mhutch1366

Hello Catrina, I'm sorry your dad is unwell, and I'm sorry he's keeping it from you. He may be in denial himself, and just avoiding the doctor because he doesn't want to know for sure. People are funny sometimes. Let us know how you make out. Sounds like perhaps it's time you had a talk with your Dad? XOXOX MaryAnn

Hi EDRJR, Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to; glad you found us. I would ask the drs why they think your dad can't handle radiation or chemo? You didn't say anything about his being in otherwise poor health. I'd get a second opinion after the PET results were in. Much about staging and treatment depends on whether the smaller lesions are cancer or not. I'd look for a doctor or group that was willing to help your dad fight this, if that is what he wants to do. Radiation and chemo together can pack a pretty powerful punch, even if surgery isn't an option. I think if your dad was not otherwise in very poor health he'd at least want a say in his treatment options. Let us know how things go; keep us posted. XOXOX MaryAnn

Congratulations, Rich, on a major milestone!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOX MaryAnn

Just have to tell a story here -- My grandmother, whose given name was Catherine, did NOT want to be called Grandma. She was from the age when ladies didn't tell their ages, and she wanted the kids to call her what her friends called her -- Kitty. Well, seems easy enough to say, but my cousin, her first grandchild, could not wrap his tongue around "Kitty". He called her "Kiki" So for over fifty years, she was our Kiki. We had claimed her for our own without calling her Grandmother OR Kitty. Kids have a way with these things.... My mother was Gamma, and that morphed into Gramma. My father ( had a bit of revenge here, only kidding) was PopPop. His father was Poppi, not to be confused with my other grandfather who was Papa. I never knew my other grandmother. BUT -- Best wishes for a safe birth and healthy mother and child. Carolyn is just about ready to figure out what to call Shari, and I doubt she will be able to enunciate GRaND MoTHeR properly. While I sympathize with Val about the rapidity with which her dad wants her to welcome this woman, there are many variations on the word, but the meaning is in the heart. If she is Grandpa's mate, then she'll have some kind of name that indicates this, whether its Memaw, Oomah, Nana, or something else. Nothing will ever confuse them in their hearts about who Grandma Caro is -- their mom's beloved mother. This is why we tell our children stories about when we were little, and they paint the picture inside themselves. They know what importance a Mommy carries to them, and they'll know how important your Mommy was to you. I agree with you about the "hey slow down, I'm trying to absorb this all happening too fast for me". 100%. It's the thoughts and feelings behind the request and response that are important. God bless you and your family, Val. That includes your dad's wife, whatever your kids wind up calling her. XOXOX MaryAnn

Wonderful news, Congratulations, Aaron and Julia! Wishing you long life and happiness together. XOXOX MaryAnn

I'm guessing she's not here yet. How about 9 May, 7 pounds 6 ounces. 20.5 inches. Born at night -- early morn. Catherine Marie. I hope you have an anesthesiologist as skilled with the epidural drip as I had with Heidi. God bless you both. XOXOX MaryAnn

Yahoo! Kasey! Enjoy those flowers...... Sending love and hugs, XOXOXOX MaryAnn

You and your mother and your sister and her family have a place in my prayers, and in my heart... All of us, we just do the best that we can. One day, one moment, one heartbeat at a time. I am glad that your path led you to us. Know that you are not alone. XOXOX MaryAnn

One year! That's terrific! XOXOX MaryAnn

Peg, I am sorry to hear about your mom. Your brother's cancer type may affect the calcium levels. Pancoast tumors, the kind I had, will do that. In any case, I'm sure your brother can find treatment options to suit him, and a doctor he can work with.d Good luck, and keep us posted. XOXOX MaryAnn

Heartfelt Congratulations, Rich!! XOXOX MaryAnn

Bucky, Connie is right. All stats are old news, old treatments. You are one person, not a fraction. You are here now. One step at a time, keep looking forward. I wouldn't even look at those kinds of research until a few years out. Then I didn't need to. All I know is: one person is 100%. I'm here now, so I'm starting out right. Love and hugs to you, Bucky. One step at a time... XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Hi Charlotte, My pancoast tumor when removed was thirteen pounds. Pretty big. The surgeon at NIH who does pancoast tumors may well see options your doctor doesn't. I'm out 7 years from diagnosis. He also did Kasey's surgery, after I told her about him. Her doctors were not optimistic. But they were wrong! Let either Kasey or myself know if you want contact information for this doctor with National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Md. Good luck! Glad you found us. XOXOX MaryAnn

I'm with you. Given the added problem of the dropping shoulder due to the missing collarbone, the only ones that will stay up are sports bras. At this point in time I am glad I am almost flat as a board, especially because, due to the reconstruction a la Goretex to replace all those missing in action ribs, one on that side points out and down past my left foot someplace. It could always be worse. I think that every time I see picasso's picture of the face with too many eyes going in all directions. What if my surgeon had been a big fan of Picasso? I could have woken up with more than two, ALL out of alignment. That's a funny mental image. Usually adds some levity to my contemplations... XOXOX MaryAnn

It is estimated that about one-half of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetime. - However, advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment have improved cancer outcomes. - There are things you and your family can do to stay healthy and reduce your risk for developing some cancers. NCI's interactive Web site, Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle, can help you assess and understand your risk of developing cancer. The Web site contains explanations of cancer risk, risk factors, and risk exposure - along with information on how to lower risk - for six cancers. The site also contains a section on analyzing news stories about cancer to help people determine the accuracy and applicability of findings reported in the media and on the Web. Links to numerous sources of information, as well as online quizzes to test readers' understanding of cancer risk, also appear on the site. Get the plain and simple truth about cancer risk and what it means for you. For more information, visit http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov. NCI Office of Communications and Education

Don't know about a Snicker's tree, but a box of cheerios will give you plenty of seeds for donut bushes..... Everything in moderation! XOXOX MaryAnn

Thank you, Andrea, for giving of yourself... XOXOX MaryAnn

Wow, Mitchell, you are truly a hero here... Quitting nicotine is probably THE hardest thing a person can do. I take my hat off to you; you earn my respect. Vent away! Just don't smoke... Remember one is too many and a thousand won't be enough. XOXOX MaryAnn

I have pain and numbness at the scar/chest area too. Surgery 2000. Only can wear sports bras since I lost a collarbone too. Due to the goretex chest wall, which has dropped down and in, I don't have a matched pair anymore anyway, and straps slip right off my nonexistent left shoulder.Only for modesty's sake... XOXOX MaryAnn

I confess to stalling.... I'm overdue for last years (or was that two years ago?) Ah, I postponed going back to the gyn after the bone density test because I wanted to clear up the arthritis/scoliosis issue first. So I'm two years overdue for pap and the pancake. But I have to take my 18 year old in, so we made double appointments. I'll have to go now.... Better the devil you know. XOXOX MaryAnn

Connie, You're in good company. Chemo brain is no joke. My short term memory is shot -- things fall out on the way to long term memory. More inversion of numbers and letters. More brain fog. Not quick and clever so much anymore. Much harder to concentrate. Much of it does come back with use, but much of it doesn't Okay, so if we turn left up there, then we must be almost there???? I think we need to go 14 miles. Don't ask me why 14 miles, but it just seems like we are headed in the right directions. HOOORAYYY!! Nonni says she won't settle for new normal. At IIIa I don't have a choice. It's new normal or nothing. I can't go back and pretend none of this happened, either cancer wise (which did a great deal of injury in and of itself) or chemo wise. Radiation didn't hit my brain, only up to my earlobe. But it's better than it was. My hearing is still for beans, but I can listen to the church choir again, and it doesn't sound like mud. Things quit tasting like platinum a while back. Finally got the pain mostly under control. Can still get around and work without O2. So, yes, Connie, I have noticed changes. The sun shines brighter, the birdsong is sweeter, spring air tastes cleaner. All in all -- it's okay, I guess. I don't have to carry around THE SUITCASE with THE BUTTON in it, from nuclear war fear days. So my brain works well enough. XOXOXOX MaryAnn

Hi Terri, My girls were 4 and 10 when I was diagnosed NSCLC IIIA, and newly divorced. That was 7 years ago next month. Hang in there, one step at a time, and try to get some rest! You're doing great! XOXOX MaryAnn

Not at all. I am going to hate leaving my kids. The life experiences that were good here, I am glad I have experienced. I particularly enjoy sun, wind, spring smell in the air, night wind through the trees, animals large and small, domestic and wild. When it's time to move on, I'll move on, the only regret being leaving my girls. Not the most pleasant topic, but to those with a strong faith, not as scary as it could be. MaryAnn

There are a lot of options yet to try. Your wife's age and otherwise relative good health all count heavily in her favor. I'm sorry to hear she developed resistance to carbo/tax. Where you don't know if she's getting placebo in the trial, maybe it's time to rethink that. You'll feel better if you talk to your onc. about plan b and plan c. My onc had in mind already what he'd do if this therapy failed (which it didn't). There's an organization in California called KidsKonnected which, in addition to local stuff for kids, will also send a book about cancer suitable for kids, a card from another child, and a teddy bear - at least that's what my kids got from them, and you can keep posted on what else they're up to. Chin up, there's a lot of options to try yet. We're here, too. XOXOX MaryAnn

Really wonderful idea, and a super kid. I bet she feels better doing something positive for cancer patients too. Kinda makes one feel less helpless. Congratulations, young lady!! XXOXOXOX MaryAnn