chloesmom

I watched this entire show. He was amazing. I was in tears by the end of the show.

I actually asked my surgeon about this when I was there last month. What happens to me is sometimes when I bend or twist in a certain way, I get a spasm under my diaphram at the bottom of my rib cage that takes my breath away for about 10 seconds. After that initial sharp pain goes away, I have soreness that feels like a bad bruise, but with no discoloration, for a few days. It only happens a few times a year, but it definately gets my attention. Dr. said that it's due to the instability of the structures inside my rib cage now, and things are rearranged and not holding everything in place as it did before I had a lobectomy. He also said that spreading the ribs caused pressure at the bottom of the rib cage, and that this is a normal occurrence. While there is nothing I can do about it, except not move my body in a way to cause that, it's also not anything to worry about, despite being very painful. So, that happens a few times a year, and it's uncomfortable and sore, but not uncommon. Cindy

Debi, Congratulations! I totally understand the part about putting your life on hold and what a waste that was because I did the same thing. But, I also think back over the past five years and I realize that intermixed with the worry and the looking over my shoulder, I did have a lot of good times, and had many more normal days than bad days. I am so glad that we got to know each other...somehow I felt better knowing other people were feeling the same way I did. Not that I wanted anyone to feel like I did on some days, but at least I knew my behavior wasn't out there any farther than anyone else in my situation. Anyway, I'm so happy you're doing well, and I'm also happy that you check in here once in a while. The losses are tough, that's for sure, but the successes certainly brighten my day when I read about them, and today, you brightened my day. Five years today since your surgery, and my surgery was five years ago on the 20th. At that time, I didn't know what the heck I'd feel like by now, or even if I'd still be here. I'll be celebrating your success all day today! PS--Great new photo! Cindy

At my 2 year follow-up for breast cancer surgery, my surgeon suggested I get a chest x-ray as I was a smoker and had not had an x-ray since my breast cancer pre-surgery chest x-ray. Showed a 'round opacity that cannot be ruled out as a malignancy.' Had CT, then appt with surgeon, and on and on and on. Dr. said later, he had no idea why he ordered a chest x-ray for me that day. It was not anything he routinely did, smoker or not. I had been having symptoms, cough, phlem, etc, but all that went away when I cut back significantly on the cigs. And, of course I wasn't telling anyone about all that. But, he's the guy who saved my life and I'm forever grateful to him. Cindy

I also admire Paul Newman very much. Besides the philanthrophy (and really great food products, I might add!) he and Joanne Woodward have always seemed to lead meaningful lives. For such internationally known movie stars, they seem like people I would enjoy as next door neighbors. I wish him well. I've seen photos of him recently in which he looked very, very thin and tired, and wondered if something might be wrong.

Wonderful news Jamie! Cindy

Tracy, I'm late to jump in on this (I thought I had already replied, but I guess I didn't), but I'm so happy this trial is working for you! Keep up the good test results and enjoy your successes! Cindy

Good for you Lilly! You've fought hard for this, and I know you'll keep fighting! Cindy

You should probably call the oncologist to report the fever. I was told to contact them about anything out of the ordinary, and a fever is important. Cindy

Nancy, Thinking of you. I just know that you'll make that great wedding in October as a happy mom of the groom! Good luck with the new plan. You continue to be in my best thoughts all the time. Cindy

Hi Connie, I was like that for a while a few years ago. I looked and felt like Frankenstein when I got out of bed in the morning. My ankles were so stiff I couldn't bend them until they got going for a while, and every joint in my body hurt. A short time later I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Once we got that under control, all that stiffness went away. I also take fish oil supps every day and they're good for all kinds of things, including joint health. I hope you get to the bottom of this soon. You are right, 56 is no time to slow down! Cindy

Good for you creekgirl! I hope all of the upcoming tests are as good as this one. Cindy

Happy Dancin' with you for sure! Cindy

I'm thrilled to let you all know that my big scary appointment with my lung surgeon was yesterday. Had the ct scan and then saw doctor about 2 hours later. He said my scan was clear! This marks my 5 year 'anniversary' of my lung cancer diagnosis and surgery. The doctor said that we will continue to see each other once a year for the rest of my life, and "that's going to be a long, long time." After scans the past few years, we are going to annual chest x-rays to monitor my lungs. I am happy about that, because, while I understand a scan is a better study, I don't like the exposure to excess radiation that a scan causes, particularly since I had chest radiation for breast cancer before all this happened. I also feel confident that this surgeon will detect anything minutely out of place on my x-ray, as he has a series of them to use for comparison purposes. Today I am one very grateful survivor, and I remain thankful to have all of the great folks here to share victories, worries, war stories, heartbreaking losses, and all of the rest of life's twists and turns! Cindy

I'm very happy to hear that good news! Cindy

In my case, I don't see radiation oncology anymore. I was dismissed from them after a few years of annual folow-up after breast cancer radiation. I still see my oncologist and my lung surgeon every year, and they've never indicated that I would ever be released from them. I think that standard routine is every few months with the oncologist going forward long term. The only role my family doctor has in my cancer care is helping me keep all this organized and making sure that all the bases are covered. For instance, he made sure I had a colonoscopy at 50 yoa and always asks me about mammograms and if I'm keeping all my appointments with the oncologist and chest surgeon. Someone needs to manage the care, and usually in non-surgical patients, it's either the oncologist or pulmonologist. Cindy

I remember early on in the breast cancer battle, I had calendars that looked like that a lot of weeks. There was one day that I had three dr appts. I felt that must have been some kind of record, at least it was for me. But, as time went on, they let up and became more spread out an infrequent. I hope that happens for you folks too. Meanwhile, I hope you get good reports at all of the appts. Cindy

Good luck to you Ernie. Cindy

Carole, Thanks for posting this! I had not heard that before specifically to lung cancer. I love poms, and now I think I'll start using the juice more. I like to mix a little of it with seltzer water. I'm also thinking I can get pomengranite supps at the health food store. Cindy

I'm very sorry to hear about this. I hope things turn for the better soon. Cindy

Great news Muriel! Cindy

When I had breast cancer, the pathologist was looking for a second opinion and my slides were sent to Mayo. It did indeed take between one and two weeks to get any information from Mayo Clinic as to the diagnosis. In fact, when I had my lung surgery, they did frozen section (preliminary) diagnosis when I was on the table, but it was going to be 5 business days for the final pathology report. We all totally understand the agony of waiting for test results, and of course, time is important both to getting your health back and to easing your mind, but it's not uncommon to have to wait for these kinds of results. I hope that your results are back sooner than expected and that you get good results. Cindy

I felt nothing, but my husband said it felt like on of our big dogs was bumping into the bed. I remember the quake in 1968. I was playing outside and I fell when the ground started shaking. Cindy

Tiny, You're one year ahead of me, and I want you to keep running out ahead with clean scans, and I want to keep chasing you with the same! Very happy for your good reports. Have a great trip! Cindy

I had radiation (for breast cancer) and then two years later was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was also a smoker and quit at diagnosis. When the lung diagnosis happened, I was at my highest weight in years because I was eating too much and not getting enough exercise. With surgery and recovery and chemo and it's problems, I gained another 12-15 pounds and was miserable. I started getting a lot of exercise to try to lose weight, but without reducing what I put in my mouth, no weight went away. I then complained about it to my GP, who tested my thyroid and it was slightly hypo. I guess it can be hard to catch, because I had a normal reading the year before. I don't know what the cause was, because treatments can cause it, but it's also very common for women in their 40's and 50's, but I was tired all the time, couldn't concentrate, and aching all over. Unfortunately when you get cancer and treatments thrown in the mix, no one really knows what's causing what. I take a minimal dose of levothyroxine 50 micrograms, and things are better. BUT, I still have to exercise and watch what I eat. I'm back down to my pre-lung cancer weight, but haven't really gotten back to where I'd like to be. If you do have an underactive thyroid, it will be easier to lose the weight, but my experience was that you still had to eat less and exercise more. Cindy