Don M

Amie: I am glad to see things are going better for your mom now. And yes.. she is cancer free! Don M

Beth: I too was glad to see your post and I really hope you start to feel better.

Peggy: I hope they get the breathing difficulty figured oout soon. You and Don have my prayers.

good for you Pam.

Hi Pam: well, I guess you have seen your surgeon by now. I am sure everything was ok. Here I am 2 sugeries and almost 2 years after my initial diagnosis, and I still have a hard time believing what happened to me. I had my xray checkup with my surgeon last month. all was clear. I will probably get a little more antsy for my next checkup in Sept or Oct when I will have a ct scan. Don M

Hi Kelly: welcome to this site. So, your mom's cancer is spreading? Lung cancer treatment is trial and error at best. Maybe your mom needs to move to another treatment therapy. I hope she finds something that holds the cancer at bay. Many people have to try different drugs before they find a combo that works for them. More and more these days, advanced lung cancer is being treated as a chronic disease that can be held in check by drug therapy. Tell your mom that there is hope. Don M

I hope you are doing ok Beth. Don M

Karen: I have heard that the company that makes avastin will pay for it if the insurance does not. Don M

Hi Marylou: I am sorry your friend got cancer again. I have had cancer twice now. The second time, they cut it out and told me that there was no cancer anywhere else. I did adjuvant chemo and am cancer free now. The thing that struck me about your friend is that you said they think there is cancer elsewhere in her body but have not found it yet. Has she talked to a surgeon? Maybe it is a local recurrence like mine was, and she can have another surgery to get rid of it. When I went in for a consultation to see an oncologist about my second cancer, he was convinced from the Pet scan and ct scan reports that I had cancer in my lymph nodes and chest wall and was inoperable. I did not accept that and went to see my surgeon. He agreed to do surgery according to a protocol that would first rule out cancer in suspect area outside my lung. When it was determined that there was no cancer outside my lung, as I lay on the operating table, they tested the nodule in the remainder of my left lung which turned out to be malignant. I then had the rest of my left lung removed. I think your friend needs to make sure that she cannot have surgery. Whatever happens, I think you have been a good supporter in the past, doing every thing you could with the restrictons of being far away. I am sure your friend will appreciate if you continue that support this time. Sending the relaxing music is a real nice touch. Maybe you could tell her about this board and encourage her to join. Don M

Peggy: you and yours have my prayers. Don M

Bill: Hurray for your wife on her progress and hurray for your wife's onc for his go get em attitude. I betcha the avastin is a one-two punch with the tarceva. Don M

Good deal Lori. Now your mom can chase down the new met with some assurance that it will be whacked. Don M

Welcome Tom: Soon you will get over the initial shock and begin to sort through your options. There are many. When I had a recurrence, I went to see a substitite onc. He told dme that it was not likely that I could have an operation and that I should start chemo. He said that lung cancer comes close to being managed as a chronic disease if you can't operate. There is hope. As it turned out for me, my second cancer was operable after all and I am now cancer free. I remember when I first got a cancer diagnosis, I could not really believe it. I remember being irritated at my pulmonogist's office when they told me the unknown mass in my lung was almost ceertainly cancer. I dealt with it in the midsts of my shock and almost anger by finding out all I could about it, and attending to it step by step. You really need someone to attend the consulations with you. You know, I still kind of find it hard that it really happened to me twice, at one level, but it did. and I am ok now, but changed. Post again when you can tell us more about your diagnosis. Don M

Brandy: please accept my condolences

Val: please accept my condolences Don M

Welcome Frances: Let us know how your dad'd ct scan goes. I hope it shows good response. You and your dad have my prayers. Don M

Please accept my condolences. Cathy was a classy lady.

welcome fufu and henry

Hi Vanessa: I hope your mom gets out of the hospital soon and can start a new treatment. Whenever I have scans or whatever, I always ask for a copy of the report be faxed to my gp. they give me a copy whenever I ask for it. I keep a notebook too. Your mom has my prayers. Don M

Amie: I was sorry to see your mom is having post op problems. Hopefully things are more resolved by now. Don M

Hi Ralph: I think my wife thought I was more sexy after my operation...well, whatever. I saved a little writeup about my experience that I will repost for you: Don M written June 16, 2005 I had an upper left lobectomy in Jan 2004. In Feb 2005, I had the rest of my left lung removed..a pneumectomy. Recovery from the lobectomy was not too bad, so I thought I knew what to expect when I had the pneumectomy. But, I was surprised at how easily I got out of breath after the pneumectomy. When I sat up on the edge of the bed for the first time the day after surgery, I was out of breath. I never had this happen after my lobectomy. I was on oxygen for 3 weeks after the day of my pneumectony. I had an epidural for pain. The anesthesiologist urged me to use the epidural. He told me that there are indications that those who use an epidural have fewer post op pain problems in the future. The epidural stays on for 3 days or so. Pain really wasn’t much of a problem for me as I recall. It was managed well. When I went home I took oxycontin until the pills were gone, and did not need any more after that. Now, at nearly 4 months after my penumectomy, I have no pain at my incision except for a sore spot where an old suture is working its way out. One problem with the pain meds is constipation and not being able to urinate. I knew more what to expect the second time, so I asked for laxatives early. At the first operation, I had to wear a catheter home. I found out that I had a staph infection in my urinary tract. I went to an urologist and had it cleared up within a week. At the second operation, I had the catheter removed after the epidural was removed, about the third day. I still could not urinate, and I had to have the catheter reinserted (big ouch) to void my bladder. It was just a temporary insertion. After, my bladder was emptied, the catheter came out. Fortunately, after that, I was able to urinate on my own. I was most happy about that. I remember carrying containers full of urine to the bathroom and would brag to the nurses about how much I had peed. So, after my second operation, the only thing I still had attached to me when I went home was oxygen. I have a little stiffness, but my range of motion is good. I did physical therapy after my lobectomy, but I did not do it this time. I don’t think I need it. When I got home, I got used to sleeping on my good side. I just used a regular bed. I was able to do light housework in 2 weeks. I went back to work in 4 weeks. I rototilled the garden and mowed the lawn at 3 months. Today, I split a little wood. It is real important to cough the gunk up from day one and to use the spirometer thingy. I started walking as soon as I could. At first it was hard for me, because I would get out of breath. When I got home, I walked every day, around the block, carrying my oxygen with me. After I got rid of the oxygen, I started walking a half-mile and soon was up to a mile a day. I still walk a mile a day. I can walk a mile comfortably in 17 minutes. I can do it in 15 minutes if I make my little short legs go as fast as they possibly can. I can go up and down a flight of stairs over and over again. I was disappointed a couple of weeks ago, when I went out in the woods and discovered that I could not walk uphill on very steep ground without stopping after 10 feet. I am still on chemo. I have one more round to go, and will finish at the end of June. My oncologist says that I should be able to do better out in the woods after I regain my stamina. He says it takes up to 8 months after chemo before you get all of your stamina back. I was very grateful that I was able to have the operation. I am cancer free now, and did the chemo just to make sure. I did not do it after my first operation. I was stage 1 both times. I still have a slight urge to dry cough. It is more pronounced when I bend over. It was really bad about a month ago, but is mostly gone now and manageable. I have been told that a pneumectomy is the most major surgery you can have….piece of cake!, Well, doable at least. _________________

Kurt: thanks for the update. It is too bad that Beth has to wait, but i am glad the pulmonologist did his job. You and Beth are in my prayers. Don M

For Dean and Gay: you both have my prayers. Don M

Cathy: I am glad to hear that you have had some good moments in conversation with your family. I hope your sister finds a way to help you go on line this Sunday. Caryl and Maryanne have been very kind in letting us know how it has been for you. You have my continued pryers, Warrior Lady. Don M

Heather: that is a real nice pic of you and your mom. I am happy for you and your mom at her remission. It is rather amazing, really. And, if I were you, I would believe she is cured too. Don M