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TERRIFIC! Way to go Cindy! So happy for you! Gail

Jeannie, Great news so far. Hope the eyes clear up, and that PET scan, really hoping to hear remission! Wishing you all the best, Gail

Hi Denise, I hope that Tom is good to go with the radiation. I really don't know anything about brain mets, but my Dad had neck cancer a few years again and was treated with radiation for it. Yes, they do a dry run to make sure everything is properly set up to go. Hang in there Denise, I know the stress you are feeling, you're doing a great job! Wishing you and Mr. Tough Guy all the best Gail

Hi friends, Thanks for your replies. I am actually happy to tell that Hank does have Pneumonia in both lungs. I say I'm happy because at least now we know what has caused this extreme SOB. Hopefully they will clear it up completely and will be breathing better soon. I could not image being happy to hear this news, but I am! Hank is also in better spirits now. A funny story.... today, as I was getting ready to leave him in his room at the hospital, I had my back to him. And suddenly, I mooned him! He burst into laughter and fits of intense coughing. The nurse ran into the room, (luckily the mooning was over! ) The nurse was very concerned, Hank was crimson red, laughing and coughing. The nurse said what's wrong? what's wrong? I said, oh I just told him a joke. Hank told her that I had mooned him! It was really funny, and it lightened up the day for us. Another thing, that I need to pass on, that most of you are, or should be aware of. I have learned that being your own advocate in this situation is VERY important. When we were at the doctor's office yesterday, the doctor measured Hank's blood oxygen level while he was sitting down, breathing oxygen. It was 94% not too bad. He listened to Hank's lungs, did not hear any unusual sounds. The doctor said he was going to send Hank home on an increased dosage of Prednisone, and that we should come back to the office on Friday, (his scheduled chemo date), to be rechecked, and if he was ok he would have the chemo. I said no. I told the doctor to have Hank walk around a little bit. He did, and his oxygen level was an unaccepable 74%. The doctor then said, you're going to the hospital buddy. I still have a lot of faith in this doctor, I'm sure he's very good, but like I said, you have to be your own advocate and open your mouth. Otherwise, things can wrong. I hope to have good news to report to you over the next few days. Enjoy the weekend! Gail

Hi Gracie, I am so, so sorry things are not going well. We also are at the moment in crisis here as well. Hank is also in the hospital. So, I understand exactly how you feel. I am hoping that they find a way to help your Sis, and wishing for the best possible outcome. All the best, Gail

Hi everybody, Well, here we go again. We were so hopeful that we had turned a corner in Hank's problems breathing the other day. He had such a good day on Sunday, and then began to have problems again. We saw his ocologist today and his blood oxygen level even while using oxygen is much to low, so he was admitted to the hospital. I actually am hoping that they find a problem of some kind that can explain this, and that there is something that we can do about it. Otherwise, I don't know if he can continue to fight this fight. He was scheduled for chemo this Friday, but obviously that is not going to happen now. I am relieved that he is in the hospital, because there is nothing that I can do to help him. When he is here, and he can't breathe I feel so helpless and frightened. I am beginning to lose hope that we can carry on this fight for any extended period of time. I am feeling very lonely and sad. Gail

Hi Liza, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. Just know that he'll always stay in your heart and mind. Gail

Hi Shelli, I am going to ask the oncologist about this. Hank had bypass surgery in 2002. He's not had any further heart issues since then. He saw his Cardiologist just after his diagnosis in March. At that point Hank had not yet started the chemo. He has not seen his cardiologist since then. I will question it tomorrow. Thanks Shelli, Gail

Hi Gracie, Sorry, I have no info to offer on this, but I am wishing your Sis all the best. Gail

Hi Jen, This is wonderful news! Keep it going that way! Gail

Hi everybody, Well, This is so frustrating. The SOB is back. We are really puzzled as to what's going on here. Sunday, was a really good day for Hank, his breathing was so much better. Yesterday was not to bad, but not as good as Sunday. Now today it seems we are back to where it was. He has an appointment with his oncologist tomorrow. I want some answers! I want to know what's causing this. It does not make sense to me that he could be doing so well one day, and then back to where he was two days later. I think that he is going to be having his fourth chemo treatment on Friday, but if it is the chemo causing this extreme SOB I'm afraid of what the consequences will be after this next treatment. I just don't know. All the best, Gail

Hi Lynn, Welcome. You have found a wonderfully supportive place here. Hank and I started our journey with lung cancer a few months ago. The people that I found here have gotten me through this so far. "We all need somebody to lean on" Hang in there girl. All the best, Gail

Hi Jeannie, I have no idea what could be happening, I just want to wish you and Jim well. I hope everything turns out alright. Read your profile, and it sounds as though otherwise, things are going well. May it continue to be that way. All the best, Gail

Gracie, Sorry to hear this. Don't freak out, you don't know the facts yet. Try to stay busy, and positive. Please keep us posted. Gail

Hi Denise, I am thinking of you and wishing for the best possible results. I also understand how your feeling. The idea of being alone, is very frightening for me. I have no family. My parents died a couple of years ago, and aside for some good friends I have no one except for Hank. The thought of losing him, is to much to think about, it instantly brings tears. I do my best in coping with this situation when I do everything I can to distract myself from it. It's not easy to do, but I have to make a big effort to get my mind involved in something else when it begins to wander off to that bad place. No matter what, the tears do and must come. The stress has to be relieved somehow. At our last visit to the oncologist's office, I was talking to one of the nurses there. A really nice woman named Gloria. As we were talking, the tears just started to fall, they fell all the was home, about an hour and a half worth of tears. I felt embarrassed and sorry that I had broken down with someone that I really don't know well, but I forgive myself now, the release has to come. This is a tough thing to go through. I never imagined how tough it would be. I also remind myself, that sooner or later, no matter what the final outcome of this lousy situation is, it will be alright. I'm keeping you and Tom in my thoughts, and wishing you all the best, Gail

Gracie, Sending out prayers for your Sis. I hope thing improve soon. Gail

Hi everybody, Any of you who have read my recent posts know that Hank has been experiencing extremely bad SOB. He has been on oxygen 24/7 now for over a week, and it has had us both very concerned. He literally could not walk from one end to the other of our very small house even with oxygen without becoming winded. Today his breathing has drastically improved. No oxygen. Got up this morning and did 450 reps with a 25 lb. weight. No oxygen. Wanted to go to Atlantic City for the day, walked all over the place. (Did'nt win!!!! ) but I don't care!!! This is not to say that his breathing is perfectly fine, but it is a DRASTIC improvement. I don't know what to make of it. I suppose it could be many things. We are now a little passed two weeks from his last chemo treatment. We are now about a month since his blood clot developed. I just don't know. But it sure did make us both feel good today. His next chemo treatment should be coming up this Friday, and we will be paying close attention to how he is breathing after he has it. I am thinking that the most likely reason for the drastic breathing improvement is that he is just now getting his strength back after the last treatment. We'll have to see what develops from this point on. It would be wonderful if he can maintain this. The shortness of breath has been the big issue here. A quote from Hank..."The cancer is not so bad, I just wish I could breathe" I will keep you posted. All the best, Gail

Tarek, Hi, I'm sorry things are so hard for you and your Dad. From reading your previous post it, I believe that you are at your Dad's house dealing with this alone. Can you contact your father's doctor or make arrangements for your father to see him? I don't know what options are available in Egypt, but maybe some home services or the equivalent to our hospice organizations here in the U.S are available. It would certainly help at this time, to take the complete load off of you, and to make your Dad more comfortable. Wishing you peace, Gail

Hi everybody, Just wanted to tell everyone this. I emailed a question to Dr. West yesterday, and received a response from him today! I can't believe the dedication of this man! Just wonderful and selfless. Restores your belief in humanity. All the best, Gail

Hi Christine, I hope this turns out to be nothing!!!! All the best, Gail

Hi Karla, I'm sorry to hear about this. My thoughts are with you, I hope things will turn around for you and your husband. All the best, Gail

Hi Mary, Hoping for a full and easy recovery for Joe. My thoughts are with you! Gail

Hi Connie, Thanks for your reply. I guess we'll just have to hang onto hope and see what the future holds. The SOB issue has really become the major issue. Not the lung cancer! Boy, thought I'd never say that, but it's true. I don't know, but I am thinking and hoping that since it has only been since the blood clot that his breathing has become so bad, that maybe once he has really had time to heal from it things may improve. Hope this turns out to be the case. All the best, Gail

Hi everybody, I was wondering if any of you can tell me about recovery after having a blood clot. Hank was hospitalized with a blood clot in his lung from April 16th to the 24th. Since then his shortness of breath has become much worse then it ever was. We saw his pulmonologist yesterday, and he says that in time his breathing might become better. That's good to hear, but I'm wondering if anyone out there has shared this experience. Is it likely that he will eventually be breathing better, or just a possibility? Anyway, looking forward to hearing your experiences. Thanks, Gail

Hi everybody, Saw Hanks pulmonologist yesterday. He does not believe that we are dealing with CHF or plural effusion here. He says that the pneumonia, and more recently the blood clot have all added to Hanks breathing problems. He did say that the blood clot was not so long ago, and hopefully breathing will improve over time. Meanwhile, Hank is using oxygen all the time. Nebulizer treatments, and breathing exercises. He's feeling pretty down about the breathing situation. The cancer has taken a position on the back burner. He has said this. The cancer is not so bad, I just wish I could breath. I have suggested that he gets a small portable oxygen concentrator so that he can continue to go out and do things and stay somewhat active. At this point he is refusing. I think he's very embarrassed about it. But I hope that he will reconsider this. My feeling is, if he can continue to stay active and do some of the things he enjoys the better off he'll be. At this point, he's just sitting watching TV, breathing oxygen, and eating. He's gaining weight also, and that's no good either. I can't know how he is feeling, but I believe that if I were in his position, especially with the knowledge that his remaining time on the planet may be limited, I would want to get out of the house and try to enjoy myself as much as possible. I wish I could help him. That's whats so hard about this for me. I want to make it better, and I can't. I get angry at him. I don't let it out at him, but I'm sure he knows how I feel. This really sucks. Thanks for listening, Gail