warmpup

There was no menion of withdrawl - but then they have me on a 6 week taper off program so withdrawl shouln't be rough! Any thing really bad I should be on the look out for?javascript:emoticon(':roll:')

I may not have been able to make it a whole year without the thoughtful loving support of the people of this site!

On this date, one year ago, My lung Cancer was DX'd. Over the past year, I have gone thru Major surgery, Major Chemotherapy, Whole Brain Radiation, gamma knife surgery numerous MRI's and PET Scans. All the ailments I suffer from today are all side effect of the Dexamethasone. Friday, looked at the latest Brain MRI. No sign of the attacking node on the right side of my brain and the node on the left has shrunken to almost nothing. So, today, I begin another taper off program from the Dexamethasone. Hopefully, I will be able to ride my bike soon!! See you all around soon! -Pup

The vomit only happened one time, it may have been somthing I ate. The weakness is fairly constant. Every thing else is intermintent. So nice to hear from you !!

Thank you sooooooooooo much. All the support I receive here really helps me thru this stuff! I'm gonna make it Hugs to ALL -Pup

at least they don't all happen at once. The weakness is fairly constant unless i get like two or three continuous days in bed. Just checked in from a grocery run. Felt about half weak YAY!! Had a HD MRI yesterday, no results reported to me yet then in May I'll schedule a head and body ct/pet then we'll see what can be done about all this sruff! Thanks for your thoughts !! Luv- Pup

Well thank goodness the vomiting only happened once about 6 weeks ago

I tried doing without however my Brains went KookooKaakaa. So, in order to think straight, I continue to take dexamethasone, 2mg. every 12 hours, and suffer a onslaught of side effects, namely; some dizziness,trouble sleeping,increased appetite and weight gain, bone/joint pain, increased thirst/urination, heartburn, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, puffy face, swelling of ankles and feet, nose bleeds, tiredness, mental/mood changes, unusual hair growth, muscle pain, weakness ( I walk like an extremely aged man ) The weakness bothers me the most, makes it very difficult to simply walk. Yep, that's the one that bothers me the most! Suggestions? Luv, -Pup

More head MRI today, no changes noted in brain area! They gammaknifed the right side of the brain where last week they saw a pea sized node. So now they want me to return in 6 weeks for a full brain MRI. When I was returned home, there was a phone message from SSA declairing me Disabled! They want me to bring a birth certificate and a w2 from 2007. So people, have your thoughts and prayers blessed me with a GREAT DAY ? *happy happy tears* and *hugs to all* -Pup

Thank goodness in 4 weeks, was able to take enough steroides to shrink the cancer node in the left side of my head for the Hospital to use the gamaknife on the cancer node. There is one more on the right side of my brain which should be gamma knifed next Wednesday. Then they are sending me back to Chemo. *crosses fingers* Love, -Pup

Thank You for ALL of your prayers and good lucks. It is fairly certain that the node on the left temporal of the brain was handled with gamma knife. However, during today's MRI, there was a pea size node discovered on the right side and is planed to be gamma knifed next Wednesday. Then I will be sent back to Chemo. I believe I should completely quit work. Right now, my brain is leaking a bit in the back and I was instructed not to shampoo for two days so I guess work Is out of the question tomorrow.

Thank You so much for thinking of me today. So, had a conference with 4 docs today. They do not appear strongly encouraged with a gamma knife proceedure because of the size and place of a node in my left temporal (very very close to my left optical). Even though they do say today's MRI does look better than the last, after approximately two weeks of taking steroids. The Gamma knife is scheduled 3/5 however, they said that during the proceedure they take like indifinate MRI pics and may not conclude the proceedure and maybe suggest a for real knife and blood surgery or maybe nothing. . . . This is the first time I have been *DEPRESSED* during all these steps. I best quit work and try to have a bit of a life soon I think.

Okay - I took every one's positive attitudes with me into the UMD Med Ctr. They asked so many questions, tested my physical and mental capes and positive attitudes. After all was said and done and looked at ( Last Friday's MRI ) etc. They want me to return next Friday 2/22 and have a HD MRI done to which I will carry and meet with yet another doctor before they make final arrangements for gamma knife surgeries. Until then, I am to stay on the 2MG of steriods twiccde a day - unless I have more problems in which case I may increase the steroids. I'm exhausted.

Will take me approximately 45 minutes travel time plus approximately 15 minutes to park and walk to the office. This consultation visit should not need any one to go with me. At tomorrow's consultaion visit, I should be advised at all promotional instructions.

sooooo I called all around today. Finally found I have an appointment at U of MD - Doc Kwok to consult in a gamma knife proceedure to work on my deep rooted cancer in my central brain. so, when I arrived at home just a bit after 4PM, I got a message that UMD needs a referal. I called the ONC office and their phones go off line at 4PM. Talk about being frusted. Any ways, hopefully more news tomorrow. -Pup

Oh My Word, My ONC said that if UMD doesn't contact me by 3PM Wednesday (today), I should contact them. However, I didn't write down any info! Oh, this info was so upsetting for me. So I guess that if I don't hear from UMD, I will call my ONC and get one of his assistances to help me with this information. -Pup

Thank you from all you good people! Last night, my ONC DOC called about sending me to University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore for some type of a special "Operation" on where there is cancer deepened in my central brain. My ONC DOC said UMD center should be able to clean out that cancer cleanly with some kind of 50,000 something machine along the lines of radiation. Hopefully I will understand it better after talking with UMD center people. Once again, thank you all you people for your spirits! -Pup

OMG - Thank all you guys for your supports. The steroids the Oncology Doc prescribed kept my brain calmed down so I could think clearly. I am certainly fearded that I will probably terminate due to the deeply rooted cancer in the central brain. It has been approximately one month since I last tapered off the steriods. And once again, I was not comprehending words and numbers and slightly aged memories So now I haven't a clear as to what to do. Does my job cause the deep rooted cancer to arise from all the hard mental I attempt to work? -Pup

MC Thank you so much . . today 2mg twice daily helped it all today, had no problems with conversation. -Pup

TY Muriel. Will be sure as soon if I hear anything:)

Beginning Monday, I took one Motrin at lunchtime for a severe headache. By Wednesday, I had a humongous headache and was not properly processing speach and numbers. Called my Doc for an appointment, Fri 9:30. Again, I didn't processes it becaused, it was actually supposeed to be Thrusday. But they worked me into to the doc. He prescribed 2mg steroid morning and evening and a MRI of the brain. I suspect they will call me Monday. Today, so far, everything seems okay. -Pup

MC, Yep, employer is very agreeable to my needs. And they understand why I want to do this. And even thought I received a clean report, the tumor in my head is like still there, just shruken and inactive? Could become active again ?? I Think that is what happened to my sister But yeah, the medicare thing is most important! Plus early access to retirement accounts sans penalties -Pup

So today I had the follow up visit with my oncologist following my head+body PET/CT. He took me off all the related drugs and prescribed a head MRI in two months. I reminded him I only copmpleted 13 of the 16 prescribed chemo sessions. He said I made it futher than most. I then reminded him I never made it to the prescribed 28 to 35 lung radiations. He said the chemo probably did me more good in that area. So I left his office and went to work. Well, the mail beat me to the job. In today's mail was the employer's questionair resulting from my application for Social Security Disability Income for which I had not prepared my employer. Now I am so concerned. I truely don't wish to quit working especially since there is a 98% chance of no cancerous activity in my body "today" however, I must protect my future financial stability. Such internal battles going on, I must have broken out into tears at least six times today. So, tonight, this is how I sit. Would welcome any sugestions. -Pup

Thanks for the prayers and encouragement! -Pup

Yes, I am most interested in what the oncologist has to say but and apprehensive too because the brain mets hit before I completed chemo and before I began lung radiation