Connie B

Hi All, Just wanted to add to Judy B's post about chemo and dehydration and she is 100% right. On my last day of chemo I was so excited that I didn't drink my water like I should have and low and behold 2 days later I ended up with flu like syptoms and was totally dehydrated from the chemo. I did end up in the hospital for that one!! Not uncommon so they told me!!! I thought for sure I had the flu!! WRONG Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Marlon, I second what Tiny said about never having to apoligize for long posts. Sadly this isn't something at times that we can relay in a few words or less. My Hat's off to you Marlon for being aggressive on your mother's behalf! GOOD JOB!!! I am so happy to hear she is getting much better care and so deserved!!! Thank you so very much for sharing this very important information with all of us. I wish you and your mother wonderful things to come!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi All, Just want to share some thoughts with you regarding hair loss, and sickness over chemo's. First of all, not all people get sick from Chemo's. MOST people don't get any major side effects from chemo these days, thank's to all the new anti-nausea drugs they have. Also, having a POSITIVE ATTITUDE going into your treatments truely DOES help with your treatments. I guess it's like anything, if you think hard enough on something, them sure it may happen. If you talk yourself into getting sick, well then you will get sick. So, I suggest walking in and saying over and over and over " I CAN DO THIS, I CAN HANDLE THIS" etc..... Mind over matter DOES and CAN HELP!!! Being arond POSITIVE People also helps. A LC survivor/patients never wants to hear negative things during this journey!! Nor do they want to hear "you should do this or you should do that" LOT's of TLC is soooo important at this time. Also as far as hair loss goes. Again, some do and some don't lose there hair. However, it's not uncommon after the second session of chemo's for a person's hair to start falling out, and 99% of the time it comes out in clumps!!! I know, been their, done that? hehehehe!! And as much as appearance may be important to some people, you would be surprized how comfortable having NO hair can truely be. No muss NO fuss!!! IT was GREAT!!! There is a company called PAULA YOUNG WIGS. I'm sure if you typed it in the internet you can come up with the website. The prices are wonderful and the wigs are great too!!! People can spend hundreds of dollars on wigs and have bad luck with them. (so I have heard, and experienced). COMFORT is the MOST important issue when buying a wig. Because we don't always feel so happy pappy, wonderful when going through treatments, we tend to fall toward our comfort level being number one in our lives. So, check out the Paula Young website. And remember most people after there hair does grow back never looks twice at that $500.00 wig you may have purchased!!! I say save that money and go PARTY when your done with your treatments. I use to be very vain as well about my apperance, but BOY did that CHANGE!!! Not that I don't care about what I looked like, but it's not as IMPORTANT as it use to be, LIFE IS!!!!! Also for those doing radiation treatments to the brain area's, you may notice your hair may NOT come in as thick or heavy in the area that was radiated. Again, not uncommon. But, be it chemo or radiation treatments hair tends to come back after 3 months or sooo of your treatments and you should be able to wear your new do within 6 to 8 months after completing all treatments. I also think I told you that when I shaved my head I stuck to my pillow in bed that night. Guess I didn't do a CLOSE SHAVE!!! hehheee!! Well, I hope this helps somewhat. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Ginny, Yes Mesothelioma is a (asbestos) related type of lung cancer. There are serveral kinds of lung cancers and most of them fall in the Nonsmall Cell groups, such as Adenocarcinoma, Squamous, Large Cell, BAC, etc.... Check out the ALCASE website as well. You can find a lot of helpful information on the that website about lung cancer. www.alcase.org Warm and Gentle Hugs,

dear Estrea, Well my dear, it's been 7+ years for me and I STILL get anxious come check up time. (I'm guessing it's for ever and ever, amen)! God knows that LIFE HAS CHANGED for all of us as we once KNEW it in more ways then ONE!!! And just so you know, if things get hairy in NEW YORK, you & the family can always come and stay in MINNESOTA with us!! WHO in God's name would want to come here and freeze there () off???? Although, we do have the Mall of America here!!! hummmm! I live 45 miles from it! (grin) Her's a thought for you. I am only a ONE LUNGER, if my cancer comes back???? hummmmmm! We all need one another and thank GOD we have that!! GOD BLESS US ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Oh just so you know, no one in Minnesota is buying up duct tape and plastic (yet anyway)!. Which means we are either very stupid people with frozen brains, or we are very confidant & cocky people with no brains!! hehehee, just kidding, just kidding!! We have to be strong and we will be!!! (((((((((ESTREA))))))))) ((((((Hugs to ALL))))) Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Christi and Shane, I just want to add that I have talked with several doctor's that say staging can be very confusing and tricky at times even for Doctor's! None the less, I would also like to point you in the direction of ALCASE. They have a lung cancer manual that does explain staging as well, along with a wonderful chart that is written in laymens terms and easy to understand. I encourage you to call or email them at: www.alcase.org 1-800-298-2436 or (360) 699-1944. My suggestion to you is, try and wait to get back all the Scan results from her doc. I know for me, I wouldn't even dream of trying to give you an opinion without the results of all her scans. But, then again, I'm no Doctor, I'm just a Lung Cancer Survivor ! That's a hard call! I wish you and your family all the best. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

New Study could lead to major advances in cancer treatments www.twincites.com/mld/pioneerpress/5132704.htm And Measuring success in cancer treatment www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/new ... 078021.htm Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Laurene, I am so glad to hear your doing so well for all you have been through. This isn't a cake walk that's for sure!!! I knew of a couple people that had a pancoast tumor, but I'm sorry to say, they are no longer with us. This was a few years ago though. Another lung cancer that is not all that common is BAC (Bronchial Alveolar Cancer), this is a form of Adenocarcinoma, and not easy to treat either. Little is known about BAC like Pancoast Tumors. I had my left lung removed, along with two ribs, and two cancerous lymph nodes and a few extra's to be on the safe side 7+ years ago. I still have numbness in that area and from what I am told I will forever!!! (small price to pay to be here)! I agree with you as well, that you wouldn't know to look at me that I was a lung cancer survivor of Stage IIIA-B. I hope you will find some information here that might help you and if not, I know you'll find a lot of wonderful people that will be very supportive and understanding to your concerns. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Everyone, Chemo treatments work very well in the fight against Small Cell Lung Cancer. I also will share with you that I know many Small Cell Lung Cancer Surivors, (over 2 years) and doing well! Some were dx.d at Limited stage and some at extensive stage. As much as you will read about the Negitive side of Small Cell lung cancer, please know there is also a POSITIVE side and people DO SURVIVE!! From my understanding Small Cell is mostly treated with Chemo's and Radiation Treatments. Not often do they do surgery on Small Cell, but not to say they haven't done surgery in some cases!! CT Scan's, MRI's (brain), PET Scan's, Bone Scan's, are all very normal types of scans for those of us that have had lung cancer. This is pretty much the normal routine. And of course BLOOD WORK!! ALCASE (Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support and Education) is a wonderful place to find help as well, as some of the people have shared with you. They also have a 1-800-298-2436 number if you wish to give them a call. Wishing you ALL the Best!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dearest Bill, My Deepest of Sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your dear mother. She was so young!!! Please feel free to post a message here if there is anything we can do to help you through the pain you are dealing with now. I am sooo very sorry my dear!! Warm and Very Gentle Hugs,

Hi All, Just wanted to share a website with you all. www.lungcanceronline.org I know Karen who has this site and she has put her heart and sole into doing this site to help others. She too is a lung cancer survivor. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Junior, I too am very sorry you have the need to join this wonderful group of people. However, you are in caring, supportive, understanding arms here! I don't have much to add to what Tiny, May, and Terrie had to share with you, only that you will find much comfort here on the Lung Cancer Message Board. We will do our best to walk the walk with you in hopes to make this journey a little softer for you and your dear dad. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hey Donna. What a WONDERFUL point you make, and thank you sooo much for sharing this website. It's NOT just a smokers disease, as we ALL know!! Ya know, I almost wish it was just a SMOKERS disease. Then we wouldn't ever have to second guess where it came from!!! food for thought! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Fay, As for the night sweats, be it day or night, it is NOT uncommon for chemo to cause this. Chemo causes havoc on our hormones and some times it takes several weeks before night sweats or hotflashes start up. Of course this will depend on our mothers age as well. I was 43 when I completed my treatments, and holy cow about 8 weeks after chemo I had such intense hotflashes I couldn't stand them. Never had them in my life before chemo. So Chemo can and DOES cause these things to happen as well. As for the Esophaghitis, that one I don't know what it could be. Although they say the Radiation does continue to work in our bodies for up to 6 months after treatments. So, it could be radiation related. None the less, I am glad to hear your dad is taking her in. Keep us posted! Best of luck to you All, Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi ALL, Just thought this Article was very interesting regarding the Minnesota Law suit and how much money the Lawers made during this suit. Just think of all the wonderful things that could have been done with this money in the fight against Lung Cancer! http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpr ... 068965/htm Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Janet, Well, I had my left lung removed along with two cancerous lymph nodes and a few extra to be on the safe side as well. I was a stage IIIA when I went into surgery but was restaged a IIIB when I came out. Well, to make a VERY long story short, I came through my surgery in flying colors. I had some pain, (yes) but nothing I couldn't live with thanks to the pain meds. I had 2 ribs removed as well. I never really had any rib pain. I was up and walking around the second day after surgery, pushing a wheelchair and my oxygen down the hall. I was on oxygen for 3 or 4 weeks after my surgery, then I went off of it. I ate the next day after surgery as well, I remember I had chicken. I WAS HUNGRY!! I know this is NOT an easy surgery by no means, and if you have to have it done, I can only HOPE you have as good of luck with it as I did. My doctors all said I was "remarkable"! Bless there hearts! But I do know of many others that have had the SAME type of surgery and they too didn't have a lot of problems like myself. I have a man in my Support Group that was 75 when they removed his left lung (2 years ago). Well, after he left the hospital (6 days after surgery) he went home (BY HIMSELF)! He had no one to help him. But, he is doing very well today too! Oh and just so you know, I was in the hospital for a total of 5 days and home I went. Well, I hope your Onc is right when he says they are changing there ways and thoughts about doing surgery on late stage patients. I guess I feel I am a good example of that!! Holler if you need anything. Take care and I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers that all this works out for you! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Brenda, I have to tell you about several people that were told they had months or a year or so to live and low and behold YEARS later they are still here! We will just KEEP THE HOPE and hope that treatments will shrink his tumors. (IT CAN HAPPEN)! I had a gentleman come to my Lung Cancer Support Group (he had SCLC) and they told him he had 6 months to live. Well, he said he quit his job and traveled around the world. When he came to our Support Group, he had been around the world twice and he was a 2 year lung cancer survivor. He was looking to go back to work and get back to the (NORM) so to speak of living life a new! I'm sorry to say, he never came back to our group, and I don't know the outcome, but he was doing very well when we saw him. Keep the Faith my dear! You and your step-dad are in my thoughts and prayers. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Ada, Welcome back!! WOW my friend, you have been through a LOT!!! THANK GOD your a fighter!!! Your surgery really sounded for a lack of a better word, (interesting) I am soooo very glad all went as well as it did, and that you came through it in somewhat (flying colors)?! Very VERY GLAD to have you back!!! Take it easy and get lots and lots of rest!!! We'll be waiting to hear all your updated news on how well your doing!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Sharon, If you don't mind my saying, I am sorta of glad to hear the doctor offered Radiation treatments. The radiation may zap those tumors in the hip, and that would be great!! The time to be really bummed is when they offer nothing! As I know you are aware of that! But, I like the fact that the doctor is watching him closely. It's never easy to deal with anyone in the late stages of any kind of cancer, let along lung cancer. Some treatments work for some, and not for others. It's the mistery of this disease, that's for sure! And as long as they are still offering him treatment options, I think that still gives us HOPE!! And like I said before, until we have a cure for this monster that lurks within so many of us, we STILL have HOPE!!! I'm sending you a hug (((((((((((Sharon))))))))))))) Hope this makes you feel better. Share that hug with your dad! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Elliko, Comsumer BEWARE!!! There are many scams out there that pray upon the sick. (oh sooo sad, and oh so true) I am NOT 100% on Alternative Meds, but I'm not going to say they don't help either! In the 7+ years I have dealt with being a lung cancer survivor and dealing with many lung cancer survivors I don't know of to many that can say they have had outstanding results from Alternative Meds. I have heard many of them say they are very expensive. But, I never say never!! I have heard of those that DON'T have lung cancer get good results from different Alternative Meds, but not a good % that are dx.d with lung cancer. Please be careful when looking into this. We did have one man that had his wife on Alternative Meds say she was doing wonderful on them, but I haven't seen him write into the group for a long time. And I have to add that his wife also had Chemo and radiation treatments as well. sooooo! It's a hard call to make. Best wishes to you and your mom. Warm and gentle Hugs,

Dear Tami, I am So Very SORRY to hear that you lost your wonderful mother. Please know your in my thoughts and prayers. Warm and Very Gentle Hugs,

Dear Janet, We were just talking about this the other day regarding smoking in doctors offices. And they didn't band smoking from Hospitals until 1986 or 1987. My mother was in the hospital in 1987 and they still would allow us to smoke in a smoking room in the hospital that same year. The year before we could smoke in our hospital rooms and throughout the hospitals. Plus when my sister passed away in 1988 we were allow and so was she to smoke in the HOSPISE part of the hospital. YES, they honestly let people (patients/ family members/friends) smoke in the Hospise area. Even the nurses smoked. And I have to tell you that 90% of the nurses in that area smoked!! Hugs,

Sorry Janet, I meant your Uncle. Sorry about that. And I don't mean any disrespect in how he may have felt. I just wanted to share my thoughts about it. And like I said, WE THE PEOPLE are NOT INFORMED of a LOT OF THINGS just as what is in the food we eat and drink. and air we breathe! Think of all the chemicals they put on the fruits and veggies, etc???? The list is unreal! Then I think about the YOUNG gal in my support group at the age of 26 and was dx.d with Mesotheliamo Lung Cancer. Where did she get that from??? Our older schools are full of Asbestos!! So much to think about! And I'm even going to guess that lead paint added to lung cancers. From my understanding, many of the very HARMFUL chemicals that they added in to cigarettes were added in after 1970 (something)? I have to find that article again! Not to say that straight tobacco isn't harmful! Sorry, Janet, I mean NO disrespect to your loved ones!! I too lost my Father, Mother and Sister all to Lung Cancer and my doctor's all told me it's also a GENE thing!! I had a lot of different types of cancers in my family history as well, breast, ovarian, stomach and of course, lung cancers. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Janet, No she did NOT lose her eye, or her eyesight!! Honest to God! She did Chemo and right off the top of my head, I can't remember if she did radiation treatments, but I don't think she did. She has NSCLC Large Cell, stage IV. She was having eyesite problems and went to an eye doctor who sent her to her family doctor and so goes the story as we all know so well!!! She is doing very well today with NED. I am going to try and encourage her to join this group. She does have a computer. Warm and Gentle hugs,

Here is a Newspaper article I thought I would share with you all. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincitie ... 031607.htm This article is called: Questions arise over doctor's profit from cancer drugs. Wmarn and Gentle Hugs.