gerbil runner

Good grief. I remember reading about your added medical problems - God has a warped sense of humor sometimes. I hope your doctors take very good care of all your challenges - for a long time.

Kim and Janet, I am so sorry.

"Denial" ain't just a river in Egypt. You know they are making treatment more difficult. They probably do, too. You can't change someone's mind if they don't want it to change. Let it go. Concentrate on using this story to convince young smokers or would-be smokers that it is VERY hard to quit. Most young people who start smoking feel they can quit at any time.

My mom's undergoing radiation to her lung and pancreas. The "blast" takes a lot longer than your average x-ray. So after a few days of this, my mom asked her radiologist how he would know if the blast was too long. He looked at her with a straight face and said "If the little blue tube pops up on your side, it's too long". It took me a second to get it...

I got 19, and I was born in 1968! Maybe that's why I'm married to someone born in 1949.

Yes, the "blame the victim" stigma of LC needs to end. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. Cigarettes are agressively marketed. Most cancers, as well as some other major diseases, have significant lifestyle factors. As far as I'm concerned, anyone more than 10 pounds overweight has no business pointing fingers at smokers. Nobody asks breast cancer patients about their diet, or whether they breast-fed their children (which reduces the risk of breast cancer). Type II diabetes is very strongly influenced by lifestyle. Yet they get all kinds of treatment options - maybe because drug companies know they'll live a long time dependent on their drugs . Smokers don't "deserve" lung cancer any more than a person going 5 mph over the speed limit "deserves" a fatal crash.

Dean, I can imagine it must be difficult to ignore looking where the path leads. I'm sorry to hear you're having more symptoms. Pain sucks. Pain is not your friend (when you're in a situation where you KNOW something is wrong and/or can't fix it). Pain is depressing. The pain needs to go. I certainly understand and admire your reasons for not wanting to up your medication (my husband is a non-practicing alcoholic), but it sounds like it's time to call in a bigger gun. You can always back off the meds if you hate the side effects. Hope you feel better soon. And sunshine will certainly help!

Joanie, I'm so sorry you're feeling down. I can't say I know what it's like to lose a child, but it must be one of the most difficult things in the world. Sometimes you need to be on the receiving end of the support this board can offer. So please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Great news! My mom's in the same boat - doing radiation now. Where are you located? Radiation and chemo together are tough, but it's worth it.

Yeah, get something truly hideous, plaid and paisley, with the slogan "Think this shirt is ugly? Try lung cancer" And then "I can burn the shirt, but there's still no cure".

Oh, Colleen I am so sorry.

Good link, John, thanks! The procedure is certainly no walk in the park, but the phrase "possible cure" is awfully attractive. Over 50% survivng 5 years?! If Mom is eligible, she really wants to try it.

Bleah! Hope your flush is very boring.

I read recently (can't remember where) that new evidence show that the pre-cancerous changes in the lungs which occur after years of heavy smoking NEVER go away. This is a highly-charged issue. On one hand, it can be used to support the idea that smokers-get-lung-cancer. On the other, it could make younger smokers taking quitting more seriously. And on the other again, older long-term smokers may think "why bother"? Indeed, if my mom had quit 10 years ago and still ended up with sclc, she'd be pretty darn ticked (to put it in printable language ). It's a thorny issue all around. I've never smoked myself, but have seen first-hand the special he11 that smokers who want to quit go through. As far as I'm concerned, anyone 10 lbs. or more over "ideal" weight (and I sure qualify) had NO business judging a smoker's habit.

That's the idea - post the organizations which fund LC treatment and research! Lots of people come here for info., so if we have a thread they can refer to quickly, it could really help!

Ah, yes, makes sense. The only problem is, how can you see a clear ribbon? Chalk up another one for being the "invisible" cancer .

That reminds me - does LC have an "official" color of ribbon?

I did a quick web search for foundations that support LC research specifically, and this one looked pretty good. http://www.lungcanceronline.org/foundation/mission.html How about we compile a list of such organizations so we know how to get fundraising/memorial money to where it can actually help.

Becky, the tapeworm analogy had me lol! Probably not the reaction we want, though . One I discarded for much the same problem was "If smokers deserve lung cancer, a$$holes deserve hemorrhoids" or "If smokers deserve lung cancer, drivers deserve head-on collisions". I always have to be on guard against foot-in-mouth disease .

It's beautiful. So many of us want one...could it go in the online store as a t-shirt?

Let's dream up some good slogans for Rick and Katie to use in the store, or for anyone else to use in their awareness-raising issues. Here's one: "LUNG CANCER - NOT JUST FOR SMOKERS ANYMORE" How about a chemo-friendly cap saying "Lung cancer sucks" (my 12-year-old son suggested this for my mom's hair loss) "Tobacco tax for lung cancer, not politicians pay" (Could use "settlements"). "Lung cancer is cruel and unusual punishment" "Nobody throws away lottery tickets before the drawing. Don't give up on lung cancer." Anyone else?

TAnn, glad you're out! My mom spent Christmas in the hospital for much the same reasons. Bummer. And now she says, "The good news is, I'm in remission. The bad news is, I'm sleeping through it". I agree - there's gotta be a better way!

My mom had another interesting appt. with her oncologist. He wants to send her to Dana-Farber to see if she is a candidate for autologous (self-donated) stem-cell transplant. Her onc had consulted with a buddy now in Colorado whom he had practiced with for years. His opinion was to go for it. Mom would get at least 2 opinions before proceding. Basically, the patient has stem-cells harvested and then endures a really tough, short course of chemo which wipes out the bone marrow. The previously-harvested stem cells are then replaced in the body. It takes about 3 weeks for the body to recover to "normal" disease-resistance. Mom wants to do it if they'll take her - it's about the only course of treatment that has a real possibility of cure, according to the onc. My brief research on the web (will do more) seems to indicate she would be part of a clinical trial. Has anyone had this procedure? Looked into it? Known anyone who did it? Found any good information?

Norme - I'm glad to see you posting. ((((((((HUGS))))))))) I think Buddy was right. You are stronger than you know. I'm sure he's watching you.

My dh had his birthday today - he's hit the speed limit! 55! He's celebrating by snoring on the couch right now. Becky - we're a May-December pair, too. Just about 20 years apart. When we first met, one of Bob's friends commented "She's gonna kill you!" Another replied "What a way to go!"