OhioKat

Thank you for the response as well as the welcome back. I am 10 years passed diagnosis this November and I'm still dealing with all the little "gifts" cancer left me with and it seemed like just when I'd gotten used to them the new thing with my breast popped up.

I am wondering if anyone has noticed a change in their breast(s) after having radiation to their chests. I've noticed that my left side seems much smaller now. There was always a small difference between the two but it seems more pronounced. My tumor was on the left side. There is also a lump on the inner part. Based on the markers they tattooed on me the area where the lump is was targeted during treatment. I've had a couple of mammograms and they've said they can't find anything even though its very noticeable when I'm laying on my back, so I'm wondering if this is just another of the side effects of the radiation. Has anyone else had this type of long term side effect?

I know I'm late to this posting, butI just wanted to let you know, that unless it's recently changed small cell is on SSDI's "automaticly approved" list. They still enforce the six months off work before cutting that first check, she should be able to get SSI in the short term until the SSDI kicks in though. Thats what I was able to do.

The prodigal child returns again. I'm so bad about posting here, and I've even been bad about reading here. I'm sad to find some familiar names gone from here and that still more people have joined the family. I've been doing pretty good. Heading for 2 years out of treatment and NED. I wonder does anyone else feel a twinge of guilt sometimes for surviving when so many others don't?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP. THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION. SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE. I GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES, PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES. I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND, 'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND. I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE. BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES... HAPPY EATING TO ALL... PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP, MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the information/encourangement/support/understanding. It certainly walked me back from the edge of a full blown panic that's for sure.

Welcome Nancy, sorry to had to find us. ((hugs))

I feel like a prodigal daughter or something, slinking back onto the boards after a long absence. I'm curious about people with liver mets. Did you have symptoms or was it dicovered on a scan? I'm asking because I've been having quite a bit of pain in my upper right area of my abdomen and it seems to be increasing, not so much in intensity but in frequency and duration. Of course as an avid internet wanna be geek, I've been looking on the internet so signs and symptoms. The reality is that of the ones listed I only have two and I've kind of hidden behind how most sites seem to really tout the weight loss/loss of appatite thing which I don't have. Lord knows at my size I'd never look at any weight loss as a sign of something bad. It's just making me a bit nervous I guess, and yes I know I should be making an appointment with my Doctor instead of posting about it here. I do have an appointment coming up but not until January. Part of me is saying call now, get it checked now. Part of me is saying, I really don't want to spend another Christmas with an active cancer, or at least knowing I have an active one something like that. Part of me says I'm being stupid and paranoid and it's nothing to be so worried about. Part of me says just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me. Part me says I probably shouldn't wait any longer then I already have to get this checked out. Part of me says where the heck did all these parts come from? I guess maybe this post was more about nervous posting. That I'm having pain because I'm fat and I sit hunched over the keyboard too much and I've "pinched" something. I guess I'm here because I'm pretty sure ya'll will understand what I'm feeling and not just think I'm a nutter.

Yes it is, I'm hoping that the wonderful people on this site can help to change that!

The Lung Cancer Alliance website has a petition posted to try and get lung cancer made a national public health priority. You can fill it out online or download a printable version and mail it in. As of this posting only 1475 people have signed it. I think that number is frighteningly low. I hope everyone here puts their name to it and asks their family and friends to do the same thing! http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/involved/sign_the_petition.php

This really is very sad. It's always sad when cancer takes another life. I'm curious, was it ever reported what form of lc he had?

I have peripheral neuropathy in my both lower legs/feet as a side effect of the Cisplatin that I was on for both of my chemo rounds. It actually got bad enough that they discontinued the cisplat for the las month this last time. One Doc told me it would get better, but another said it wouldn't, that the damage to the nerves wouldn't repair itself. I've been out of chemo for a year now (this month) and I still have the pain, numbness and tingling. Makes it hard to be on my feet alot or for long periods. Hope your's is feeling better

My heart breaks for your loss.

Excellent News

I apologize if this was posted here some where else, but a friend sent me this link and it's so beautiful that I wanted to share it here with everyone. http://www.thesurvivormovie.com/

I think this sounds like a really cool idea, but I'm also guessing that it would probably fairly expensive which would keep it from a large portion of the cancer population who struggle just to meet normal daily expenses.

Sorry to hear about your Sister in law. I don't have any suggestions though, I'm sorry. I hope you are able to find a way for her to go though, I'm sure it's so important to her.

I so hope that they are able to get his pain under control. It must be so hard. Yay for you on the new house

I will be praying for Dave and your family. It was so very sad to read this news.

I wanted to thank everyone for the input & say I'm sorry for not saying so before. My computer was going a bit wonky and I ended up having to format it not once, but twice. I'm still not sure what to do, I will most likely play it by ear. Now if I can just get over the anxiety attacks I'm starting to have just thinking about going back. *le sigh*

I wasn't aware that an isurance company could release that kind of information to an employer. Wouldn't that be in violation of HIPPA?

When I was first diagnosed, I went on disability. I figured if there was a chance that I might pass away I was going to spend that time with my kids rather then trying to juggle between chemo & work & life in general. So now I'm at the point where I'm ready/needing to go back to work and I'm wondering how to answer a prospective employer when they ask why I have a 2.5 year gap in my employment history. I know the truth is almost always best, but am I actually required to tell them of my cancer history? If I don't and it comes out later is that a justification for them letting me go? I'm worried that telling them I've had cancer, and have only been NED for one year might cost me the job (of course if they are that shallow do I really want to work for them?) Part of me wants to be very upfront about it, because I don't really care to feel like I'm hiding something, but part of me also knows that I need to get back to work. Thanks for any suggestions

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Hope that infection is on the run and you're feeling better!

I had to add after reading this, for a while after I'd quit smoking I did notice a change in the way things tasted. The funny/sad thing was that my beloved diet pepsi tasted so "funny" for months after I quit until I got used to it's "real" taste after smoking for so long. I started when was about 11-12 years old, I was 37 when I was diagnosed & quit. Quitting smoking is always the best choice. Unfortunately quitting smoking isn't as easy and just not buying anymore cigarettes.