wendyr

Hi Aaron, I take a product called phenocane, it's curcumin plus other ingredients that is good for inflammation. I take 1000mg daily & have been able to get off vicodin which I have used for 4 yrs for chronic back pain. Maurice tried it for a little while & thought he noticed an improvement but then his pain increased & he quit taking it. See the article 'Curry' in the Alternative section. wendyr

Hi Aaron, I guess you've been warned not to take nsaids because of the potential bleeding with avastin. Tylenol & tylenol based products are ok (vicodin). Maurice believes his pain to be treatment related as he has no mets outside the right lung yet his neck, shoulders, back, hip & knees all hurt. It seems like the treatment is really kicking up existing arthritis pain & he can't take a celebrex or anything like that. Let us know if you find anything that works. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Hi Aaron, not much help from here. Maurice is in constant pain & the onc doesn't understand it. He has no mets to the bones. It's like all his arthritis has been aggravated ten times plus while on the tarceva/avastin/placebo. He's now up to 20mg oxycontin every 8 hrs plus ultram 100mg every 4 hours & that doesn't even get it. Since last Thursdays infusion he's spent most days in the bed. Pain real bad, diarhea real bad.No appetite. If you're able to find any solution please let me know. Good Luck & God Bless wendyr

What Great News !!! Congratulations to Tony on his 2yr anniversary & a very Happy Birthday. I'm also giving you lots of credit for all the TLC you've given him. Good Luck & God Bless. wendy

Hi Don: Maurice is in a trial with tarceva & avastin/placebo. We don't know for sure if he's getting the avastin but he's experiencing all the side effects of it, joint pain, muscle aches etc so we're reasonably sure he's on it. After 6 weeks the ct showed some minor shrinkage, last week's scan showed stable. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Flowergirlie: I can't add anything to what's already been posted. You're going through hell & it is very unfair. I've read most of your posts & what I see is a very brave, strong woman who has done her absolute best for the man she loves. This disease is brutal. It changes everything and everyone and I hate it. Prayers for peace & strength. God Bless wendy

DUH........didn't get any of them wendy

Loretta: I understand your pain & am so sorry you have to go through this. It's very, very hard. Please do whatever it is you need to do in order to feel better. Sob, cry, vent, pray, whatever it takes. This is a difficult time & I'm praying for strength & peace for you and your dear husband. God Bless wendy

Pain meds can do it. My mother was seeing butterflies everywhere. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Max, I'm so very, very sorry to hear of your husbands passing. Sending prayers for you and your family through this difficult time. God Bless wendy

Hi Tanner: Maurice went into the Tarceva & Avastin/placebo trial on Dec 28/06. After just 6 wks there was some minor shrinkage & we were ecstatic. Today we got the results of Mondays scan & everything is stable. No shrinkage, but no progression either. I have tried to find out every which way I can to find out if he's getting the Avastin but nobody will tell me anything. If you are able to find out if Karen is getting Avastin, please let me know. We were told at the beginning of the trial that if his cancer progressed he would be taken out of the trial & put on 3rd line treatment. Keep the faith. Good Luck & God Bless. wendy

Hi Tanner: First I'm glad you finally sprung Karen from the hospital. I'm sure everyone feels better about that. Don't be too quick to write off Tarceva. It's true that it doesn't work for everyone but there are other chemos out there. Did she ever go on the Avastin or was that ruled out because of the brain? As you read the profiles you'll see lots of other chemos. Some doctors have to try a few different combinations before they hit on the right one, and there are always clinical trials. I understand this is a scary time for you all and my thoughts and prayers are with you. Good Luck & God Bless

Don, my best guess would be the Blarney Stone !!! wendy

Wonderful news wendy

Hi Aaron: I think most of the better probiotics need refrigeration. I take Healthy Trinity & it has to be refrigerated wendy

Hi Aaron: my husband is presently on Tarceva & is experiencing increased diarrhea. He takes Lomotil pills, 2.5mg which he's used since colon cancer surgery 14 yrs ago. He was worried about using too many & having them lose effectiveness but his onc said ok to take up to 8 per day. Oral antibiotics can exacerbate (sp?) diarrhea & wipe out good bacteria in the gut. Maurice uses a topical solution, Clindamycin Phosphate & it keeps the rash under control without messing up his gut. Hope this helps. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Heather, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers for peace & strength. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Hi Moogy: so sorry to hear of Papa's bad news. First of all my husband is on medicare & we have never had a problem with them paying for his treatment.We go to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando,a satellite of the Houston facility,and 180 miles round trip from where we live. We took the back seats out of the mini van & made up a bed & I just haul him over there that way. You don't say what part of Texas you're in but if there is a major cancer center near you, like MD Anderson in Houston, give them a call. They're straight shooters & will tell you what you need to do. Get an appointment with them so that their specialists can check out Papa and give you their opinion as to what the course of treatment should be. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Missy, I am so sad reading this. Sending prayers for peace & strength. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

Sorry to hear about the increased pain, BUT...all the more reason to get that second opinion with an oncologist. Primaries are too scared to prescribe adequate pain relief, oncologists know how to handle pain and an anti depressant might be useful at this point too. Good Luck & God Bless wendy

great !!! I too want to meet her wendy

Stable is great !!! wendy

Hi Peggy: Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to but we're glad you found us. There will be a wealth of info & support for you here. So sorry to hear of your Mom's diagnosis and the fact that her dr doesn't want to be pro-active. The main question is 'what does SHE want?' If she wants to seek treatment then try to get her in a comprehensive cancer center for at least a 2nd opinion (see our profile)

Hi Ann: March 17 will always be a special day for you even though you'll be sharing it in your heart with Dennis. It's wonderful that your sons are so sensitive & supportive. Prayers for strength & peace. wendy

Hi Barb: I would try to be more specific with your radiation dr & your oncologist. You need magic mouthwash. It is a prescription that the pharmacist compounds up. It's made of Mylanta, Lidocaine and Benadryl. If thrush is in the mouth then nystatin can also be added to the mouthwash. Use the mouthwash immediately before eating. It helps numb the mouth & upper GI tract & helps swallowing. Good Luck & God Bless wendy