Lisa O

beautifully written!!!!

My prayers are with Bob and his family right now as well. Lisa

I have tried Reikki and find it very relaxing. I have not tried the essiac tea but many people believe in it. My doctor does not want me using it while on Iressa, so she may want to check with hers before using any strong supplements. I have had some luck with the Iressa and am now on the same Iressa and Celebrex as your Grandmother. I wish her the best.

prayers are coming your way Cheryl. I'll be looking for word. Lisa

awesome and beautiful.

My deepest condolences to your family. Her attitude was inspiring and she will surely be missed.

I use cetaphyl to wash my face and at very dry times I will use it on my hair. I use Pantene conditioner. I use udderly soft lotion on my arms, legs, back (non face) skin which gets very dry. I use neutrogena cream with sunscreen on my face. The doctor gave me a prescription for when the rash itself gets too bad. STAY OUT OF THE SUN AND WIND. good luck.

I am so sorry that your cancer has returned. I respect your wilingness to make decisions based on your own quality of life. I do want you to know that Iressa is not bad for everyone - I have had quite an easy time on it. However you choose to move forward, I wish you the very best. Your fellow Michigan resident, Lisa

how beautiful!

Good luck with the new forum Dean.

My oncologist just upped my dosage to 800 mg per day in addition to the Iressa. I hope it works. There are trials going on right now with the combination of Iressa and celebrex for NSCLC.

Bob, I am praying that this is yet another temporary setback. You are so strong. Keep fighting. I know you are choosing your army well at this point. I wish you the best. Lisa

You are in my heart and prayers.

My heart totally breaks for you. You are very strong and believe it or not you will make it through this. Your husband needs to KNOW (not believe but KNOW) that you will be okay however he decides to proceed and you will - eventually. You have so much faith. Sometimes you need to close your eyes, take a deep breath and try as hard as you can to see the biggest picture out there. Hope is not gone, no matter which route your husband takes. Maybe he has lost faith in chemotherapy. Maybe he will regain his faith in chemotherapy. Maybe he just needed to vent. All roads still lead to hope. Some people find their cure in diet, some in faith, some in medicine, some in love, some in combination and some wait for reunification at a later date. Please try to remember - there are many ways to find hope and hang onto that hope - for your sanity. You are both in my prayers.

Of course, Cheryl, you and Jack both have my prayers. Sheesh. Enough! Please keep us posted.

adding my prayers. I will be checking for results.

Cheryl Are you due to have a repeat of the blood work after the infusions and changes to see if the cells have changed? I was seeing some doctors who do the same sort of work before I started the Iressa but I had to stop all vitamin infusions and large supplements to do Iressa. If I am ever off treatment I plan on going back to the holistic route. I am very interested in how this is working for you. Lisa

Dean, I sure hope you get that pain under control. It sure can ruin everything! I love the Moonshadow song... and it does seem particular appropriate here. Well you sound like you have the next step planned already. I will pray that the pain control is exactly that - "pain control" with as little life disruption as possible. Lisa

Hi David, I am obviously a huge believer in Iressa (having been on it since 10/02)! For me, the most helpful tip was to take it at 4:00 in the afternoon. It kept the main side affects to the hours when I would be likely to be home or sleeping. The worst of my problems was the ITCH so I would take benedryl at bedtime. It wouldn't matter as much if I got tired that way. Quality of life wise Iressa has been great - and it has kept me pretty stable for almost a year and a half. I will pray for great results for you. I hope you are one of those patients who acheives the major shrinkage!! I thought U of M stocked Iressa all the time? Good luck Lisa

Hello, Iressa has worked well for me. I have the rash...(also itchy sore type bumps) and a bit of nausea. Occasionally I am more tired than I can justify although I do have quite a bit of activity. It has held me stable since 10/21/02 and I really have had a pretty easy time of it.

Nausea is the worst! My prayers are with you. Are you allowed to try ginger or any of the natural remedies? I wish you the best.

As far as I am concerned there are never too many messages of hope and inspiration. Please keep them coming. I am proud of you and every one of us who keeps taking one more step each day.

Hi Nancy. My first cancer was melanoma which was diagnosed in 1989. Over the years since that diagnosis, I have had many spots, tests and trails which I was sure would lead to a discovery of metastasis of the melanoma. I have had many many false alarms. I hope this is one for you and for your husband. I have said some prayers for you. I will watch for news.

You are stronger than you think. Hang in there. We are here for you. Many hugs, Lisa

Hello BellaDonna, I was told right away that my kind of tumor (primarily BAC) is found to be as common among non-smokers as smokers. I guess the 10% non-smoker ratio for lung cancer patients seems to be on the rise. I wish you the very best. You have found a great board.