Max L

Hi Muriel...Hard to keep positive attitude, but will try my hardest. Have too much to live for. Just have to keep remembering one day at a time and so far today was great. Lets see what tomorrow brings. You also stay well and stay positive. Thanks for your concern.

Thankyou Don. I will most certainly consider cyberknife surgery along with all my other options. As hard as this all is to take, it is a hell of a lot easier once you have fought another cancer, as you are so much better prepared to fight this one, which I and Inez intend to do with everything at our disposal. Hope you are doing well. Will keep you all informed as to our future plans. Again thankyou Don and everyone else for the care, love and concern. Keep fighting, stay positive and look ahead.

Thankyou Shelly...Inez and I doing the best we can and are desperately trying to be ready for whatever comes. We have so much to be thankful for that we cannot let this get in the way of our continued happiness. I feel and I think Inez feels the same that we have a storybook romance. Like the song, we love each other more today than yesterday and half as much as tomorrow. Am not ready to give this up, so will fight with everything at our disposal. Thanks again for your thoughts and your prayers. Keep fighting, keep positive and never give up. Easy to say, but not always easy to do.

Rose, thankyou for your thoughts and prayers. Hope you stay well. Like when I was told I had prostate cancer it was overwhelming, but with that experience this is still a shock, but my wife and I feel we can better handle it now. I keep repeating it, but you have to stay positive, although at this moment it is somewhat difficult. Am going out to dinner shortly and then will play cards with friends. Helps take my mind off of my problems for awhile. Please feel well and again thankyou for your thoughts. Keep fighting.

Thankyou Muriel and thankyou Ned. A little concerned how my heart will handle all this, but so far it has been ticking away. My cardiologist wants me to take a stress test, before any treatment to see how strong I will be. Think it will all work out. Ned, thankyou for all the good advice, which I will surely listen too. Thanks again for caring. Will try to keep positive, though it might be easier tomorrown than at this very moment.

Well, along with my prostate support group it appears that I may qualify to join this lung cancer support group. Got the final biopsy results, no thanks to my doctor who has known for a few days, but has chosen not to tell me until next Tuesday. The final diagnoses on the report shows left upper lobe, core biopsy: Non-small cell carcinopa, Morphology and immunoprofile are consistent with primary non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. There is positive TTF and CK7 immunostaining of the neoplastic cells. PSA and CK20 immunostains are negative. Since I have not talked to a doctor yet, I really do not know for certain what all this means, though it does appear to be lung cancer and I do not think it is metastic yet. Have sent copies of this biopsy to my medical oncologist, my radiation oncologist and my primary doctor. The pulmonogist already knows all this info and will see me Tuesday. With heart disease, diabetis, prostate cancer, anemia, low tetesterone, sleep apnea and now the possiblity of lung cancer, these golden years do not look so golden. I have always preached a positive attitude and will continue to do so, but at this very moment it is difficult to take my own advice. I do not want to jump the gun, so will wait to hear from all the doctors as to the best treatment, if treatment is necessary. Have read a little about a Thoracotomy, which sounds a little risky. Video-assisted thorascoscopy seems a little better. Have no idea about prognosis, but will try to keep a positive attitude and see what future will bring. I am ahead of the curve,as I have a loving wife, family and friends and lots of support, so will fight the best I can and will try to stay positive. Thanks to all of your group for being there and for listening.

Hi Welthy...Thankyou for your kind words. Will be glad when it is over and will be even happier when I have results. Am hoping for the best, but along with my wonderful wife, Inez, we will handle whatever comes along. Had a sleep apnea test Tuesday and found out I do not breathe well when I sleep, in fact, for short periods, I seem to stop breathing, which is really not a great thing. Guess they are going to recommend a machine to sleep with. Prefer Inez, but probably can handle both. Inez told our pulmonologist that she sometimes nudges me during the night as thinks I am not breathing. Well, she was right and I am thankful she noticed this. Will let you all know the results. Thanks again to you and every wonderful person on this site for their thoughts and prayers. Keep postive, keep fighting and never give up.

Thankyou Ernie. We do our best to keep a positive attitude, but please do not think for one moment that it is easy to do. We have been depressed and have cried separately and together, but the together part is what has kept us going and keeping up as good an attitude as possible. Am not ashamed to admit that the older I get the easier it is to cry. The truth is that Inez and I are each other's rock. We are really very lucky. Take care, and do stay positive.

Hi Christine, Stacey, Bobby, Katie, Barb and Katie. Sure proves once again how important it is when women get involved with their wonderful support. Wish we had more women involved in our prostate cancer support group. Inez and I appreciate your caring and concern. We send it right back to you. Will keep you all informed about my results. In my mind not knowing is the toughest part. Cannot fight what you do not know. Take care, stay positive and keep fightining and do not give up.

Hi Christine...Our thoughts and prayers go out for your friend. Much too young to leave. Thankyou for your nice words and never do give up.

Good moring all. Just want to update what is happening to me regarding the 1cm nodule found in my lung. I did see a pulmonologist and she had me take a blood test for Valley Fever, which seems to be a popular disease when you live in Arizona. Well, the results were inconclusive, so next Friday I will have a needle biopsy to find out if nodule is malignant. Hoping it is not, but prepared to deal with it if it does turn out that it is. After dealing with so much,prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetis, anemia, Inez and I will just continue to think positive and do whatever has to be done. On a really good note, I took a blood test that my cardiologist requested and the numbers were fantastic. Cholesterol..121, Triglycerides.99, HDL/LDL percentage 2.3%. 2.6% to 2.8% is the beginning of a possible reverse in heart disease, so am very happy about my numbers. My wonderful wife, Inez, family, friends and the support groups have been a wonderful help in dealing with all these problems and are the reasond my prostate cancer is in remission, heart doing well, and diabetis under control. Still fighting the anemia. I have learned from all of you that a positive attitude, never give up attitude and a willingness to continue fighting are the important ingrediants to a healthier future. Thankyou all for listening and above all for caring. Inez and I wish you all the very best health in years to come. Do not give up. MEANT TO ASK IF ANYONE HAS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF NOVALIS SHAPED BEAM SURGERY AND IS IT USED IN HELPING LUNG CANCER. [/b]

I am thankful to all of you that have replied with your great advice and your caring. Barbara if you read the reply from Stacey she described Valley Fever as: Barb, Valley Fever, also known as Coccidioidomycosis , is a nasty fungus present in the soil of the desert southwest. It is endemic in AZ, and also found in many parts of So. Cal. as well as Texas, New Mexico, and South America. We Zonies tend to be exposed during our summer dust storms, as well as during ANY activity that kicks up dust. Most never even develop symptoms but in a small percentage, pneumonia develops, often followed by nasty, cavitating nodules. It is managed (there is currently no "cure". Stacey, the doctor's name is Carla Rotering. She started the practice, but is building a home in the Carribbean so is not here all the time. Claims the doctors in her practice are fantastic. We will see. She did give the time and answer the questions as Dr Lam (medical oncologist) did on my first visit about prostate cancer. He spoke to us 2 1/ hours and more important handed us a tape of the complete conversation. Most doctors enjoy playing CYA. My doctor did say that she did not expect great results from the valley fever blood test as it should have been give when I spent 5 or 6 weeks coughing and sputtering. Mary, Kasey, Don, Barbara, Stacey and Ned. Thankyou all again for your concerns, your caring and your advice. Will stay in touch.

Had my first visit with a pulmonologist today and in her opinion after looking at PET Scan, along with the fact that PET scan showed an SUV value of approximately 3.9,she cannot say for certain whether I have lung cancer. She feels that it may very well be valley fever, expecially living in Arizona 30 years. Am having a blood test to check for valley fever, sometimes known as Arizona Flu and she is arranging for a needle biopsy the first week in November. She has a great deal of experience in the field of pulmonology and stayed with my wife and I until every question we had was answered to our satisfaction. She is also going to test me for sleep apnea, as Inez mentioned she sometimes has to nudge me when we are asleep as I do not sound like I am breathing. Stop worrying about one thing and another crops up. The doctor seemed confident that if this nodule does prove to be malignant that it should not be difficult to just go in and take it out, as there does not at this time appear to be any other problems. Inez and I do feel better and are trying our best to stay as positive as we can. Thanks again for all your thoughts,advice and prayers. You can never get enough. Stay well and keep fighting.

Barb...my wife, Inez and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. I am a prostate cancer survivor and now they have found a nodule in my lung, so will have to wait and see what this is all about. The love and care of our support groups, both this group and my prostate cancer group have kept us going and have helped us be as positive as we can and to maintain as much hope as we can. Enjoy each day to the best of your ability, keep in touch with family, friends and the support group and please, do not give up. Inez and I have done a lot of crying, but always wind up hugging and kissing, which really keeps us going. Hug and kisses to you both...you can never get enough.

Wonderful, wonderful news Alisa. Keep fighting, keep posiitive and never give up.

Hi Barb I am just at the very beginning of possible lung cancer and will know more shortly. Am a 4 year survivor of prostate cancer, so have some idea what you are feeling as my wife, Inez and I have felt the same way, particularly at the beginning. Please keep in touch with this support group as I can only tell you that without the support that this support group and the prostate support group has shown my wife and I, am doubtful we would be able to cope as well as we have. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Try to stay as positive as you can and never give up.

Hi Stacey Thankyou for your reply. Yes, we have discussed Valley Fever, but no has tested me for it, but I will talk about it to the pulmonologist. Have heard about Dr Viggiano at Mayo and may also go to him. I have medicare and a good supplement (not an HMO). For prostate cancer I go to Dr Lam (Medical Oncologist) in Marina Del Rey California, because his office only specializes in prostate cancer. Inez and I beleive in finding the very best regardless of where we have to go. Do not want to be a guinea pig. If it is FV, I will certainly check into the doctor you receommended. Again thankyou and thanks to this wonderful site for all the love and support Inez and I have been given. You keep well, keep positive, keep fighting and never give up.

Inez and I just want to say hello to everyone and to wish you all great October. For any baseball fans out there, must say that we are very happy in Arizona. Sorry about the Cubbies. Started as a Brooklyn Dodger fan years ago. They moved so became Mets fan, I moved and now am Diamondback fan. Went to the second playoff game and we had a lot of fun. Certainly kept my mind off my health problems for awhile. An hour ago got a call from a friend in Toronto who was told yesterday he has prostate cancer and you all know how devestating that can be the first time you hear that dreaded word. Tried to give him all the support I could and hopefully he will, in time start to feel better.Thinking about him and all of our problems that we are fighting through, and Inez and I both still feel very lucky to have each other, great family, great friends and all of you wonderful and caring people at both this support group and the prostate support group. Wish the world in general would care more about each other, than maybe we would not have so many wars. Unfortunately, power and money seems to creep in there. Well, feel better I wrote these few words. Again, we are grateful for your caring and your support. Stay positive, keep fighting, never never give up.

Thankyou for the information NED. The more you are informed the better off you are in my opinion. Doctor can still give you snow job, but maybe with a little knowledge I can understand when that is happening. I also was in Air Force, but not a pilot. Worked in office. Also spent 23 years in sales working for TWA. Loved those passes, but not so good now that I am retired and have to depend on American Airlines. Inez and I board now after cat, dogs and children, so lately, we have been going like a normal passenger, using credit card mileage. We were on a cruise to Hawaii last year and loved it. Still hoping and thinking good thoughts about your health. Take care, think positive and keep fighting. Oh, yes which Airline did you work for?

Hi Ned. I wish you good results on your PET Scan. I really do feel okay about mine. Not too thrilled about the advanced heart disease, but have know about that and am working on it along with the prostate cancer. Am not too certain what SUV uptake means but someone else said that it is not too bad. What I am really grateful about through all this is all of you at this wonderful support site. You are all so very caring and understanding. Too bad we had to have met like this, but at the same time, it is fantastic to have such support. The same goes for my Prostate support group. Will take it a day at time and see what happens. Feel well, best of luck again with your PET scan.

Hi Rachel. Inez and I are sure hoping the best for you. You are correct as we always seem to be waiting for one thing or another. Will see a pulmonologist 10/16 and go from there. At my age it seems that if it is not one thing it is another, but am so far very fortunate to have such a loving wife, family, friends and support group. Thankyou for caring and please stay positive, keep fighting and never give up. You have two beautiful children.

Hi Kasey (Love your spelling) My daugter's middle name is Caryn (not Karen). Probably confuses everyone. Anyway Inez and I are also anxious, but will continue to stay positive. Went to baseball playoff game last night between Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs and were positive the DBacks would win and they did, so see, being positive pays off. Hope your hubby's nodes stay the same and nothing more occurs. Take care and thankyou for your reply.

Good morning all. My wife, Inez and I want to say thankyou to all of you in this wonderful support group. Finally got the results of my PET Scan and they are: History: Pulmonary nodule. Radiopharmaceutical: 14.8 millicuries 18 fluorine FDG. Findings: Following the administration of the radiopharmaceutical whole-body CT Pet scanning is performed and demonstrates an approximately 1 centimeter nodule in the left midlung. The nodule exhibits increased FDG accumulation with an SUV value of approximately 3.9. A neoplasm is not excluded. The lungs otherwise clear. No other foci of abnormal FDG accumulation evident. Advanced coronary artery atherosclerotic disease noted. The prostate gland is enlarged. CT Pet examination otherwise unremarkable. Impression: 1. Approximately 1 centimeter left midlung pulmonary nodule that exhibits increased FDG accumulation. A lung neoplasm is not excluded. 2. Whole-body CT Pet scan otherwise negative. ***** Final Report ***** Transcribed Date: 10/03/2007 Interpreted By: FREDENBERG MD, PATRICK Signature Date: 10/03/2007 :PF Electronically Signed Have an appointment with a Pulmonologist 10/16. My family doctor felt after reading report that on a scale of 1 to 10, that I probably fall between 3 and 4, with 10 being the worst. Guess we will wait and see what happens next. Could not have through any of this without your kind words of support. Thanks again, keep fighting, stay positive and please never give up.

I fully agree that she is taking a chance with her life. My limited experience with cancer of any sort is that though I may not agree with the persons choice of treatment or choice not to have treatment, I will support them the best I can. Stay positive, keep fighting, never give up.

Hi Ernie. Have not gotten that far. Just surprised what the nurse told me about the air and a biopsy. Think personally she is full of hot air, but I respect her opinion, since I am far from an expert. Will have PET scan in two days and will go from there. Thanks for replying. This is a great support site and support is what I need.