mhutch1366
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Posts posted by mhutch1366
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I am truly sorry to hear of Sam's passing.
Please accept my sincere sympathies.
MaryAnn
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Hi Pat,
You are my age. I started at 16 and smoked for 27 years, 2 packs a day.I started trying to quit about 14 months before I was diagnosed, and had a very rough time of it. I did find that Quitnet.org is quite a useful website to belong to, very supportive. I also found that most local hospitals and/or American Cancer Society/American Lung Association will sponsor 6 or 8 week once a week courses to educate and support people trying to quit smoking. There are various nicotine replacement therapies, such as gum, losenges, patches, and inhalers in addition to zyban, an anti-depressant that had the side benefit appear in clinical trials that it was a strong aid to smoking cessation.
I tried to quit for over a year, right through my diagnosis up to my surgery, where I was smoking a couple a day. I managed to stay quit for almost 8 months, until a serious depression had me to where I just didn't care. So since then I have wrestled with cigarettes ( maybe a pack a week) and spent a small fortune on nicotine gum, which at least saves my lungs, and spares my body the additional toxins.
Good luck to you. I hope you find the help you need.
MaryAnn
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Hi Jenny,
Two things come to mind here.
One is Horner's Syndrome, involving the nerve in the chest (in my case surgery affected it) that gives the droopy one eye and inequal responses to light. My eyes were off a bit, and the ophthamologist did classify this as an eye disease. The other thought I had was the carboplatin. I had cisplatin. The platinum compounds damage the ear, and I have had bouts of disequilibrium that had me afraid of medium heeled shoes and step ladders for the first couple years. The cisplatin also can confer some hearing loss.
I think if you ask the doctor you may find that the symptoms you describe are covered by these treatments or effects without having to invoke anything new and drastic to explain it.
Wish you well.
You're in my prayers,
MaryAnn
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Ginny and Earl,
Mine too!!
MaryAnn
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WOW, Betty!! Congratulations!!
MaryAnn
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Cathy,
Hold my hand and squeeze as hard as you can.
Take a deep breath, slowly, and then every so slowly, let it out....
now do that again.....
I strongly recommend a nice hot bubblebath with some soft music that you love, and a nice nap under a warm blanket. On waking up, have a nice cup of tea.
Repeat until you are ready to deal with the whole sucky situation.
Remember, just keep putting one foot in front of the other...
taking one day at a time.
grab my hand and squeeze it, cry on my shoulder, lean on me (us)....
You are NOT alone.
We are here...
God grant you strength to cope.
and tomorrow may look brighter.
Warm hugs...
MaryAnn
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As we love you, Norme......
This place has brought us all together in a way that is miraculous in and of itself.
Bless us all.
MaryAnn
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Good luck, rick m!
MaryAnn
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Happy Birthday, Becky,
and may you have many more with your husband and daughter.
Hope MDA is able to provide some solutions.
Hugs,
MaryAnn
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Hi Carol,
Glad you found us. This is a heck of a roller coaster ride, and no one should go through it without someone to talk with about it all.
Prayers are with you.
MaryAnn
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I drove myself to the radiation treatments, but didn't dare drive myself to the chemo treatments. I had some strong anti nausea premedication, which I needed with the cisplatin and the ethyol.
I think Norme's advice is good.
Good luck to you,
Hugs,
MaryAnn
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Retha,
I am glad you found us. Dean is right, cancer is a word. It is a part of our lives, but not the focus. Explore your options, ask questions, write answers down. There are alot of us still around, surviving. I am glad your mother has you, for this will be exceedingly difficult for her. It's a rough rollercoaster ride, but you will find the folks on this board are warm and supportive.
Our prayers are with you,
MaryAnn
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Oh, Katie, Rick, what a beautiful baby!
I want to hold her after Connie....
Such joy in the midst of such anguish over cancer....
Life does go on, doesn't it? brings tears to my eyes....
She is truly beautiful, and she has the rest of her life in front of her.
God bless all of you, Hunter too.
(Boy, are you going to have some stories to tell...).
Much love and affection... sharing your joy....
MaryAnn
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CT Results
in HOPE
Cheryl,
Great to hear good news.
I am happy for you.
MaryAnn
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Best of luck to you, Don.
You'll be in our prayers.
MaryAnn
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Peg,
My prayers are with you and Bill also.
I think sometimes some of the doctors had a hard time losing their first patients to cancer, so they try to stay uninvolved emotionally, and write things off when the cancer has reached a certain point, I don't think that needs to be the case now when there are so many new treatment options available, but perhaps they're stuck in that behavior. Who knows? Not I.
In any case, it's up to you and Bill now to find a doctor to be proactive for you. I know my surgeon and my oncologist were in constant contact, and right around the surgery time my surgeon was chief of the team, and after surgery healed he handed off the lead to the oncologist, but at no time was the radiation oncologist the team leader. It would not have been appropriate, given her narrow focus..
Hang in there, get distracted, and meanwhile talk to your primary cancer care physician about this. I don't think there was a need fo such a negative spin.
You're in my prayers.
MaryAnn
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Peg,
My prayers are with you and Bill also.
I think sometimes some of the doctors had a hard time losing their first patients to cancer, so they try to stay uninvolved emotionally, and write things off when the cancer has reached a certain point, I don't think that needs to be the case now when there are so many new treatment options available, but perhaps they're stuck in that behavior. Who knows? Not I.
In any case, it's up to you and Bill now to find a doctor to be proactive for you. I know my surgeon and my oncologist were in constant contact, and right around the surgery time my surgeon was chief of the team, and after surgery healed he handed off the lead to the oncologist, but at no time was the radiation oncologist the team leader. It would not have been appropriate, given her narrow focus..
Hang in there, get distracted, and meanwhile talk to your primary cancer care physician about this. I don't think there was a need fo such a negative spin.
You're in my prayers.
MaryAnn
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Peg,
My prayers are with you and Bill also.
I think sometimes some of the doctors had a hard time losing their first patients to cancer, so they try to stay uninvolved emotionally, and write things off when the cancer has reached a certain point, I don't think that needs to be the case now when there are so many new treatment options available, but perhaps they're stuck in that behavior. Who knows? Not I.
In any case, it's up to you and Bill now to find a doctor to be proactive for you. I know my surgeon and my oncologist were in constant contact, and right around the surgery time my surgeon was chief of the team, and after surgery healed he handed off the lead to the oncologist, but at no time was the radiation oncologist the team leader. It would not have been appropriate, given her narrow focus..
Hang in there, get distracted, and meanwhile talk to your primary cancer care physician about this. I don't think there was a need fo such a negative spin.
You're in my prayers.
MaryAnn
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Ray,
Glad to see you are back. Lovely photo. You were sorely missed.
I echo your sentiments about 2004 being a good and healthy year for us all.
My 'worst' year was 2000. Glad to see that one gone too.
And to all our friends here... who are more like extended family...
I wish you all peace and strength in this new year to come.
Bless you all, each and every one.
XOXOXOX
MaryAnn
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Crystal,
I am sorry for the sudden loss of your mother in law.
You and your family will be in my prayers.
MaryAnn
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Hi Kevin,
The doctors might be discouraged if the pleural effusion they did remove contained cancer cells. Ask them, and ask them if they would try to remove the rest of the fluid. Your father will feel much better, I am sure.
If your dad wants to be more proactive and aggressive in his treatment, ask the doctors. If they won't, fire 'em and get ones who will. Your dad is plenty young enough to fight this thing off, if that's what his mind is set on doing.
Just my humble opinion.
MaryAnn
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Hey--
Can you say cautiously optimistic and cure in the same breath?
I hope the chemo chases any little leftover cells clear to Hades, and lets you get on with your life.
Congratulations.
MaryAnn
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Beth Ann,
I am truly sorry for your loss.
MaryAnn
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((((((((((((Norme and Buddy))))))))))))))))
You are both very special to us.
I pray the Iressa buys Buddy the time he needs to get stronger.
I wish I could package some of my 14 year old's appetite for Buddy.
Be strong.
Buddy -- Eat!!
Bless you both,
MaryAnn
Thanks to whomever created this forum
in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!
Posted
Welcome.
I had cisplatin, too. It is a tough drug. My neuropathy did improve over time after the chemo, but I find that it isn't too bad considering the alternative.
I like your attitude.
Keep us informed.
You're in our prayers,
MaryAnn