SandraL

Hi there John. If you are like me it will take you awhile to get used to all the information on this site. But there is lots of it, lots of inspirational stories, and lots of support. Take your time, look around, and ask any questions you would like.

Hi Susan and welcome. I can't believe you diagnosed yourself. I knew I was in big trouble long before I was formally diagnosed as well. It seems the medical system can be hard to get into. But once you are in, you are in and the help can begin. There are lots of inspirational stories and great support here. Stay positive, you sound like you are doing great so far.

News like that can take awhile to absorb and believe. But it is great and reason to celebrate. Thanks for letting us know of let another success story. Radiation can work wonders. Take care

Thanks yet again for all your support and good wishes. I have now seen it in writing with my own eyes, NED. And better yet, now that I have gotten my blood pressure under control I have been cleared to go on a clinical trial. It's a vaccinne intended to prevent it from going back...go away and stay away please (and thank you). My med onc confirmed what a lucky girl I am. Agreed with me that I should go buy a lottery ticket. Now if only my analytical mind can convince myself that I am not receiving placebo on clinical trial. One out of three chance of that.

Welcome Gail. You will definitely find lots of support here. It took me awhile to figure out where all the info is on this site, but there is tons of it, and lots of inspirational stories. Best wishes

Hi Lisa. The first part is always very tough and it gets better from there. Hang in there...take it day by day. Great you are there for your mom. You will see by reading here that there is lots that can be done. Take care

Hi there. I have had several exploratory surgical procedures including lymph node biopsy. Your mom will be in pain for sure and they will give her pain medication. Make sure she takes it on time and watch out for constipation from pain meds. It actually took me some time to recover from exploratory surgery, couldn't drive etc. But, they will find out exactly what is going on so you can move on with treatment. This is a very scary time in the journey. But it does get better..hang in there.

The great news is great. And I am sure the other stuff will work it's way out. Hope you feel well enough to celebrate.

I think you have good reason to be excited. And I agree, the benefits from radiation can take awhile to unfold. I am still getting more positive results from radiation months later. Hope you have continued good reports.

Please know there is always hope. And the oncologists know what they are doing. Ask lots of question, ask what all the options are and get actively involved in treatment. It is so very scary at first...but it does get better. God bless you and take care. Read my signature, I have been very lucky so far...

What I have found through my my journey so far is that it is best for me to give my doctors or nurses feedback when they have disappointed me. Not that I necessarily want different ones, more because I think they need to hear feedback from a patients perspective. Most times they have done something without thinking about it from that perspective. So far, all have appreciated hearing my feedback. And it can be done very diplomatically. I have found it makes me feel better as well, because if I don't say something then it can bother me for a long time...and we sure don't need things bothering us when we are fighting this thing!

Hi Barbara. It sounds like you have had an interesting journey with your hubby. I am sure you have lots to contribute. Welcome What other support site did you belong to? I haven't explored any others since finding this one. There is probably more information I should be reading.

and I am an excitable gal! In mid February I received results after CT scan on results of my 1st line chemo radiation treatment. And the news then was that my response was "excellent" and "that I could possibly have had a complete positive response". Well I of course was thrilled by that and now.... I had another CT scan this week, as part of establishing a baseline for a critical trial I am wanting to get on. So, I of course have been a little anxious about those results but was thinking things couldn't have changed that much. Well my GP who gets copied on results called me tonight (way after his normal working hours) and told me he "wanted to thank me for the gift I had given to him and his staff in his office". I said thank you but what gift would he be referring to. He said he had written report from my CT scan this week and it is even more positive than the last. He read it to me and I am pretty sure he said the words "no evidence" several times. And that he can't quite believe it either, quite remarkable he said. I think I am now starting to really believe it. I am a conservative accountant by profession so have been holding out on really absorbing even my previous great news. But WOW I am excited now. I now don't have to be a bit nervous going to see medical oncologist next week...I will just tell her the good news first! I cannot believe that I have been so blessed and do not know why I have been chosen to be so lucky. But I'll take it. I am going dancing tonight and hope I don't step on any one's toes in my excitement. And then I will be having a nice glass of wine at the pub. (Now that I have figured out this virtual pub thing). Thank you all for listening, I do go on.

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner. I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?" "No, I had to stop drinking years ago", the homeless woman told me. "Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?" I asked. "No, I don't waste time shopping," the homeless woman said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive." "Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?" I asked. "Are you NUTS !" replied the homeless woman. " I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!" "Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight." The homeless Woman was shocked. "Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting." I said, "That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine."

Hi there Janette from a fellow Canadian. I would simply not listen to the curable versus treatable. Read my signature below for my history and treatment. I am also stage 3b. There were some risks with me receiving chemo but I weighed them up and went for it. And I survived it quite nicely, and am now even back at work. Ask lots of questions of medical oncologist on Monday. Everyone's circumstances are different though. Feel free to send me a private message and I can explain more details on decision making for me. The first bit is tough...it does get better though. Take care

Possibly, for an hour maybe, with a really good incentive/reward at the end...really good.

hey there. I agree with everyone else here. Very early on a nurse told me not to ask for what I did not want to hear or believe. I told my doctor I did not want to hear any statistics. So, you have heard them once, tell your doctor the same. Chemo ain't great...but it ain't so bad either. And you will find care at cancer clinic absolutely phenomenal and be inspired by other patients. Never give up.

Great news. Continue with your hope and trust. We need everybody helping us out. God, our doctors, our fellow survivors and our families.

well that is just awesome news. And so good to be able to share that with your family. Celebrate!

Hi Lori. I figured out the low profile of lung cancer quite quickly once I got it. And I got mad. Getting media attention can be quite difficult as I found out. Lung cancer is simply not news but should be. I got media contacts from friends and from my cancer clinic. I ended up having some success with radio, tv and local newspaper, but boy did I have to be persistent. It can be done though if you have the energy. I plan to do more in the future. You go girl.

Telling and having my kids live with this has been the toughest part for me. You have to tell them for sure as they intuitively know anyways. Telling mine was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but it actually went better than I thought it would. Mine are 11 and 13. I told them, and I told them I wasn't going to die, I was going to fight and be strong. And that they have cancer clinics to cure people. I told them that what I needed from them was for them to carry on with their normal lives the best they could and that nothing would change for them. We were playing monopoly within an hour of telling them. And they have been so great, carrying on like troopers. I have found though that they do worry more than you might think. All kids are different though and deal with it differently. My son was much more worried than my daughter. I was never more happy than to tell them the good results after my first line treatment. They continue to worry though I know, and the best thing I can continue to do is try to help them not to worry. Kids really don't deserve this...but they have amazed me in how they have dealt with it. My best wishes to you and your family.

hey there. You are definitely not alone. I have 2 young children and I have found that one of the most frightening aspects to deal with through all of this. Nobody here deserves any of this, especially our kids. I have done well on treatment and am sure you can too.

Hi there. I know how you feel. You do not know what to expect and wonder what will happen. Everyone reacts differently for sure. I did not suffer too badly from radiation or chemotherapy. With radiation, very much depends on where they are radiating. The attitude I took though, was that they tell you all the possible side effects...but I decided I was not going to suffer from them. I think attitude can play a big part. On the other hand, some people are just more susceptible to side effects. And you just have to go with what you get and deal with it as you can. Really watch out for that nasty constipation thing...get on top of that as quickly as possible...think it is mostly from anti-nausea meds. Drink drink drink...and follow constipation protocol.

You are inspiring me with your string of NED's. WOW. Keep on going.

welcome Chris. I am about a month ahead of you in treatment. Had combo curative doses of both chemo and radiation. My hair is all gone, and I really liked it. You must have had different chemo meds than I. It is a ride for sure. Lots of ups and downs. I have found the information and the folks on this site very helpful. I'm going to see my med onc tomorrow for the official word on results to date. I will also be starting on a clinical trial soon. It's a vaccinne, trial is called START. It's for 3a or b folks who have had both chemo and radiation and have had a positive response. Let me know if you would like some more information on that. take care and take time to read lots of profiles on this site..they have given me further reason for hope