LovesLife

Oh Jill - the entire family must be reeling - this was just so quick. Yes, their wedding will likely be bittersweet - I hope they can find joy in the day as they celebrate their love. Please pass along my most sincere condolences to your sister and soon to be family ... it is so sad. Linda

I am so very sorry to hear about your mom. Please accept my most sincere condolences and I wish you peace and strength in the difficult days ahead. Linda

I am so sorry to hear of Marcia's passing. My most sincere condolences to her family. Linda

Jill - this is certainly not the update I expected to hear. Please know my prayers and good thoughts are with you, your sister, her fiance and all his loved ones during this terrible ordeal. Linda

Denise - I'm not sure how I missed this whole post before (we'll just blame it on old age!) Anyhow, glad to see that being your own advocate helped you get your appointment quicker than if you had just waited by the phone. Way to go!!! BTW, I have fibrous breasts - just means they are lumpy (not as easy to do self-exams and I typically have to have an ultrasound every year on one of my girls - it always turns out to be fibrocystic tissue and just fine). I will praying for the same result for you on Monday. Great update on Tom too! Linda

Jill - I am so sorry to hear that someone else in your circle has been diagnosed with this wretched disease. I too, hope and pray that the fact that he is having surgery is a good sign. He may very well be at that wedding in 10 days. Please keep us posted as to how he is doing. Linda

Hoping tomorrow is a better day for your Pop-Pop. Linda

Welcome. I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you get this recent issue with the swelling dealt with quickly through the Urgent Care visit. Please keep us posted. Linda

Amen! May He guide you through these troubled times and carry you when you most need it. Linda

Patti - that is such WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC, AWESOME news!!! Enjoy your mini-vacation in the bleachers rooting for your very own favorite swimmer (good luck Nick!) Linda

Bud - our two cases sound very much alike (3rd CXR showed increased growth), further testing (CT scan) showed spiculated appearance - like yours, pretty sure it was cancer. Our surgical experience was also the same - wedge first, biopsy, on to lobectomy. So, it is certainly odd that they removed the lobe don't you think? Very bizarre story. Perhaps he was honest and open at the beginning and then the "spin doctors" took over. Whatever the case may be, I am glad he is fine. Have a good day Bud! I am off work today and since it is -39 C and since the bus was cancelled to take the kids to school we are just going to play some WII, drink hot chocolate, and stay warm. Hope it is much nicer in your neck of the woods!! Take care, Linda

I had surgery with no positive testing either (other than CXR's which showed small growth/CT scan/PET) as it was on the outer edges of my left lower lobe and not amenable to testing. However, what I did find strange in this article is that they removed the entire lobe when there was no cancer found? I know I had a wedge performed first - that was rushed to pathology where they stated it was cancerous and my surgeon then proceeded to remove the lobe. Why would they remove the lobe and not stop at the wedge resection? If it is true I would not be happy with that surgeon. It all sounds a little suspicious to me though. Linda

You are absolutely right - this disease is horribly unfair! I am so sorry that your mom wasn't able to be at your most special day. I hope that you managed to grab on to some good memories of your wedding day and that your mom rebounds once again. I am sure she will love looking over the wedding photos with you and sharing the day with you that way. Linda

Oh my Kelly - you have been through so much in such a short period of time. I am so very sorry to hear about your mom. It sounds as though you are all a good support system for each other and that is important. As to hospice, both my sister-in-law's utilized hospice (Canada) and it was such a blessing. They not only help the patient; they help the family through the process. I can't say enough wonderful things about the experience we had. Your grandma sounds like my mother-in-law - she is 88 and can run circles around me. Hopefully your grandma's appt. with her heart doctor on Wednesday goes well - an anxiety pill certainly could help, like you said. We all find out who the "buzzards" are in a family at times like this. It is so sad as this should be the last thing you all need to worry about. Sadly, most families have folks like this in their midst. It is nice that you have a date set to go see mom though - it will be good for all of you. Take care and please keep us posted. Linda

Hi Annie and welcome. You have received some excellent advice and words of wisdom already. You are absolutely right - the diagnostic part of the process if a very difficult one emotionally. I found the whole process was a "hurry up and wait" and that is very stressful on everyone. Once a treatment plan is in place you will all feel much better. It is excellent that someone is taping the appointments. Honestly, I always had someone (usually my husband) with me; however, we often had different interpretations of what may have been said. I did try to go the recorder route; however, wouldn't you know it the silly thing wouldn't work. After asking the surgeon to start over twice I just looked at him and we both started laughing. Needless to say I never did get a recording of any appointments. I am so glad it is working out better for your family! As to feeling some guilt about not living closer ... you are still there for your mom in the way it counts, believe me. You sound like a wonderful, caring daughter and I am sure she appreciates you in more ways than you can count. I hope they can get her diagnosed quickly and move on to treatment. Please keep us posted on how things progress. Linda

I am so very sad to read this news today. Carole was a star in her own life - what a classy lady and she brings new meaning to the song "I Did It My Way". I will miss her terribly for her humor and insight on so many different aspects of life. I believe that Carole is "Dancing in the Streets" of heaven and bringing joy to so many up there. My sincere condolences to all who loved her. Linda

Any chance one of the aliens might look like Brad Pitt?!??! No, I guess even in that scenario I would have to pass - I'm not the daredevil I used to be when I was younger and I like to keep my butt out of alien aircraft! Linda

Lily - what great news!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Linda

Mary - sorry I missed your post earlier; however, I just wanted to welcome you and say I am sorry that you find need to be here. I think the distaste for lung cancer is everywhere - certainly no sympathy to be had. Like Patti said you just learn to let it roll off you. I always wonder after someone has made an ignorant comment how they would feel if it was present in their lives, either in themselves or a loved one - I am pretty sure their attitude would change in a heartbeat. Wishing him good luck on his treatment and better luck on working with his "gloom and doom" oncologist. Linda

Hi Lori - I love that you all still can laugh and make the best of some situations: I laughed when I read that. As to feeling guilty because you didn't pick up the signs - you might as well just let go of that. I think many of us spend some time feeling guilty about "whatever" we feel brought us to this place - stress, smoking, eating and feel guilty about missing "the signs"; however, I realized it really just made me feel bad. My mother-in-law's favorite saying is "It is what it is" and I really have just repeated that to myself over and over when my mind starts travelling down that bleary road. BTW, as a mom I know we try to protect our kids from things - I think we're just hard wired that way! And yes, your mom's stubborness will definitely work in her favor ... just so long as she knows when to ask for help or ask questions (which I'm sure she will). As to asking specific questions (not sure if this was already answered previously) ... you would likely get more responses to your question if you post them under a specific forum heading (ie: General; Update; Good News, etc). Anyhow, take care and I'll talk to you soon. Linda

Kerri - I am so sad to hear about your mom. She had such a beautiful personality - every time I see that picture of the two of you I smile as the love just radiated from the both of you. I am glad that hospice was a good experience for your family and that your mom passed gently. I hope the Bereavement group helps you all through the difficult days ahead. Again, my sincere condolences on your profound loss. Hugs, Linda

Hi Sandy - I am sorry you have need to be here, but sure am glad you found us through your daughter. What type of surgery did you have - VATS or the thoracotomy? I had the VATS, which is far less invasive, so that is the only experience I can go from. I also had to sleep on my back for quite some time as it was much too painful to sleep on my side like I normally do. About 2-3 weeks after surgery I came down with a nasty cough - of course I was very concerned but it just turned out to be a very bad virus that was making the rounds. Sure could have done without that added to the mix though! Everybody seems to recover differently and at different rates. The fact that you were in ICU for 13 days tells me you should just be gentle with yourself - you have a great deal to recover from. The complications you had certainly factor into your recovery. Just be certain to ask your physician about anything that you have questions about - they know more about your individual case and would certainly be able to give you much more concrete answers than we can here. Once you see your doctor on Monday you should have more information as to whether you need further treatment or not. I am assuming that you haven't gotten the pathology reports back yet? Are you meeting with the surgeon or an oncologist? I am over two years out from diagnosis and surgery and I will tell you that life is never the same as before. It is definitely a scary time and fear is our biggest enemy. I always tell myself how fortunate I am to have been able to have surgery and to still be here with my family. Each day is a gift and I try to remember to always be grateful for it. You are still very early in the process and trust me, it will get better. I get it ... I really do. Anyhow, I am glad to hear that you are listening to your body and resting when you need to. This is a physical and emotional process and each and every day will see you getting stronger. Take care, Linda

Kristi - I am so sorry to hear about your dad. My heart aches for you all that you must also add the financial burden on top of the diagnosis. As others have said there is always hope and this is a great bunch of people to prop you up when you need it. Please keep us posted...we are here when ever you need us. Linda

Judy - I am really sorry to hear you are in a funk. Jim will know you are there tonight (and will likely know you are biting your tongue) and will love you all the more for it. Perhaps this "in-SO" will not even be there and you will be free to center on your own grief. Jim sounds like such a wonderful man/friend and it is no wonder you miss him so much. Sandra - it is great that you have such a nice weekend away planned. I know you have been cooped up (aside from appts) and I'm glad you will get to enjoy some beautiful scenery and time spent with family in different surroundings. If you get a chance, PM when you get back and tell me all about it! Big hugs to both of you, Linda

Sorry to hear about Pop-Pop's latest development - hoping to hear soon that they have figured out what is causing his fever and that he can resume his treatment. Prayers being said. Linda