magchap

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! Now that I have had a chance to look through all the topics and read all of the stories, wow, I am most touched by all of the very caring people - not to mention the stories. I know I am not alone and have read many, countless stories of people losing those near and dear (in some case one right after another). In the midst of this strife, it is easy to question God's whereabouts, but I know too that He is here ... orchestrating the life according to HIS plan. Sometimes I just wish I had a sneak peak at the outline, though, you know? Anyway, we have the pathology results and my uncle has SCLC, extensive stage. He was given two options: Hospice or Chemo (with combo regime of carbplatin and estoposide). The approach is going to be 3 days a week, every 3 weeks, and then a week off. Does that mean if he begins on Monday (12/15) for three days, he will be off of chemo until the beginning of January? With my mom, well, she wasn't a candidate for chemo so this is all very new to me. What is truly horrible is that I am getting the impression that his Oncologist hasn't been very clear to him about the prognosis. I have read lots of survival, terrific stories on this board and, while encouraging, he has a host of other serious health issues that might make him less likely to be among those that beat the odds (although I pray). Also, he is without insurance. They are going to take their last life savings for chemo treatment, leaving them nothing for end-of-life decisions (like the comforts of hospice). It's so horrible. I'm glad I found you - but so sad that I had to look for you. Tracy Mom diagnosed with NSCLC IV with mets to Brian 8/3/2002 Gamma Knife 8/2002 Conventional Brain Surgery 9/2002 Participated in Iressa Study 11/15/2002-12/1/2002) Entered Hospice 12/7/2002 Went home 1/3/2003 Uncle diagnoed with SCLC ES with mets to spin/bone/lymph nodes To begin Chemo 12/15 (Carboplatin and Estposide)

It has been nearly 6 years since I found myself researching lung cancer and I sure wish I would have found something like lungevity back then. I lost my mom (61 years young) on Jan. 3, 2003 to NSCLC, IV (mets to the brain) after her corageous five month battle with the beast. Since that time, the holidays have been rotten and all I really want to do is fast-forward until January. I just learned that my mother's only living brother (my uncle) -- also in his early 60's, has also been diagnosed with lung cancer, mets to the bone. I absolutely cannot believe that we are now facing the same heartache all over again and that someone that I love will be suffering very much the way my mom did, very much around the same time period. Once again, I'm not sleeping, I'm stressed, and sad -- realizing all along that it isn't about "me" -- but it's about them. We are all very close and very involved in each other's lives. I dont even know how to begin to muster up the strength to get through this one. Has anyone else found themselves laying awake at night and asking, "hey God ... where are you?"