Don M

Sounds encouraging. Maybe they can establish that it is valley fever. I have a comment about the needle biopsy. It does not make sense to me to have a needle biopsy if you are a candidate for surgery. Lung needle biopsies are very unreliable for negative results. If no cancer is found, they call it inconclusive. And, most of the time they are inconclusive. The next step after an inconclusive needle biopsy would be surgery by a wedge biopsy or VATS to see if it is cancer and then a lobectomy if it is positive for cancer. Lung needle biopsies are very reliable if cancer is found. So they may find cancer and it is on to surgery if you are a candidate. So why bother with the needle biopsy at all? The only time I can see that it makes sense to have a needle biopsy is if there is no chance of having surgery. If you find cancer, I would forget about the sleep apnea thing and do it after your cancer issues are solved. I hope it is just Valley Fever. Don M

Welcome. As you get more information, things should settle down for you. The way I have coped is to learn about my lc as much as I can and to just do whatever the next step is. I have been dealing with my cancers for almost 4 years now. Don M

Welcome Ken. Going to MD Anderson is the best thing you can do at this time. Don m

Welcome Pipfitz don M

Welcome Sally Don M

Welcome Cheri Don M

Donna' please accept my condolences for your loss. Don M

Congratulations Alisa and thanks for posting. Don M

That is just swell, don M

Hi Barb and welcome. Don M

Hi: welcome to the lchelp message boards. I think that radiation would be a good general option. You might want to get a second opinion on what to do to find out what kind of cancer you have. It is always good to go to a major comprehensive cancer center. Maybe they could do a bronchoscopy, which is less likely to cause a flat lung than other methods. You could talk to Dr. west on his website. http://www.onctalk.com/ He may have something to say about administering chemo for a suspected cancer without knowing the type or having physical proof that it is caner. I have a cancer in my remaining lung now and it is being treated without a biopsy because of the risk that my lung would go flat. In my case though, they knew I had a history of lung cancer and they knew what the first 2 cancers were so that made it very likely that the 3rd cancer was the same thing. Don M

"So many battles being fought by people with far more courage than I " Dave, I sometimes get comments that I have a lot of courage in dealing with my disease, but I suspect that I am like most others, it is not so much courage as it is that I and perhaps we have no choice. I (we) just deal with it one step at a time. And, I also appreciate any NED news that anyone has to share and congratulations on your NED. Don M

What an awful thing to have happened to his uncle and his family. They have my prayers. don M

Goodbye Larry and Godspeed be to you. Don M

Marinol could help too. Don M

Bobby, I am sorry you all have to cross that dreaded threshold. I guess you don't have to say anything if it comes to that. Just sitting quietly with your sister may be enough. But if she wants to talk,listen and respond. Don M

Teresa: I have had 3 needle biopsies and they are not that bad. And so far, you really don't have any conflicting information. Unless a bronchoscopy or a needle biopsy comes back as positive for cancer, it is considered inconclusive. If the needle biopsy does not find cancer, the only way your dad may find out for sure is to have a wedge resection and put the tumor on the operating table and then have a pathologist test it on the spot. My needle biopsies were all inconclusive. Looking back on it, I wonder why they bothered with the bronchoscopy and lung needle biopsies for me. If they can't establish that I have cancer, then the next step is an open biopsy. At the time I was looking at surgery as my treatment. If they find out that it is cancer with the needle or a bronchoscopy, they would cut me open anyway. So why bother with that stuff and just cut to the chase and cut it out and then see what it is? I can see trying to establish what kind of cancer it is with less invasive tests if you are going to just have chemo, but I was a surgery candidate as your dad may be. The waiting to find out what to do if it is cancer is the hardest part and I hope you soon get answers. Don M

Hi Jackie. I have had 2 such surgeries and never had that much post op pain. My anesthesiologist told me that if I had an epidural after surgery it would limit my post op pain as well as immediate pain from the surgery and so I had an epidural both times. Did you have an epidural? If you did not, that could be a possible reason for your post op pain. Still, passing out and nausea seems a bit too much even without an epidural. I would ask the docs about it. Don M

I hope the shrinkage continues Trudy. I think that you have shown shrinkage now is a good sign. Don M

I have a local oncologist who is very competent I am sure, but I have a hard time following his accent. If I am looking at a new treatment possibility or a consultation, I go to Seattle for a treatment recommendation and then go to the local clinic to implement it. My local oncologist directed me to the Seattle doc and knows that I see him too from time to time. It is a 3-hour drive for me to Seattle and my local clinic is just 40 minutes away. Don M

Hi Dave. I quit smoking 19 years before I got my diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in 2003. Boy, was I surprised. I am a retired US Forest Service employee and am enjoying my retirement. I hope your treatment brings excellent results. don M

Hi and welcome on 3 years with no cancer. I would say you are over the hump now. I hope you prevail with the disability company. Don M

I don't know if there is a possible connection between you stomach problems and lc, Terry, but welcome. don M

Hawkeye: I know it is commonly used for second line treatment for NSCLC. I have not heard of it being used for SCLC, but I suppose some places use it. You might ask Dr. West about it. I do know it can cause the usual side effects that most people have to deal with, neuropathy, fatigue and sob. http://www.onctalk.com/ I hope Mary’s next treatment works wonders. Don M

Leslie I am sorry your dad is having such a hard time and I hope things get better for him. Don M