Connie B

Hey Bob, HAPPY TWO YEARS AND 3 DAYS!! I'm three days late, but the good news is, your hear to see I am three days late!!! hahahahahehehehe!!!! Boy, do I remember that 2 year mark!! You made it my friend, and there's no reason you can't make it another two year, and so on and so one, and so on...... My husband Maurie always says: It's for the NEEDY not the GREEDY! so, sense I was first dx.d, I have learned that a year here and a year there works just fine for me. No long range stuff, then I don't have to deal with the let downs if my wishes and dreams don't come through!! And my mother-in-law (rest her soul) every New Year she would ask God for ONE MORE YEAR, and she lived to see 89 years old. She use to say that she didn't ask for too much at one time!! Gotta think it worked pretty darn well for her!!! I can only hope it works well for me too!!! I'll share the wealth with you too!!! We even need to take baby steps in what we ask for!! (smile)! Congratulations on your TWO YEAR MARK!!! It really is a BIG DEAL!!! (((((((((((((((((((((BOB)))))))))))))))))))))))) Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Tim's Kathy, and Kathy's Tim! Wow that is AWESOME news!! I am so very happy for you BOTH!!! Tell Tim it's okay to celebrate the good stuff, besides, none of us may be here tomorrow so he'll have to get all the gusto today!!!! ENJOY the MOMENT!!! Also, it's okay to be happy tell him, the cancer won't mind if he laughs or enjoys a day here and there!!! Besides, his cancer is on it's way OUT HERE !!! HOORAY!!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Good News Sam! (shuuuuuu!) I like the name E l l i o t!!! ET COME HOME???!!! My granddaughter said the other day when we were at the U of M Clinic. Grandma why do those people have wires in there nose and ears???? (it was oxygen)! Gotta love the little ones!! (she'll be 4 in July) We have a commercial here in Minnesota from Verizon wireless phones that says, "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW"??? That's what came to my mind when she said that. Glad to hear your doing much better. whisper, whisper!! Continued good health to you. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Donna T, How very nice to meet you!!! I just HAD to welcome you for three reasons. My first reason is, I am so glad to hear your doing well with your treatments. HOORAY!!! I have a couple in my support group with SCLC and they are 3 year survivors and doing very well. Second is, I know you must be very proud to have such a wonderful, loving, supportive and most BEAUTIFUL daughter in your Deanna?! She is a GEM!!! And third, I JUST LOVE your little Granddaughter in the picture with you. She is a Sweetheart and I know you must be one proud Grandma!!! Gotta love these Grand-kids!!!! I can see where the beauty comes from in your family, do your girls take after YOU???? Well Donna, welcome and I am sure you will be a wonderful support system for many on this board and I hope you get as much support from being here. Prayers to you that you will continue to beat this beast! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear John, Oh my friend, I am sooo very sorry that you all have to go through these tough times. However, it does sound very normal to me. Grieving comes in all shapes and sizes, and it has to run it course. Time my friend, it just takes time, and right now it's very fresh in all your minds, but trust me when I say it DOES get softer!! Lots of TLC and let the grief run it course. (((((((((((((((((((John and your Dad)))))))))))))))))))) I know I find it comforting to be able to talked about wonderful memories that happened with my loved ones that have passed. Just because they have passed over, doesn't mean they aren't in our hearts and on our minds anymore. It's really okay to talk about your mom and to keep her wonderful memory alive! There is peace and comfort in doing so. It will bring tears and it will bring joy. I will also suggest maybe a grief group for your dad. When my mom passed away 15 years ago, I joined a Grief Support Group, and it was so helpful. Most funeral homes offer them today. But, don't rush it, your pain and loss is new and you and yoru dad are still going through the early stages of your grief. Good luck and God Bless. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Sandy, Wow....... that is wonderful news!! I am so happy for you! I know just how you feel about missing your nurse and doctor for a month. Trust me you'll get over it!! If someone would have told me 10 years ago that I would have spent SOOOO much time with SOOO many doctor's and nurses before I was dx.d with cancer, I would have told them they were crazy, and then after LC came into my life, I was so afraid of the thought of missing a treatment, or not feeling good enough to see my doctor, etc...... Well, I just released my Onc Doc as of 5 weeks ago, and boy let me tell you, does that feel like a MILLION dollars!!! Although I still have my Pulm Doc, and always my Primary!!! Here's one for you, a dear FREIND of mine who is a 3 year SCLC survivor said to me a few weeks back. We were talking about Onc Doc's etc... and how long do we have to go see them. Well I said to her, I asked my Onc Doc 8 years ago, how long will I have to see you after I complete my treatments? And his answer was: "For the rest of your life"! Now that sounded fine to me 8 years ago, but my dear girlfriend said to me. "You know Connie, I'll bet he didn't think you would be here 8 years from then!" Well we both got a good laugh on that one, but I have to say she was probably RIGHT ON THE MONEY with that comment!!! Well Sandy, Good News is always just that, GOOD NEWS!!! Congratulations!!! You earned a month off!!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Charleen and Keith, First I wish to welcome you to our wonderful group, sorry you have the need to be here though! And second I wish to tell you that you two are a beautiful couple!! I also want to share with you that when I did my chemo, I would have chill's as well. Sometimes I would even get so hot. My Onc. Doc said it was the chemo. But, none the less, stay on top of these issues and if they continue tell your doc. Have a GREAT NIGHT OUT!! That's a AWESOME idea!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Sarah, I am sorry you have the need to find and join us, but I also wish to welcome you to a wonderful group of new friends! I have to share with you that I also was a Stage IIIA with two cancerous lymph nodes. I DID have surgery, 8 years ago. I had my left lung removed along with the two cancerous lymph nodes and several extra's to be on the safe side. I also did chemo & radiation treatments after my surgery. I would really suggest that your mom get a second opinion on having surgery though. And if need be even a third opinion. If it were me, I would try and find a surgeon that would agree to do surgery. Good luck and stay with us. Your in a safe place here. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Oh........ BABIES!!!! So Grandpa, when are you going to share a picture of your little Line Backer with us???? Happy to hear you had a great day! (((((((((((((((((((((Dave))))))))))))))))))))))) Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Has anyone sent Cindy a private email? She may be checking her email box but not the board. It can't hurt to send her a private email and well wishes. I have done this in the past, but she has not replied. But, I'll do it again! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Veronica, EVERYTHING THAT ADA said is RIGHT ON!!!! Each and everyone that is dx.d with any kind of cancer goes through depression. And YES Chemo add's to it! I was very wheepy throughout my chemo treatments. I would cry when I would try to say, " I love you" to my family, and all I could say was "I - - - and the tears would come" I agree you need a different medication. Everyone is different and sometimes it takes a couple try's before you find one that fits you! You HAVE To tell your doctor's all that is going on! And looking into a new counselor is also a very good idea. Maybe find one that deals with Cancer Patients, they are out there!! And get a phone buddy through ALCASE and here is there number: 1-800-298-2436. The hell with ONE DAY AT A TIME, you need to do ONE MINUTE AT A TIME for now. BABY STEPS my DEAR BABY STEPS!!! I know I was very depressed as well during the first couple of years of my journey. Then ONE MORNING, I got up and said, (I am either going to LIVE or DIE, and today I choose to LIVE)! As long as I have breath, I am alive!!! Hon, NO ONE wants to die, NO ONE!! You HAVE to stop focusing on death and START focusing on LIFE!! If you put as much energy into thinking your going to LIVE as you seem to be doing with dying, just think of how happy, cheerful, pleasant a person you would be to be around! Maybe you need to get PISSED!! Take the BULL by the horns and say, VERONICA, THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP!! Get up and get on with your life, TODAY!!! We all only have TODAY!!! Venting here more often may also be helpful to you. You may wish to do it more often. It WILL GET BETTER!!! It's no cake walk, but it's for SURE DOABLE!!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Greg, Welcome Greg, I am sorry you have the need to be here. Also, I would like to bring to your attention that you would best be posting your messages in the SCLC FORUM. I have noticed that you posted in the General forum (which is fine) and you posted in the LC in the News Forum. It may be difficult to keep all the area's straight in your mind so posting to one area may be very helpful and much easier for you. But, none the less, Dave G, may opt to move your messages to the SCLC Forum just so everyone can reply to all your messages and offer you the best support we can. Having said all that....... I noticed you mentioned you have other Pulmonary issues as well?? Greg, if they have not offered you radiation treatments, this may be a reason to why they haven't done so. I will also mention that it is VERY HELPFUL to get a tape-recorder and take it with you to your doctor's appointments. I'm sure your doctor will not have a problem with doing that. It is soooo hard to remember everything that is being said at your appointments and having it on tape is SO VERY HELPFUL to us patients. I know that's what I did when I went through my treatments many moons ago! You also mentioned being on (3) different Chemo's. That's interesting! I would like to hear more about that. I have never heard that before. Could you share more inf. with us on that? Thank you! You mentioned pain. Where was your pain at and what was causing it? Do they do CT scans on you? I'm sure they are doing blood work, right? Also, I have survivors in my Lung Cancer Support Group here in Minnesota that are SCLC surviviors of 2+, 3+ years. I also know a lady who is a 14 year lung cancer survivor of SCLC. Being your's in Limited, that's a good thing. One of my members however, had her's spread to her liver and she is a 3+ year lung cancer survivor and doing VERY WELL! Good luck and stay with us. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Mary, Your right it is unfair for kids to have to deal with cancer espeicially when the cancer patient is your mom or dad! I was 17 when my dad was dx.d with his lung cancer. Back then we didn't discuss cancer, or feelings, or fear, sadness, or happiness, etc...... However we have come a long ways today with our kids. I totally agree with Don on getting the kids INVOLVED with there mom. They are old enough to understand, (about as much at times as we do!) so I would think it would be very helpful if they thought or felt that they were part of there mom's care as well as you and others. I would sit them down and really have a heart to heart with them. OR I would tell your sister to do that. YES THEY WILL ALL CRY!!! THAT'S GOOD, and then they will be able to talk after they all get done with a healthy cry!!! I am very very close to my grand-neice and back when I started my journey, she was only 5 years old, but she was a smart as a whip. We told her lots of things, and she even went with me when I got my CT scan's and did my CHEMO and RADIATION, she watched. It gave her a sense of comfort to know I was being well taken care of, and it also made her feel like she was a part of helping me in my journey. (sigh)! Well, she will be 13 this Friday and she STILL talks about when she went with me for my CT scan's and chemo & radiation treatments. She still to this day will go with me to a yearly checkup, if she can. There are books that you can get from ACS regarding teenaged children living with a parent that has cancer. You might want to give them a call and see if they can send you one. Do let the kids be a part of this. After all these years of not having my dad with me, I still wish we could have talked about it back then. Although he and I would sneak and talk about it a little!!! Then my dad would say to me, "don't tell your mom we talked about this"! GOOD MEMORIES!! Good luck and my best to you all. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Tammy, I have never heard that one! But, then again, I am still learning day after day!! I ate everything I always did when I did my Chemo. I did NOT get sick. I got a little lightheaded the first few days, but that was about it! I ate Pizza while I did my chemo! I would guess it has to do with how she will react to the chemo, so they want it to be something soft. Which would be easier on her. I ate like a horse before my first chemo, cause I didn't know how much I would eat after!! Many members of my Lung Cancer Support Group never got sick with there chemo either. So, tell your mom to do what I did. Put a party hat on and go do her chemo with a positive attitude, and say to herself, and you, and anyone else she wishes to say this to: "I can do this and NOT GET SICK"! Mind over matter! They have come a LONG ways with the new chemo's and anti-nausea drugs today. I know for me, I had to have my anti-nausea medication given to me very slowly before my chemo. It did seem to make the difference in the lightheadedness. Good luck! Tell you to try really hard to stay positive. It really does help! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hey Junior, VENT, VENT and VENT SOME MORE My Friend, that's what we are here for! Damn lung cancer crap really does SUCK!!!! I'm sure you feel like you are taking two steps forward and three steps back! Well, I can only hope that you will soon be taking three steps forward and 1 step back real soon! It's like a dance and you would like to sit this on out!!! Hang in there, you and your dad are in my thoughts and prayers. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Ni, I'm very sorry to hear your dad is nearing the end. I know how difficult this can all be. However, I would like to ask you a few questions please?! 1. I noticed you may be from India??? Is that correct? 2. Is your dad in a hospital or, at home? 3. Are they giving him ANYTHING for his seizures? I went though some of the same things with my mom, dad, and sister near the end. But, I just want to get all the facts from you first. Hang in there! I know how painful this is for you too!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Laurie, Oh my friend, I am SOOO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU, and of course I am happy for your mom!!! You have been such a wonderful wonderful daughter and I just know your mom has to be so proud to have you by her side!! I just can't tell you how happy I am to hear this wonderful, outstanding news on your mom!! I will continue to keep you and mom in my prayres, and I will send you both positive vibes for May 7th check up time!! God bless her for going back to work!! She really is REMARKABLE!!!! Not to mention a SURVIVOR!!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs to you BOTH,

Dear Bonnie and Howard, I'm with Ray on this one, this has to be better then Great news?!! WOW, NO CANCER!!!! WOW, that is AWESOME!!! So nice to hear you are going to get away and celebrate!! God knows you deserve it!!! Congratulation!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Don and Lucie, What WONDERFUL UPLIFTING NEWS!!! I am soooo happy for you both!! CLINK CLINK, as Deb would say!! I will continue to pray for more good news for you and Lucie!! (((((((Don and Lucie))))))))) Warm and Gentle Hugs,

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY GIANNI!!!! Wow, I hate missing a party!!! I love that you made a liar out of your doctor and continue to beat the (so called) odds!! Way to go GUY!!!!! Sorry I'm so late on sending you birthday wishes!! But, at least I am able to send them!!! HOORAY!!!! I will continue to say my prayers for you and all of us. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hip Hip HOORAY ESTELLE!!!! Good news is just what the doctor ordered for all of us these last few weeks!! I'm sending you positive vibes and good wishes for MORE good news on May 7th CT scan!! That is AWESOME NEWS!!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Good dog and cat story Tammy!! YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE HUMOR on this journey!! It's SO important to our recovery!! I have always been able to LAUGH at myself, but when I lost my hair, I cried for about a half hour and that was it, then it was on ward and up ward from that point on!! I agree with the different color wigs that Ginny mentioned!! And I totally agree with Ada that your mom has more important things to worry about then her hair. My dear friend took a picture of me after I lost my hair, well I as sooo darn mad that she did that, (at the time)! I'm here to tell you that I just crack up when I look at it now!! And I am SO happy she took that picture!! Sounds crazy, I know, but it just keeps me humble everytime I look at it. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Chris, I was on the same chemo your step dad is on, and I never got sick either. I also know several others in this same boat. So, here I am soon to be 8 years later. SOMETHING WORKED!!!! Not everyone gets sick. You really don't hear as many bad stories now days with all the New Anti-nausea drugs that go with chemo's. Good luck and I sure hope he continues to do well with his treatments. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Daggiesmom, Welcome to this wonderful group, the one NO ONE wishes to be a part of. I'm so very glad to hear your doing so WELL!!! That's great!! Love those Survivor stories!! As for what Revlon is doing, well, I agree with you as well. This isn't something that should be looked upon as something people "asked for" it's a devestating disease and hits all ages, race, and genders not to mention those that never smoked or quit smoking, etc...... Besides, smoking is STILL LEGAL!!! hummmm! I just wanted to say thank you for joining in and for helping to make a HUGE difference in our fight to bring Awareness to Lung Cancer, the NUMBER ONE CANCER KILLER. Hope to see you post more often. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Barb, You may have pneumonitis from the radiation treatments. This can cause serious shortness of breath and is very common after radiation treatments. I had it 2 months after I completed my radiation treatments. I know for me, I wouldn't be without my Pulm. Doctor. Good luck, and VENT ALL YOU WANT. YOUR NOT ALONE!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,