chloesmom

Helen, Curable is a great prognosis! Chemo isn't ever easy, but it's a means to an end, and here's hoping you get thru it easily and it works it's magic for you. Please keep us posted and I wish you the best. Cindy

Hoping for good news! Cindy

What a great story! Congratulations on both new grandchildren! Cindy

Sorry to hear this! Hoping for the very best outcome for you! Cindy

How cute they are! Congrats to you Nick! Cindy

Great News!!!!! Cindy

I am very sorry to hear this Ginny. You've seen way more than your share. My thoughts are with your friend. Cindy

Congratulations Becky!~ I am so happy to hear that news! Cindy

Thinking of you and Fred-I don't even know what else to say. You are so right. Cindy

I have been talked to by most of my physicians about getting genetic testing. This is due to a couple of things--two separate cancers for me at a relatively young age-45 and 47, and two sisters who have had cancer-one had leukemia and the other had early stage breast cancer. My lung surgeon is very in favor, my onc thinks it's a good idea, and so does my gynecologist and my internist. But, here's the thing. I know knowledge is power, but I don't know how it would sit with my emotionally to test positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. My lung surgeon, from the University of Chicago, would like to even go a step further and have me see genetic counselor, who might recommend all other kinds of testing to see what I might be prone to in terms of disease. Those of you who know me remember that there was a time that I couldn't even work for a couple of weeks because of anxiety preceding a scan/visit to my lung surgeon, so I just don't know what I'd do with that information. Yet, I wonder why I am reluctant to get all the ammunition I can to fight off another bout with any kind of cancer. I just don't really know what to do. They tell me that if I were to test positive, increased surveillance would be a potential plan, such as MRI every year, etc. I would not have to have any surgical procedures-that would all be my choice. So, my question is, have any of you been considering this kind of testing, and if you have what do you think? Cindy

Just back from a colonoscopy, I am wondering if you other early stagers are being watched carefully for other cancers. I realize that I'm in slightly different situation than most of the rest of you, having had breast cancer two years before the lung cancer. But, it seems that I will be forever in the 'because of your history' mode with my physicians. Not complaining, I am glad to get cooperation and screening for all the other kinds of cancers with no trying to convince the doctors that I need these tests. But, I am watched very carefully for colon cancer because according to my physician, there is a loose connection between breast and colon. So, I am on the every five year plan with that. Had my first one at 50, and even with no problems with the first one, the second one had to be at 5 years later rather than 10 'because of my history.' So, I know that we all get our scans and chest xrays routinely now, but what other routine tests do you all get 'because of your history?' Cindy

I had cisplatin/gemzar after surgery. Week one was cisplatin and gemzar, week two and three gemzar only. A week off and then start the cycle again. But, my platelets got low from the gemzar so I had to get an Aransep shot and they wouldn't give me the gemzar till the platelets increased, so the cycles got thrown off some. I didn't lose my hair with that combo, it got a little thinner, but no one noticed except me. I had a metallic taste in my mouth all of the time which was unpleasant. I did work through the whole thing though. Had the infusion on Thursday, worked Friday, and then rested most of the weekend. By Monday I was feeling good enough to go back to work. I feel that I had a hearing loss from the cisplatin, but that's the only lasting side effect I had. Wishing your sister the best, Cindy

Hi Dana, I just wanted to let you know that I loved Weight Watchers-I was on it right before my breast cancer diagnosis, and it's true-if you work the program, the program works. My friend joined recently and really likes the new program they have now-she's doing well. Good luck to you! Cindy

She will definately be in my thoughts. Hoping for good reports. Cindy

Congratulations on 8 years Don! That's great! Cindy

Hi Linda, It's good to see you too! I have been working part-time, and my work keeps me at the computer all day, so lately I've been a little absent from the boards, but I'm going to be a lot more active going forward! I agree with everything you've said--I'm different too, not better, just different. I also still lose my temper, say too many bad words, need control, and stress about the silliest things. Trying to think of interesting topics for the Early Stage forum--what would you like to talk about and hear others talk about? Cindy

Hi early stagers, I'm wondering, now that you are an early stage lung cancer survivor, what do you do differently? If you are like me, I always say that my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with lung cancer, but what really is different? I think for me, I have an intense awareness of the passing of time. I feel like life, which I now realize is so precious, is just blowing by. And, while I work on trying to make the most of my days, life is still just buzzing past at what seems to be breakneck speed all the time. Makes me a little sad, but I don't know what I can do about it???? I also try to eat right and get exercise more now than before. Now, I'm not always successful at both of those, but I'm trying, and am in pretty good shape right now. I could stand to lose about 10-15 pounds, which I keep saying I will get after, but you know how that goes. Hopefully, this winter. (lol!) I am a lot less carefree now. I found out how it feels to have my life threatened and I didn't like it. I don't like that part about me. I want to live to be old, but I don't look forward to being old. (huh?) I love birthdays! My friends don't want to be reminded when they have another birthday, and I'm shouting from the rooftops when it's my birthday! Those are some things that come to my mind, what about you? Cindy

My condolences on the loss of your mom. Cindy

Three years is great! Here's to many, many more! Cindy

Fantastic news, Maryanne! Cindy

Hi Judy, I'm guessing that they were removing a nodule. That's what they call an unidentified mass in the lung. I had a solid pulmonary nodule until they did the surgery and found out it was a cancer tumor. Yes, two weeks does sound like a long time for pathology. I don't get it. When I had surgery, they said that it would be 5 days until my tumor was assessed by pathology and I thought that was a terribly long time. I don't know what the hold up is for this, but I guess once it is out of someone's body, maybe it is just part of a process. Of course, they don't know how agonizing waiting is for the patient. I am hoping for the best for her. Cindy

Hi there, I want to introduce myself and let you know that we here are no strangers to the feelings you are having right now. I was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was a two year survivor of breast cancer. It was my annual visit to my breast surgeon that caused my diagnosis. He wanted me to get a chest xray just because I was a smoker and it had been two years since my pre-breast surgery chest xray. That led to a ct scan and then on to the lung surgeon. This is a good place to come for support and hope. It was the only hope I could find at the time of my diagnosis and to know people survived this gave me what I needed to go through with the surgery and chemo that followed. I still get afraid, but I guess that's just part of it now. Please let us know how you are doing, and you need to know that we all understand about the petrified part. Good luck to you, Cindy

That's really good news! Happy for you all! Cindy

Congratulations Jamie! That's great news! Cindy

Yay Mike! Great news-5 years is one of those milestones. You are right, they never let you go, but as long as you keep getting great reports, who cares? Cindy