gerbil runner

Norme, I think of you and Buddy often. Prayers that peace will come soon. I'm so sorry you are going through this...

Saw it during the game and thought it was great! Thanks for the links.

I'm so sorry.

Okay...First the good news. I looked at my weight a year ago when I first stated my desire to lose in my New Year's Resolution: Started at 167. Now at 143. Need to get to 120. Didn't lose in January, but did get more running in. Except for this past week...nasty chest cold. Just walking around doing chores makes me cough . Goal: 5 lbs. this month. Get running mileage to 20 miles/week.

Good one! I also like... "I plan on living forever. So far, so good!"

Usually these "gadgets" are not significantly effective. What WILL help is Purell - keep it on hand (no pun intended) at all times. If your mom's WBC is low, she could consider a surgical mask.

Yeah! Congrats, Sandy!

Dean, that just plain sucks. The VA care is a national disgrace. All Washington pols should have to get their care from the VA - that would change things so fast it would make heads spin (and roll). My husband says, if it were him, he'd bring a machine gun next time. "What are you gonna do, kill me? Get in line!" He was a vietnam-era vet, but spent his tour in Europe - probably because his uncle commited suicide after his own service experience.

Welcome back, Gay. Maybe inline skates would help you keep up with Dean...picture the visual...maybe with a towline for you...ok, I'm done giggling, how about you? I say we pass a law that all Washington pols are sentenced to VA care for life. How much you want to bet VA's would get the world's best treatment?

My mom's response has been so good, the dr. is conferring with an associate in Colorado about her case. He wants to do radiation to her 2 original tumor sites along with PCI. I understand this is usually done for limited stage SCLC, but mom only had 2 sites - no bone, brain or liver involvement. And they ARE sure the pancreas was a sclc met, because that was where the dx biopsy came from. Anyone else had this? Oh, and is there any news on the sclc vaccine? How long with the trial run? Mom really feels like she's been snatched from the jaws of death - her original dx was pancreatic cancer. Worse than lc, if you can believe that - moves fast and is not easily controlled with chemo. And then she spent 4 days on a ventilator (over Thanksgiving) when she started to bleed during her first bronchoscopy. We can't believe how fortunate we are.

Let's hear it for "normal"! Congrats!

Terrific! Wishing you many more "negative" scans. Have a great trip.

My mom also is not into the "support group" thing - never has been. Just be as encouraging as you can. If you find a post or article you think would be good for him to hear about, just print it out for him with no fanfare. Your dad's anti-depressant med. could be changed, if necessary. 40 mg of prozac is a pretty good-size dose. Can you talk to his dr? What I would try to emphasize with your dad is that treatment is always advancing. The trick is to survive long enough to find the treatment that knocks the cancer back hard enough. His will to live is one of his most important cancer-fighting tools.

If your dad is feeling good and wants to fight, then by all means, fight! The oncologist should be able to tell you whether chemo or radiation is the most effective to start with. Your dad can always quit treatment if the side effects are too severe. Just because your dad is a little older than some of the other patients doesn't mean he can't fight and do well.

Glad you're feeling better! My own take on anti-depressants...I'm a 3rd-generation depression-prone person. My mother and her mother both suffered. In our case, the primary symptom is a bad case of the nasties. Anything could pi$$ me off. Took prozac for about 4 years - tried several times to get off. The last time I quit taking it was after I took up running (hence my user name). When my mom was first hospitalized, I called for a refill after a few good fights with my husband. After a couple of weeks, I noticed the side effects were really getting to me for the first time. Dizzy. Apathetic. So I quit taking it again, and have done my best to stay with the running. Now I feel fine (mostly ). Lesson learned...the SSRI's do work, but only if you have the problem they are meant to address. Either way you do it, hope the big bad D stays far away.

Dean - well said. So many people refuse to accept how their actions affect their "luck". Too many get sucked into yesterday's guilt. Every think about collecting your thoughts/essays for publication?

Norme - prayers going out for you and Buddy.

Berisa, this must be a very difficult time for your father. Prayers that the doctors will be wise and help you all come to a comfortable decision. There may be more they can do...wait and see.

Ooooo, looks good!

Aww, Dean...hope you feel better soon.

Here's wishing many more shrinkage reports! Glad you're doing well.

Here's wishing many more shrinkage reports! Glad you're doing well.

Connie, I'm very happy for you! May you have many many boring checkups!

Mom's onc called today - imagine that, a dr. calling on a Friday night. The reason? He'd gotten the word that mom's CT scan from Wed. was CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!! No tumors showing in the lung, no tumors showing on the pancreas! NADA! The really amazing part is she's only had 2 rounds of chemo! Monday she starts another round. The news has really boosted her spirits, which she needed after finding a blood clot in her arm this week. It's painful, but she's taking the self-administered injections and it's getting better.

Congrats! Hope your dad will have good results for a long time to come.