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fight

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Posts posted by fight

    Hi. Long "venty" introduction, sorry.

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome Vivian,

    I'm so sorry your aunt is going through this....after already losing so much to cancer. It is a difficult journey. My brother-in-law died from cancer 5 years ago and my sister died in a car accident 4 years ago and then my mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 3 years ago. When my cancer was diagnosed I thought that there was surely some kind of mistake. Some families have to endure so much heart ache. Take heart--there is much hope here. Offer to go to the appointments with your aunt. As much as she wants to shield you from all this she needs to have some support right now. Vivian, make sure you take care of yourself too. It sounds like you have always been in the caretaker role. Make sure you take time for yourself. Come back with questions and take care.

    Rachel

    Finally decided to intorduce ourselves,

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome JB and Coleen,

    I second that emotion...cancer sucks! I totally understand where you are coming from. Being diagnosed at such a young age is hard. All the women I see at my local support group have at least 30-40 years on me and while they are a God send they don't quite understand how it is trying to raise a family and deal with all this at the same time. Sometimes it's just too much to take. Come here with any questions and most of all come here to vent when you need to. I'm also on Tarceva and hope I can be on it a very long time....I'm wishing the same for your wife!

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Tarceva and Hair Loss?

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hebbie,

    I haven't experienced significant hair loss but my hair sure is thin. I call it "Grandma hair". I must say that I am just happy to have hair. Sorry I don't think I helped but wanted to put in my two cents!

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Shoulder Pain as LC Symptom

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    I don't remember ever having shoulder pain before diagnosis but when I started chemo I started to have some pain in my right shoulder that would come and go. I still have the pain on and off but it isn't anything severe but mostly a muscle pain. I have had several shoulder films to look at it but there is never anything to be concerned with. My theory is that the pain comes from the pleural effusion I have?

    Rachel

    Glad I found this place...

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Dawn,

    You will find a lot of hope here and I'm glad you found us. The initial diagnosis is so hard to hear but many of us are doing well. I was diagnosed one year ago and here I am still feeling good and living life to the fullest. Take heart in the fact that there are so many here who understand what you are going through. Come here with any questions and I will put in a prayer for your dear mom.

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Update

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hello All,

    I went to see the specialist last Wed. and had a chest x-ray to monitor the fluid on my right lung and to see if the Tarceva is working. The fluid is still there but appears to be stable. My left lung looks good and has no fluid on it. THANK GOD! My oxygen level is normal and overall I'm feeling pretty good. My doctor explained that Tarceva will shrink cancer in about 10% of people who take it and will stabilize the cancer in about 40% of patients. The other 50% it doesn't work for at all. He says that it looks like I'm in the 40% group that it stabilizes. I'm okay with that. I will take stability any day of the week. My husband was disappointed. He was wanting to see some shrinkage and was a little bit down after the visit. But, with this thick skin I developed over the last year I told him that we need to be happy with this news and to make each day count. No one knows what the future holds. We have to live in the moment. I'm enjoying this moment and praying that the cancer stays quiet for a long time. Today is my 35th birthday! Last year on my birthday I had a thorocentesis and was wondering if I would make it to my next birthday. I'm so thankful I'm feeling good and still enjoying life. My husband and I are going out to dinner tonight and tomorrow some of my friends are having a party for me. Those beautiful moments just keep stacking up........

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    365 days later........

    in HOPE

    Posted

    Hello All,

    Exactly one year ago today I was told "Theres a malignancy there." Many tests and scans later I found out it was lung cancer. In a way It seems like it has been such a long time since I heard those words and in other ways I can re-live the diagnosis just like it was yesterday. I feel thankful that I'm am still here and especially thankful that I have spent so much quality time with my family. I don't know what the future might hold for me but I'm enjoying every minute of this beautiful fall in Colorado. Tomorrow I meet with the specialist to determine whether the Tarceva is working or not? I've been praying a lot and have tried to turn over all the worry to God. Please send some extra prayers up for me. I will keep you all posted.

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Chemo Again:(

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Lilly,

    Hugs to you. That is so disappointing. I have to go in next week to determine how the Tarceva is working for me. I'm just hoping that it's working. I don't have any advice on Alimta but will be praying that it will do the trick.

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    I saw the docs 9-17

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Don,

    I really admire how you always have all your options researched and you don't waffle on what treatment you want to happen next. You a real take charge kind of a guy. Good for you! As always it sounds like you have good plan in place and are ready to fight whatever might come next. I know that you will prevail!

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Angry!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Ned,

    Thank you for your very honest post. You are a very good writer. I admire how candid you were and especially admire you for being at peace with having this disease. I strive for getting to that peaceful place someday. As Jamie reminded me and something I try to do everyday is enjoy all those little things that so many people take for granted. I will keep on Keepin'on because quitting is not a luxury I have. I hope your scan is stable and you can continue with Avastin.

    Take Care,

    Rachel

    Angry!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Thank you all for your words of encouragement and understanding. It's a rough road we are on and sometimes I fall and I need someone to pick me up. Thank you Jamie for your wonderful words...so true about the hugs from your kids and all the everyday things that have taken on such greater meaning. I'm feeling a little bit better this morning. I went to volunteer in my daughters pre-school this morning and being around all those little ones had to make me smile. Hugs to all of you.

    Rachel

    Angry!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hello All,

    I am so angry right now and I'm not even quite sure what brought it on. Tonight my husband and I went to a Boy scout meeting with my son. I have been feeling good so I went. Over the course of the evening I started to feel some nausea but thought it was maybe from skipping dinner. But then my mind starts to work overtime. Is it from skipping dinner or is it the medication or is this stupid cancer. I hate this disease. I see all the "normal" moms enjoying the evening and it makes me angry. Angry that I don't know if I'm going to be here to see the next years calendar of events that they passed out tonight. I look at my son's beautiful face with his front tooth missing and I wonder what would happen to him if I weren't here? I'm Angry that my husband and I have always planned on growing old together. Next week is going to our 13 year anniversary. It used to seem like a long time to be married but now I want so much more. I try not to let the anger consume me but I will tell you what...some moments I just have to rage. The tears are flowing as I write and I must say I'm starting to feel a little bit better. It helps so much to come to a place where so many others understand. I'm going to bed now and hopefully wake up with an attitude adjustment in the morning.

    Take Care,

    Rachel

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