teetlee

Hello everyone, I know I haven't posted in a very long time. Frankly I haven't had much change in my situation. I've been stable for a long time and I'm so thankful for that. In the meantime, I was dx'd with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes type 2. One doctor thinks the cancer caused the arthritis and another thinks the chemo did. Either way I've been in terrible pain. I've been taking percocet up to 10 aday,and have been on a morphine patch. Still the pain was active. Today my onc. started me on methadone and percocet. I pray that I will get some relief so that I can enjoy Christmas with my grandaughter in Dallas. On Dec. 9 I had an abdominal ct done because my liver enzymes were up.The results showed that the mass in my liver was smaller than it had been compared to the previous scan done in Aug. 02. This scan also allowed my onc. to see the tumor in my lower left lung and measure it. According to the scan in 02, this tumor was 6.7cm. It is now 5.1cm. So there is confirmed shrinkage. I've been taking Sandostatin since March 03 and this was the first scan I have had. I will be having an octreoscan in Feb and hope to get even more good news. This scan is similar to a pet scan but a substance called octreotide is injected which is drawn to the carcinoid tumors. They will show up as hot spots on the scan. For anyone who is interested in learning more about carcinoid, there are several good web sites as well as a carcinoid group on yahoo. Teet

Really happy to hear the good news. I hope and pray for even better news with new treatments. Teet

Dearest Deb, I'm so sorry and grieved over the loss of your father. I pray for strength for you and your mom and all of your family at this sad time. May the Lord's abundant love and grace comfort you and enable you to comfort others. Teet

Dave, Sorry to hear the latest news. But you are a fighter and after you have had some time to get used to the news you can start planning your new strategy. There are many things that can be done for the liver. I'm sure your doctor will do what's best for you. Take care of yourself. You are in my prayers daily. Teet

Peg, This is some of the best news I have heard in a long time. It is answered prayer. I'm so happy for you and Bill and your Daughter. Teet

Hi Carleen, Glad to hear that you and Keith have decided to look for another Oncologist. I take Sandostatin injections for my carcinoid and I have stable disease. I have heard of some 'noids' getting even better results like shrinkage or the tumor going away completely. There is another dr. in New Orleans. He is a surgical endocrinologist. He works with carcinoids and is very patient friendly. He is doing quite a lot of research on this type of cancer. His name and address is: Dr. Eugene Woltering Professor of Surgery and Neuroscience Chief of Surgical Endocrinology LSU Health Science Center New Orleans, La. 70112 email...ewolte@lsuhsc.edu phone...504-568-2344 Teet

Hi Carleen, Although I don't post much, I do try to keep up with everyone. I've tried to stay informed about Keith's cancer because there seems to be a similarity to mine. I know you have had a second opinion but it took a third opinion for me to get the correct dx. My cancer never responded to chemo. Have the dr's completely ruled out a carcinoid cancer? Have you ever done any research on this type of cancer? Here is a web site where you may find some information, www.carcinoid.org Carcinoid is rare and there aren't many doctors who understand it. There are a number of carcinoid specialists in the country and I think there is a Dr.D'Orsio (spelling?) in Iowa. Good luck and I hope you find some answers. Teet

David P. I think what you are doing is remarkable and I pray you are blessed for doing it. I believe we all have a purpose here on earth and I think you have found yours. Your enthusiasm is certainly contagious and I wish you the best of luck on your ride. No matter what ...YOU ARE A WINNER. I appreciate the awareness you are bringing to lung cancer. Thanks so much! Teet

Hey Connie, My thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. LUNG CANCER SUCKS BIG TIME.....NOW GET OUT OF THAT BED SOON AND GO KICK IT'S BUTT. Teet

Peg, You and Bill are both in my prayers. So is your daughter and all of your family. I pray for the doctor also to be granted wisdom and discernment from God. God is good and He is faithful. Teet

I love that kind of exercise ....and humor

I had chemo from Dec. 2000 through July 2001. I had only one period during that time. I haven't had any periods since then. I am 51 and that may make a difference. But my onc. told me the chemo would screw up my hormones and I probably wouldn't have any more periods.

Connie, I was very sorry to read about the passing of your mom this morning. I lost my mom to lung cancer some years ago and it still hurts sometimes. May the Lord comfort you and your family in this time of grief.

Hi Dave, I did have the same chemo but didn't have any sores. I feel one reason was because twice a day I was rinsing my mouth out with one cup of warm water mixed with one tbls. of baking soda. I did this from the very beginning as a preventative measure. Hope you find some relief soon. Teet

I am praying for both of you. Hope you find that flat stretch of road soon. Teet

Hi Cathy, You did say good or bad, right? I almost hesitate to write this but remember we are all different and we all react differently to medications. I started iressa in Dec. 2001 as a clinical trial. I had some diarrhea but not bad. I really had a bad iressa rash. In fact, it was worse than a rash. I actually had blisters that oozed from my shoulders to my feet. The dr. said they had never seen a reaction like this and didn't know why it was so bad. I was seen by the dermatology dept. and they couldn't figure out what was going on. They even took biopsies of the blisters. There was no change in the cancer at all. It wasn't until much later I learned that I didn't have nsclc but a different kind of cancer altogether. so this may be why I reacted so badly to the iressa. I still think iressa is worth a try because I understand that others have had good results. Good luck, Teet

Carol, My prayers and thoughts are with you and Gene. Sorry to hear of this downward turn. Teet

So glad to hear that things are turning around for you and Lucie. Praying that they continue to be upbeat. Hope your problem,Don, is resolved soon.

Christina, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers will be with you and your family as you grieve and then begin to heal.

Dear Rosanne and family, I'm very sorry to hear of the passing of your precious Gianni. May you be comforted by all the memories you shared. May the Father pour out His mercy, compassion and healing balm as you continue this journey. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Teet

Don and Lucie, Happy Anniversary

OH HAPPY DAYS GREAT NEWS TERRIE TEET

Terrie, Best of luck on your check-up tomorrow. I'll be looking for your post in the good news along with everyone else. Teet

This is really awesome news Don! Hope you guys have a great celebration! Teet

After two and a half years of being diagnosed with lung cancer, to day my oncologist said there was a change. As y'all know I was misdiagnosed with nsclc in Dec. 2000 and all the chemo had no effect on my cancer. In the meantime I developed a crippling type of arthritis that was getting worse. Then in Feb. I was rediagnosed with atypical carcinoid. I started taking 3 shots a day of sandostatin. I have been on this for 6 weeks and when I went for my 3 month check up today I was told that the 24 hour urine test showed that the seratonin level had dropped from 70 to 14. This is what the tumor secretes that causes the side effects like flushing and diarhhea. My doctor says it is very rare for the cancer to cause the arthritis I have but not out of the question. I have been feeling some relief from the arthritis but was afraid to jump to any conclusions. Maybe, just maybe, this drug will help and I can enjoy a better qualityof life. My onc. wants to start with the LAR sandostatin which is a long acting release shot that I will get once a month. He was enthusiastic about it so I guess I can be too. Please, don't get me wrong. I was happy to hear that I had a stable disease when I went for check-ups....But after all I've been through I at least wanted to put a DENT in that old nasty cancer. My grandbaby is coming for Mother's Day. I haven't seen her since she was 1 month old. She will be almost 6 months next week. So it's "two" good newses"