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Chesney, This year has been difficult in so many ways. I've found that dealing with the cancer has taken its toll in odd ways. For example for much of this year I have done what was necessary to function at work and in the organizations I belong to, but on the weekends I would go into my house on Friday and not come out again until Monday morning. I cry at the drop of a hat and I find myself wanting to avoid anything unpleasant because so much of what I've been dealing with had been unpleasant. This journey cannot help but have a profound impact on you. It isn't a bad thing to feel sad and angry and frightened. Let us help you. Susan

Barb, While normally I think the patient should make the decisions about treatment options, it may be time for you to do what you think is best for your husband and for you. Don't forget that you need support at this time too. Susan

Welcome Dick, I think everything you are experiencing is, unfortunately, part of what becomes the "new normal." Depression, anger, denial are all something that most cancer survivors work through at one time or another. I know I've seen my mom go through all of them in the past 10 months. I'm glad you found us here, we will stand with you through this journey. Susan

David, I am so sorry. I will keep you in my prayers. Susan

Lung Cancer Awareness Month By the Governor of the State of Alabama A Proclamation November 13, 2007 WHEREAS, Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States; and WHEREAS, Lung cancer takes the lives of more Americans each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney cancers combined; and WHEREAS, former smokers and people who have never smoked comprise the majority of new cases of lung cancer each year; and WHEREAS, seventy percent of new lung cancer cases will be diagnosed at late stage, with a fifteen percent five year survival rate; and WHEREAS, early lung cancer diagnosis and management protocols exist, yet have not been embraced as the standard of care; and WHEREAS, funding for lung cancer research falls far short of that for other less fatal diseases; and NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim November 2007, as Lung Cancer Awareness Month in the State of Alabama and urge all citizens of our State to do all we can to make lung cancer a national public health priority and offer compassion to people with lung cancer. Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 13th day of November 2007. Governor Bob Riley http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr ... cancer.asp

A new baby--how wonderful! So what if you break down? The major milestones of life deserve some tears, I think. Some tears of joy, some of sadness and you are fully embraced in the great circle of life. Your mom will be there and she will know. She already knows this baby and will be a very special guardian angel! ((((Hugs)))) Susan

Leslie and Adrian, Thank you for sharing your father's final journey. I already knew he was an amazing man from your love and devotion to him--reading his tribute page only strengthened that knowledge. I hope you can take comfort in knowing that he will live not only in you, but in the cntinued work of his students, and their students, etc. It's a magnificant legacy. Susan

Good luck with the radiation treatments! Susan

Welcome to the site. Your dad has had a lot to deal with. I hope the current treatment will help. My mom got good results with Carbo/Taxol. Susan

Hi Susan and welcome! You have found a very supportive community of people who have been touched by this disease. Your friend is fortunate to have you! Susan

It's normal not to want to see the people we love suffer just as it is normal to want them to survive. I think your granny is lucky to have you with her. You can't control the rest of your family, but you can be there for her. I will say a prayer for your grandmother and for you. Susan

Great news!!!!! You've got a lot of reasons to be optimistic. So glad to hear it hasn't spread! Susan

Wow Jerry, thanks for sharing your story. I'm originally from NC--my family is in Wilmington and I have a niece at State. Susan

Debbie, You certainly have come to the right place to talk to folks about LC. The folks on this board are generous about sharing their knowledge and support. Welcome! Susan

Karen, I'l thinking about you. You do what is right and don't worry about what others think. Easier said than done I know, but in the end you won't please everyone no matter what you do, so you need the knowledge that you did the right thing to be your comfort. Susan

Aaron, Sending prayers your way that the WBR is the "blast" you need! Susan

I'm so sorry. I will keep you in my prayers. Susan

I just got an email notice from Livestrong asking me to write a letter to my representative asking them to vote "yes" tomorrow on a bill that will increase funding for cancer research. They, of course, have letters thoughtfully written, but you can edit them so I did to make the case for an increase in the funding for all cancer research but ESPECIALLY Lung Cancer research! If you go to www.livestrong.org and join the Livestrong Army they will tell you who your representatives are and you can send your own letter. Susan

Dr. West has a very good article on his site about the pink robbon/clear ribbon issue. Since November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I wrote the following letter to the editor and am inviting anyone who wishes to cute and paste and send to their local newspapers over their signature. I want to add that I don't mean this to slight focus on treatment for men with lung cancer. But I think most people, when they think of LC, they think of it as a man's disease and they need to start thinking of it as a women's disease too. Besides anything that will rasie awareness and lead to more money for research and treatment will help all! Susan Dear Editor, Now that October had passed and the pink ribbons have been put away for another year, it's time to turn our attention to the most deadly cancer for women: lung cancer. In 2007 the American Cancer Society estimates that 101,000 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer and a little more than 70,000 will die of it. That is more women than will die of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined. Yet while the federal government spends more than $23,000 per death each year on breast cancer research, only $1,800 is spent per death is devoted to lung cancer research. My question is this: If lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, why is so little money devoted to researching effective lung cancer treatments? The simple truth is that there is a stigma attached to lung cancer. Because it is so closely associated with smoking, there is an assumption that lung cancer victims are responsible for their own illnesses. While the argument can be made that there are a variety of lifestyle choices that contribute to all kinds of cancers, lung cancer victims seem to be particularly singled out for theirs. But even if that were a valid reason (and it’s not) for shortchanging lung cancer research, it can’t account for the growing numbers of nonsmoking women who are being diagnosed with lung cancer. Current studies estimate that 1 in 5 women with lung cancer have never smoked and that number is growing at a rate faster than that for men and for smokers. It’s time to add lung cancer to the list of women’s cancers. We need ribbons and walks and, most importantly, we need funding. I’m grateful for the work that has been done to help treat women’s cancers. In a very real sense, research on a particular cancer adds to the body of knowledge on all cancers. Lung cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat effectively. If we can develop the treatments to beat lung cancer, we will take a much larger step towards winning the war against cancer once and for all.

Adrian and Leslie, I am so very sorry. Susan

They stopped my Mom's chemo at 4 cycles. Because I read Dr. West's srticle about 4-6 cycles being the optimum length I was ok with that decision. Mom has been off chemo for 6 months and it has been wonderful. Right afterwards I'm not sure she would have been game to do chemo again. But she told me a couple of weeks ago that if becomes necessary she will do it again. The break can be a very good thing--I hope it is for your mom! Susan

Mary Colleen, I will pray for peace for your husband. It's hard, I know. After my father's stroke my dad became emotional. It's hard to watch that happen to our strong menfolks. Susan

How beautiful. My thoughts and prayers are with Rochelle and the children. Susan

I'm remembering my Uncle Reese and Aunt Louise who both left us this past year. My sister-in-law's father who passed away from LC in February. My cousins Ann Marie and Amy who also passed away in the apring. And everyone we've lost to this horrid disease. Especially our newest Saint--John. Susan

I had to smile when I read about the activities director seeing "so much more energy" since you showed up. That's the way I think of you--energetic and ready for the next adverture. I'm glad you got that special Halloween with Johnny. I wish there could have been many more for the two of you, but what's that quote from Steele Magnolias? "I'm rather have thirty minutes of wonderful, than a lifetime of nothing special." I see the "wonderful" in the relationship you had with Johnny every time you write about it. Susan