karenl

Dear Ginny I'm glad that you have received some reassurance, and I hope that in the next couple of weeks you are able to put your fears completely to rest. Good thoughts coming to you in the meantime.... Karen

Hi Val Jana and I have both talked about this a number of times, and we feel exactly the same way! Hang in there, Karen

Dear Fay Love and positive thoughts going out to you. Wishing you as much peace and comfort as you have brought to all of us here..... Love Karen

Sherri Karen raises a good point - have you discussed this with his doctors? SRS or surgery are other options....the doctors may have good reasons for wishing to pursue WBR. Either way, you will probably feel better if you investigate all the options...... All the best, Karen

Oh no.....I am so sorry. My heartfelt condolenses to Jen's loved ones... Karen

Dear Lori I am so sorry you are going through this. Sounds similar to how Mum was towards the end (not that I'm saying your Mom is in the same boat - surgery was never an option in our case....just that I can relate to how you are feeling.) We were very fortunate in that Dad is a doctor, and we had a very good hospice service helping out, so we were all able to spend all our time with Mum and Dad. I ditto what Becky said ten-fold.....if at all possible, you must get help for your MIL so that you can spend time with your Mom. It is a priority, and I think you would regret it terribly if something happened and you hadn't been able to spend as much time with her as you wished. It's sooooooo hard, isn't it . Love and strength to you, Karen

Dear Fay I'm so glad that you continue to come on board and share your wisdom with all of us.....we are indeed a very fortunate bunch! Thank you for allowing us to continue to walk with you on this journey. Love always, Karen

Dear Fay Thank you for posting a photo, and allowing us to put a face to the heart that we already know and love . Karen

Dear Fay Thinking of you with love, as always...... Karen

Hi Sherri Sorry to hear that a brain met has developed. Brain mets tend to respond quite well to radiation, and I would guess that if your Dad's cancer has previously had a good response when treated with radiation, there is reason to be very hopeful. Tarceva does apparently cross the blood-brain barrier. I would presume that your Dad could still receive Tarceva, as the brain met was in all likelihood already there when he started the drug. Hope that helps, and all the best to you and your family.... Karen

Hi Fay So happy to hear from you.... Sending lots of love, Karen

Hi Fay!! So good to see you! Love Karen

Good wishes going out to Teri. Hoping she is more comfortable very soon...... Karen

Fay I'm so glad that you are able to be at home.....I know how much nicer it was to be at home with Mum rather than the hospital setting. I'm sending all my best wishes to you for comfort and peace..... Much love, Karen

To dear Fay I am so saddened to read this post....For your sake, I wish you were at home with your family (including the four-legged members!) where you belong. But, as Sharon has said, memories can be made anywhere. It is the love that we remember, not the room that it happened in..... Thank you for always giving of yourself so freely - your wisdom and generosity of spirit have helped me innumerable times. I wish for you peaceful and loving days ahead.... Please know that I am sending much love your way. Karen

Fay, that is exactly how I feel, so when Mum died, I wrote at the end of my signature 'Mum ended her battle'.....because that's the way I see it. She didn't 'lose' a fight, she fought with everything she had until she was done with it. Thanks for highlighting this issue. It's important. Love Karen

Millie I have no advice for you, but I am sending good thoughts your way, and I hope that you are somehow able to help your Dad. I see the pain that my Dad is in since losing Mum, and it's just overwhelming.... Karen

What a tremendous loss this is, for all of us Love and peace to Addie's loved ones..... Karen

Dearest Fay Holding you close in thought, and always wishing the best for you...... Love Karen

Hi Heather I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Wishing you both all the best on this journey - you have come to the right place for information and support. Karen BTW, my husband and I spend two years living in a town called Manitouwadge in Northern Ontario, and we spent many weekends in Thunder Bay. It's a small world, isn't it!

Love and positive thoughts to Mark and Leslie..... Karen

Hi Julie So sorry to hear about your Mom, and your brother too. Very sad. My Mum was also stage IV at diagnosis. Her doctors painted a pretty grim picture, but she did very well for 18 months, and survived over 2 years. It sounds to me as though your Mom's doctor is being quite realistic in saying that he really doesn't know how long your Mom has - I think the best thing that you can do in a situation like this is prepare for the worst, yet hope for the best. Doctors are under alot of pressure these days to be very forthcoming with patients, and for this reason will often include a 'worst-case scenario' picture (I remember my Mum telling me that when she was young, doctors often didn't even tell patients when they had cancer!). This is a wondeful site for exchanging information, and giving/receiving support. I am so glad you found it. I wish you and your family, especially Mom, the very best. Karen

Hi Kel I know exactly what you mean. We struggled through Christmas alright, and New Year too. But I must say that I felt despondent on New Year's Eve, and for all the same reasons that you have talked about in your post. My sister and I, and our families, spent New Year's Eve with Dad at his house, we had a nice dinner, and then toasted the New Year at midnight, but it felt hollow and just plain stupid to be making an attempt to celebrate the beginning of a New Year, considering that we all really just wanted to go back in time to when Mum was here and healthy! Still waiting for it to get easier Hang in there, Karen

Hi Dave If you read through the Alternative/Complementary forum, I'm sure you will find some discussion on this. You might also try the Search icon at the top of the page, and type in something like 'sugar-free'. I know this topic has come up many times before. Mum tried to adopt a relatively low sugar diet during her illness, and she did very well for 18 months after being diagnosed at stage IV. I wish you and your Mom the best..... Karen

Dear Holly I am so sorry....I know your heart is breaking, and I wish there was something I could say to make it easier. But of course, there isn't Love and strength to you in the days ahead. Karen