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cathyr

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Posts posted by cathyr

    Treebywater

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Congratulations on being Caryolyn's mommy. What a privilege! I'm an truely happy for you and it's so nice to have this kind of news published on our web site.

    Best of luck to you and your family. You are indeed blessed!

    Hugs to you all,

    CathyR

    Has anyone heard from Ray A.

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi folks,

    Just wondering if anyone has heard anything from or about Ray A. It seems like its been a very long time since he posted. The last I remember he had an operation for mets on the adrenal glands.

    Anyway, Ray, I MISS YOU!!! Are you out there?

    Hugs to you all,

    Cathy R.

    Oxycontin and Dave

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Karen,

    I am on the same oxycondin dose as your husband and use Dialatin for breakthrough pain. It does not make me loopy or sleepy at all. In fact, it just takes the pain away. It is important to take it at the same time every day. I can drive, shop, do anything I want and it has not affected me.

    I just know that if I am late taking it by over 1 hour then it screws me up and the pain gets worse for awhile.

    I agree with everyone else that writing down what he takes each day and the time is probably your best bet. Good luck, sweetie!

    Hugs to you and yours,

    CathyR

    Thanks for your advice!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    First, let me thank those who wrote back regarding what to do about decreased appetite. It was very helpful and I am trying to eat whenever I can. I never thought I would be in a situation where I actually lost my appetite. Even when my husband dies, I ate for emotional reasons. Oh well. I guess its a good thing that I was 40 lbs. overweight before this started.

    I had the 2nd vaccine on Wednesday for the clinical trial. It is very trying. I am so glad to be a part of this trial, but it is not an easy one. I have to give myself an injection in my upper thigh for 8 days after and I am getting a reaction of redness, swelling, itchin, (sound similar). I am taking Benedryl to try to keep the itching down, but it makes me very sleepy. I am definetly catching up on my rest. The doctor is not sure whether this is a good reaction or not. I guess we'll find out. The whole purpose is to boost the immune system so that it will start to fight the cancer. Anyway, I'm glad I survived this last injection and now I'm half way through the program.

    Thanks again for all your support and love. It really, really helps!

    :wink::wink::wink: CathyR

    Me and my ONC

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Wow, Jim, what fantastic news! Thank you for sharing that. I'm so happy for you. It's just a reminder to us all that we can never just give up. The cure can be right around the corner!

    Now - GO CELEBRATE!!!!!!! :D:D:D

    Hugs to you,

    CathyR

    2nd vaccine today

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi all,

    Well, two weeks have gone by and the 2nd vaccine will be given to me today.

    I am praying that it works and that its not quite as stressful a procedure as the first time. I've been holding up okay, but my appetite is really gone. I think it's from either the pain meds I'm on (oxycontin) or the injections I have to give myself for this clinical trial (leukine). Anybody have any suggestions? Yesterday I ate 3 bites of a baked potato and had to force myself to eat that.

    Hugs to you all,

    CathyR

    it's A Pity Party and You're ALL invited!!!

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    I'd like to come to your pity party. I think it's such an ugly trait to feel victimized and sorry for oneself, but if I can confine it to one week-end, I would love to join. My cancer has spread bigtime in the past 4 months with numerous, sizeable nodules in both lungs. Is it scary? Yes it is, but I have a choice of which way to face it. I chose to fight without feeling sorry, but just for this one week-end, I would like to say "I don't deserve this and I hurt!."

    There! I said it. How am I doing? I'll bring the Matzo Ball soup. It's some good ole Jewish penicillin and nobody's allergic to that!

    Hugs,

    CathyR

    Had my first vaccine shot Wednesday

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi all,

    I wanted to let you know what was happening with this vaccine trial I started. I had the Cytoxan chemo 2 days before the vaccine. No problem. The day of the vaccine I had to have a series of skin test that include tuberculosis, clyamedia, and other things as well as a test to check my immune system. I have to go back to the med center every few days for them to "read" my skin results.

    The vaccine procedure was pretty tedious and stressful. You lay still for a couple hours while the top of your foot is being given xylocaine. They inject a blue dye to find out where the lymph channel is in the foot. When located they cut the skin and inject the needle with the (in my case) donated cells directly into the vein. They have to do this slowly. You can feel it go up your leg and thigh. Then they stitch the foot and we repeat this process in 2 weeks for up to 8 weeks. I also have to give myself an injection of leukine under the skin in my thigh every day for 8 days.

    Needless to say, I am grateful I can do this. It was very emotional and stressful. I am praying so hard that it works (if not for me then for future patients). Again, they are accepting new patients everyday into this trial. I know people who have nothing but medicare who are on it. They doctor works out of St. Vincent Medical Center. They have a lot of out of towner patients and have living provisions for them at the Medical Center. They

    take stage 4 patients. If anyone is interested, please contact me and I will be happy to give phone numbers.

    Anyway, that's it for now. I am resting today. First day without having to see a doctor in a week! My love to you all!

    CathyR

    Finally......

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    TAnn,

    :D:D Wow! That's great, fabulous, wonderful, terrific, sensational (did I miss any words?) news!

    You deserve this so much! I hope that now you can have a great week-end, relax, and celebrate with you family.

    You've made my day!

    Hugs to you!

    CathyR

    Feeling like crud again...

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Melanie,

    Prayers are being sent your way immediately! The onc. needs to get the pain under control ASAP. They can do that. If this onc. isn't doing the job, then seek other council instead. If I can do anything for you please pm. me. I think of you and Greg alot and hope this journey gets lots easier for you!

    Hugs to you,

    CathyR

    new and scared

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hi Cyndy,

    Welcome to this site. There are very informative and inspirational people here to help you in your fight.

    I've been fighting this for 3 1/2 years now. Tomorrow I begin a clinical trial. There are always new things around the corner.

    The best advice I can give you right now is to become as knowledgable as you can and if possible have a medical advocate with you when going in for important test or appointments. It always helps to have somebody else listening so that you hear everything. Sometimes it can get pretty emotional so it's good to have company with you.

    What area of the country are you in? We're scattered all over the world! Please keep in touch and come here often.

    Hugs to you,

    CathyR

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