fillise
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Posts posted by fillise
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Ronnie,
I'm so sorry. I hope that it will give you some peace to know that Pat and her beloved pet are together again. I can only imagine how hard this is for you since not only was the jackal a companian for you but also a connection to Pat.
((((Ronnie))))
Susan
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Eric,
Glad to hear that things are finally moving forward. With a plan of attack in place you will feel like you are fighting!
Susan
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I am so sorry to hear about your friend. LC is always stressful, but to be pregnant and diagnosed with it is beyond awful. Let us know how we can help.
Susan
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Jussi--Congratulations on this wonderful milestone! I think you deserve a big cake to celebrate!!!!
Susan
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Thanks everyone. It is so comforting to come here where people really understand.
I talked with my father last night while my mom was at a book club meeting (so she still feels up to doing some things). He told me that she thinks she is dying. She tries to be cheerful when I call, but I can tell she is somewhat depressed. I wish I could be there to go to the doctor with her on Friday. I do send her questions and information I find here and through GRACE to take to her oncologist.
Thanks for listening. It's great to have someone who understands.
Susan
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((((Ronnie))))
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Annette--Conmgratulations on the good news! Glad you are feeling better today.
Susan
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Eric--Let us know what you find out in Tulsa. We are rooting for you and Susan!
Susan
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Judy--thanks for the info on the pain patches. Mom does not like the groggy feeling from pain pills so this might be something she can tolerate (and actually use). Right now the issue isn't pain as much as it is fatigue and weakness. When I was up there Labor Day weekend it was as if I saw her growing visible weaker over the 4 days I was there.
Katie--Thanks, but there is no need to apologize. You were right where you needed to me.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes. I will let you know what happens next.
Susan
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Mom called and got the results of her bone scan yesterday and the news is not good. The cancer has spread to her thighs and to her right ribs. She goes in for a Zometa infusion today and will talk to the doctor about the next step. I imagine she will be headed back to the radiologist assuming she hasn't reached her limit. It's been two years since she had any radiation so maybe she can do some more. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper today.
Susan
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I am sorry you are having a rough time, but so glad to hear that the primary is stable. My mom was on Alimta this time last year and it made her short of breath and very fatigued. Many folks find Alimta very tolerable and stay on it a long time.
Susan
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Hi Lisa--you've already gotten some good advice and from your description it sounds like you are doing all the right things. being informed so you can be an effective advocate for your dad is the single best thing you can do for him right now.
In the beginning it seems like it takes forever to get definitive answers and to decide on a course of treatment. Once you have a treatment plan and you feel like you are doing something it becomes a little better. Once you know what kind of cancer it is and what stage they will have some ideas on how to treat. Don't pay attention to the statistics. Your dad is not a statistic and many, many people significantly outperform the statictics. Many people decide against treatment because they are afraid of it. My mom was terrified of chemo but found it much easier to tolerate than she expected. It's not fun, but it wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it would be. The same was true of radiation. When you have a course of treatment we can help you know what to prepare for and what to expect. Till then, we can just wait with you until you have more information. The waiting part stinks.
Susan
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Mom has been doing so well on the Tarceva, but I am wondering if it has stopped working for her. Over the past few weeks she has complained of fatigue and loss of appetite. Her oncologist thinks this is due to low magensium and has her on a supplement, but after a week it doesn't seem to be improving. She had a bone scan today for pain in her shoulder blades. After she got home they called her to come back and they took x-rays of all the areas they scanned. That has me very worried. I was already concerned when the last scan showed small progression in the primary tumor and now she seeme to be getting weaker. She is also starting to cough again. She saw her oncologist last week and he ordered the bone scan. I just don't have a good feeling about this. . .
Susan
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Kim,
I am so sorry you have to be back here. You asked about stage IV survivors. . .my mom was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a little over 3 1/2 years ago. She had mets to the spine at the time of diagnosis. She has done radiation (three courses), chemo (three courses) and for the last 9 months has been on Tarceva. Last summer her tumors had spread to her liver and other lung, but after three months on Tarceva those spots disappeared. So mom is a 45 month and counting survivor!
Susan
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Hi Stephanie,
I'm so sorry about your father. It is even worse that you are now frightened for your mother. A 10mm nodule is very small and it is often the case that small nodules are not concerous and will never become cancerous. The fact that they know it is there means they can watch to see if it is a harmless nodule or something they need to be conerned about. If it grows then they have most likely caught it early eough to remove it surgically. Still, it has to be hard knowing it is there--especially after losing your father to LC. I'm glad you found us. The "Grief" section of his board is a place to find comfort from folks who have and are coping with the loss of someone they love from lung cancer. Sometimes it just helps to talk with people who have been where you are.
Susan
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Kristen,
Actually reviewing the findings and making sure the treatment is appropriate for the type of malignancy your father has is a very wise thing to do. You don't want it to take too long, but in this case being right is probably better than being fast.
I remember how hard it was to wait before knowing how my mom would be treated. She was so frustrated and kept saying "I want to be fighting this." In a lot of ways, this is the hard part. Once you have a treatment plan and get started you feel like you are doing something and it is a little easier.
Susan
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Welcome Eric. Yup--hang out with us here. We have all been where you are. You will need a biopsy to confirm and you probably want to make sure they have tissue that can be analyzed for markers and other specifics that may suggest the appropriateness of targeted tumors.
Until you know (1) for sure that it is cancerous and it it is (2) what type and (3) what stage, then you can make yourself crazy. Ignore all the statistics--they are old and they don't apply to individuals.
Until you have more info you can talk about your fears here or vent or just come hang out. We understand.
Susan
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Steph--glad to hear that the chemo is going well. be sure to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. That will help to keep energy levels up and constipation under control.
Susan
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Love that NED!!!!!!!
Congratualtions Paulette!
Susan
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Love that NED!
Susan
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Katy,
I am so sorry to hear this news. I hope they can relieve his pain and perhaps the Tarceva will help. I know my mom was declining pretty quickly and the Tarceva turned her around completely. I pray for the same response for your husband.
Susan
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Great news!!!!!!!
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You've got it Paulette! We've all been through it and know the dreaded scananxiety. Will be saying prayers that the cans produce good news.
Susan
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Steph--those chemo combinations are both standard first line treatments. Mom did the carbo/taxol (one treatment every three weeks) for her first line and handled it very well. Her primary shrunk significantly and went to sleep for 18 months! She did four threatments and didn't have any more chemo for 18 months. She felt great on the day of the treatment and pratty good the day after. Then days 3,4,5, would be the days she felt very tired and achy. She didn't have any problems with nausea, but did lose her hair (that's the taxol). That was probably harder on her than the physical effects of the chemo. It's a good idea to get a wig before you lose your hair so you can have the best chance at matching color and style. Most people had no idea she was wearing a wig until she told them.
One thing you might want to explore, especially if you do the weekly treatments. It is possible to see the doctors at UAB for your scans and follow-ups but have the chemo treatments in Montgomery.
Let us know what you find from the additional scans.
Susan
Chemo again
in MEMBER UPDATES
Posted
Mom saw her oncologist today. He is taking her off Tarceva and starting her on Navelbine in two weeks. She will do one treatment a week for three weeks and then be off a week. He also moved up her next CT scan to October 4 (a week from Monday). He seems to think the Tarceva has run its course and is not causing her cough and weakness. He is giving her a two week break before starting the chemo. Mom sounded relieved that he thinks she is still treatable. I know she was afraid that he was going to say she wasn't.
If anyone has experiences with navelbine, I've love to hear them.
Susan