical, also probably caused by the surgery and a disease unrelated to cancer. (I am a middle aged female..what can I say) Even tho the results could be filed in the "Good News" forum, the stress and worry is the bad news that will live with us forever. This is what our weakness has done for us.I am so sorry I ever picked up my first one, and so sorry for the continuation of a habit I knew could cause problems. I just had no idea HOW much. They don't tell you about the emotional damage, only the physical. karen335 ~ I work in Corona and that is my medical group too. Who are your docs and do you like them? My GP is Dr. Leong and I am very happy with her! She is thorough to a fault!

I believe this is called "Clubbing" of the nails and fingers. It is one of the symptoms of the disease, yes. I do not know why it happens, your doc should have explained that to you. A search on google will bring up some good info and pictures tho. I did this awhile back out of curiosity.

Estelle, Iam not so happy to hear of the latest developements, but am VERY happy to hear you have enjoyed the summer and are going for the gusto. One of the things I have learned from this is that life is indeed too short, even if it is long in years. This summer I bought a new car, have gone all over So. California and have been more active in the last 4 months than I have in the last 4 years! Sitting around bonding with a remote control is no way to live. Keep up enjoying. Summer isn't the only time that is allowed! Good luck with the new treatment. As other have said, you got it once, you can do it twice.

Shelly, We will miss you, but are happy that you can now go on with your life relatively free of this thing and all the worries that go with it. Take care and live well. Gina

Wow David! You did great! I wish I could have been on that ferry with you! Thanks for helping get the word out!

> How can you smoke with one lung!! I don't know. Just the thought gives me great pain. BUT, it is a habit that takes you over, a hard one to beat. There were folks in the hospital with me that wandered outside with thier chest tubes and IVs to have a smoke,after having the same or worse surgery as me! I didn't get it, but I don't judge. and thank you for the nice compliment Sue M! EVERYONE here is unique tho.

I used, and am still using, the nicotine mouth inhaler. I have found it to be the easiest way, for me anyway, to stay away from the smokes. I started using 4-5 cartdges a day, now I am down to one, and when my latest batch is gone, thats it. Just a thought for you tracy. These are actually cheaper than cigs, if you buy over the net from another country. I get mine from new Zealand. 1/2 the price of the perscription ones you get here, and are the same thing. Literally.

Today, 9-1-03 marks the first time in my life, since age 10, that I have gone without a ciggy, or even a drag off of one for 6 months. Every other time I have quit (And I know you ex smokers know this one it has been one here, a hit off a friends there, maybe once a month or so. I am so proud of myself, I could just do backflips! OK, Enough gloating. Back to your regularly scheduled lives.

Joanie, I have no words that can ever sooth you at this moment. The loss of a child is something I could only imagine, and that would not even be close. Just rememebr that you are in everyones thoughts at this time. Please accept my sincere sympathies for this loss. Gina D.

I'll take two, and I have a couple non cancer friends that are willing to lie about thier "stage"

at my size of a whopping 32..c, I think, I actually have never worn one of those boobie maidens unless it was appropriate for the attire I was wearing, like a sheer blouse. my breast is still very sensitive, and if Johnny were my hubby, I am afriad he would have the same limitations. The other sensations, they will come and go..some stay for a couple days, some happen just once, others seem to be permanent. If this is the most I have to put up with after this horrid invasion..I feel pretty danged lucky! I got a skeeter bite on my incision a couple days ago tho. Lucky there too..I didn't know it! I could not feel it until it got swollen up..and then I only felt it with my fingers!

OK, I am not a "men" My onc told me just the other day that even tho I didn't REALLY have breast surgery..it was close enough (My incision is in the front, following the lower crease of my right breast) to have all the post surgical pains and problems that just a breast surgery would have caused. My surgeon, on the other hand, bless his little heart, insists I should NOT be having these pains, and he didn't do it! Since it started the day after surgery, I suspect he may have been the culprit tho. What do you think? I want to ask him if I can kick him down "there" and see if it hurts 4 months later, but since he did a pretty darn good job of getting all my ickies outta me, I wouldn't do that to him. Sigh..I can dream tho...

oh my! Thats funny!

WOW! I am so happy to hear this! You keep knocking that bugger back. I wish I had your arm and swing!

Hi judysdaughter. I sincerely hope mom gets throught this surgery and recovery time as best as she can. If she is stg 4 AND working and feeling fine now, I have no doubt she will. Pre strength and good attitude are most of this battle, I believe. Read around the baords here, there are plenty of stories on what to expect about the surgery and recovery from a mechanical point of view. Some go through it relatively easy, considering, and others have had complications. It will be painful, uncomfortable and very emotional for both of you. Seeing her in ICU with all the hook ups will be a shock, and it is gross to look at. Don't let that scare you too much tho, the time there should go shortly. Recovery depends on her, follow the nurses orders, no matter how unsavory or annoying they may be. Cough, walk and do what needs to be done. Use the "Plastic Maiden" (Spirometer) and use it some more. Then use it again. After surgery recovery, which could take months, it's hard to say what to expect. There are long term survivors here on this board that have gone through exactly what she will, and they are doing great. Let us know how the surgery went, please! Thinking of you and wishing you strength..Gina D.

We have the call in, but have not heard back yet. This is kind of typical for this industry, it may take a couple of weeks, but I will keep you all posted.

Anyone else here had one in the past UNRELATED to thier cancer? I had one about 10 years ago, the docs didn't know why, other than I fit the description, for the most part, for who these things happen to. Thin, somewhat athletic, and I was in the latter part of the age range these things happen in. I am not tall, nor am I male, tho that is a typical pattern for this. I was a heavy smoker tho. I had a chest tube for a week and was stuck to the aquarium in the hospital. Was sent home with no other treatment or follow ups. I did quit smoking for over a year. Yeah, Im a dope, I took it up again. One of the things they told me was that the collapse increased my chances of developing lung cancer at the damaged area. This is the same lung that I had my lobectomy on. I realize there is no way to say for sure, but I am curious how much that incident might have contributed to my DX at this time. My docs don't think it did, and they say I am too old for it to happen again. Anyone else have an odd incident like that in thier lives?

Dave, first off, I sure wish I could drive up and see your race and doings. I usually spend this holiday in Seattle for thier arts festival, and do some other wanderings as a vacation (I am from the Northwest, Portland, but live in So. Cal now) Anyway..this year has been hectic for me and I won't be doing that trip in 2003. Anyway...I have asked this very question of ALL my docs. Thier answer is unanimous for stage 1a patients that have had surgery. They say *most* have gone on to live normal lengthed, long and reasonably happy lives, outside of the stigma we all share, and are still around after 20 years or more. My onc says he actually can't tell how long a lot have lived, or are still living, because after 10 years, they usually stop seeing him. His older 1a patients that have passed away usually do so for other reasons, and he mentions that the stats don't take that into consideration. A 70 year old DXed with stage 1a cancer is more likely to die of some other age related issue, but because they have the "cancer" tag, they seem to get lumped into that group for the 5, 10 year stats. Makes sense to me. I do stats at work and KNOW how they can be manipulated and misleading sometimes. They are just #s. Perhaps a poll of your docs might give you some more ammo, and maybe his/her long term survivors would be willing to come out of the closet and help you with the cold facts. Just a thought.

Yes, the lack of fluff was eerie, but also appreciated. Rememebr what he said as he was outside leaning agianst the pole trying to hide his ciggy. "I think it's a sin to not want to live". He does... but has accepted the inevitable with grace and class and most of all..as you said, on his own terms. BTW..I love what he said to the reporter when it was obvious the smoking thing was being questioned. I wish I had that many Cojones'. I must admit, I'd probably do the same thing. I haven't smoked in MONTHS. He quit YEARS ago. Let me check with our A&R guy at work today. We are constantly doing promotional things and charity events with VH1. I may be able to get a copy of the show. I should have taped it, but it never crossed my mind (Doh!) and if I get copies I can distribute to folks here that would like to see it.