Don M

Pat and Brian: I hope the new approach your onc is taking whacks the tumors back. You have my continued prayers. don M

Heather: My take on your situation is that the nodules have not significantly changed in almost a year.. right? And so, I would put it on the "back burner" and just monitor them. I had a suspicous nodule show up 6 months after my first surgery. Within 6 months, it was established that there was significant growth. It turned out to be a second primary. I think, in most cases, if these things are malignant, they show change in a 6 month period. Of course, there is no doubt in my mind that I would be bummed if I had to track another nodule. I certainly hope I don't and can appreciate your fear, frustration and anger. knowing what I know now though, I would relax a bit if a new nodule did not change over a year. I hope your "nodules" don't change. Don M

Cindi: I am glad to hear that you can breathe more easily now. Don M

Hi Fay: Please don't be embarassed. hmm.., well, when I had my second surgery, you were very helpful and an inspiration too. I think I have somewhat of an idea of what you have been through, even though my experience has not been as horrific as yours or others. And, "doable", to me, means that it was something that had to be done. It was just easier for me to do it by cracking jokes at every opportunity before and after surgery. Bless you Fay. Don M

Welcome Julie

Lori: Your mom has my prayers too. I hope the brain surgeon can help her. Don M

I am glad to see you have had good tumor shrinkage. I guess it is not uncommon to have non-malignant fluid. I guess I would question my onc why elevated markers does not necessarily mean anything. A friend of mine with late stage ovarian cancer had tumor shrinkage, but the scans showed malignancy in the fluid. She also had an increase in her cancer marker. I guess I would feel reassured if a pet scan showed no uptake. Don M

I would like to echo the comments that the tests are a must and that you should go to a hospital where they have a lot of experince in thoracatomies. For my first surgery, I made the decison to do the surgery in early December 2003. I had to wait a month until early Jan 2004 to get the surgery. All the tests were in and it was a go, but I could not schedule it for a month because of the Christmas season. It drove me nuts having to wait. I called the surgeon's office and tried to talk them into an earier date, but no go. A positive thing, was that he is a very good surgeon. Waiting the month did not change the outcome. My second surgery happened much quicker. I was happy to get it done quickly. I chose the same surgeon. I know it is hard, but try to be patient. Ask your pcp for a recommendation for a surgeon. Don M

Sorry to hear about your brother. Maybe you can get your brother to sign a release form so that you can get copies of all his tests, reports and doctor notes. Someone needs to track all that stuff. Your brother may not be up to it at this point. Take him out to lunch and talk to him about it. I tracked all my own stuff. It was a good way for me to deal with the cancer. It made me feel like I was doing something about it. I had a 3 ring binder that I took to every appointment. I would get a copy of the current report or scan before I saw my oncologist so that I could read it and know what questions to ask. Early on in my cancer journey, my wife went with me to all my appointments and served as a second set of ears. There is a lot of information to digest. I think I have it beat now and no longer lug my notes around with me to my checkups. I hope the best for your brother. Don M

Peggy: I felt tugs of sadness in reading your post. Sadness is ok, but just let it pass through you. I hope you and Mike find happy moments too. Don M

Hi J; If I had stage 4 lc, and was just sent home with pain pills, knowing what I know now, I would seek an oncologist's second opinion at a large cancer center. If your grandma is in otherwise good health, she could have treatment that may very well reverse the disease and keep it stable for years. The side effects from treatment these days are much better managed than just 10 years ago. I had chemo and tolerated it very well. Don M

Nancy: please accept my condolences on the loss of your brother. Don M

Joyce, Alex and Scott: Please accept my condolences. Don M

Melinda: I have read that avastin is a very promising drug. I thought it was supposed to be used with a platinum based drug like carboplatin, but I suppose it is so new that no one knows for sure how it can most effectively be used. I think your mom can expect good reults from this new combo. I hope it is works wonders for your mom. Don M

Pat: you and Brian have my continued prayers. Welcome home. Don M

Hi bc. I hope the tarceva turns out to be more agreeable for you and that it does the job. I don't take musroom derivatives or mushrooms, but use other supplements as immune boosters. I think they help. I told my oncologist about them, and he was supportive of taking them. Don M

Hi Ben: Shortly before my dad died, I told him I love him and that he could take my love with him beyond this life. He beamed and gave me a big hug. I rather think that our capacity for love is a good assurance that there is an aftrlife. After all, love is eternal, right? I am a ex-catholic, and Irish. I guess I am not ex-Irish..ha ha. I am not religious. I guess I am a kind of cafeteria catholic. I pick and choose what I want to believe. I was particulary stuck by Maryanne's post. The flower smell she talked about is the "Odor of Sanctitiy" that is described in people's accounts of their interactions with saintly people. I believe in the odor of sancity phenomenon. I have never smelled it myself. I think that rencarnation is highly likely too. I also think that many people on their deathbeds have visitations from helpful entities that ease their dying. My dad saw his mother and had converations with her. I also think, that no matter what we may belive or not believe about the afterlife, we will all be surprised. I guess I believe in the Big Surprise, so I believe in an experience after death. Ben, tell your mother you love her and that she can take that love with her when she dies. That is how we will know one another after this life. Our love will show the way. Don M

Welcome Marie: it sounds like you have early stage lc, and so are one of the "lucky ones". The surgery is doable. If you have stage 1 cancer, you can have the surgery, and go on with your life, although, you will have to have checkups for the rest of your life. Also, I would ask for chemo followup, even if it is stage 1a. You can think about that later. For now, just get through the surgery. Ask for an epidural block. It manages the pain very well for the first few days after surgery and there are indications that those who have had an epidural block, don't have lingering pain following surgery. Another important part of the recovery is to walk a lot. Good luck. Don M

Tain't hopeless..nope. Maybe your surgeon is uncertain about lymph nodes and wants to do a biopsy for that. Getting a 2nd opinion is always a good idea. Welcome Don M

I think you should go back to Washington. You might talk to your dad about it first to see what his needs are. It may very well be that your dad is afraid of being alone and so he found a girl-friend very quickly. If you live around Fort Lewis, surely there must be support systems there for military familys. Don M

Janet: you and your mom have my prayers. It sounds like getting portable o2 on hand is your best bet. Maybe you can talk your mom into checking into the hospital what with the impending hurricane. Good luck. don M

Traveler's mercy for Pat and Brian. Don M

TAnn: Glad to hear the cancer is stable. That means the alitma is working. I know I wouod want to see shrinkage too, but in terms of survival there is no difference between stable disease and ned. Keep it up.. Don M

Hi Darci; most people tolerate that chemo fairly well. I hope your fil salis right through it and comes out ned. Don M

Libby: I hope your mom's tratment will be shown to be successful in the next set of scans. Don M