Patti B

(((((Debra)))) I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that we will be here for you if you need us. Hugs - Patti B.

((((((Nick)))) What a beautiful letter that is - I am sure that is something you will hold on to forever. You and your mom had a special relationship - it always reminds me of my relationship with my Nick. Your mom is so very proud of you, Nick. Hugs - Patti B.

OMG Denise- how adorable is he!!!!!! Hugs - Patti B.

Great news, Annette!!!!! Keep up the good news!!! Hugs - Patti B.

YEAH CONNIE!!!!! You rock!!! Congrats!!!! Hugs - Patti B.

And I feel like my attitude HAS gotten me as far as it has. I am Stage IV and was given 12 months and in two weeks it will be three YEARS for me. I refuse to have a pity party for myself, I never say why me (that just gives too much power to the cancer), and I refuse to act like I have cancer. I do what I want, when I want, even though sometimes it might be a little slower than prior to dx. Plus, I refuse to EVER, EVER give up!!! Hugs - Patti B.

Sure will, Michelle. I get the regular flu shot every year and never had a reaction but this would be much worse. I just feel like we have compromised immune systems and don't want to make things any worse. Hugs - Patti B.

Hi all- Just asking a question here. What do you all feel about getting the H1N1 vaccine??? I have heard so many mixed reviews on it that I am not sure what to do and was wondering if others are considering it. I am a patient of Dr. Pennels from cancergrace so rather than asking him on there I will ask him Wednesday when I go for chemo. And of course I will share the info with all of you. My g/f says she has talked to two medical professional who say that the Swine flu has a habit of mutating (haven't heard that yet) and so therefore the vaccine may be useless. The swine flu has hit Ohio - southern Ohio has about 40-45 cases with about 7 at one of their universities; another college nearby has two cases and the highschool in the next community over has 1 case. I just hate to have come this far and then get really sick but I also feel like this vaccine was made awfully fast. What are all of your opinions???? Thanks for your input. Hugs - Patti B.

lRandy- Sandra left Sunday for a week long cruise in Alaska. Hugs - Patti B.

Amen to all those points, Michelle. Thanks for posting it. Hugs - Patti B.

MIchelle- I second what Dana says - go take a nap. Hugs - Patti B.

((((Sarah)))) Your dad was such an amazing man. He always knew just the right thing to say to people and his knowledge of lung cancer and treatments was incredible. He will NEVER, EVER be forgotten on this board. Be gentle on yourself, your dad would have wanted that for you. And remember, he is always there, looking down on you. Hugs - Patti B.

Joy- Glad you got through radiation so well. You may be put on Carbo/Taxol. Thats what I started on. Everyone is different but I have never had any side effects from chemo. I just received chemo infusion number 58 and I have never thrown up or anything like that. Some fatigue and maybe some SOB from certain chemos but all in all not bad at all. I truly wish the same for you. Hugs - Patti B.

Michelle I have never had problems with Zometa. Maybe hes just ot a cold - I hope!!!! Keep us posted. Hugs - Patti B.

Heidi- Maybe its because in your dreams you are trying to protect your mom and dreaming you have it and not her. Who knows why we dream what we do. The other night I dreamt my husband put in a new kitchen sink for me but it was only two feet off the ground and I was washing dishes on my hands and knees!!! LOL!!! In the morning I yelled at him and he looked at me like what the hell did I do now!!! Hugs - Patti B.

YOU GO GET EM MICHELLE!!!!! We will post bail!!! LOL!!! Hugs - Patti B.

(((((Michelle)))) Sorry you are back on the roller coaster ride again. I know how hard that is. I had bone mets to my rt hip and I had 5 rounds of radiation to it last fall and it is fine now. No more pain, and the met is showing hardening which means its going away. They really should do a bone scan to see for sure if its a bone met or not - when I was first dx'd, the kept saying I had a met in my rt rib - well, the bone scan showed nothing. Keeping you in my thoughts. Hugs - Patti B.

(((((Nonni))))) My prayers are with you, your husband and your entire family. Please keep us posted. Hugs - Patti B.

Tova- I just re-read your original post and realized that your mom had 22 treatments. I had only 15 so maybe thats the difference. It will probably take longer for her to get back on track than me. And, yes, I was on Avastin and now having high blood pressure. It started out with horrid headaches. High BP unfortunately is a side effect of Avastin. I have been off of it for over a year and still cannot come of the Norvasc and Atenelol. Guess once you have it, you have it for good!!! Once again, Hugs and prayers for you and Mom. Patti B

Hi Tova- I am so sorry that your mom is experiencing the bad side effects of the radiation. That was something I was so afraid of and actually had a meltdown the first day of radiation because I worried so much who would I be after this was all over. I am, however, on a clinical trial using an approved Alzhemiers drug to see if it will help stop the loss of cognitive thinking after WBR. Its a double blind, so I don't really know if I am taking it or not. I am almost feeling guilty saying that I really had very few side effects at all. My head burned like a sunburn and my forehead, even though the mask was on, had huge dark tanned blotches which I did manage to scrub off. Behind my ears peeled terribly. I did have some headaches and earaches but I took the steroid for two weeks and am already tapered off of it. I really feel good and have already had two chemo sessions. I ended on a Friday and on Monday Chris from Mass came to visit me and we ran like teenagers. Maybe it was the steroid that gave me so much energy. At Cleveland Clinic, they have a bell that looks like a ships bell mounted on the wall. Your last day, all the techs walk you out to the lobby and you get to ring the bell!!! Its kinds cute altho I just wanted to get home and cut off the rest of my hair that was falling all around me. I am hoping and praying that your mom starts to feel better soon. Please let me know how she continues to do. Hugs - Patti B.

Yes, Michelle Where the sun don't shine LOL!!!!! Hugs - Patti B.

Hey Michelle- I am so happy hubby is doing better and I definitely want to come to the part. Whenever Randy comes, he can make some of this yummy deserts!!!! This is why we tell people NOT to listen to statistics - and I hate that some docs give them out. I was told 12 months tops - today is my 35 month mark - in one month I reach 3 years!!!! IN YOUR FACE, DOCS!!!!!! Your hubby is so happy to have you - you came on this board scared and alone and now you are one of the best advocates here!!! You go, girl!!! Give hubby tons of hugs from me and celebrate in style and we will all continue to celebrate his successes with you for a long time to come!!! Hugs - Patti B.

Oh Lilly- This is so great!!!!!! I thought of you several times yesterday and was hoping you were not too scared. This is the greatest news there could be!!!! You rock, girlfriend!!!!!! Hugs - Patti B.

Barb- I had a clot in my leg last year and had to give myself those lovely shots in my abdomen and am still on Coumadin. It did NOT affect me getting any of my chemos. I get a INR (coumadin level) every week and they have NEVER cancelled a chemo treatment no matter if the level is high or low. Unfortunately, everything you eat will affect your level, and if he gets decadron with chemo, that will affect it too. Good luck to you both and hope Bill is feeling better soon. Hugs - Patti B.

Richard- You rock!!! Keep up the good work and please keep us posted!! Hugs - Patti B.