Tami

I have been thinking of her too. I bet Frank gave her a big ole hug when he saw her from all of us! Miss you Fay.. Tami

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17345378/wi ... 3?GT1=9033 You may have to cut and paste the link but it's a new headline on mSN. The article talks about a new breath test for LC. Supposed to be effective for even early stages.. interesting reading although it sounds like it's still early. anything that would help them find it early would be a blessing.

I only watch one show a week.. i guess I work too much. Anyway.. come H*ll or highwater I never miss Nip/Tuck. I have never missed an episode.. I love it! Although now it's on break so I've filled my one show per week with House. I really like that show too. I think Hugh Laurie is amazing. I may have to watch them both this fall...

It took a while to respond to this post. My heart is just breaking My thoughts and prayers to his family. Here's to Bud Light and Chocolate Donuts! I will always remember you and David A. trying to "one up" the women on the just of fun board. What an incredible source of support and information you have been to us. You will be missed. This is just so hard.. I think I've been on the board too long.

I did.. Well actually it was an xray of my shoulder. I really didn't have any symptoms of LC. I had hurt/pain in my shoulder and my doc recommended an xray. I was your typical mid 30's, non smoker.. good health. I don't think LC was something they would have normally ever considered. Thanks goodness a keen radiologist noticed the mass in my lung..

I agree, I don't think a reaction like that happens to most people i would have it checked immediately. I will say after having both Carbo and cisplatin that the latter was much harder to do. I had nausea, confusion, pain and neuropathy with it. I hope that her next treatment is easier for her to handle. tami

Nancy, Good luck on your surgery. I had sugery 3 times to try and remove my tumor. through the back, side and finally had a pneumonectomy to remove the left lung. They did a lot of that through the front and I also had a bunch of scar tissue as well due to my radiation. If you have questions please PM me.. I'd be happy to talk to you about the details of my surgery. Tami

Okay.. I need some help. Sometimes it's tough with no mom or family to run too for things like this. I'm looking for a recipe for raisin filled cookies. I could look on line but I was hoping that someone may have a tried and true recipe. I have never made them before and I would like to make some for my boss for the holiday. Those are his favorites.. Nothing real complicated.. I'm not even close to betty crocker, more like the Pillsbury Doughboy.. I have never made them before but I'll bet someone has a really good recipe that will make some fabulous cookies. Thanks!! Tami

I had both.. Like the others my carbo was in conjuction with another chemo. The cist was in conjuction with rads. The carb combo was easier for me to tolerate. I did get the neuropathy.. didn't lose my hair (thinned) with anything. I was tired etc.. The cist is very hard on the kidneys and has a longer infusion time. drink tons of water.. I was more tired, more nausea, confusion etc.. with this stuff. I may be due to the added rads but it was harder for me.. Good luck, Tami

After the holidays are over I think we should all try to post a pic of our tree.. I would love to see them all... they are all so beautiful in their own way.. What do ya think?? Katie, you may have to help some of us non-techie's with the postings.

okay.. I'll be the odd one. Yes, tinsel for me. I guess part of the reason i love it is the old memories it brings. Remembering how my mom would put it on strand by strand and we as kids would just kind of toss handfuls all over. Now my kids and I do the same thing and they think it's so funny to toss clumps of it on the high branches while I try to put it on real evenly.. Then how the strands get all full of static and stick to your clothes when you walk by. I guess it just reminds me of when I was younger. Mess... are you kidding? By the time i get the tree down I've got tinsel, needles and everything else all over my house. I guess that's part of the fun for me! Oh yes.. I do have cats. Funny, they haven't tried to eat it, at least not that I've noticed. All they do is break my ornaments..

Robin.. Like the others said hang in there. My original diagnosis was also adeno, stage IV. It is impossible to explain what those words felt like. The fear, pain, anger and injustice I felt. It is like nothing else. I was only in my mid 30's, never smoked (I assumed that LC was a smoker disease) and I was very healthy till then. I was single with 3 small kids. I really wanted to just give up too. The pain and fear were all consuming for a very long time.. BUT it helped as soon as i met with the onco and had a plan. A PLAN! What a wonderful thing that is. That's when I started to fight and felt like I could win. It will help when you have your own treatment plan. When you connect with others (like the folks here) who have been there and done that. They are living, they are happy. It is doable and you will do it too. Ask questions, seek support. This is a club that no one wants to belong to. But we are in this together. Keep us posted, we care. Tami

Christmas Carols for the Psychologically Challenged 1 . Schizophrenia: Do You Hear What I Hear? 2 . Multiple Personality Disorder: We Three Queens Disoriented Are 3 . Amnesia: I Don't Know if I'll be Home for Christmas 4. Narcissistic: Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me 5. Manic: Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and ... 6. Paranoid: Santa Claus is Coming to Get Me 7. Borderline Personality Disorder: Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire 8 . Full Personality Disorder: You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why 9. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells .. 10. Agoraphobia: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House 11. Senile Dementia: Walking in a Winter Wonderland Miles From My House in My Slippers and Robe 12. Oppositional Defiant Disorder: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House 13. Social Anxiety Disorder: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate. Happy Holidays... Tami

val, My father remarried after my mom died. Her spouse had died also. In fact they were childhood sweethearts. It is hard to have someone step into that role as mother, grandmother. But it sounds as though this woman completely understands your feelings and is very respectful of that. My step mother was wonderful.. she was the best thing for my kids. My mom died while I was pregnant with my first and it was so difficult. when my dad remarried it turned out to be such a blessing. She took it slow and left pictures and things of my mom in the house. She never tried to replace my mother she was just a wonderful companion and wife to my dad, a friend to me and my siblings and a wonderful gram for my kids. My kids loved her and it was wonderful for them to have a grandma.. Now that my dad is gone I still have my "mom" to talk to and to be the grandma to my kids. I'm sure that your mother is so happy for all of you. I'm sure that she is proud of you for accepting this woman into your family. Honestly, I believe the Lord puts people in our lives for a reason and he must have special plans for her. You are really gaining a friend and a special person in your childrens lives. take care and enjoy those wedding plans! tami

We are just glad to see you post.. I know I think about the folks here and wonder how they are doing, test results etc. WE CARE. Post with the good, the bad and also the inbetween. I'm sorry your having some trouble again. Take some time for yourself and take each day as it comes. I know that it's tough but try to find some joy in the holidays. I know it's hard to do. I haven't been finding any joy in anything at all lately myself. So believe me I'm just trying to make it through the month. Prayers for the CT scan and also for the chemo. Those chemo days can be so difficult. Keep us posted. tami

Here's to a wonderful Christmas and a much better year for all of us. Tami

Larry.. it is interesting how C changes things. Whether you yourself had it, you are caring for someone with it or lost someone to it. I think it does change things, it changes alot. How we change seems to be individual though. You seem more thinned skinned and take things personally others seem colder?? I really wish that when I started down this road not only did the doctors come up with a treatment plan I also think they should come up with a "therapy or a plan" for how this may affect your personaility, your mind, your life. what happens next.. during treatment, after treatment etc. I really believe they are overlooking a great need. Cancer has changed my outlook, my personality everything. I'm no longer the person I was at all and the farther I have come from treatment the more I am changing in many ways. I no longer have the patience and smiling acceptance of people I used. I cannot and do not listen and sympathize with people as they weep and complain about their inability to take that 2nd vacation this year or the fact that they had to do some overtime at work last Saturday. The fact that their mother still treats them like a child when they visit every weekend or even at every holiday. I tend to isolate myself much more now. At work, around people I consider friends, even just walking in stores or being out and about. I guess I could be considered rude. I don't want to be around groups or folks chatting away and listening to their holiday plans, vacation getaways and private schools for kids. Where the biggest thing in their life is the fact that they can't chose which patio furniture they are going to buy this year... I don't remember that being a concious decision but I retreat more and more. I'm not really fun and don't enjoy life anymore, except with my kids. All my days seem to amount to are endless complications, pain and being disillusioned with people and situations. I guess what I'm trying to say is I think it's normal after everything you have been through. You have lost your love and you are wounded and have every right to feel vulnerable and thinned skinned. As time passes that may change and you may build yourself up again. However, I don't think things will ever be quite the same as before. Thanks for the jokes.. the just for fun forum is one of my favorites and it gives me a lift everyday. tami

Hi there.. Sorry to hear about the set back your husband had. Dehydration is a very dangerous thing. Forgive me if I'm out of line here but I think your husband is suffering from a terrible case of depression and fear. I know you said that he doesn't want to take depression medicine but I would talk with his doctors perhaps. I think that could be just as tough on him physically is anything else.I think his reluctancy to talk to another doctor (because his doctor is going to cure him) and his refusal for an MRI to me indicate that he is in the grips of some terrible anxiety. I agree that he may want to talk to another doctor. But that's tough to do.. I think he's afraid of what he will hear. He may be so afraid that he's willing to stay with a treatment that may or may not be the best because this doctor has said that he will cure him. He's willing to do that rather than hear another doctor tell him that he can't be cured or that he can't be treated. I may be wrong but as they say in MHO I really think the two of you need to discuss this. he has a right to bury his head in the sand and stick with one doctor no matter what but if that's his choice you have to let go and believe that this is his decison. Right or wrong you can't change it and it's out of your hands. If you don't do that you may feel guilty for not trying to convince him.. and that's not your role. Just support him and let him make the decision. If he is willing acknowledge his fear but encourage him. Many of us will could state that if we wouldn't have had a second opinion we may not be here. After several surgeries and treatments I was given no hope.. I had to beg several doctors to even look at me but I finally found one who consented to operate, he did and I'm still here. Honestly, I don't know if I would have the courage or fortitude to do that now. Too many things have happened in my life and I'm tired. Try to also take care of you. I know what it's like to go without pay and try to hold everything together. I was single at the time with 3 kids who depended on me. I went to surgery and appointments alone and tried to work through it all. Watching my savings, my credit, my everything go down the tubes.. It IS hard. I don't know how you do it..?? you just put one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. Care for yourself, and don't beat yourself up. You make the best decisions you can and you do as much as you can. You are doing a great job, you really are. No one knows how tough it is till you do it. Lot's of us here "get it" we've been there. Vent ask questions etc. all you want. There is so much knowledge and support here. I'll be praying for both of you..

Tasha.. I think those of us who have done radiation can feel for your mom. We've been there. My throat wasn't so much as sore but felt moe swollen.. like nothing would fit down there. Turns out yes, it was very swollen and narrowed. It felt like something was stuck in there all the time. Many things just made me gag.. to this day I can't handle plastic silverware. Just the though of a plastic spoon is more than i can handle and it's been years. However, as the others say it normally doesn't last too long. the body does such an amazing job at healing. Each day gets better than the next and it gets easier. I ate whatever tasted good and whatever I felt I could handle. Some days colder stuff felt better, other days warm. I just went with the flow.. It does get better. keep us posted.. Tami

I loved it!!! Woohoo!! (BTW.. my PT christmas job is a cashier at Target. I love watching people swipe their card, push all the buttons etc. I get to relax for a second or two and just enjoy watching them try to navagiate all those screens. A pleasant smile comes across my face.. but I would never eat anyones candy bar.. however, I have been know to sneak a gummy bear or two)

My Aunt passed away this morning at 7:30am. In August we were at our county fair (it's a tenting fair and you actually live there for a week) and we discussed chemo, radiation and her treatment plan. Compared her's to mine etc. She expressed her fear of dying and her hope for survival. Her adult son passed away this summer in a tragic motorcycle accident. Now they are together again. It's hard to lose so many people, isn't it? I hate this *$%#!!! disease.. I really do. Life is just so painful.. Tami

Wow.. there are a bunch of us here from central PA. I'm also from Happy Valley.. anyone how wants to chat just PM me.. Tami

Dani.. it is so very scary isn't it?? I will be praying for a clean PET scan and thinking about you on Sunday.. I, along with the others, agree on waiting to tell the family later. For me it was easier if it was just me waiting and worrying rather than knowing everyone else was doing the same. Good luck!!!

Prayers for Rich!!!

You got it.. prayers coming your way!!