Barb0802

thank you so much Jen!! I'm so happy to hear about your dad.... thanks for letting me know what to expect and the pretzels, he loves pretzels! well, he did, don't know if he can eat them when his mouth hurts so much, but I'll check with them.

Really??? My mom will definitely have to talk to the Dr. about Megace... He's been eating more after about a week of chemo... then he gains about 10 lbs... but then it's time for chemo again and he loses it....

I wish he would understand how important it is though... he doesn't even try sometimes..

His body isn't fighting the cancer for those calories right now because the cancer is fading. It's all good! Ah! Really? is that how it works??? that's pretty cool! thanks so much Connie and Welthy!! I wish you the best as well!!!

thanks Leslie! or are you Adrian... heh-heh...

Yay! so it's not just something that happens at the beginning and doesn't mean squat!! Thanks to both of you, and yes, I will take it for what it's worth and not rejoice too loud or too long...

Thanks everyone!! He went to his drs. appt yesterday, and he has gained 3 lbs.!! our scale was a little off too. The Dr. was very happy that the swelling of his lymph nodes in his neck went away, she said she's sure the 8mm tumor is his lungs has either shrunk or is gone totally. They'll do a cat scan after his 3rd session of chemo. Is this really a reason to be happy? I'm afraid to feel excited about this and so is my dad. He said "it's not like I'm cured"... He knows there is no cure, just treatment, but he meant, it's always going to be there.. anyway, is this really a positive sign, after 1 chemo session? P.s. thanks to all who mentioned the Magic Mouthwash, the Dr. wrote them a prescription for it and said it will work wonders on him.

Thanks Adrian... it was just so shocking to read.. I thought Tarceva was like chemotherapy in a pill.. guess I was wrong about that. I actually don't remember anyone telling me that, but I don't know why I have that in my head...

I found the Q&A section, is that where I'm supposed to be? I wish I didn't find it, look at the Drs. response: ******************************************** Post Count: 953 Seattle, WA The median survival with stage IV NSCLC (which means that half do better, and half do worse) is about 8-10 months (with treatment, or 4-6 without), and the numbers gravitate a bit lower with brain metastases. In patients well enough to take chemo (usually those able to take care of themselves and spending less than half of the day in bed or just lying around the living room), it improves survival an average of 2-4 months. Some people get more benefit, some get none, and some are harmed by chemo. Those less likely to benefit are the ones who are in more marginal condition to tolerate it in the first place. Also, some people just have very resistant tumors, but you don't that know until you try to treat it. So, my summary would be that for people well enough to take it, chemo isn't miraculous, but it most often improves survival by several months. Sometimes more, sometimes less, and sometimes it can just knock people down more. -Dr. West Posted 2 days ago #

I'm confused, how do I display the posts from yesterday?

Thanks, I'm going to check it out right now!!

thank you everyone! You've been so nice and made me feel so much better. Debbie thanks for sharing your story, I wish you and your husband nothing but good news!! Adrian, the articles were great! I forwarded them to my parents and sister. How do I check out OncTalk? Do you mean he addresses ALL the questions from this entire message board? Barbara, you sound so happy and enjoying life, I wish my dad would do something other than sit around feeling sad... Or maybe it's the Pot doing it to you?? ha ha just kidding. Now, I thought a hospice is where you go when things are going badly, is that not the case anymore? Thanks again everyone, what a great site!!!

Thanks Katie, another thing to bring up tomorrow at the Drs. Cool! whatever it takes!!!

Thank you so much Sue!! And I loved hearing how your mom is doing!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! You must feel so good about things... Thanks for your advice... I'm passing it all along to my mom.. THanks again!!!

Hmm, I'm not sure what he's taking for possible nausea, but I'm going to check that out too, thanks for the tip about steroids, I didn't know that. Pot? ha... I better not tell him that, maybe my mom can ask the Dr. about it.. just kidding. I'll mention it to my mom, don't know if it's an option in NJ though. thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it and will definitely use your advice..

Thanks so much Leslie. you make a lot of sense! He's already keeping a log of how his medications are making him feel etc. Don't know why we didn't think of a food log, guess because he'd have nothing to put in it... Just kidding... The numbered bottles, great idea.. and the way to pose the "are you hungry" question is fantastic!! That's what he has to answer "can you eat something right now"... like you said he just says No, if we ask if he's hungry... You've helped so much, thank you and Adrian!

Hey There Ernie, Nice to "talk' with you again!! Thanks so much for letting me know about losing weight, if he knows others have too, maybe that will help him!! THanks again!!

Thanks so much! I'm going to tell my mom to ask about the steroid.. Thanks for the info about Tarceva possibly "doing it's thing" that's something that should cheer him up... We'll keep trying with him that's for sure!! Thanks again!

ok.. thanks. he says he is thirsty and hungry but just doesn't want to deal with the pain...

Thank you RY... we've tried boost and instant breakfast, he drinks them when we force him. My sister just ordered Isopure, it's a protein packed water sold on the internet and targeted for HIV and Cancer patients, and some other diseases. He's just so depressed and his mouth hurts so much, that he just can't be bothered. He's crabby too! he's got to know he needs to eat, I just can't understand why he doesn't try harder. anyway, thanks so much for the part about his chances, I just thought this meant he's losing the fight and fast....

Hi Everyone, My dad has stage 4, NSLC, adenocarcinoma, it spread to his lymph nodes, but he only has a 8 millimeter tumor on his lung... Yep, 8mm causing all this... Anyway, he's had one day of Chemo, they added Avastin and he's been on Tarceva since the first chemo treatment about 2 weeks ago. His lips are extremely chapped and his mouth is sore. He's not eating and has now lost another 10 lbs since the treatment. Does this mean the disease "has got him" and it's bad, or can it be that even though he's lost so much weight he still has a chance?? He's 65 and has never smoked... Thanks for anything you can tell me, Barb

Thank you Reece101 (a.k.a NED!!!) I'm hoping that your visit went well today!!!!

more info from my sister: metastasis to mediastunum, glands around lung, neck, and above clavical. and also into adrenal glands and small spot on one of his hips...don´t remember which one. that, they may treat with radiation at some point....they´ll have to see. 8mm tumor in lung Does this change anything?

Thanks so much Ernie... I'm sure I'll have more questions once this thing gets going... thank you for not getting sick of me..... yet!!! I've printed out your diet/supplements along with the medications you were or are taking from this posting... hope you don't mind

Hi Ernie, they removed one lymph node in his neck last month. that showed to be cancerous. Sloan is kinda the 2nd opinion, he lives in PA, and the Drs. there diagnosed the cancer.