[Update on Dad]

Well its been a while since I've posted anything about my father...we all had a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year! Dad is now taking Tarceva and drinking the Essac tea (2x a day) he hasn't lost weight since his diagnosis but lost about 20 pounds prior to that. He is losing a lot of muscle tone so it really makes him look like he has lost weight. His spirits remain ok...not the greatest...he's always been such and optimist and now I guess he is more of a realist...I'm really worried about my mom because she can't sleep...she can't take sleeping pills because they seem to have the opposite effect...know she worries about Dad and he worries about her...we all worry about each other! One thing our families(4) are all trying to get home more and spend more quality time with mom and dad and each other...so that is the one good thing that has happened. To bad it takes something like this to open our eyes. Anyway I have good news in that my youngest daughter is getting married in June and I hope and pray that dad will be doing good...after the wedding we have a family vacation at the beach...dad is really looking forward to that, he loves the beach and we are on the ocean so that is special too...so we continue on this road with lots of hope and many prayers. God is good and I sure hope He will heal my father! If healing is not in His plan then we trust Him to get us through all of this. But there is no doubt in my mind that He is not with us though all of this. I know He is holding us up because I just can't imagine life without HIM! Love and prayers to you all! God Bless.

Debbie

[not sure how to do this but will try]

Well Dad has had his first visit to the oncologist after starting his 1st round of 2nd line treatment (Alimta). He is doing good...blood work good, feeling good except a little nausea and general tiredness. We have high hopes! We are counting or blessings. Sunday Mom and dad went to church but had to leave because dad started feeling sick...but nevertheless they are hanging in there. Mom had her birthday yesterday (75) and they went out to dinner...also the doctor had another patient ask about the essiac tea and if she could take it so the doctor asked dad to bring the information about it because he wanted to read up on it...YES! Hopefully he will read and see if any of the 4 ingrediants would adversly effect the chemo...keep your fingers crossed. So all is going well...we are hanging in there...Love and prayers to all...what a horrible disease...and how hard it is to watch people we love have to go through this!

debbie

[not sure how to do this but will try]

hi...i'm here hoping to find help for my father who was diagnosed with nsclc in april of 2007...it is stage 3b in the right lung, adenocarcinoma and another type, i think lg cell...he completed 4 rounds of chemo (carboplatin and taxol...developed nueropathy and had to stop...4 weeks later cat scan and everything is about the same...then went back to the doc (5 wks) went in tuesday the 4 and was told that some of the lymphnodes were swollen and he is to start alimta next week...found ernie's story back when dad was first diagnosed which offered lots of hope but dad won't take anything unless prescribe by his oncologist...personally i like the holistic approach...would love for him to drink the essiac tea...anyone heard of that and if so any documentation results...he was getting ready to do the tea when he went to the doctor tuesday...(its an old cancer treatment passed down by the indians in canada...anyway it has 4 ingrediants burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel and indian rhubarb root)...its suppose to make the cancer swell then shrink and finally go away...anyway it has been a roller coaster ride for us all...worried about my mom...she doesn't sleep and i know it is because of this...mom and dad have been married for 53 years and have 4 children and 8 grands...we are a very close family and i know that helps...we all have a strong faith and i know the Lord can and will heal...I just hope that that is the plan he has for my family...I believe in the power of prayer! God bless you all!