Barb73

Diane, You will greet him, and he will be a joy to you . I know this because these little guys are the future, and what could be more exciting? May God bless him abundantly. Barbara

Thank you all. You are very special to me. Barbara

This has been indeed a five-year journey. What a ride. We cannot say tht it has been not worthy of the ticket. : ) We will do this. Sometimes, it seems very difficult, but we have seen members of our family coming closer and more loving. Can that be a bad thing? NO However long this may be, or whether or not it will tax us overly, we will not know. What we do know is that, as humans, we do have to face certain facts. Bill and I are facing them head on. Barbara

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 999650.ece

Hello Everyone, We have been home since Tuesday. Our brother-in-law, also a Bill, took him home in an SUV. There was some difficulty in that Bill's legs are no longer strong. When he first entered the facility, he was able to walk with a walker (w/wheels). But, now as the days have progressed, his ability to stand with straightened legs has disappeared. What I am able to do is move him from the bed to the wheelchair, and from the wheelchair to the bed. If assisted, I can get him into his favorite lounge chair (one that does all kinds of ups, downs, and in betweens). He developed a butt sore in the hospital, and two heel sores in the facility. So, my attention to that has to do with healing and ridding him of those. His appetite is wonderful, and his demeanor is quite good. He is not in any pain, except if someone or he accidentally touches or moves the right arm. They have arranged (Medicare) to give us the bed, but there was a $300 fee for the electronics of it. The bed was, all by itself, afforded by Medicare. The electronic part's charge is for the care giver's comfort, so ..... not picked up. The commode, I purchased myself and it's very nice. It has adjustable legs and we've raised them six inches to accommodate Bill's 6-foot stature. All-in-all, this has been a different scenario than the one prior to the hospital and rehab stays. Now, we are looking at therapies - occupational and physical - to facilitate movement between bed, commode, chair, and wheelchair. I will update as we go along. Right now, Joe has arrived up from Florida, and today is arranging to have a new muffler put on my car. My sister said that when she followed me home from the rehab, it sounded very noisy. I thank you for all of your support. I think of you often, despite my not being online as much. If I find good news in the cancer area I will post it. My email is still something I watch most every morning. Love you all, Barbara

(((Nick))), I could not add one word to the already sensitive, beautiful, and very spiritual posts. Barbara

You are so right, Diane. Don's post helped me tonight. The especially important part for me was when Don mentioned about getting things done, or not. Yes, that's it. I have to unchain myself from the "have to do's." Anyway, long story short, I loved Don's post. Thank you Don. Barbara

Denise, That is the best news ever! Tom and you must be thrilled, and the Onc has to be, as well. This has to be a wonderful gift for the New Year. Barbara

You people are the best. Just reading your responses has given me a boost, and a caution. My sense is that this could turn into a hefty job, and help will be important. (I read every single one of your replies, but will address all in this post.) Today, I signed (for Medicare) that Bill was not being forced out of the facility, but that it was a normal release. Probably, they are concerned that someone might have their time shortened against their will. I told the representative that we wanted to go earlier on our own volition. The bed request, they informed me, depends on whether or not Bill qualifies for it. If not, then we will rent one, I suppose. I don't want hospice right now. We just weren't ready for that scenario when we were approached by them in October. Actually they entered by way of the oncologist. My feeling was that he didn't know what else to suggest. He meant well. He is a caring person. They said that we could have nursing help through Medicare for about a month, or so. I have watched the aid wash and dress Bill, and know the routine. If I get in trouble with the care I'll call in hospice. That is always an option, or that was what we were told when we left them. Hopefully, that is the case. Taking care of myself is a priority only because if I don't Bill will be in dire circumstances. There isn't anyone able to take care of him, though they may wish they were free to do so. The thought of him in a nursing home sends chills up my spine. Home on one level, with familiar things around him, lots of gentle stimuli in the environment, and a lap cat who misses him a lot are what I would want for myself. I will keep updating on what is happening as we go along. It won't be morbid. My view is that we do the best we can with what we have, and leave the big stuff up to God. Thanks for all the caring. It matters to have you to share this. Barbara

Hi Everyone, Just a line to say that yesterday I received a very lovely birthday present. Bill will be coming home from the facility. They had thought that two more weeks might be the target date, but after I thought about that, I urged an earlier date. Next Tuesday, he will be, hopefully, back home. He will be on the main floor. We have set up everything in the dining room, where he can be near to "what is going on." He is very tired. It's been a long ride, with and without bumps. But, in the main, we cannot say that it hasn't been worth it all. We know that it has definitely been worth it. One of the reasons that it has been crucial to stay at the facility has been to make sure Bill eats the meals. his appetite is good once again, and without the right arm to use, the left makes it difficult with certain foods. Plus, they don't always remember to cut the food into human bites. Yesterday, a very kind nurse's aid helped him eat when I was late getting there for breakfast. There have been times, though, when the food was left at the end of the bed, and ice cold. So, I found out where the microwave was located resulting in less concern. After awhile, you find yourself camping out at the place and doing the jobs the aids do. In a sense, it is good training for when we have him home. I have watched their techniques, and have seen how to do things with less effort. For instance, Bill has developed sores on his heels (pressure wounds) and they will continue to need attention. All-in-all, it will be OK, with the help of God. Sorry to be so lengthy here. Just wanted you to know that no one should ever be without someone to "be there" when they enter a hospital, a rehab facility, or a nursing home. It's an imperative. BTW, thank you for the concern. I know without your prayers and good thoughts, this would have been a much tougher time in our lives. Barbara

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Please accept my condolences. Barbara

Judy, I have not been on the board lately. The days are taken up with the facility Bill is in, and the nights are so full of "tired." Your post grabbed me because it tells of what is true about all of this. Yes, without caring there would be less pain, but as you have so beautifully put it, there would be no caring, no concern, no empathy. You have experienced two events, the loss of Frank, and the concern over Loreen. You know, Judy, all of what you have expressed tells me that you understand the nature of this thing. Sometimes, I think I cannot hold one more sad thought, and then someone like you will make it so human, that I pick up and bear some more. I thank you for that, and hope you will always feel that you can talk about the down times. It joins the rest of us who have those moments, too. Barbara

Colleen, Congratulations on your wonderful gift. You are sharing "Good News" and it is definitely an inspiration. You have given hope, and a bolstering to others. Barbara

Frank, Welcome to this community of support. The advice given about having the advantage of two great sources, one for information and the other for experience dealing with lung cancer is right on the mark. My husband and I began this journey over five years ago, and are still plugging away, and surviving. May you have success in the treatments for your wife, and able to gather the information you seek. Barbara

Thank you, Greg, once again for being on top of the information. Barbara

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/ ... -superbugs ARTICLE: . . . . . . . . . Scientists have discovered the power of fruit as a potential new weapon in the fight against MRSA and other hospital superbugs. A team from the University of Kingston, in Surrey, have shown that pomegranate can be used to create an ointment with the power to tackle the drug-resistant infections. In a series of tests conducted over three years, academics found that mixing the fruit's rind with two other natural products – metal salts and vitamin C – greatly enhanced its infection-fighting properties. The discovery could pave the way for a lotion to be developed for patients or perhaps, in time, a new antibiotic. Declan Naughton, professor of biomolecular sciences at Kingston, described the breakthrough as "significant". Naughton said scientists were searching for a way to create new antibiotics because of the rise in infections resistant to drugs on the market. One way to go about it was to screen natural products, he said. "A great deal of medicines come from plants, but the normal approach taken by the pharmaceutical industry is to try to find one particular active molecule," he said. "After a considerable number of screening experiments, we found that combining three ingredients – pomegranate rind, vitamin C and a metal salt – gave a much more potent effect: killing off or inhibiting drug-resistant microbes from growing. "It was the mix that fantastically increased the activity – there was synergy, where the combined effects were much greater than those exhibited by individual components. It shows nature still has a few tricks up its sleeve." The tests were conducted using microbes taken from hospital patients. Scientists found that pomegranate rind mixed with metal salts were most effective against MRSA, while adding vitamin C helped tackle other common hospital infections. Naughton said the idea of using foodstuffs was unusual but meant that the body should be more able to cope with its application. "Patients are less likely to experience any major side-effects," he added. It is not the first time pomegranate has been shown to have medical benefits. The fruit has already been hailed a super-food with claims that its juice can help protect against a range of ailments, from heart disease to male impotence. Other scientists welcomed the findings but pointed out that they were limited to tests in the laboratory – and had yet to be developed for use on people. Anthony Coates, professor of medical microbiology at St George's in London, said: "What is the significance of all of this? Well, there is no doubt that these natural products like pomegranate are of interest. This observation – the fact it has acted against MRSA and other drug-resistant infections – is potentially significant. But we need to remember it is early research, of an observational nature, in vitro." Coates said much more work needed to be done to answer questions such as which component was the most active and to look at toxicity when applying the treatment to humans. However, he pointed to other studies that had also highlighted the benefits of the fruit. One trial on 60 patients found that it had an anti-dental plaque effect, for instance. Any discovery that was a potential step towards a new antibiotic was a positive thing, he added. "The need for new antibiotics is acute," said Coates. "To put it in context, about 20 new classes of antibiotics were marketed between 1940 and 1962 yet only three have been marketed since. In all classes, resistance has arisen. Most antibiotics come from nature, so it is very valid to look at natural sources." ■ The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been talked about for centuries as a remedy for some illnesses. This is because they contain salicylic acid – the precursor to aspirin. The Royal Society published findings about the medicinal properties of the natural ingredient in the 18th century. ■ Taxol (paclitaxel) is a chemotherapy drug that has been in use for many years. It is extracted from yew bark and needles. The white powder is turned into a clear, colourless liquid and administered intravenously. It is used in the treatment of ovarian, testicular and lung cancer among others. ■ The same scientists who discovered that pomegranate rind could counter MRSA also discovered that white tea could help prevent cancer and heart disease. It comes from the same plant as other teas, but the leaves are picked and harvested before fully open – when the buds are covered by fine, white hair. ■ Rhubarb root has naturally occurring anthraquinones (organic compounds) which have a laxative effect. ■ Animals can also provide medicines. For example, a series of antibiotic peptides were extracted from the skin of the African clawed frog. Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us larger | smaller EmailClose Recipient's email address Your first name Your surname Add a note (optional) . . . . . . . . . (The Observer, Article by Anushka Asthana, December 27, 2009) Disclaimer: The information contained in these articles may or may not be in agreement with my own opinions. They are not being posted with the intention of being medical advice of any kind.

Stephanie, I feel as though I want to leave early Monday, and let them wonder, but I really don't want their bed, nor the enormous wheelchair that they installed. I have a transport chair that I purchased which supplies any needs in that department. The HUMC hospice was not a good fit for Bill and me. We did not ask to go on it. Bill's oncologist jumped the gun and put us into it. I am sure he meant well. They need to revamp their program. It is very confining, filled with caveats, and isn't as "comforting" as they described. Frankly, I am glad to be able to deal with Medicare and our insurance company, instead. As for help, at this point, I am extremely disappointed in our system. I guess this particular hospice is good when someone has a short time, but if there is no further treatment, and the person is still fighting, it isn't. Barbara

Kasey, I am not forgetting about that call. What has been holding me back has been the trying to put everything together. For one, I have discovered that Bill has been leaving the food on the plate when I am not there. Yesterday, our son was there to fill in a space on Christmas Day. He left our house at a different time than the rest of us, and lo and behold, he arrived at Bill's dinner time. He said that Bill ate practically nothing. So, today, first thing, I need to get over there and bring him an Ensure, plus a supply a couple of protein drinks that he likes. I am not at peace with this "selective" eating he has begun. Am chomping at the bit this morning. Kasey, trust that I will call, but if he isn't sticking to the program (eat, therapy, goals) then I am going to feel the stress worse than if he were home somewhat not back to par. This is another roller coaster ride, I think. Hoping for an upswing very soon (like today when I get over to that facility). Barbara

Your thoughtfulness in reposting Dean Carl's "Christmas Wish List" gives all of us a chance to see perspective in where we are. Thank you for all your most thoughtful and very warm postings, Kasey. I am fortunate to have seen this, on this particular Christmas morning. Barbara

Merry Christmas, Lily. Barbara

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174788.php ARTICLE: . . . . . . . . . The ability to make, test, and map the atomic structure of new anti-cancer agents has enabled a team of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists to discover a compound capable of halting a common type of drug-resistant lung cancer. In a study to be published in the December 24/31 issue of the journal Nature, the researchers report that non-small cell lung cancers that had become invulnerable to the drugs Iressaâ and Tarcevaâ were stymied by a compound designed and formulated in a Dana-Farber lab. The compound, whose basic chemical framework is different from that of other cancer drugs, acts against a protein known as an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase that carries a specific structural defect. "This type of drug discovery, in which an agent is developed for a specific gene or protein target, and then screened against cancer cells as well as in laboratory models, is rare in academic medicine," says the study's senior author Pasi A. Jänne, MD,PhD, of Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). "This requires contributions from researchers in multiple disciplines and a coordinated approach to planning experiments and sharing results. That we accomplished this is evidence of the contribution academic medical centers can make to the quest for new cancer treatments." The study also illustrates how rapidly lung cancer research and treatment are advancing. It was less than five years ago that investigators at Dana-Farber and elsewhere traced some non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) to mutations in the EGFR gene and discovered that Iressa and Tarceva slowed such tumors' growth by targeting the abnormal EGFR protein. While the discovery has extended the lives of thousands of NSCLC patients around the world, EGFR blockers are only temporarily effective: after about eight months of treatment, the tumors begin to grow back. And because the drugs target normal EGFR protein as well as abnormal, many patients have severe side effects such as skin rashes and diarrhea. All current EGFR inhibitors have a structural "backbone" known as a quinazoline core. They lodge in a notch on EGFR normally reserved for a molecule known as ATP, which delivers chemical energy to the cell. By blocking ATP from binding to EGFR, the inhibitors prevent EGFR from sending signals that are essential to keep the tumor cells growing. Over time, however, the tumor cells develop additional abnormalities in EGFR, enabling them to recommence their growth, even in the presence of Iressa or Tarceva. The most common of these abnormalities present in about 50 percent of patients with drug-resistant tumors is known as EGFR T790M. Dana-Farber investigators hypothesized that current agents lose their potency because they don't bind as tightly or fully to the EGFR T790M protein as they ideally should. To improve the fit, researchers led by chemical biologist Nathanael Gray, PhD, prepared a group of inhibitors with a different structural scaffold, known as a pyrimidine core, which, it was thought, would mesh more thoroughly. They lab-tested the agents in NSCLC cells with EGFR T90M and found several that were up to 100 times more potent than quinazolines in restricting cell growth. As an unexpected bonus, these compounds were nearly 100 times less powerful at slowing the growth of cells with normal EGFR, suggesting they would be less likely to produce side effects than current drugs. The agent which performed the best is the pyrimidine WZ4002. "This work provides a possible therapeutic chapter to a longstanding record of validating EGFR as a drug target," says Gray. "This has involved the identification of activating mutations in EGFR as a predictor of drug response, the discovery of multiple drug resistance mechanisms, and the elucidation of how these mutations work at an atomic level." In follow-up experiments, Dana-Farber and BWH's Kwok-Kin Wong, MD, PhD, screened the pyrimidine agents in mice with Iressa- and Tarceva-resistant NSCLC tumors driven by EGFR T790M, and found them to be highly effective at impeding tumor growth. Dana-Farber's Michael Eck, MD, PhD, conducted crystallography studies to determine the molecular structure of the pyrimidines, providing a better picture of why they are so potent and how they target EGFR T790M cells so precisely. "Not only did we determine that the compound WZ4002 could slow tumor growth, we also demonstrated that it is possible to selectively target the drug-resistant mutant EGFR in tumors, with relatively less effect on the normal EGFR in healthy tissues," says Wong. Much work remains to determine if WZ4002 and its chemical cousins will be effective therapies, the authors caution, but the discovery demonstrates the power of screening specially designed compounds against cancers with certain genetic quirks. "Obviously these are very early days with respect to the possible use of these compounds in patients we still have much to learn about their possible liabilities," Eck remarks. "But I am optimistic that our approach is correct and that it will lead to an effective treatment for the thousands of non-small cell lung cancer patients worldwide who development resistance to Iressa and Tarceva every year." Other contributors to the study include lead author Wenjun Zhou, PhD, and co-first authors Dalia Ercan, Liang Chen, PhD, Cai-Hong Yun, PhD, as well as Danan Li, PhD, Marzia Capelletti, PhD, Alexis Cortot, MD, all of Dana-Farber; Lucian Chirieac, MD, and Robert Padera, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital; and Roxana Iacob, PhD, and John Engen, PhD, of Northeastern University. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Cecily and Robert Harris Foundation, Uniting Against Lung Cancer, the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, the Hazel and Samuel Bellin research fund, and the Damon Runyon Foundation. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. Source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute . . . . . . . . . (Medical News Today, Lung Cancer, Genetics, Biology/Biochemistry, December 24, 2009) Disclaimer: The information contained in these articles may or may not be in agreement with my own opinions. They are not being posted with the intention of being medical advice of any kind.

Sandy, You gave me a chance to laugh this morning. Thank you. You're spot on with those descriptions. Whew, yes, the challenges are very much noticed when we find ourselves in trouble in the health area. Because we left (removed on paper, but I terminated the situation) hospice to go to the hospital, and then on to the rehabilitation facility, the company that placed the bed and the chair want it back. I came home (after being all day with Bill). It's pitch dark out there and I see a little note pinned to our door. It was dated the day prior, but it wasn't there when I left the house in the morning. I asked them, "Could we go through Medicare for the bed?" Answer, "No. You need to go through the facility you are presently in, and Medicare will cover 80%. You pay the balance." OK. But, at a time when the person has had a need for the bed, why can't they do the setup for Medicare? No. He said that the facility Bill is in would do that with whomever they use. I told the young man on the phone that I am staring at a dire situation, and do not need this on my plate. His answer, "I hear you." They will be coming for the bed Monday morning, but will only give a window of 9-11 am. Well, looks as though Scrooge is alive and well in the health business. Barbara

Ginny, I am taking a break from the preparations for the day and checking in at the LUNGevity site. Thank you for the good wishes, and I do hope that at least a couple of the goals make it through these days with Bill at rehab. Good wishes to you and yours, as well. Barbara

Thank you, Susan, for the caring message. It does my heart good, truly. Bill was in therapy yesterday for at least two lengthy sessions, and was able to walk quickly with the walker for quite some time. In the afternoon, he had speech therapy, and did pretty well on the answers. The area where the "searching for words" was involved took him a bit longer, but he really surprised me. There is work to be done though for him to communicate a bit better. His appetite was off for a while when he was at the hospital, but now it is back once again. He is going to be followed with the therapists and the goal will be to achieve mobility with balance, and a better handle on communicating. Last night, Bill was exhausted. I imagine him sleeping very deeply. I'll know when I arrive there this morning. He usually gives a detailed account of what the night was like. At home last night, there was a voicemail telling me that a doctor wanted to see Bill. It had to do with tumors. I called and they said they knew Bill was at the facility. I have no idea who this doctor is, but it could be an "ambulance chasing situation." Who knows? I'll ask further. Our youngest son, Joe and his family, including our two grandchildren and our great, granddaughter, will be up for a visit a week after Christmas. This should be a full house for Bill. I send my love and best wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Hopeful New Year to you and your family, Susan, and to each and all here at LUNGevity. Barbara

Thank you Stephanie and Sandy. I am up waiting for a delivery of groceries from an online store in our area. Christmas will be here at our home with our children here to eat, and each can go over to the facility to see Bill and wish him good tidings. I lost my car keys in the snow as I was salting the driveway and sidewalks yesterday. The company I had signed up to do the walks didn't arrive on the day of the storm. I don't know what happened to them. I haven't heard any reponse to my voicemails. A lovely neighbor came and did them for me. But, the salting needed to be done. I am using Bill's until the spring melts everything. Maybe they will pop up then. Barbara