Janet B

I was also told I had lung cancer in a cold and callous manner. I know it sets you back quite a bit because you focus on not only WHAT you were told but HOW you were told. But try to put that part past you and put on your fighting gloves! It is VERY important to find an oncologist that you trust and like - it will make all the difference. Let us know what happens tomorrow. My prayers are with you.

I am so sorry you need to be here Kristina but you have found a really wonderful supportive place. I am glad you went for another opinion and Sloan is one of the best. Come here to ask anything - someone will be able to help you and we are all here to support you. And no one minds rambling! My prayers are with you.

That is such awesome news!!! I am so happy for you - what an inspiration you are!

My prayers are with you today - that you will find strength and comfort and smiles from the happy memories.

That is awesome news!!! Keep up with the optimism - it is the best medicine! God bless you!

There is absolutely NOTHING better than a baby!! I am a true believer that your mom is looking down and enjoying every bit of this along with you. God bless you

WOW - I am so happy for you!!!! (I am doing the happy dance ) God Is Good!! I look at the picture of you with that big smile - and see all those NEDS and you give me such hope! Thank you! Celebrate!!!

I have been on both sides of this story - taking care of my mother with cancer and now I have it - and I can tell you that you HAVE to take care of yourself. You have to breathe, rest, pamper yourself (even if just a little bit) and regroup in order to be any help for your father and your children. Seeing you sad, tired, and sick is not going to be a help - but after a wonderful day like you just had you will be able to greet both your dad and your kids with a smile and a bit less stressed. And you gave your little one a great day today - how cool is that! Take care of yourself - God bless you

Hi - so sorry you have to be here - but it will be a very helpful, hopeful, caring place to be. I have Stage 4 NSCLC also - and I was diagnosed 14 months ago. I still teach preschool 5 days a week, cook, clean (unfortunately!) and do everything else I did before diagnosis - with a few naps thrown in. I had mets to the spine also - the radiation took care of that and I am now pain free. Once you have met with the doctors and settled on a treatment plan things will slow down and be easier to absorb. In the mean time you are in my prayers.

I turned 49 today. One year and 2 months ago I was told I would not be here to celebrate this birthday. Not only am I here but I went out for lunch AND dinner and spent the day with good friends! Oh and I am NED!! So for any of you out there newly diagnosed DON'T listen to the time lines you are given - this is your life - fight for it! God is good!

Lilly - the weather here in Ct has been SO dreary. Soon the sun will come out and the weather will warm up a bit. Then you will be able to go outside - to walk - to exercise - to just soak up the sun. That will help so much. In the mean time - do what you can - don't let it stress you too much - and know it will get better. My prayers are with you.

What great news!!! It sounds like you are both living life to it's fullest like the gift that it is - Have an amazing time on your vacation!!! You both deserve it!

Wendy - I too understand exactly what you are saying because I could have written it. And like the others have said - I am sorry I don't have the words to make it better - except that maybe by knowing that those feelings seem to be the norm among us - it makes them a little easier to bear. Like Kasey said - hearing you say it gave her some comfort, it gave me some comfort too, knowing my feelings were normal - hopefully hearing us say it will help you. That is the great thing about this board - when we feel we are alone or different, we find others who know just what we are going through and thinking. I am sending lots of hugs to you

Lilly - maybe we will meet some day! I am sorry you are having a rough start to 2008 - I will pray for you that it gets better and better.

Connie - I lost my mother to cancer 14 years ago on Feb. 5, she was 61. It does get easier - I promise. That first year is a fog - I remember putting the kids on the bus and then getting them off hours later and having done NOTHING in between. I too used to pick up the phone and then remember she wasn't there. But in time you will find yourself smiling at memories instead of getting teary over them, you will find yourself talking out loud to her and laughing or moments will come that you just know she is there with you and that thought will make you happy not sad. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my mom - but now those thoughts are with smiles instead of tears. It will come -

Welcome Mary! I am new here too but I just wanted to tell you that you have come to the right place - everyone here is so helpful I am sure you will be able to get the answers you need. Hope all goes well with the treatment!

I just want to thank everyone for such a warm welcome! I am not usually a joiner, this was a big step and you all are making it very easy! Patti B. my prayers will be with you for your test tomorrow. I find that if I say a prayer during the tests and them scream in my head as loud as I can ( without actually screaming out loud!) for the cancer to be gone - it makes the test go by quicker!

Erin - 13 years ago this week I lost my Mom to cancer (pancreatic) at the age of 61- I had 3 little ones at the time like you do. I know how you feel. It does get easier - I promise. There will always be sad days - especially around this anniversary. But, the sad memories will fade and the happy ones will come back. I truly believe that mom has been watching and delighting in her grandchildren as they grow and that she is with me now as I go through this new journey. Enjoy life while you are here and rejoice in knowing that you will see her again someday. Peace to you

Rochelle - I want you to know that you and your family have been in my prayers. You have a strength and a giving heart that I could only hope to achieve. So many of you board members I have been praying for and crying with and celebrating with as a lurker - it was about time I came out of the shadows and tried to help too. The Tarceva is working for me - and I know it might not last, but it did get me another Christmas. I should add that I had the Deletion 19 mutation which Tarceva seems to respond well with as a first line treatment. (my first oncologist had no intention of checking for it) It has not been easy - the side effects can be grueling - but I am willing to do anything to stick around awhile

Hi! I found this board a few months ago – it has given me much hope, many answers and several tears. I have felt funny about joining in – almost like I am butting into a conversation - but it’s about time I did – hopefully I will be able to help someone else, the way you have all helped me. I am 49 years old, married for 25 years to my high school sweetheart. We have 3 children – 19, 20, and 22 – all in college – they are my life. I teach preschool. I never smoked. I have had no health problems. On December 22, 2006 I went to my doctor for a bad pain in my back. I assumed I had hurt it at work playing with the kids. The Dr. thought it was a herniated disc and sent me in for a CT and MRI. I got a call to go right to the ER, she wouldn’t tell me why. There the ER doctor told me I had Lung Cancer – Stage 4, spread to my spine in 3 places. They wanted to admit me immediately, but since they told me right there that I probably wouldn’t see another Christmas, I checked myself out to return after the holiday. I spent a week in the hospital, first for a biopsy, and then the plan was to try surgery. However another MRI showed Mets to the brain and surgery was canceled The oncologist assigned to me at the hospital wanted to treat me “the way he treats all his patients” That didn’t sit well with me so I went for a second opinion at Yale and a third opinion at Sloan Kettering – they agreed on a treatment plan for me – not, “all their patients”. I chose Yale. I had radiation to the spine and brain in January and February and have taken Tarceva 150 since February. I get Zometa infusions every month. I have had PET scans and MRIs every 3 months since diagnosis. Test results have been shrinkage, stable and then the last test which was done almost a year from diagnosis on December 17 2007- No Evidence of Disease!!! I actually made the doctor repeat the words! I believe in the power of prayer, God’s goodness and second opinions! So – I HATE this disease, I hate that I might not see my kids graduate or get married, I hate that I might never get to be a grammy, I hate that I will not be here for my kids when they need me, and that they will have to see me in pain, I hate thinking of my husband all alone and I hate that every little ache sends me into a panic. But – I am loving life and family and friends more than I ever had. I have been reminded that life is a gift – and all in all – it’s been a pretty good year.