cathyr

So sorry for your loss. I know she is in peace now. CathyR

Thank you to all who responded. As a follow-up, I saw the onc. today. He agreed that we needed to cancel the photo shoot for the cover of Cosmo next month. LOL. It helps when they have a sense of humor. He is taking me off Iressa for one week and will see me again in 1 week. He thinks the eye swelling (which is quite red) is related to the Iressa and the beautiful rash I have on my face. I have also gained 6 lbs in a week which is apparent in the water retention in my face and around my neck area. I will keep you informed! Thanks again for your support. You are my extended family! CathyR

Prayers are withyou, Ahmed, and your son. What a terrible time you are going through. I'm afraid most of us can relate all too well. I hope things improve quickly for you all. CathyR

Happy Birthday Fay. I am so relieved to hear that the cancer is not in your stomach. It's about time you had some good news. I am also wishing you the best and most speedy recovery on your upcoming operation. You're a strong, tough, and confident woman. You will beat this!!!!! CathyR

Hi everyone, Before I ask my question about Iressa, I just want to say what a wonderful time I had in Maui. I'm so glad I went. I got to snorkel and parasail. What a blast. Now I'm back to reality. Started Iressa 8 days ago. After 3 days, I started to get the "Iressa acne" on my face, mostly my chin. Does anyone know if it eventually goes away? Or, once you get it, do you have it until you go off the drug? Also, I have gotten big bags under my eyes which obviously are from retaining fluid. I'm not noticing swelling anywhere else except possibly my neck seems a little swollen. No other symptoms. I have been sneezing some, but I wouldn't expect the bags under my eyes to get like this. The only time they get this swollen is after a good cry and I haven't been crying. Anyone got any ideas? I'm going to try to get in to see my onc. the first of the week. Thanks for your replies! CathyR

I am right behind you Cat. Lead the way!!!! CathyR

That's such good news, Cindi! What a relief! I am very happy for you. Now you can really have a good holiday season. Hugs, CathyR

My prayers are with you and your dad. Also, prayers for your friend and his family. You have so much to shoulder right now. Please make sure you take care of yourself! Hugs, CathyR

Hi Everyone, I took off for 2 weeks to go antiquing in England. I had a wonderful time except for all the stair climbing. I've got severe stenosis of the L5 lumbar and I've had 3 injections in my spine in the past 3 months. Unfortunately, they have not helped. But, I did not let that ruin my trip. I still managed as best I could. The scenery was beautiful and the people I met were terrific. I very glad I went. Just had my 3 month CT scan which unfortunately shows the Taxotere has stopped working. Ihave several more nodules in my right lung. I am starting on Iressa today. Please keep me in your prayers. I'm not ready to leave yet. I would sure appreciate anybody responding who has had good luck with Iressa. A friend who is in Hawaii just called and invited me to join her for a week in Maui. I decided to go. What the heck. Whatever happens to me, I am going to have wonderful memories to look back upon when I need to!!! God bless us all and keep us safe. CathyR

I asked my oncologist about doing this test and he didn't think much of it. He said he that if it really worked every doctor would suggest it and have it done for their patients. He said it has not proved to be very accurate. Hope that helps. CathyR

I am so sorry for your loss. Just know he is no longer in pain and will serve as your guardian angel. Crying with you, CathyR

Hi Beth, I wanted you to know that I just finished my 11th Taxotere treatment. Before that I had Gemzar and Cisplatin. The Taxotere has been much easier for me. The fatigue hits me the 2nd day after treatment and last for several days. I could actually stay in bed 19 out of 24 hours. The acid reflux can be handled easily with Zantac or other medications. I am totally back on my feet and ready to rock and roll within 5 days after treatment for another 3 weeks. In fact, I am going on a 10 day trip to England for a dream antiquing trip in 2 weeks. I will have chemo when I get back. So, the point is that this is very do-able. I have now survived chemo for nine months. It's not reducing my cancer, but it has kept it stable with no new growths. You hang in there. It's been three years and 2 lobectomies later for me and I'm still fightin!! Do it with me girlfriend! Take care, CathyR

You are one of the most amazing people I have ever "met." Congratulations! I can't tell you what an inspiration you are to me and so many other people. Thank you for always pushing it, always fighting it, and always cheering us all on. CathyR

Happy Birthday Cheryll, I pray this is the next of many more happy birthdays. Prayers are sent your way. You are such a blessing to this site. We love you dearly. CathyR

Renee, Please accept my prayers and my desire for a halt to the pain and a peaceful death. I,too, hope that Scott can come home to you. Hugs, CathyR

Thanks for writing Dean. I've been thinking about you lately, too. I am so glad we had a chance to meet when we did in S. D. My love and prayers to both you and Gay. You are a true warrior! Hugs, CathyR

I was curious as to what this clinical trial is called? Do you know? Thanks, CathyR

I would love to be on the show if possible. My husband died of lung cancer 4 1/2 years ago and now I'm stage 4. We both quit smoking 5-6 years before diagnosis. I HATE the stigma. Nobody deserves lung cancer. One would not think of asking somebody with breast cancer if they ate too much fat in their diet or somebody with prostate cancer if they exercised, but lung cancer victims are victimized twice! I'd sure love to get that point across. Consider me in if possible. Thanks, CathyR

We have all just lost a valuable member of this family. This is a very sad day for us all. Dave will be remembered by me for his courage, encouragement he so graciously dispensed, and his compassion for everyone. I am so very sorry. CathyR

Wonderful news! I am so happy for you and Lucie. You two deserve only the best!!!!! CathyR

What a sad day! T-Bone fought such a hard fight. I was soooo hoping that he would get to remission. We have all lost a dear friend and brother. I am grateful the people he loved the most were by his side to help him reach peace. We will ALL miss T-Bone greatly! CathyR

Cheryl, Welcome home! We've all been praying for you and will continue to beat this. Being home will help greatly in in the healing process. It's amazing. We all admire your strength of character and the incredible support group you've surrounded yourself with. You have so much going for you. Keep up the fight, darling Cheryl, We love you. CathyR

Fay, I'm with the find a new crew side. Have you checked with UCLA? They seem to have a pretty big dept. for lung cancer. Prayers are with you!!!!! CathyR

Dave, I am so sorry to hear that the beast is back. If anyone can beat it again though, it's you. You've been an inspiration to so many of us. I think I can speak for us all when I say we expect you to come through this again on top! Prayers are with you. CathyR

Hi everyone, I've been out of pocket for about a month. My daughter came to visit me from Boston a month ago and is staying another 2 weeks. She lost her daddy ( my darling Richard) to this same disease four years ago and now faces the inevitability of me suffering the same results some time in the future as I am now at stage 4. It has been wonderful being with her and I am trying to pamper, spoil, and spend quality time with her while I can. I have been enduring chemo since Jan. 11, 2004 and have 1 more treatment to go on July 12th. Then, it will be another CT scan and we will see what the status is. I sure would like to take a break from the chemo. Although there has been no shrinkage since the chemo started, the last scan was stable and there were no new spots. I am planning a trip to Europe to go antiquing the first week in Oct. It's something I've always wanted to do and while I can I am going to do it. My prayers go out to Cheryl, who I absolutely adore and of course, to Fay A, always an inspiration to me. I love you both. I always carry this web site and it's members close to my heart. I am still reeling from the deaths of Mo Sugar, Nancy ( a friend of mine in my support group in L.A.), and the imminent death of a neighbor of mine only 51 years old named Greg, of lung cancer. I hate this disease and everything it means. I pray for us all every day. I try to remain as strong as I can and not give in to IT. I love you guys, CathyR