Bruce u

Yes Eric i did make it back from the conference but really wanted to stay. The hotel was even better than expected. They gave us a tour of the "castle" and I found out it has 768 guest rooms as well as staff accommodations, 7 restaurants, etc. I was really surprised at all the movies filmed there. World leaders and celebrities are regular guest and the tour guide has worked there since 1962 and had some great stories. Marilyn Monroe was one of his favorite guest. When you are out of the office for a few days that work just keeps piling up Eric.

Hey folks Only 8AM here but I'm already hungry after reading all the post about food. Judy I'm with randy and certainly wouldn't stand you up. When are you coming to Canada again ? LOL Eric I did a story in our local paper a couple years ago for lung cancer month. Along with talking about the risk of smoking, I also tried to include the amount of people with L/C that never smoked. I find that alot of people I talk to that doesn't smoke, has a false sense of security that they cannot get lung cancer. Just an idea for ya. Well it may be Saturday but I still have to go into work for a few hours.

Hi Jim Sorry you had to be here. I was stage 1B and had my upper left lobe removed. I also had 4 rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy after. My combination was Cisplatin/Vinerolbine. Cisplatin is known for causing ringing in the ears and hearing loss so that may be something your Dad can watch for. Also I found that the Decadron really affected my personality and made me very agitated. but you Dad is in a good position that it was discovered early enough for surgery. Take care.

The farm trip is on the 3rd weekend in May Judy. I think I'll spend from may 15th to the 24th there. But I also leave on Sunday for that conference at the castle. Rough life. LOL I heard about the volcano and shutdown of airline traffic on CNN earlier Eric. It may be a good time for working in doors. I enjoy doing those renovation projects as well. I built my own house on the farm.

Morning folks Eric sounds like there may be a chance that your DIY project will be delayed and you will be lounging in the garden again today. I haven't read the Patrick Swayzee book but followed his story through the tabloids, T.V., his documentary, etc. Sad story an certainly show's that this disease can affect anyone in any walk of life. Eric I think Judy is the social butterfly of Key West. I'm not sure if a 20 year old can keep up with her busy schedule ! Have a good day everyone

Hey folks Another sunny, chilly day in the knife. I think I'll have to pull out an atlas as well Eric. LOL I'm sure your scans will be fine Eric and sorry to hear the vacation is over Ned and you are back at chemo. But I guess that also mean's your rercovery went well. Judy in KW enjoy your meeting and dinner. Judy I know what you mean about living by a big body of water and how it effects the weather.

Hey folks. Another sunny day in the knife. I agree Eric it is nice to know what it's like in the rest of the world even if we may never get there. We have a semi arid climate here so it is usually sunny and with very little rain. Quite the opposite of growing up on an island in the north Atlantic.

Yes Eric Yellowknife is right on the shore of Great Slave Lake. That lake is big enough that there is a commercial fishery where boats go out and set nets. I know of at least 3 fish plants on the lake. Even in the winter they set nets under the ice. 40lb lake trout are very common and an 88lb trout was caught in Great Bear Lake. I live in Yellowknife but the farm is in northern Alberta approximately 450 miles to the south. I am originally from Newfoundland which is an island off the east coast of Canada. St. john's is the capital and is the oldest City in North America.

Hey Randy take it easy on the work. Can't enjoy that fancy car if you are working all the time. Next time I see Alex I'll find out if he is scheduled to be in any car show's in your area this summer. Yes Judy I guess that I will be considered the host. It is my kids, their significant other's and a few friend's. LOL It will be the first time that my kids have all been at the farm at the same time. Eric, Yellowknife is in northern Canada about 1500kms north of Edmonton. I tell people that I live so far north that Santa Claus is even farther south ! Nice though especially in summer when we have 24 hours daylight. I always had animals growing up but have lived in cities ever since. This is just a little hobby farm of 160 acres that I bought 5 years ago in northern Alberta. I built a new house there on long weekends and vacation time and I'll move there at some point. Now I just rent out the land to a farmer that grows Alfalfa.

Well the sun is out and not a cloud in the sky this morning. Temperature is a little crisp and there hasn't been any water running from melting snow since last week. Time for the snow to disappear. I'd like some warmer temperatures so that everything on the farm can dry out. Would be much nicer for the May long weekend when close to 30 people are showing up. Eric I am not a golfer and haven't been following the Master's. But Tiger is certainly drawing viewer's. Not sure what kind of fish Dominick caught Judy but 16lbs is nice anyway.Take care

I have had rib pain since my surgery in 07, but not as frequently as you. I had Vat's surgery and the pain is just on that side. My Oncologist told me that it could be a permanent side effect. If you are having it in other area's then there must be a cause for it. Just based on my minimum rib pain, I can understand how it would affect your activities.

Well just as the snow was melting and spring was just around the corner up north, we got more snow on Thursday night. It is supposed to be just below freezing for the weekend and then warming back up next week. Sure has been a different winter weather wise. But in a good way because it has been warmer than normal.

Yes and Eric I am a Newfie ( from Newfoundland in Canada ) to make things even worse. Even Canadians make fun of Newfie's. LOL But that's OK Eric, I'm not particular about the company I keep. LOL

Hey Eric Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) It is a disease that causes the airways to become narrowed causing shortness of breath. Smoking is a common cause. All English ancestry here.......

Hey there Another sunny day in the knife. Little chilly this morning. Just enough for the water that melted yesterday to freeze and make the roads very slippery until the sun heats up. Eric I have been running short of breath doing any strenuous activity since my operation. But the Doctor's have all told me that it was from COPD and not the loss of 40% of my left lung. They said my lungs will expand to compensate for the missing 40%. On my last test, my lung capacity was at 111% compared to a male at my age, height, weight, etc. with 2 lungs.

Another nice day in the north as well. Snow is melting and the daylight is getting longer each day. Now it is daylight from 6am till 9pm. Summer is on the way.

Morning folks. Been awhile since I've posted in the JFF forum. Been busy traveling for work and pleasure but last week a little blonde Texan commented that I hadn't posted in awhile. Thought I better get posting this week when I'm home. Still a bit chilly way up north but we have had alot milder winter than normal.Temperatures have been 10 degree's warmer. Congratulations on the good check up Bud.

Marisa asked me to post an update here for her online friends who have and continue to support her. She is feeling great and just enjoying life. She has little pain and her only complaint is continually waking up during the night. Her latest test show the tumor in her right lung remaining stable and a small tumor in her left lung as well as the brain mets. Her Doctor also told her that this was a different cancer than she had in 2000. For those who may not know, Marisa is Canadian but has lived in Austrailia for many years. Monday is her birthday and she is getting a great present when her daughter arrives from Canada for a visit. Marisa is very excited and has a fun filled visit planned. Marisa is very comfortable with accepting her future and is handling it with dignity and grace. I have met alot of people in my life but I have to say that Marisa has to be the most courageous person that I have ever met. We talk almost on a daily basis and it is a pleasure just knowing her.

Muriel, Marisa is stage 4 and already had decided not to have chemo. She had an operation to remove a tumor on her brain that was affecting her thought process, loss of speech, etc. Her Doctor did recommend radiation which she has now declined.

Marisa has asked me to update all of her friends on the site. She has been recovering very well since her surgery. Her mobility has returned and she is in good spirits. She was scheduled to begin radiation treatments on Monday but rescheduled it until she had a chance to discuss everything with her Doctor. Following that meeting, Marisa has made the decision to not have radiation and to let things take it's natural course. I am sure that everyone will keep Marisa in our thoughts and prayers and support her through this journey. I will continue to update on her behalf.

Marisa has asked me to update her online friends here on her recovery. She is doing really well since her surgery and is now recovering at home, getting stronger everyday and her mobility is returning. She is having her mask made tomorrow and expects to begin her 10 radiation treatments next week. She has a suspected blood clot in her arm and they will be doing an ultrasound as well. She is really in good spirits and still has her wonderful sense of humour. I also have passed along everyone's thought's and prayers to her.

Great news Muriel. Congratulations !!!!!!

Well the latest and greatest update is that Marisa was just released from the hospital and is recovering at home !

Marisa is still improving. Her husband is taking her for walks in her wheelchair and she is doing physiotherapy to regain her strength. She is meeting with a very well known radiologist this week to get a plan in place.

This is what her husband just told me: Marisa had a Brain Operation today (About 5 an a half hours) And she comes out of it smiling like a baby with shining blue eyes. Could not believe it..No bruises, bumps... everythings working fine some 30 minutes later... Am still dumbfounded. The neuro surgeon told me going in that he felt it was NOT the steroids that caused all this but it WAS the enlargement of her cancerous mass in the right Pectoral region which affected her most. Right now they've put her back to 6mgs of steroids which is what she was on just before I took her home. I'm sure everyone will keep Marisa in our thoughts and prayers.