Andrea

We raised $2,000 in profits (meaning after the cost of publishing the book) so far which was given to LUNGevity today. Yay!!!! Keep the orders coming please I am working out with a trainer so I can try to get strength to lift the bambinos and I want to try my arms out at lifting new orders to see if I notice a difference

I don't know the technique, but they run it down to pathology immediately for an initial read so the surgeon knows how to proceed and the pathologist calls the OR with the results. They did that with both of my parents. With my mom, a lymph was positive, so she was closed up to do chemo before her surgery. With my dad the biopsy told the surgeon it was BAC, so he chose not to remove the entire lobe.

I find the word nodule to be a generic term and it can mean a mass, a growth, etc. I am not sure what the medical definitions are, but like my dad had lung nodules, some were cancer, some were not. I think nodule can be used interchangably with mass, etc (at least slang wise)

I am so sorry for your loss Sending hugs and love to you and your girls

3 month is pretty much the norm for most people I guess it allows time to see what works.

You are awesome Kasey!

Yes I did and your order went out Thanks!

Keep the orders coming

No words, just sending love and prayer your way. It is so unfair. My heart goes out to you.

My dad's story is similar to Don's. He had an abdominal CT scan before he was having a prostate procedure (not cancer related at all). It showed a mass in the lower lobe which led to a chest ct scan. The lower lobe mass was bengin, but an upper lobe mass showed up on the chest ct scan and his journey began.

That was beautiful!

My dad and I take it, love it. My dad was VERY against anti-depressants, but I made him get it when my mom got diagnosed and Lexapro made a world of difference. It has not zonked him out.

It will be $90 each, so $180 total. Thanks!!! PM me your address so I can pack them up.

Frank was a kind soul, a hero and an inspiration to so many. He will be missed.

My mom had gemzar with carbo and did really well on it. Like Ry said, have her drink lots of water. My mom had to go in for hydration IV at times. The side effects were not too bad and with gemzer she only lost 1/2 her hair and never needed a wig.

My mom had a port, but her blood clot seemed to be more related to chemo. It was found incidentally on her ct-scan and they put in a filter and she was fine.

I just ordered 3 more. LOVE these.

Just as I was trying to take a short break from LC and focus on babies, this link pops up in my e-mail from baby center http://www.babycenter.com/news/?id=601145#story Hidden lung cancer risk plagues many homes WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) — Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. But while most Americans know tobacco smoke is the primary trigger for lung cancer, very few are aware of the risks posed by radon — or that dangerous levels of the gas can be found in many homes. "Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that can be in your home and you not even know it," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office Air and Radiation. "There are about 20,000 deaths per year attributable to lung cancer caused by radon exposure." January is National Radon Action Month, and the EPA is urging people to get their homes tested. Only one in five homeowners has actually tested for the gas, according to the agency. Radon gas is created by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It can travel up through the ground and seep into buildings and homes through cracks and other holes in the foundation. When it gets trapped inside a home, radon can build up to dangerous levels. Radon causes lung cancer by decaying into radioactive products that can become lodged in your lungs when you inhale them, said Andrew Gelman, professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University. "Your risk of having a high level of radon depends on whether you have a basement, use your basement as a living area, and where you live," he said. It's estimated that about one of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels. Testing is the only way to know if your home is safe. The EPA recommends testing all homes below the third floor. There are two types of tests — short-term and long-term. Most short-term tests remain in your home for a couple of days to a week, while long-term tests usually remain in your home for a year. The tests measure the amount of radon in the air in "picocuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L." Gelman suggests the yearlong test if you can afford it — about $50 — because it's more accurate than short-term tests. The EPA recommends a short-term test (about $15) first, since it's more convenient. If the results are 4 pCi/L or higher, the agency recommends that you follow up with either a long-term test or second short-term test. If the long-term test or the average of two short-term tests is 4 pCi/L or higher, the EPA says you should take steps to safeguard your home. A qualified professional can install a radon-reduction system that will cost around $2,000. The system works by using a pipe and simple fan to draw air from beneath the home to prevent radon-containing air from migrating from the soil up through the basement and into the home, Gelman said. "There is a real public health issue here," Wehrum said. "What we have to do is persuade people that it is important to test their homes and to act if the test indicates that there is a problem." Still unsure whether you should test your home? Gelman and his colleagues have developed a website called the "Radon Project", which includes a test that assesses a homeowner's risk of dangerous levels of radon in the house.

I am so sorry Kelly

I just thought I'd jump in here b/c I have given this so much thought. Most doctors say there is no link, however they suggest me get scanned at age 40 "just because" since both of my parents have it. Apparently another factor they look at in hereditary stuff is the age of when the family member was diagnosed. In my case, it was age 57 for my mom and age 65 for my dad. They say since my parents were "older", there is less of a link. I had a chest ct-scan 5 years ago b/c an infiltrate was found and I had 3 follow ups and all clear. It is an example of how things can just pop up on scans and mean nothing. I have had yearly chest xrays also. I keep debating back and forth whether I get another scan now or just wait till 40 (which is another 5 years).

Frank, As you know, we all love you and cherish you here. You are truly a hero. Your courage and strength reminds me of our missed Dean Carl. Thank you for all you do.

Love ya Becky!

Tina, I somehow missed all of this, did not know she was even getting a biopsy, but I am glad all is well!

My dad was detection by accident. June 2006 he had a routine chest xray, they said it was negative (looking back, it wasn't, there was a spot). August 2006 he saw a news feature on a nonsurgical procedure for enlarged prostrate. Part of workup invovled an abdominal ct-scan to look at kidneys. The abdominal ct-scan showed part of the lung base and the roller coaster ride began.

Bump a doodle doo