bengel

Hi Newbie, I'm unclear about the initials PCI? Yes, my lungs were clear. That is what baffled my primary care doctor because I had been under his care for 20 years. It was only after the chest x-ray at the ER that they discovered the tumor. It was 2cm. After chemo and radiation it had shrunk to 1 cm. My onocologist was pleased. I then had surgery to remove the middle lobe of my right lung. They found no cancer in any lunph nodes. Since then all of my scans and chest x-rays have been "clean". I hope this helps, remember our hope is in the Lord. Bud

Hi Jennie, Was it your radiologist oncologist or your general oncologist that recommended disability? I had 15 days of brain radiation after chemo and surgery. Lost my hair twice. My students thought I looked like Telly Savalas. My radiation technicians were kind enough to come in 15 minutes early so I could have radiation before I went to school. Nothing was said to me about taking time off. I did get tired but I think I would get depressed too if I just sat around the house. My hope is in the Lord, Bud

Hi Kate, It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with sclc. I live each day as a gift from God because there must be some higher reason for my experiences. This is a great site for finding information, encouragement and support. My hope is in the Lord, Bud

Johnnie, Sorry to hear about your wife. I can understand why your boys would be bewildered about their mother getting sick. That's the problem with cancer, it sneaks up on you at the most unexspected time. There is good advice on this site and a lot of caring people. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I hope you have a support group of family and friends. Don't hesitate to call the oncologist's about questions. The nurses at my oncologist's office are very open and compassionate. My church friends have given all kinds of support. Several are nurses so I get as much advise as I need. I will pray for your wife tonight. Remember our hope is in the Lord. Bud

Hi Heather, I experienced dehydration after I finished my surgery. I developed a yeast infection in my mouth which put me into total fatigue for 3 weeks. Now I can laugh about it but at the time I was so tired I could hardly use the TV remote. Our insurance changed during this time and the primary care doctor didn't identify it, yet all my nurse friends kept telling me I was dehydrated. My oncologist saw me and said right away what the problem was. I was on antibiotics for 3 weeks before it subsided. My oncologist always asks me at my checkups, "Are you drinking your 8 glasses of water daily"? So, try to keep as much fluid in her as possible. I found watermelon, cantalope, grapes and other fruits helped. You caregivers are special people so remember our hope is in the Lord. Bud

Hi Judy, That's great news about your surgery. If you had a good report from your doctor then relax and don't worry about what might be. I always say I'm doing great unless otherwise noted on my doctors report. Remember our hope is in the Lord, Bud

Hi Pattiq6, This is a great site for support and information. Sounds like your situation was similar to mine. We might not have control over what is going on in our bodies but we do have control over what goes on in our minds. I looked at my situation as an assignment God gave me. I need to do everything I can to stay positive. The alternative is one that I'm not ready to accept. I tell people that everything is fine unless noted otherwise on my doctors chart. Maybe that sounds too simple but until you actually see the scan report there is nothing you can do about it except be positive. I hope this helps. Remember our hope is in the Lord. Bud

Hi Donna, I would agree with Jenny. You need to find a new oncologist. Is there a major medical center near you where you could get other opinions? My prayers are with you for wisdom and clear decision making in this matter. Bud

Hi Cindy RN, I hope by now you are feeling better. It would usually take me 3 days after chemo to feel good enought to go back to teaching. I think it was my fourth round that put me down more than the others. I think it was also the one where I started loosing my hair. The doctor didn't know why I was more tired because my blood work was within margins. But rest is always the best healer along with making our requests known to God. Praying for you now, Bud

Hi Karen and others, In reading the other posts I realize I made my case sound cut and dried. It wasn't. Some of the comments from others are true and the decision to have surgery as I remember ( my wife has all of the copius notes) was because I was Stage IA. I had a very unusual presentation of the cancer and my onc, not only got a second opinion but sent me to UC San Francisco Medical Center for evaluation. I was placed in a study group for non-smokers with SCLC. The only rationale for my cancer was farm pesticides and petroleom based products since I grew up in the Bakersfield California area. Since I agreed to take everything they could throw at me, because I don't like the alternative, I had surgery and then brain radiation to clean up anything left. I hope this helps. I know the decisions everyone has to make are tough ones. Remember, our hope is in the Lord. Bud p.s. Today is the first day in 38 years that I don't have to show up for staff development meetings before school starts.

Hi June, WOW!! Doesn't that make you feel good to hear good news. I think that deserves a double deck moose tracks ice cream cone. Maybe I'll have one for you. Remember our hope is in the Lord, Bengel

Hi Karen, I don't quite understand the phrasing of your question. Are you asking if anyone has had surgery after chemo and radiation? The answer to the second question is yes. My oncologist had no dought about having my middle right lobe taken out after chemo and radiation. The chemo and radiation had shrunk the tumor from 2 cm to 1 cm. He was very happy with those results but had explained me at the start that the plan was to have surgery. Another reason was to visually see if any of the lumph nodes had cancer. They didn't. He had me go throught 15 days of brain radiation after surgery because the brain acts like a sponge for cancer cells. My last check up in July was clean. I hope this experience helps you. My prayers are with you. Bengel

Hi SoniaD, After chemo, lung radiation, and surgery I had 15 days of brain radiation. It took about 15 seconds on each side. The radiology technicians were kind enough to come in 15 minutes early so I could get it done before I went to school each day to start teaching. I lost my hair for the second time after chemo. It came back. I was told by my oncologist, who is excellent, that the brain is a breeding ground where cancer cells like to nest. I was willing to go the distance because I'm not ready for the ultimate option at this point in my career. Look up the website that was mentioned in the earlier post to find out more. The side effects very from person to person. My wife says I'm an absent minded professor anyway so I don't know if I have any other side effects. There is good support here so keep posting. Remeber our hope is in the Lord, Bengel

Hi Kellyu, Great news about your Dad. Sounds like you have a good doctor. Ask lots of questions. My experience has been to NOT second guess the doctor or think of all the things that might be; either they are or their not. Keep focused on the things you have control over. I don't think about my next appointment. I think about all of the things I can do, like work or social activities. I have a great group of supporters: family, nurses, doctors, friends, and church friends. My response to questions is always I'm doing great unless otherwise noted on my chart at the doctors office. Remember, our hope is in the Lord. Bengel

Hi BEO, Welcome. You've come to a very supportive and informative website. I had no symptoms but found out on a chest xray. When I started chemo I actually gained weight. I was able to handle the chemo quite well. About the only side effect I experienced was fatigue although I kept teaching through my treatments and radiation. When I lost my hair the kids thought I looked good like Telly Savalas. I had excellent nurses and doctors so I had as much care and support as I needed. Take one day at a time. I'm sure if I can handle the experience, your husband can. I looked at it like a test. I didn't want to fail because I don't like the alternative. Remember, our hope is in the Lord. Prayers to you both. Bengel

Hi glo, Sorry to hear about the run around your getting. With all of the resources available in the Bay Area I would expect that you can get more information and referrals. I've had great doctors with second opinions so keep trying. Cancer is one disease where you have to be proactive which it sounds like you are. This is a great site with lots of support. Keep the faith knowing that our help is in the Lord. Bengel

Daddy's Girl You have found a site with very helpful and supportive people. If there are questions about most any lung cancer subject you will find help here. Keep the faith and know that there is hope in the Lord. Bengel

Thanks KatieB. I never go without a shirt because of the chance of another basal cell carsinoma problem. My nurse friends have made suggestions similar to yours. It's hard for me to put sunscreen on my back. My elbows won't twist that way. Bengel

Anyone have experience with your incision itching? It has been 2 years since I got my smily face from my right middle lobectomy and it itches like crazy sometimes. I look like an old cat at a door jamb rubbing my back. I also have a small scar on my left shoulder blade from a basal cell carsinoma removal. Sometimes it itches. Any ideas? All my doctors say I'm just a sensitive guy and be glad there is no pain. Bengel

Hi Peggy, When I was diagnosed with sclc in a atypical carcinoma tumor in the middle lobe of my right lung my wife did a lot of research as did I. I have an excellent oncologist. He was very forthright in his plan of attack. I had tumor radiation while I did my six sessions of chemo. The combination shrunk the tumor half size. He was very happy with the results but the next assignment was surgery. I then had a right middle lobectomy. Several weeks after surgery I started 15 days of brain radiation. He explained that the brain is like a cesspool for cancer cells. I continued to teach high school drafting during this time because the radiation technicians were kind enough to come in 15 minutes early so I could get my brain radiation before I went to school each morning. I got to lose my hair twice. The kids thought I looked better bald. My encouragement to you is to not take the research as gospel for your particular case. I don't know if I had some of the side effects or not. Sometimes too much information is overwhelming. I do know that the support of friends and colleagues helps keep a positive attitude. My nurse friends are always ready to answer questions and continue to ask how I am doing. Keep the hope of the Lord in your heart, Bengel

Hi Okiegirl, Welcome to this site. The people here are wonderful, understanding and caring people. Sorry to hear about your husband. This is a great place to share, vent, express joy or sorrow and know people are willing to listen. What is one emotion that is on your mind? How can we help? Our hope is in the Lord. Bengel

Singlecancermom, You are in our prayers today. Be strong, be positive, and I pray the hope of the Lord will be upon you. Bengel

Cathy, Prayer for your physical and mental strength are in my petition to God this evening. Bengel "...and hope does not dissapoint us, because God has poured out his love for us by the Holy Spirit..."

Sometimes my smiley face itches and people catch me leaning against a door jam scratching like a cat. Sometimes it twitches randomly. Anyone else ever experience this? Bengel never smoked 8-21-2001 dx sclc broncoscopy 10-03-01 first chemo carboplatin/VP16 35 sessions of lung radiation 1-18-02 last chemo 4-11-02 right middle lobectomy 15 sessions brain radiation 7-2-03 all from Oncologist

Why can women go to the mall and buy, buy, buy, but I can't spend more than 10 minutes in the Sears hardware section???? Bengel