needhope

PRAISE GOD! Your testimony is truly inspiring. Sincerely, Needhope

My dad was apprehensive as well. He has been doing okay. He hasn't had any vomiting and only experienced a little nausea. His appetite hasn't gone anywhere (you should've seen his plate at Christmas dinner ). He is also on taxotere and avastin. Hope this helps. Sincerely, Needhope

Hi Flo, You have found a great support community. My dad was diagnosed almost two months ago and has started his first treatment (carbo/taxotere/avastin). He's doing okay and has maintained his appetite. We live in the Atlanta area as well . Where is your husband being treated? It has been a difficult time for us to say the least and it would be wonderful to know that there is someone in the area that we could compare notes with. Keep in touch. Sincerely, Needhope

Your family is in my prayers. Stay Strong. Sincerely, Needhope

I can soooo relate to your post. I was in the mall today Christmas shopping and watching the fathers with their families and it hit me really hard. I also become sad sometimes when I see grandfathers with their grandchildren and wonder sometimes will my dad be around to see his first grandchild. I would give anything to go back to the way our lives were before. Things that worried me in the past seem so trivial and utterly stupid now. I've been praying to God to let things go back to the way they were and I will never be ungrateful enough to complain about little insignificant things again. Needhope

My dad was put on Neulasta from the beginning, I guess as a precautionary measure. They held off on the Procrit shot because his red blood cell count was okay. I am glad. So far he hasn't had any major side effects except for some nausea and his hair thinning out. Needhope

My father was given a bronchoscopy and was told that it was negative. We all thanked God and thought it was over. Six months later, he woke up to find the left side of his neck swollen. We then discovered after a biopsy that the shadow on his lungs was in fact cancer and now it had spread throughout the lymph nodes and mediastinum . It's good that your loved one's doctor is doing a biopsy right away. I wish we would have gotten one. When they did a scan of my dad's chest they at first thought it was lymphoma but rulled it out after the biopsy and said it was adenocarcinoma. Yet, they still do not know where the primary tumor is, so they are treating it like lung cancer. I know that a diagnosis can be frightening enough as it is but when there are questions still in the air, it is even more frustrating. I would post a question on Dr. West's website onctalk.com and ask any questions you may have. He is pretty prompt with his responses. I hope everything works out. Sincerely, Needhope

Thanks for the responses. I am going to go with my dad to the doctor during my Christmas break and try to talk to him then. I guess I have to corner him.

My dad received chemo yesterday and was told last week that yesterday would be a full day and that he would be able to talk to the oncologist. I was anticipating this meeting so that my dad could ask him about taking certain supplements. Well, my dad arrived yesterday to take his chemo but had to meet with the nurse practitioner instead of the doctor (who by the way told him to lay off supplements for now). His oncologist passes through the treatment room sometimes while my dad and the other patients receive their treatments but he doesn't stop to talk or see how they or doing. He just brisks through like he is too busy. My dad has not sat down with him since 11/16 and will not see him again until 1/8. Is this normal?? Maybe I am overeacting but I don't feel confident that he is doing all that he possibly can to fight this disease. How do I know if he is treating it aggressively (maximum dosage possible) or just giving my dad palliative care ? My dad is in the middle of his cycle so we are stuck for now. Hopefully, things will work out. Thanks for letting me vent. Needhope

Hi Sue, This is a great site with many resources and lots of survivor stories that will give you hope. Best of luck to you and your partner, Needhope

Welcome, My father is going through his first cycle of chemo as we speak and it is undoubtedly a scary thing. However, you have found an excellent support group with many people who are defying the odds. Keep the faith, Needhope

This is great info. Thanks!

Hello Everyone, I am trying to comprise a list of probable supplements/foods for my dad but there are just so many that I don't know what is good and what is hogwash. I need your help. What is your opinion on any of the following? Have you had good experiences with either?: CoQ10 Melatonin AHCC Goji Juice (or berries, which one is better) Xango Juice Noni Juice Envira Vibe Green Tea (what brand do you use) Vitamin Shoppe's Nutri-100 Ellagic Acid and Graviola Maitake Mushroom Cellular Zeolite Oxy E Immunopower Poly-VMA Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!

My dad is beginning his first cycle of carbo/taxoter/avastin and so far so good. He has had little side effects as well. Let's keep praying. Needhope

Thanks for the replies. My dad said its not a constant pain. So hopefully, it is not the worst case scenario. He still has a good appetite and is getting around fairly well. From reading his pathology report, his chest is full of it (cancer ) so I am thankful that he is doing okay.

"My mom also said that she always knew if a chemo was going to work, because she could feel something happening in her chest within the first hour or so." This statment just made my day. My dad said that he felt rumbling in his chest after he started with the carbo/taxotere combo. Thanks.

That's wonderful!! Congratulations. You are such an inspiration.

My dad started chemo a few weeks ago. He was given carbo and taxotere on Nov. 20 and a Nuelasta shot the next day. He did not take another chemo drug until yesterday 12/4 which was the Avastin shot and nothing else. Since yesterday he has been expereiencing pain in the right side of his neck and chest. He has cancer in both lungs and mediastinum. Could the source of the pain be that the cancer has spread or am I jumping to conclusions? I've read about mets to the liver and brain. Has anyone had mets to their neck? I am not familiar with how cycles are usually done. Right now his meds seem so spaced out that I am scared that there is not enough being done. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I'm keeping your family in my prayers.

I love your postive attitude. May you have a wonderful Chritmas.

My father starts taking Avastin today. I'll let you know how it goes.

Update: Well I spoke to my dad later this evening. The problem reappeared this morning but wasn't present throughout the rest of the day. He did have an increase in blood pressure and heart pulse so he has been taking it easy most of the day. He's going to call his onc tomorrow.

Thanks for your responses. I am praying for the best.

Thanks for the information. I have been researching Xango and Goji and its benefits to see if they would be beneficial for my dad.

Hello Everyone, My dad discovered blood in his stool this morning. He called the onc who wasn't in his office and spoke to the nurse who said to monitor it and if the problem continues they will bring him in for a check-up. Later on today he said that everything looked okay. Has anyone else experienced this or know someone who has? Thanks.