Max L

Inez and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and Happy New Year. As is everyone else you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Welcome to this site Val. You have come to a wonderful and caring site, one which has helped my wife and I get through this past few months. I am one of the fortunate ones in that my cancer was caught at early stage 1a and I am doing quite well. Not certain that without the thoughts and prayers of everyone at this site that Inez and I would come through this as well as we have. We shall always be grateful. Please stay with this group and you will experience the same feeling. As difficult as it seems, please do not give up, keep positive, keep fighting.

Stacey, I wish the bug was not around as Inez and I would have loved to have met you. We can always meet somewhere for lunch. If the need for a surgeon does arise I cannot tell you how much we think of Dr Mican. She is rare in that she has both bedside manners and is extremely competent in her abilities. Was highly talked about by all the nurses that we met at the hospital. Still have a little discomfort but in general am feeling pretty well. We wish you a very happy and healthy New Year, and do think about lunch or if you are on this side of town give me a call..623 931 0418.

Hi Christine and Wendy...Thankyou for the kind words. Inez and I already feel how blessed we are with the outcome. The pain is getting less each day and our enjoyment and appreciation of life around us is increasing daily. We are still in awe of the support from everyone.Am certain that my Mom, G-d Bless Her, is above helping to direct traffic. Have a wonderful healthy and happy New Year.

Wonderful Tom..keep up the good work. Inez and I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year. A positive attitude brings positive results.

Welcome Jussi. The bad news is that you are here, but the really great news is that you are now in touch with a very caring and informative support group. I speak from experience as without this group I am not certain that I would be doing as well. Am in 2nd day of recuperation after having left upper lobe removed and so far am doing great. You appear to have a positive attitude which is so so important. Please stay positive,keep fighting, keep informed, be your own advocate and above all never never give up. This advice has helped me and my wife, Inez battle through lung cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetis with positive results. You will find that the support, love and caring from family, friends and support groups such as this, will keep your spirits lookin upward as it has Inez and I. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain

Thankyou all gain. I do intend to stay and hopefully am able to offer the same support that Inez and I have received. Stay positive. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God... -- Homer Thompson

I want to mention again how wonderful and competant Dr Camilla Mican, my Thoracic Surgeon was. Prior to going into Thoracic surgery she spent approx. 20 years in children's heart surgury, so as you can see I was getting two for one treatment. She has great bedside manners, is very very caring (came to hospital each day and did not send assistant), took time to answer all our questions and was there at every turn. I am telling you all this because as you know I travel to California to see an ocncologist for my prostate cancer treatment as it is so important to have a competant doctor. If anyone is looking for a good surgeon I would highly recommend her and at same time tell you that we have an exta bedroom in our home that you would be more than welcome to stay while you are here. Stay positive, Keep fighting, Be your own advocate and never, never give up.

Thankyou you all again. Inez just went to drug store to fill the prescription for pain pills. I may be positive, but I am really positive that I am not a hero and that pain is not something I ever seem to enjoy. Stay positive, keep fighting, never give up, keep your records and be your own advocate.

Inez and I will never find the words to thank all of you for your absolute wonderful caring, support and prayers, except to say THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU. Just got home from the hospital and am blessed to have such a wonderful result as complete recovery. The fact that I was Stage 1A which is the earliest stage of Lung Cancer, and the fact that Dr Lam in Califorinia who is taking care of my prostate cancer suggested a chest xray since I smoked for many years and I listened to him is even more of an amazement. Had a great surgeon who took the upper left lobe of my lung along with the lymph nodes. Sent it all to lab with the result that I no longer need any further treatment. Inez and I are walking on cloud nine, when we think that only 5 or 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with lung cancer and now it is gone. You have all had a hand in this recovery with your love and support and teaching us to be so positive, never giving up and above all being our own advocate. Inez and I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday and again, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU.

Hi Denise..thankyou for your thoughts, support and kind words. Have to admit that as Friday draws closer my positiveness seems to be ebbing just a little bit, but my wonderful wife, Inez, keeps pushing it back. Inez and I wish you well in your treatment and we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Please stay with this support group because we have been totally astounded at the wonderful caring people that have sent us messages of hope and love. This is what maintains our positive attitude. Am certain you will feel the same. Please take care, do stay positive, keep fighting, be your own advocate and make certain you have a record of each thing that the medical world does to you. Always remember they work for you and not the other way around. This seems to be the same problem we have in Congress and our administration.

CHRISTINE...INEZ AND I ARE RUNNING OUT OF WORDS TO SAY ANY LONGER. WE THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS SITE FOR THE CARE, THE THOUGHTS AND THE PRAYERS. WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY THIS IS A CRUEL WORLD THEY CERTAINLY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS GROUP OR MY PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. INEZ AND I HAVE NEVER MET A FINER BUNCH OF HUMAN BEINGS. IF EVERYONE WERE LIKE THIS THERE WOULD NEVER BE ANY WARS OR CRIME. IT WOULD ALL BE A GARDEN OF EDEN. THANKS AGAIN. STAY WELL, POSITIVE, KEEP FIGHTING AND BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE.

Well, the phone just rang and I was told that I will be having the VAT surgery on Pearl Harbor Day, Friday, Dec 7th at the Banner Thunderbird Hospital in Glendale. Now that we have a date and place it surely feels more real. Cannot wait to get it over with as I am sure you all can understand. You know, when it rains it pours. Inez's mom is 95 with alzheimers and in a nursing home in Toronto Canada. We received a call this morning that she now refuses her meds, will not eat and just wants to sleep, and this she is terminal, so now we are expecting that second dreaded phone call. Inez's sister will go there if anything happens soon, as Inez will not leave me to have this operation without her being here. I am one lucky husband. It is a tough situation, but as we always preach you have got to stay tough, you have got to stay positive and fight your way through all of it, which we will do to the best of our abilities. If this is all a test, when do we graduate. Anyway, enough of my babbling, though you will never know how much it helps to write this all down knowing the wonderful support that Inez and I get from all of you. Stay well and will continue to keep all informed. There is still a lot of living yet to do.

Hi Stacey and Bunny. It really is a pleasure to wake up in the morning turn on the computer and read the wonderful words of support and care from you both and from all others at this LC site. This is the reason that Inez and I have been able to cope as well as we have. We have not changed our life style one iota as we still try to live life to the fullest. Actually not doing so is really not an option. After meeting the doctor we feel very confident. She looked like a clown with orange hair and orange and purple shirt. She is a Phoenix Suns basketball fan and that is their colors and she was heading for a game that same evening. Before specializing in lung problems she was a heart surgeon and worked mainly on children. I think this is a plus. I did check her background and found that she has done this operation many many times and is very competant. Stacy, you might have heard of her. Her name is Camilla A. Mican and she works out of Boswell, Arrowhead and Banner Thunderbird Hospitals. Will let you know when the date is for certain. Personally, I wish it were tomorrow. Want to go in, get it done and come home and do some more living. Thankyou all again for the wonderful care and support. Stay positive, keep fighting, never give up and above all, be your own advocate.

Thanks again to all of you that have replied. You are all so thoughtful and caring it is wonderful and makes me beleive this world is not as crazy as it sometimes seems. Do not know how much computer time Inez will have as she plans on spending most of the time in the hospital with me. If I had a lap computer and the hospital would allow me I would certainly be on it. Thankyou you all again. Do not foget, be positive, do not give up, be your own advocate.

To continue my saga with lung cancer, Inez and I just returned from the Thoracic Surgeon with the result being that I have Stage 1A Lung Cancer, which if there is good news, than Stage 1A is considered to be good news. We did ask what the outcome would be if I did nothing and was told that the prognosis from her experience is approx. 3 years, which to us was not acceptable. Still have a lot of time left to aggrivate each other. Anyway it has been decided to go with the VAT procedure which is using a camera to hopefully see what she is doing and taking out the upper lobe of my left lung. Inez is going to mark the left side so there is no mistake and they take the right lobe instead.The doctor estimates that it is approx. a two hour operation and that I will be in the hospital 7 - 10 days. She says she likes to estimate a longer time than it might actually be. We plan to do this either Dec 6 or Dec 7. Our 23rd Wedding Anniversary is Dec 3. We always look for something special to celebrate our wedding anniversay, like going to a nudist colony, but guess getting this operation will have to suffice for now. Will really celebrate when it is all over with. Again, I must say that I am so very fortunate to have caught this insidious cancer early, to have such a wonderful, loving and caring wife as Inez along with the greatest children in the world, great relatives, plus so many friends and being involved with the Lung Cancer and Prostate Cancer Support Groups. Would never be able to maintain a positive attitude without all this fantastic support and love. Inez and I thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

I would like to relate my experience this week with doctors and their office staff. I had an appointment with my pulmonologist Tuesday, 11/20 and it was decided that I would see a surgeon regarding an operation and the sooner the better as I may have a chance to rid myself totally of this lung cancer. Dr Rotering, my pulmonologist,than informed her assistant to handle making an appointment with a surgeon immediately. As of this morning Monday 11/26 I had not heard anything from anyone, so I called my doctor and was informed that an appointment still has not been made. After I expressed my dissatisfaction with this lack of professionalism and caring a phone call was then made and an appointment set up for Monday 12/3. The excuse given to me by the woman who handles the appointments was that the assistant was waiting for a report from the doctor, so did not contact her to make the arrangements. Of course, I was standing there when the doctor ordered her assistant to do this immediately. I was informed that I should bring my Pet Scan and CT Scan xrays with me to the surgeon so I decided I would take a ride to see this surgeon today and bring them my x-rays which I did. I related to them how urgent it was to see the surgeon as I did not want this cancer to grow and leave the lung. They agreed with me and changed my appointment with the surgeon to this Wednesday, 11/28. I was told a week ago by my family doctor that I have a bad habit of wanting to be in charge. Well she is absolutely right. It is my body and my sickness and I do plan on being in charge. . I am relating this to everyone to please please do not be afraid to be your own advocate. You never know when the doctor who may be a great person and a great doctor, along with his office staff fall asleep on the job and it is you who suffers the consequence, not them. It is wonderful to have a positive attitude, but it is mandatory to never stop fighting for your rights as a patient. IT IS YOUR BODY AND YOUR SICKNESS.

HI DON AND BRUCE. THANKYOU BOTH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. NO, BRUCE HAVE NOT AS YET DISCUSSED ANY FURTHER TREATMENT BEYOND THE VAT, BUT MIGHT DO SO. DON, WE WERE REALLY CLOSE AS WE ALSO WERE IN GILBERT HAVING THANKSGIVING TURKEY. HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AND AFTER PLAYING WITH GRANDCHILDREN, REALIZE HOW THANKFUL WE REALLY ARE. YOU BOTH STAY WELL, STAY POSITIVE AND KEEP FIGHTING.

INEZ AND I WISH TO SEND EVERYONE THE HAPPIEST, THE HEALTHIEST AND VERY BEST THANKSGIVING POSSIBLE. WE ARE THANKFUL TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL, CARING AND SO HELPFUL IN SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE WITH US AT THIS REALLY NOT SO NICE TIME. THROUGH ALL THE CRUMMY TIMES IN THIS WORLD, IT IS SURELY HEART WARMING TO KNOW THAT THEIR ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES THAT ARE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR FEELINGS AND TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. THANKYOU YOU ALL AGAIN. STAY POSITIVE, KEEP FIGHTING AND PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP.

Thankyou Christine for your kind words. Happy Turkey Day to you and your family.

Thankyou Carol...Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

TO EVERYONE, INEZ AND I CANNOT TRULY EXPRESS THE WONDERFUL FEELING WE HAVE WHEN WE RECEIVE ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. YOU ARE ALL A FANTASTIC, CONSIDERATE, CARING GROUP OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. KEEP FIGHTING, KEEP POSITIVE AND NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.

The update thus far is that we just returned from a visit with our pulmonologist and have decided on a course of treatment. The doctor stated that I am very fortunate to have caught this cancer very early and feels that it can be totally removed through VAT, Video-assisted thoracoscopy. This procedure involves inserting a flexible tube that looks like a miniature telescope, a tiny camera, and surgical instruments through an incision in the rib cage. The camera dislays the image on a TV screen and the surgeon uses the display to guide the operation. The advantage over traditional thoracotomy include shorter recovery time and a small incision. Always wanted to be on TV, but hoped for Dancing With The Stars. Interestingly, I had researched to the best of my abilities all the various treatments, asked as many questions as possible and had pretty much decided that this might be the best treatment for me. Did not tell this to the doctor, but was happy when she felt this would be the best way to go. Anyway, Inez and I are happy that we have caught this early and are even happier that hopefully we will be doing something in the next few weeks to get rid of this cancer. We humbly thank all in our family, our friends, and our support groups for all the care, the advice and their prayers. We intend to stay as positive as we can, which we have done with the prostate cancer and not to ever give up. Please remember that early detection is very very important no matter what health problem you are fighting.

Connie, my wife Inez and I want to say that you will be just fine and we will have you in our thoughts and prayers. Stay positive, keep fighting and please never give up.

Good morning Jackie. Thankyou for the kind words and the caring attitude. It is interesting the comparison you make about health care in USA and in Canada. My wife, Inez is from Toronto and her mother is at Baycrest and has alzheimers. She is getting fantastic care. On the other side a friend of mine in Toronto was recently diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and though he might get good results he has had to wait a long time between doctor's visits and procedures. Guess it is six or one or a 1/2 dozen of the other. Anyway, am feeling pretty good, as Inez and I feel we can deal with what is given to us and hopefully make all the right decisions. You are so correct, life changes daily. Take care, keep fighting, stay positive.