Elaine

Hope you had a wonderful day! love and fortitude elaine

Mare I am glad to hear that your daughter is responding to treatment. I know you must be so worried and that she is trying to protect all of you. Much love headed her way love and fortitude elain

I hope things are still going well for your mom. Keeping you in my thoughts elaine

I am so sorry that you are in such a painful situation. All (or most) onc offices contract with a soical worker. You might trying calling the onc office Monday and seeing if the social worker can contact you. elaine

artloft I read an earlier post and I am somewhat responding to that post as well as this one. I am more than a little upset that hospice has turned down your friend. Are there other hospices in the area? Hospice is NOT just for the last few days of care--it is supposed to be for anyone with a prognosis of less than a year. Contact her insurance company, something. This fluid build up may have something to do with liver progression but you don't need to be in the position where you are trying to DX your friend with info off of the Internet. Pls get some professional help of some kind for her. Call her Onc or her PCP. There is no need for her to suffer needlessly or you for that matter. I wish you and your friend the best of days. love and fortitude elaine

Bill Thanks for the update I just read on another thread. Very few days go by that I don't think of the remarkable turn your wife took when you were able to get Tarceva to her. I wish continued good news and many, many happy years. love and fortitude elaine

As an English instructor, one thing I don't like is generalities. Of all my radiologist reports, this one deserves an F. In three paragraphs it says nothing. However, his punctuation was perfect, but that doesn't make up for a lack of content It notes no enlarged lymph nodes. None. Then it says when compared to previous scan, stable. The previous scans --plural, say two and sometimes three or four enlarged nodes--some as large as 1X 3 cm. So what the heck????!!!! I came home and called the radiologist, and he pulled up the scan and said there were no nodes over 1 cm---nothing, according to him, looked suspicious. So, is this good news or more not quite sure people are doing their job, since the whole point of the scan was to compare particular lymph nodes? I have no idea why I have waxing and waning lymph nodes (the same lymph nodes)! Right now, I am going to take it as good news. I will post in Ask the Experts and see what our Dear Dr. Cunningham has to say. Thank you all so much. Pls head over to the pub and have a drink on me. love and fortitude elaine

This is my first "formal" visit to the pub. The pub opened when I wasn't feeling much like socializing, but I really need a group hug today I am not much of a drinker, but on average a couple times a year I go out and have way too many Cuba Libras. Pls add a cherry to each one! So if you don't mind, I'll take a dozen of those, pls. Yes, a dozen. I feel like bingeing, thank-you. I'll save the sex on the Beaches for another day. love and fortitude elaine

Thanks to all of my dearest of dear friends who know come the closest to knowing how I feel. My initial thought was to call the imaging center and get the report, circumventing the insensitive Dr. But I got the call from the Doc's nurse five minutes AFTER the time I should have left for my counseling appt, sooooo I had to leave immediately. My counselor was afraid that I would "upset" or "put off" the Dr if I was seen as being too demanding or anxious(maybe I need a new counselor ) So she wanted me to practice being assertive and plan what I was going to say to try and get HIM to call me today. Since she doesn't know me well, I don't think she knows that I have no trouble being assertive. The PROBLEM is that when a woman is assertive, she is often seen as being aggressive, as in a witch. Unfortunately, I do let my anxiety show in front of her, but not most people. Anyway, I called imaging center and I will be picking up a copy of the report this afternoon, no problem. So my initial thought was on target. Connie: I am still in Kansas. My HMO is confined to Kansas. I have probably changed Drs more than anyone on this board. Two oncs (soon to be three), three pulmos, four PCPs (one "retired" so I shouldn't count her) since DX. There is no comprehensive cancer center in Kansas. I have made formal complaints. I may seem like a mansy pansy when I am at my lowest and come here to post, and often inside myself I do feel like a whimp, but I get up and go after it, putting on a fighting face when I need to. I go alone to all my Dr visits and scans. Sometimes my husband waits outside in the car if I am feeling particularly vulnerable. They WERE wrong about my initial DX of an extremely aggressive cancer. But it sure wasn't the first time that my type of cancer was mistaken--when they first told me that, I didn't believe them, but my own research showed me otherwise. They keep saying that my "new" cancer is not much to worry a bout. Well, maybe for them, it's not much to worry about.... Which is why I want something done about these lymph nodes.... No reason to be angry with you, Connie. So after picking up the report, I may be back for support. Either way, I'll let you all know. I so much appreciate all of your heartfelt responses. When my PCP gets back from maternity leave, I am surely going to make arrangements with her to give me my test results regardless of who ordered the tests. I think she will agree, and if not, I can be quite persuasive. love and fortitude elaine

A middle-aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked, "Is my time up?" God said, "No, you have another 43 years, two months and eight days to live." Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction and tummy tuck. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well look even nicer. Following her final cosmetic operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was struck and killed by a beer truck. Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn't you pull me out of the path of that beer truck?" God replied, "Girrrrl, I didn't recognize you!"

Shar, I am so sorry to read this news. I have been worrying about you and Hal. I wish the news were better. You remain in my thoughts love and fortitude elaine

Well, I guess my numbness has worn off, which probably isn't a good thing, since it has been replaced with anxiety. I am feelng tremendously deficient as a person, right now. Here I am almost 50 and I can't seem to handle the stress of this like so many of you seem to. I had a CT scan last Tues, and I have been somewhat anxious about it. It was done to monitor lymph nodes. These nodes should have been monitored months ago, which is why I changed pulmos. I had a appointment with my counselor today, so I thought I would call to get my results before my appointment with her, so I would have some kind of support if I needed it. I called my PCP's office (she is still on maternity leave) and they said they could not give me the results, only the Dr who ordered the tests. So I called that office. The nurse said that she would not discuss the results with me, and said the Dr will go over them with you next Tues at your appointment. I was both angry and scared, like the kind of scared when your legs go weak and the hair on your arms stands up. I want to be "prepared" before this visit. I don't want to walk in not knowing what I will be facing and without having done some legwork. It is the way I NEED to do things. I was just stunned at her answer. Once again, I felt slapped around. I know many of you do not get your results until your appointments, but I just don't think I can do it. Especially, seeing the Dr is pretty much a sarcastic *ss, as I have written about previously. Any suggestions?? What would you do? My husband feels I am over-reacting. Also, I thought we weren't going, but now it looks like we are going to a family reunion (not my family) and have to leave tomorrow. elaine

Thanks Uncle Doug, I appreciate your allowing us an inner look at what you are going through. It is certain to resonate with many of us. love and fortitude elaine

Las, You have had many thoughtful responses, so I won't be redundant. You recently posted that you don't take this anger out on your mom or voice it to her. My kids don't either, but for at least one of my kids, I believe she thinks the things you do. When I read your post some days ago, I thought that you might have well been my daughter. Probably nearly the same age. She did all that you say you did, and still I smoked. Maybe your mom doesn't fear you have this anger, but I bet she does. For me, it seems to be the "elephant in the room" at times. It may be hindering our relationship at a time when our relationship needs to be more open. I don't really know what I want to say, but maybe this: if you do come to accept and forgive, please let her know. Don't say it if you don't feel it, but if more times than not the anger is gone, then let her know. If she is like me, right now, she needs more than ever to be accepted, warts and all. It may be of comfort to her. love and fortitude elaine

Addie and Peggy, Thanks for the good news and the smiles. elaine

Cindi I just knew you would feel better when you got that financial load off your shoulders. Stress can make it hard to breath even without lung problems... I am so happy for you. You really, really deserve the good things that have come into your life, now. I am so sorry about your friend. I know how important that family is to you, and I pray it all goes well for her. You can provide a much-needed ray of hope to her. love and fortitude elaine

Sounds great, Beth. Forever sounds like a good deal to me! love and fortitude elaine

Pat, I sure don't know any more than the others who have posted, but I am glad that Brian has a Dr. appointment today. Just want you to know I am thinking of you both. love and fortitude elaine

With good news like this in the morining, I sure don't need a cup of coffee to wake me up! Good to hear from you, and so glad you wrote in English--instead of Neigh, neigh, neigh.... Peace, while you wait for the good news. love and fortitude elaine

Common Virus May Prove Effective In Fighting Cancer Common Virus May Prove Effective In Fighting Cancer June 22, 2005 10:53 a.m. EST Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter Washington D.C. (AHN) - U.S. researchers indicate a common virus, harmless to people can destroy cancerous cells, and may be developed into a new form of cancer therapy. The virus is called adeno-associated virus type 2, or AAV-2, and infects roughly 80 percent of the population. Craig Meyers, professor of microbiology and immunology at Penn State College of Medicine, says results show AAV-2 kills cancer cells, without harming healthy cells. He says, "We believe that AAV-2 recognizes that the cancer cells are abnormal and destroys them. This suggests that AAV-2 has great potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent." For the study, Meyers and his colleagues infected a batch of human cells with HPV, a cancer-causing wart virus, strains of which have been known to lead to cervical cancer. They then infected those cells with AAV-2. Six days later, all of the HPV-infected cells had died. The same result occured when tested on cervical, breast, prostate and squamous cell tumor cells. Meyers adds the fact that AAV-2 appears to have no effect on healthy cells is promising, as therapy would be much easier to endure.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/cgi-bin/ ... 03986&fa=1 Common Virus May Prove Effective In Fighting Cancer June 22, 2005 10:53 a.m. EST Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter Washington D.C. (AHN) - U.S. researchers indicate a common virus, harmless to people can destroy cancerous cells, and may be developed into a new form of cancer therapy. The virus is called adeno-associated virus type 2, or AAV-2, and infects roughly 80 percent of the population. Craig Meyers, professor of microbiology and immunology at Penn State College of Medicine, says results show AAV-2 kills cancer cells, without harming healthy cells. He says, "We believe that AAV-2 recognizes that the cancer cells are abnormal and destroys them. This suggests that AAV-2 has great potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent." For the study, Meyers and his colleagues infected a batch of human cells with HPV, a cancer-causing wart virus, strains of which have been known to lead to cervical cancer. They then infected those cells with AAV-2. Six days later, all of the HPV-infected cells had died. The same result occured when tested on cervical, breast, prostate and squamous cell tumor cells. Meyers adds the fact that AAV-2 appears to have no effect on healthy cells is promising, as therapy would be much easier to endure.

I am so sorry, Nancy. May you and your family find comfort in the days ahead. love and fortitude elaine

I am glad your mom is well enough to do what we moms do best! Just you wait, lol! Caroline just might have a thing or two to say about you! love and fortitude elaine

Elonda, I am so, so sorry. I pray you find comfort in the days ahead. Keep ahold of the good memories of your dear mother; they will sustain you. love and fortitude elaine

Larry, Your sister in law sounds like one wise woman. Thanks for sharing that with us. It is those legacies that help us through the pain of losing those we love. elaine