Lisa O

Ginny, I wish you many great times in your new home. I am sure your memories of the Duke will remain forever strong wherever you live.

I do appreciate all your support Peggy!

DARN the waiting!! I wish we would have heard definative good news today...but I guess we can wait a bit longer for the good news. Please continue to keep us posted. Enjoy the RV show.

I am so happy to hear that Becky's accomplishments are being recognized with the PHD! I am sure that Katie will take great pride in her mother's dedication on so many levels. Thanks so much for sharing.

Welcome Traci, I am sorry to hear about your mom, but it sounds like you have found out that a lung cancer diagnosis is not the end of quality life as many people believe! I once feared that as well. I am glad to hear your mom is working and playing. Many here are doing so also. Continue to live life with her and support her and eachother. We will be here for you as well.

Welcome! It is great to hear that Greg is on the upswing already and that he has quit smoking! That is great news! Keep us posted!

Welcome, Nothing ever sounds good when we are first diagnosed, but as you will see, the road can be filled with good news when we least expect it. Hang in there and we will try to offer support however we can.

THANKS!

There is a school of thought that chemo is inhibited by antioxidant use. It is contraversial but it would seem that no one believes that the amount we eat in a healthy diet can harm us. My oncologist allows a multivitamin and then I eat many varied vegetables (of course my blood count is not at issue - IF YOUR HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BLOOD COUNT CERTAIN VEGETABLES ARE TO BE AVOIDED... CHECK WITH YOUR MEDICAL TEAM). I eat many colored bell peppers, carrots, dark lettuce, cabbage, brocooli, brussel sprouts, ... you get the idea. I drink green tea. I try to incorporate vitamins and minerals and antioxidants through diet instead of supplements. Of course, if and when treatment ends I will go back to supplements and a healthy diet!

I just LOVE that stable word! I am hoping for the same or EVEN BETTER news on the next scans! Keep us posted -okay?? Lisa

For those of you who may have seen the live strong bracelets and the pink bands for breast cancer, there is now a clear wrist band that was designed to raise awareness for lung cancer. The proceeds go to lung cancer research. You can print an order form at: http://www.lungevity.org/site/epage/21524_447.htm

Please make sure you talk to the oncologist before taking supplements during treatment. While antioxidants are great normally, there is a school of thought that chemotherapy and radiation can be hindered by taking too many of the antioxidants. It would be wise to coordinate all supplements with the medical team.

I have two board certified MDs, both of whom practice mainstream and alternative medicine. They have been very helpful in helping me try to find a balance. After a car accident, I found that accupuncture really could be very helpful in alleviating pain when administered by the right practitioner (this was the neurologist) and then I started looking into other natural methods of healing from there. Before chemo, I did essiac tea and the alkaline water with MANY supplements. On chemo, I am more limited to avoid interaction.

Welcome, I am sorry you are fighting this with your mom. I know the distance makes things harder. Despite recent publicity, there are many of us for whom Iressa has really done wonders! I have been on it for over two years and it has held me stable. I wish your mom the best. As for prognosis and predictions, I don't believe anyone has the answers. It is not always as grim as it seems.

Hi Mary, Welcome. There is always Hope. Join us and hange in there!

Welcome... I love your attitude and I look forward to "seeing" you around! Lisa

Barb, Welcome to the group. Follow your instincts and get as many opinions as it takes to ease your mind. At least get one more! Lisa

My prayers go out to GOL. I am sorry to hear things have gotten worse.

I wanted to second the advise about being careful with the dosages of vitamin A... My doctor has advised to try to get most vitamin A through diet. I also agree with Hebbie about not cutting out healthy fruits and vegetables! I also take Tagamet, there have been studies on the anticancer properties with Tagamet (cimetadine) and melanoma and some other cancers for years but one must be careful about interactions with timing of other drugs. Also an awareness of all warnings that go along with medications like Celebrex (again, I am on this as well) is important). It goes without saying that if you do decide to go on chemotherapy, your physician will need to know all of the supplements that you take as they may interact. Good luck!

Thanks very much Fay.

That is beyond beautiful.

David, I am certainly hoping your future scans prove that you are nothing more than a peabrain or a member of the empty headed club like Karen has been telling us! Seriously, you are in my prayers. Lisa

Acetyl-L-carnitine lessens pain associated with diabetic neuropathy Last Updated: 2005-01-14 17:11:14 -0400 (Reuters Health) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients with diabetic neuropathic pain may find significant relief with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) provided the treatment is started early, according to a re-analysis of data from two large placebo-controlled trials. "ALC is not currently approved for this indication in the US, but it is used widely for painful neuropathy in patients with diabetes and AIDS in Europe," Dr. Anders A. F. Sima from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health. In the original two trials -- one conducted in Europe and the other in the US and Canada -- ALC (500 or 1000 mg/day t.i.d. for 52 weeks) had no significant effect on nerve conduction velocity -- the primary efficacy endpoint of the trials -- in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. But in a reanalysis of data on 93% of study subjects (n=1257), Dr. Sima's group discovered that ALC at the higher dose significantly alleviated pain in a subgroup of patients (27%) who reported pain as "the most bothersome symptom" at baseline. "Pain is very common in patients with diabetic peripheral nerve diseases, occurring in 30% to 35% of patients," Dr. Sima said. "It is usually extremely bothersome for the patients and in extreme cases drives them to suicide. We found that ALC has a significant effect on pain." The greatest reductions in pain were seen in patients with diabetic neuropathy of short duration. "This is an axiom that goes for any of these treatments in chronic disorders like this, 'the earlier you can start treatment the better,'" Dr. Sima said, adding that ALC is "very tolerable." ALC treatment was also associated with improvements in nerve fiber regeneration and vibratory perception. Mirroring the original studies, ALC had no effect on nerve conduction velocities, suggesting that this is not a good endpoint for these types of trials, the team notes in the January issue of Diabetes Care. Dr. Sima said his team is currently working with the US Food and Drug Administration to get ALC formally approved for painful diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care 2005;28:96-101. I wonder if it would work as well on chemotherapy induced neuropathy?

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/01/14/al ... index.html

My prayers are with you and Phillip Fay.