Don M

Kimberlie, I think it maybe worth the trip to visit Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle. Let them offer a second opinion. They have an excellent comprehensive cancer center. Ask to see Dr. Howard West. He has a national reputation as a lung cancer specialist. Make sure you let him know about the heart problems. They could have your mom set up to see a heart specialist on the same day that you see Dr West. You could probably see all the specialists you need to see in one day. You would need to gather up all your mom’s films and medical reports. Your mom’s local docs would help facilitate coordination of medical records and films being sent to Swedish if you ask them. I chose to gather up the records myself and I was the one who made sure the films were returned to my local providers. If they come up with a viable treatment plan, it could be implemented in Moses Lake. I live in Hoquiam and went to see the Swedish people for a second opinion. It is now being implemented at my local oncology clinic in Aberdeen. It is a fairly straight shot from Moses Lake to Swedish First Hill Campus in Seattle. You could probably leave early in the morning and get back home the same day. Map quest says it is 179 miles and 2 hours and 45 minutes. http://www.swedish.org/body.cfm?id=6&ac ... il&ref=902 It must be really disheartening for your mom to hear that the chemo may compromise her heart. I imagine it would be easy to decide on no further treatment at that point. Maybe she could do tarceva. You and your mom have my prayers. Don M

Hi Malou. I am glad you are doing well. I hope you continue to heal. don m

Welcome back Rich. I hope you have a speedy recovery. Don M

Aw shucks... and thankyou Don W and evrybody. Don M

It sounds like you are doing fine Pam. I think that part of having a good attitude is letting people and yourself know when you are tired of it all. The people around me tell me I have a "good attitude" and I am not shy at all about letting them know that I am tired of chemo. I am going to see my onc this Tuesday and I will ask for the 20 mg size of lexapro. The copay is the same and you get twice as much. Good luck with your treatment Pam. Don M

Let NED continue....on and on and on. Don M

Hi Lori; I am sorry you got the bad news about Liam and I hope you find the strength to deal with it. I hope your mom's pain can be managed. Don M

Missy, I hope your and your mom and your family can have some peace at this time. It sounds like your mon is starting to ocome to terms with dying. Hospice will be a big help now. I am sorry it has come to this. You, your mom and the rest of your family have my prayers. don M

Good Luck to your mom Teresa. I am glad they are looking at cyberknife. it is what I would ask for. Don M

Hi Meg: please accept my condolences. don M

Yeah, see the doc. Don M

Teresa: There is no answer to why, but you can deal with what. Your mom has cancer. What you can do is find out all you can about it, her treatment and be an advocate for her. I have been dinking around with this d**n disease for almost 3 years now. Since then I have met 2 grandchildren. I expect to survive for many more years. There are other survivors who have been around for years and there is a good chance that your mom will be another one. Lung cancer is viewed more as a chronic disease now if there is no cure possible in the early stages. Ask your mom to give written permission for you to have access to her medical reports and start keeping a notebook. You could have copies faxed to your local doctor, perhaps, and you could pick them up there. It is good to have one person aware of all the treatments that have taken place and conversant enough with your mom’s disease to participate in treatment decisions with the oncologist. If you don’t live too far away, perhaps you could attend key appointments with your mom, such as follow-up appointments for scans and discussions of treatment strategies. Has your mom started treatment yet? If she has not, things will settle down for your mom and you as soon as a plan is implemented and you can see that something is being done about it. You and your mom have my prayers. Don M

Welcome Theresa: It is encouraging that your doctors mention using cyberknife. I hope the mri will sort stuff out for your mom. Don M

Welcome Tbar: perhaps you could tell him about this site. Don M

Rich has my prayers. Don M

Jen: how awful. I am very sorry it has come to this. I don't know, it may be too late or the tumor may be too big, and perhaps you dad is too weak for the trip, but cyberknife surgery can be applied to the site even if there was prior radiation. They may be able to control or eliminate the spinal tumor. http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/forum/default.aspx?c=4 The closest center is in Gainsville, Fl. CyberKnife Center at North Florida Radiation Oncology 1021 NW 64th Terrace Gainesville, FL, 32605 USA Phone Main: (352) 331-1550 Phone Alt: (800) 621-0575 Fax: (352) 331-1558 Don M

Jay; it might help to bring an oncology social worker into the loop plus the doctor. Most large medical centers have them. Possibly, all your mom needs is to be on antidepressants. Don M

Welcome Troy: It sounds like your wife had a good treatment plan. Don M

Happy Birthdday Betty: You don't say if you are undergoing treatment or not. Most treatments can cause sob. If I started experiencing increased sob, and was well out of treatment, I would talk to the docs about it. I have increased sob from alimta. I am not worried about it though, because I can still breathe as deeply as ever. I just have to pant more often. If it ever got to the point where I could not take a deep as breath as I used to do, then I would be worried about alveoli damage. Don M

Jan, that is good advice from Marmar. Hospice will take a load off your shoulders. They are there for the family as well as the patient. Don M

Hi Jan, welcome to this site. Don M

Kimberlie, I hope your mom is feeling bettr now and that the dehydratio is under control. I don't understand why the ER did not treat her for dehyration. Don M

Welcome. Ignore the statistics. Don M

Hi; I don't know about the pain acquired after the treadmill...maybe it is just muscular pain. I cut and pasted a post I did a while back below. If you do a search using terms such as surgery, lobectomy or pneumonectomy, you can find a lot of pertinent posts. Posted 7-18-05 I had an upper left lobectomy in Jan 2004. In Feb 2005, I had the rest of my left lung removed..a pneumonectomy. Recovery from the lobectomy was not too bad, so I thought I knew what to expect when I had the pneumonectomy. But, I was surprised at how easily I got out of breath after the pneumonectomy. 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 pneumonectony. 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 penumonectomy, 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 pneumonectomy is the most major surgery you can have…piece of cake!, Well, doable at least.

Hi Aliboo, I don't know much about the cobra process, but I assume you have to apply for it. If your boyfriend moves in with his parents, I hope they include you in some capacity. Maybe you should all talk about it. You could be a little assertive and state that you want to share in his caregiving. Don M