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Kim, I'm so sorry. Please know we will continue to be here for you in the comming weeks and months. Susan

Over the last four weeks my mom has met the goals she set for herself when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer 41 months ago. From the beginning she said she wanted to see her oldest grandaughter graduate from college and her youngest graduate from high school. Well, last month she saw her oldest graduate from college and just this past Tuesday she watched her youngest walk across the stage at her high school graduation. To be honest, last fall I didn't think she would make either graduation. She was gettting sicker and weaker and the chemo wasn't working. Then came the Tarceva and she became a new woman. Had it not been for these goals, I'm not sure she would have tried the Tarceva, but everytime her oncologist asked what she wanted to do she said "I've got to see my girls graduate" and he would say "goals are good" and suggest something new for her to try. Now she is thinking about her new goals. Grandaughter # 1 is going to law school, so there is that graduation in three years, and then granddaughter # 2 will graduate from college in 4 years (we hope). Goals are good! Susan

Welcome Deborah, I'm glad you found your way to us. The time right after the diagnosis is the most frightening. You will have a lot of questions and a lot of fears. We will do our best to help you deal with both. I see that you have already been referred to GRACE. I second the motion that you visit GRACE as well. Between the two communities, you can probably get all your questions answered and find the support you need. You are in for a roller coster ride. So let us ride along with you to help you over the bumps. Susan

Around here "nothing remarkable" is MONUMENTAL!!!!! Congratulations on the continued good news. Susan

Sue--this is fabulous news!!!!! I'm so happy for you and, of course, for your terrific mom. Susan

I, too am far away from my mom (though not as far as you) and it is hard to be away while the ones w love are undergoing treatment. If there is any way you can get back for a visit I highly recommend it. It is so helpful to see things for yourself. If you can time it to coincide with a doctor's appointment it will help you to meet and talk with the people who are caring for your dad. Susan

Only here is the report of damaged nerves good news! I hope the increased meds help. Susan

Welcome home Missy. We know, or live in fear of knowing. So we understand. We are always here for you. Susan

Hello Missy! It is so good to hear from you. I have often wondered how you have been doing. I'm glad you thought to come back to us to talk about your mom. I was new here three years ago so impressed by you and by your mom and so sad with you when she passed. I can tell you that your mom wouldn't want you to be sad, but you feel what you feel. There is nothing wrong with continuing to miss your mom and grieving her loss. You know we will always he here for you, Susan

Ronnie, It sounds your wife has some positive developments. Every day these little steps build on each other and in a few weeks you have major progress! Susan

So sorry to hear that the last tests weren't better. Hopefully the Tarceva will help or she will be a candidate for the ALK trial. I suspect she teaches because that is her way of trying to keep some normalcy. Like if she quits the cancer wins something important. Good for her to refusing to give in, but I do hope she can get the rest she needs to let her body heal. Susan

I'm so sorry your mom is having such a rough time. Perhaps you can ask about the Lyrica and see if it might give your mom some relief. Doctor's defeatest attitude doesn't help. Sheesh. Susan

Good luck Robert! Let us know how it goes. Susan

Hi Ronnie--and welcome. Feel free to ask any questions you wish. Chances are someone here has experience or knowledge that can help you. This is also a great place for support. As your wife's caregiver, you need support too. We are here to help both of you. Susan

Welcome Robert! I wouldn't pay that onc much mind. This board is full of long-timers who were told they only had a short time. I hope you get into the trial. Let us know. Many of us are following that trial closely. Susan

Hi! It sounds like you have handled the situation with your dad very well. You might suggest that he stay over a few days after his treatments and then he can return home when he feels bettwe. When mom got her chemo she would feel good the first and secod day and then crash on days 3-5. After that she would bounce back pretty quickly. You can work it out as you go along. Oh--and on that caregiver question. When mom was first diagnosed I would have to walk outside sometimes and have a cry and then come back in and talk to her. I tried to educate myself as much as possible to help her understand her treatments and side effects. Finding this board made it much easier to deal with the issues related to her illness without falling apart. After I read the stories of all the survivors here it was much easier. I'll tell you one other small but significat change in my thinking. It is very common to begin mourning for your loved one as soon as you find out he/she has lung cancer. I was doing that. Then it dawned on me that instead of being sad, I should be grateful for every day I had with my mom. I can't tell you what a difference that made. Every day is a celebration--a reason to smile. I've had a lot less "falling apart" spells since then. Susan

Vortex, I am late in welcoming you as well. It sounds like you know more about the situation now that you have visited. I'm also a long distance daughter to a mom with stage IV LC. It's really tough being away--I understand. It sounds like it is understandably tough on your dad as well. Most hospice organizations offer care for the caregivers as well as the patient. You might check to see if they have support for your father. It sounds like he might need a safe place to vent his frustrations and fears and express his sadness without upsetting your mom. Susan

Hi Barb! Welcome to our little corner of the internet. I'm sorry you are on this journey, but you've found a great place to get your questions answered, learn as much as you can, and get support from folks who know what you are going through. Let us know what you can about your dad's dx and treatment. All is not lost. My mom was dx with stage IV NSCLC over 40 months ago and a couple of weekends ago she met one of her goals by seeing her gandaughter graduate from college. When she was first diagnosed, we didn't think it would be possible. Every patient is different so don't put too much stock into the statistics. There are many people on this board told they only had a few mmonths to live and are here many years later. Susan

Horray for good news--or at least not bad news. Hopefully they can get your mom's pain under control. I'm thinking about your mom and about you! Susan

I'm glad you mom is out of ICU and will be seeing a geriatric oncologist. He is right there are people with very slow growing cancers who do well for long periods of time without treatment. You will feel better knowing you mom's case is being reviewed by someone who can take into account your mom's age, health and diagnosis inrecommending the next steps. I went into a months long depression after my mom was diagnosed. In some ways I think I reacted more negatively than she did to her diagnosis. It's normal and you will learn the "new normal." Susan

Come back and let us know how the treatments are going. We will be here to answer questions and to cheer you on! Susan

Hi My mom was 76 when she was diagnosed and is 80 now. The chemo was doable for her. It really does depend more on her overall health status than on her age. At the very least, I'd seek a second opinion. At some point you are going to have to tell your mom because she is really the only one who can make the decision on whether to undergo treatment or even any more tests. Susan

Hi Keli! There are a lot of folks here who canhelp to answer your questions. Not wanting to do surgery at that stage is probably standard, but as Ry suggested, it would be helpful to get a second opinion. Even if surgery isn't an option, there are other treatments your onc can pursue. You didn't mention what he/she has recommended next. I also second the notion to go over to www.cancergrace.org to read about your diagnosis and ask questions about treatment options. We have lots of folks here with your diagnosis who have done well with treatment. Susan

Hi Wayne, Welcome to LCSC! Share more information with us and let us know who we can help. Susan

Judy in MI, I'm so sorry to read about your spasams. I hope you are getting some answers from doctors today. if necessary, never underestimate the power of a well planned and executed temper tantrum if "polite but firm" doesn't work. I'll be waiting to hear from you and hoping you can cuddle that new little grand niece soon! Susan