mary colleen

Rochelle, You have been though a series of seriously disorienting events recently, and at an age when most of us are not at all prepared for them. You've been wounded, and will need to heal. That will take time, and there will be pain. I think that your sleep issues are perfectly normal, under the circumstances. I wouldn't expect anything different. It must feel as though a nuclear bomb has detonated in your life. I'll bet that it feels almost surreal to you to be back in your environment, and preparing to simply pick up your old routine as if nothing has happened. I know that you live alone, but you need someone to talk with and be with. Do you have any close friends around you? How about seeing someone to talk with regularly for a while, maybe through a campus health service? I think you need that. Others may disagree with me on this one, but I also think that it would be worth getting a prescription to help you sleep. I think such help is perfectly appropriate under these conditions, and I think good sleep is an advantage that you will need to deal with the coping that you will be moving though. Hang in there, dear. You're not alone. Please post tomorrow and let us know how you are doing - everyone cares. Mary Colleen

I travel internationally a lot for my job, and would say that the under funding is pretty much global.

Cheryl, Don is 100% correct. The physical things will happen whether you are there or not. Just do what you can when you are there, and continue to be the blessing that you are. MC

Terry, I'n glad you're doing ok. My husband has found that working about 4 days weekly, and some weeks 3 days (if not feeling too well) is about right. Keep an open mind as this moves forward about how much you can work, and be flexible with yourself when it is just not feasible. Thanks for keeping us posted. Mary Colleen

You have my prayers, and the hope that you somehow get a nap this weekend! I know that this is so hard.

Lorna, I also have no answers - my experience is not with SCLC. Still, I am glad you are here, and know that others will weigh in with good information for you, so keep checking. You have had a rough several months, and I hope that you have support yourself. You'll be in my thoughts!

Hate to be redundant, but I am with Ztweb and Maryanne...the legs woud be shaved, the toenails painted, and the house would be SO orderly. MC

Dr. West - Thank you! I do understand the "never say never" part, but still greatly appreciate the clarification of probability. I think the specter of chemo ending and upcoming scans just began to overwhelm me. Thanks!

I just received the original radiology reports dating back to 9/06 from the scans done during mu husband's diagnostic period. (I'm embarrased to say that I didn't understand before joining this board that I could ask for them...) There is mention on the CAT and PET reports of a 2 cm adrenal mass and a 1 cm liver lesion. The adrenal mass is noted as "probably a benign adenoma", and the liver mass as probably being a benign cyst, but that "an ultrasound would be needed to investigate further" (there was no ultrasound.) There was no increased uptake at these sites. I knew all of this back at the time it happened, but I had somehow forgotten it. As we get close to the end of my husband's chemo this month, and thus close to new scans, this is worrying me a little bit. I know that benign masses probably exist in most people, but I guess I'm concerned that these will suddenly show malignancy in upcoming scans. Is it at all common for masses in common metastatic sites to appear to be benign in scans, then later show as mets? Thanks

Wow - congratulations! Your story is inspiring for me!

Jill, I ran into the Issels website early in my husband's diagnostic process. Issels has a detailed website at www.Issels.Com. It is an immunotherapy based concept/treatment with a holistic bent, integrating nutrition, spirituality, emotional support, etc. They have a lot of case studies on their website, but those seemed antecdotal to me. They have a statistics link on their site, but I found those statistics hard to get my hands around, and a litte bit vague for a number of reasons. I am just speaking for myself here. Hope you can get the information you are seeking off of their website!

Barb, glad you are feeling better. Everyone gets to have their moments - I have mine as well. We have something in common...I forgot the live chat was tonight, too. I haven't known what day of the week it was since approximately Thanksgiving!

Hi Kim, and welcome! You will find good assistance and knowledge here. As Bill mentioned, if you can give us some detail on your Dads condition and treatment to date, people here will be able to help you more. Again, welcome, and looking forward to getting to know you. Mary Colleen

I won't say it if you won't say it! We absolutely all have our demons to struggle with, and I think all of us are familiar with repeated broken promises to ourselves. Maybe that phase is actually sometimes the foundational work for the results phase. Keep at it.

Rochelle, I think you're a kind and loving daughter. It simply shines through in all of your posts. You have some regrets, but moms do understand that very young adults are still developing and maturing and that the relationship will not be perfect at those stages. I have kids in your age group, and I know that to be true. It doesn't alter the love deep down inside. Everyone here has made excellent points, and I think that it's important for you to realize that your relationship with your Mom is not over. She sees you and knows you, and you can talk to her, as Randy suggested. Please don't be hard on yourself - just continue to make your Mom proud, and continue to grow as the the compassionate person that you've already begun to become. I will continue to think of you and pray for you and your brothers.

Bobby, I'm impressed that you've made it this far. Congratulations! Bill, good luck on your continued efforts.

Wow - this makes the current staging system look likd of rudimentary.

Barb, I know that you are at a low point, and as a newcomer, non-patient, and outsider, I still have the nerve to say that I understand that to some degree. I don't know a lot, but I'm sure that you used intelligence and logic in deciding your course of treatment, no matter how much fear was involved. Your tumor was unusually large, and it called for a full plan of attack...which you launched. Good for you, because you are still with us! My little vote is that you hang in there and wait for a better day; you will attack these current issues as the survivor and fighter that you clearly are. Hang in! Mary Colleen

Trish, this is so hard for you. Please stay with us and let us support you.

Sarah - words fail me. I'll bet your Mom is hearing your words and is so proud.

Well.... medicine, chauffering, housekeeping, cooking, therapy, research, adolescent psychiatry, yard maintenance, finance, cheerleading, sleep deprivation studies.....any of them:)

Lilly, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time! Hang in there!

Thanks Heather, My husbands liver enzymes have been elevated throughout chemo as well. I researched it a while back, and saw that it is a potential side effect of both of his chemo drugs. Howevever, I also went back in his medical records, and saw that his liver enzymes were somewhat elevated even before he began treatment, so I've never been sure what to make of that. mc

My husband went in for chemo yesterday, and was able to receive it. His blood counts are not all within normal range, but they have improved. He will have three more shots this week in order to keep his blood counts up. The PA asked him about his shortness of breath, and asked the oncologist to see him while he was there due to the SOB. The oncologist spoke with him and wanted to do a CAT scan to check things out, but my husband declined. My husband is reasoning that the SOB is the result of his having stopped exercising since starting chemo. I have been thinking that it was related to the low RBC. I was surprised that the Onc wanted to do a CAT scan at this point. I wasn't surprised that my husband declined it - it's his nature to be kind of oppositional. Hopefully, this will all improve soon. There are only two more chemo treatments to go, and I assume that there will be scans after chemo ends as a matter of routine.

Sarah, I am so sorry that you've lost your Mom. You've had one of the most beautiful experiences a person can have. I hope that in the future, that fact comforts you greatly. Mary Colleen