Bette64

First, thanks to all of you for your replies. My oncologist's nurse phone this morning and said my CTScan was good - no evidence of cancer YAHOO!! I am very excited about this great news and definitely doing the Happy Dance in Texas. Take care, Bette

Hi Cindy, I'm happy to hear someone else has been able to go to yearly scans. It will be a relief to do that. Like you, the two weeks prior to the scan was very anxious for me. I just wanted to make sure my oncologist wasn't too 'secure' in my prognosis lol. It's scary to be turned loose for a year. Congrats on your good reports. Best wishes, Bette

Thanks for your prompt reply, Bruce. Every six months sounds more logical to me. Bette

For those of you in Stage 1 or 1B and still in remission, how often does your oncologist schedule your CTscans or PETscans after you reach the THREE year mark? I was diagnosed in May 2006, nsclc, Stage 1b. The tumor had invaded the visceral pleural lining of my lungs. I had CTscans every 3 months until the 2 yr mark. Yesterday I had my first 6 month Scan. I will have another one in July which will be past the 3 yr mark. Provided these scans are ok, my oncologist said he would schedule yearly scans after that. While I'm praying my CTscan yesterday was fine and I'm elated to be able to go a year if the next scan is ok, it's a little scary to go a whole year without a checkup. For those of you who are still in Stage 1 or 1b and in remission after 3 years, how often does your oncologist recommend scans? Thanks for any information. Bette

Hi Everyone, I need to post an update on my MRI regarding my back and right hip pain. The MRI showed NO tumors .. praise the Lord, but I do have mild arthritis in lower part of the spine and also a benign cyst. My doctor does not believe the cyst is causing the pain and that it is the arthritis. However I am scheduled to see an orthopedic surgeon on the 22nd of this month for his opinion. The steroids and pain meds have helped alot and I am now able to get around without my cane. The pain is still there and I'm trying to be very careful and not make any sudden moves or bend over, lift anything, etc. My regular CTscan for lung cancer is on Jan. 19 and I'll see my oncologist then. I'll take copies of my bone scans and MRI but I'm sure he'll agree that it is nothing to worry about but 'old age'....don't we all wish we only had to worry about the symptoms of aging. Pray that my CTscan will be NED. This is a 6 month checkup so I'm anxious to get it over with. I'll post with an update when I get the results. Thanks for all your replies and prayers. Bette

Hi Saundra, I hope to get the results from the MRI next week. With the upcoming new year holidays, it might be later. I feel like we can't be too careful when we have a new pain or symptom arise. I pray this is a pulled muscle but the fact I've it it over 6 weeks w/o improvement worries me. Hope you have a Happy New Year 2009. Bette

Did any of you experience low back pain before your lung cancer diagnosis, and if so, did your doctors think it was from the cancer? Or if you had a reoccurence, was back pain a symptom? I'm not talking about pain in the upper part of our back but the lower part. I have been having back pain for 6 weeks. My PCP did a back xray and bone scan and everything was ok. But the pain in my lower back and right hip area is almost unbearable. After a visit to a local ER this past Sunday with severe lower back pain, having to use a walker to walk, I was put on steroids and am scheduled for an MRI this Saturday. The doctors are thinking spinal stenosis or a disc causing pressure on a nerve in the spine area. They said the MRI would detect any soft tissue or tumors that might be pressing on the spine and invisable to bone scans and xrays. I'm hoping this is just another sign of growing older and doesn't mean my lung cancer has come back and spread to the lower part of my body. Any info would be appreciated. Bette

Thanks for your reply and posting your "IReport'. It's great. For those who might have trouble finding J-Me's, here is the URL: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-146308 Best wishes, Bette

CNN.Com has an 'IReport' section on their website. People who have joined the IReport can post a photo and report a story. Well yesterday I noticed you could send a message to President-Elect Obama. So I posted about having lung cancer, asking for his support and help in fighting this deadly disease. I used the photo that I had sent to LCA for the 'I Am The Face Of Lung Cancer' that I will try to get in local newspapers. CNN also told me that if there were enough interest in a topic, they might bring it on their show or interview me - so let our voices be heard Here's my "IReport" Story: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-145715 It is on the right side of the home page. Bette from Texas

I have some good news to share with all of you. Today I can officially report that my CTscan of chest and brain I had on done on July 21 was good. I do not go back to my oncologist for 6 months which is a nice break from the previous 3 months intervals. The mammogram requested by my oncologist was done today. They also did an ultrasound and the radiologist came in and said everything was fine - just some scar tissue from previous biopsies. So today I'm shouting YAHOOOO!!! Thanks to all for your support and prayers. Bette Two Years, Two Months Lung Cancer Remission and counting Stage 1B Non-small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma (2006) MG 1995 - Stable Lupus 1992 - Stable

THE STATION by Robert J. Hastings Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls. But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, cursing, the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station. When we reach the station that will be it! We cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach of the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!” Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us. “Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today. So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

Beautiful pictures!! Becca is a sweetheart - oh what a joy she must be to you each and every day. Take care, Bette

I had a routine chest xray that showed a suspicious spot on the lower left lung. I then had a CTscan with contrast which was followed up by a PETscan. My doctor told me the PETscan will sometimes show if any lymph nodes are involved. Best wishes, Bette

Mine was discovered by a routine chest xray ordered by a neurologist. I have myasthenia gravis, a neuro-muscular disease which is treated by a neurologist. The irony of it is my MG was stable and my husband and I hated to drive the 123 miles to Dallas to see the neurologist there, only for refills of meds and tell me to come back in 6 months. I asked for a referral to a doctor closer to home and he sent me to my guardian angel - my life saver neurologist in another town. She wanted to do a chest xray because I mentioned being short of breath. This is also a symptom of MG but since I wasn't experiencing any other muscle weakness at the time, she was suspicious of something else. From there it was a referral to a pulmonary specialist, then a CTscan, PETscan, surgery, chemo, etc. I thank God for guiding me to this new doctor. Bette

Hi Bab, I'm sorry to hear your father has lung cancer. You've come to a wonderful site for information and support. My prayers and thoughts are with you and with your dad. Bette - Texas

Hi Muriel, I'm late in posting too but congratulations on the FIVE YEARS. May you have many, many more. I am always inspired when I read about someone like you. Bette

Hi Christine, I've been a member here for a while but not very active in posting. However I've enjoyed reading your very positive posts. I think you belong here, need us, and please don't leave. I will continue to pray for Jerry, your mom, and you. Sending lots of ((((((((HUGS))))))) to you. Bette - Texas

Carole, This is what is happening with me. I am very nearsighted and need glasses or contacts to see/drive, etc. Now with the change in my vision, I can take my glasses off and actually see better then I used to -not as well as with my glasses but definitely it has improved. Of course, the improved vision is the reason I can't see as well with my glasses. I may need to see my eye physician and get new glasses provided the CTscan is ok which I'm praying it is. I believe I did read that some people's vision improve as they age. But this hasn't been gradually - I've noticed it just the past 3-4 weeks. Bett

Christine, I am sorry for you loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your mom. God bless, Bette

Well I finally decided to call my oncologist's office today. I talked with his nurse and told her about my mild headaches and vision problems. She talked with my oncologist and he is going to include the brain in the chest/abdomen CTScan scheduled on July 21. While I know that the brain CTscan is not as great a diagnosing tool as the MRI, I'll go ahead and have this test done and then see what shows up. I have posted at Dr. West's site about this and he feels that if my headaches back in April (when I last saw my oncologist and mentioned them to him) were because of a brain met, that my headaches would be increasing in frequency and pain by now. They haven't - in fact, I'm having less headaches but more vision problems. Again, that could be due to the myasthenia gravis .. it's just when we get a cancer diagnosis, all new symptoms could mean mets to me. I know you all understand. Bette

Hi Renate, I got the neuropathy after the second treatment. It gradually increased. By the third treatment, I had a checkup with my neurologist who said I had 'multiple neuropathies'. I didn't have any feeling in my toes, ankles, upper thigh, and my elbows. All that remains now is around my ankles and my toes. I did take neurontin for a short time but had to discontinue it due to the side effects of extreme fatigue and weakness. I have myasthenia gravis so it aggrevated that illness as the main symptoms are muscle weakness and fatigue. I would say it took 6 months after my last chemo treatment for some of the neuropathy to go away. It was over a year before I could wear some of my shoes - felt like bubble gum was in the soles of my shoes. I only have it around my ankles and toes now so that isn't as disabling. Best wishes, Bette

Hi Renate , I'm just now reading your post and wanted to reply. Nick was right about the neuropathy not being permanent. Our doctors guess at what age our body might recover. I had the same chemo as you in 2006. The neuropathy in my toes and feet was so bad, I could barely walk. As time went on, it got better. My last and 4th treatment of taxo/carbo was in Aug. 2006. I still have mild numbness in my toes but nothing like it was. I am 64 and my doctor told me the neuropathy might be permanent. But even today, it is gradually improving. I don't know about Avastin making it worse. But remember we are each different in how we react to these meds/treatments. One of my doctors told me that my body had not aged like some 62 year olds (time of my surgery). Best wishes in whatever choice you make, Bette

Muriel, our dog is 8 years old. She's a registered Beagle and her name is Snoopy after the beagle in the Charlie Brown family . She is a loveable animal has never met a stranger. Our calico cat, Pepper, is actually named 'Peppermint Patty' and my daughter has a cat named Lucy. So you can see we love Charlie Brown Gang. When I was undergoing my chemo and feeling so bad, my cat would cuddle up next to the blanket on my legs and take her nap when I was napping. She was my comforter at that time. Even today if I'm feeling ill and resting on the bed, she is right there by my side. So she has an extra place in my heart and bed . Below is the URL to my personal webpage which shows more pics of our pets. In the photo of me holding Pepper, I'm wearing one of my scarves and a red hat that I wore alot after I lost all my hair. http://www.geocities.com/bette_75494/mypets.html Take care, Bette

This is wonderful news, Dave . Don't worry about the waa waa. I'm also more anxious and concerned about 2 weeks before a checkup/CTscan. Celebrate and do the Happy Dance . Take care, Bette

Katie, There's a story behind that cat shirt. Back in March of this year, my sweet cat, Pepper, bit me on my arm - just playing, but my skin is very thin and with my immune system being so low, my arm got infected. I had to be hospitalized for 3 days so I could have antibiotics by IV .. sigh. Anyway that shirt was given to me by my daughter as a reminder to not mess with the cat. I'm glad all of you liked the photos Nick uploaded for me. I think it helps to 'view' a little of ourselves and family. Best wishes, Bette - Texas