BarbaraFi

Katie, thank you for your thoughts you are a beautiful person inside and out and this site you created is wonderful and you should be proud of all the hope and inspiration you have brought to so many with this site. I will keep everyone informed, had the first infusion today, so far no side effects although I am sure it is too soon to say that is the way it will constantly be. But I am hopeful thanks to all of you thinking and praying from me as I am for you. Barbara

Everyone, has made it easier for me to digest, I only hope I do as well as most of you have. I start today, weather permitting, we are having a terrible snow storm right now and I have to travel 1 hour away of course my sister will be with me, helping watch all the 4 wheel driving nuts, haha they think they can still go 60 mph requardless of the road conditions. I treasure each and everyone of you, I don't post often but read posts daily. You all are angels in deguise. I thank you much and will keep you all informed. Love prayers to us all.....Barbara

Went through Cyberknife Jan 25,26,27 had pretty much made my mind up I would take the path less traveled and not have Chemo again. Yet when I went to my onc this past Friday he said I was too young and in too good of shape to not try Alimta. I have read mixed effects of this drug, some who say it is a breeze and others with every symptom you could think of. It is Sunday and I am scheduled to start Altima on Tues. and I am having my doubts, I am only 49 but 3rd time with Lung cancer in 6 years at what point do you say enough is enough ? I continue to weight quanity to quality and keep going back to quality, yet wonder if that is the right choice and if I am just wimping out.

In 2004 had nodule in RUL removed complete upper lobe, no further treatment. In 2006 nodule in mediastitum inoperable, chemo and radiation. Now the new story, since May I have been through xrays, MRI's and CT's told stable nothing but scare tissue. Had stent put in this early November in my Vena Cava due to neck and facial swelling and trouble swallowing, told scar tissue caused this, after procedure immediate relief. Middle of Nov scan was done at Hospital rather than the sublet of the hospital where nothing but CT's and Pets are done and told not scar tissue a very large tumor 8 inches long and approx 3 inches wide from the supraclavical slanted down towards the mediastitum. Sent to radiation onc. can't be ratiated there again, but they will do cyberknife went last Monday had a bronoscopy and gold markers put in the tumor to get ready to cyberknife. (forgot to mention tumor is on the right and a nodule on left alot smaller showed up on Pet) liver, brain and adrenals are still clear. Told they will treat large tumor with cyberknife and chemo for the other small one. Was told at the end of last week when the pulmonary doctor inserted the markers my trachea that branches off to the right lung is about to cave in due to this tumors size and would cause me major problems so they will need to stent it first before they can begin cyberknife. I feel time is wasting, and how can something like this be missed for so long, I have been told stable stable stable, only scar tissue, I am not blaming my doctors as they must go by what the radiologist says and I could tell my doctor was very upset about it. I was told this cannot be cured they can only maintain what is going on. At first there were no tears but now all I can do is cry, can't sleep I am only 49 years old, I look but do not see very many sucess stories on cyberknife although they say it will get this large tumor, my concern is this will be the 3 rd time around with this cancer in 6 years, I need words of hope and encouragement from all of you, and stories to keep me going as I feel at times like giving up. Please help me get back my fighting mode.

thanks to all that responded, I've gotton alot of information and really appreciate it. I am truely scared this time, what are the odds of surviving this beast the third time, in my mind not very good. I can't find any tears this time, I am just plain NUMB. I am not afraid of dying I just don't want to leave my loved ones, and I don't want them to watch me slowly die. I don't know if I should fight or just give in, I am so tired of all of this. I know if I am to have any chance at all that I need to change my way of thinking. Sorry I just need to vent. I feel like my life is at a stand still, and I don't if I should move foward or give in. God Bless this site. The shoulder pain is what is concerning me, the other times there were no symptoms, I am hoping it is just the lymph node pressing on a nerve and that it is not in the bone. I go to sleep with all this on my mind and wake up with it still there. thanks for the info and allowing me to vent. Barbara

I thought that Tarceva was a trial drug is it not ? I was told that the hospital where my onc. is does not offer trial drugs. Thanks Barbara

Hi, I am 49 years old and was told yesterday my lung cancer has returned. Within the past 5 1/2 years this will be my third battle. My question, where would be the nearest place that will offer Tarceva to me, I live in Kentucky. 1st time was Sept of 2004, upper right lobe removed no futher treatment due to no lymph node involvement. 2nd time was Dec 2006 lymph node in mediastitum inoperable radiation and chemo. Yesterday was told lymph nodes in right clavical area are cancerous, due to have PET scan on Thursday for staging and return to onc. on Monday. He is not sure if radiation can be done until he finds out if that area was radiated the last time. I believe I am more scared this time then ever before as I have had some weight loss and pain in my shoulder for the past few weeks. I have lost 40 pounds since May, pain in shoulder for past 2 months. Had a bone scan this past June all was clear, had a MRI of brain this past August all was clear. I need info on the Tarceva and words of hope from those who have had this beast as many times as me and still surviving. Also anyone else who has had it return in this area and what your line of treatment was. Thanks and I will await for responses. Barbara

I went to my onc yesterday, they have referred me to a specialist on which I have an appt this coming Monday, the plan to see if the scar tissue is not a greater risk with putting in stents. I hope they can as they told me all my symptoms would be gone within 2-3 days, I appreciate everyones reply especially Barbs as I was in doubt about the stents. So we will come Monday see what if anything this doctor can do. I will keep you posted. Thanks again EVERYONE....

The radiation I got while on chemo in 2007 has caused scar tissue to be so massive in my chest that I now have occlusions of my left vena cava and innomiate veins. My symptoms hoarseness, facial and neck swelling, trouble swallowing at times and sob sometimes, they put me on coumadin which has helped some. But I am not finding much on the subject on the internet to be very helpful. My family doctor has cautioned me with getting stents and said it could cause me more problems. I go back to my onc. at the end of the month and want some feedback on anyone who has develop this condition and what if anything was done and did it help. I am feeling like the cancer is not going to get me it is the treatment for it that is. Very discouraged.