Jana_W

That's fantastic. Nice work, sis! Better get my donation boxes out too! xxxx

Hi, just me again. In my last post I mentioned that I was not certain about the survival advantage of having chest films done. I didn't really write that correctly. Of course we know that the earlier a cancer is picked up the greater the chance of survival. I meant that on a population level, mass screening for lung cancer using chest x-rays has not been shown to be a cost effective screening program (unlike cervical cancer for which pap smears have been shown to be a cost effective screening program). Sorry for that!!!!!! Hope that bit makes more sense now. Jana xxxx

Berisa I am so saddened to read your post It sounds like your Dad passed on without sufferring at the end, and I am glad for you that it was like that. What the others wrote I agree with.......he would already be so very proud of you. My heart goes out to you. Take care Jana xxxxx

Hi Andrea From my knowledge, the survival rates for lung cancer are so poor due to the fact that the disease is predominantly diagnosed at a late stage. People are able to have lung cancer for several years before having any symptoms, so there is really no way of knowing they have it. My mum's cancer was picked up on a routine chest film, and to this day she remains symptom free, despite being a Stage IV. I am not certain that extensive routine chest x-rays have shown to provide any survival advantage for lung cancer patients. I know this has been studied in Australia and it is NOT recommended as a screening tool for lung cancer (unlike Pap smears for cervical cancer). I am not certain of the reasons. I worked for eighteen months for the Cancer Foundation of WA as a project co-ordinator for the WA Cancer Staging Project and I will see if I can find any articles which explain in greater detail why mass screening for lung cancer using chest x-rays is not recommened. Hope this has helped you somewhat Jana xxx

Melinda Sorry to hear you've been so unwell. I had strep throat once and it really is horrible. I do hope you're on the mend now and have been taking that much needed rest. I will be thinking of your family on Friday and hoping for some good test results from that CT scan. Jana xxx

BLT A millions prayers and good thoughts for a wonderful scan coming from me to you Please keep us posted on how you go. Jana xxxx

Wonderful news Tbone. Hope to read more like this from you Jana xxxx

Hi Debbie Welcome to the forum, and sorry you have had to join. I am sorry for what you and your husband are going through. Like everyone else I also think that you should try to find out why your husband is needing so much tranfusing, especially if it started before the chemotherapy (which to me implies that the chemo is not the causal agent). I am hoping your husband responds well to the chemo and am thinking of you both right now. Jana xxxxx

Yep, I am crying too. My colleagues probably think I am crazy! I am so sorry this has happened. I am thinking of you. Jana xxx

Peg, I am so very sorry for your loss. Jana xx

Hi Sorry to hear about your Mum's results. I hope the new chemo does what it is supposed to. My thoughts are with you Jana xx

Hi Lauralou I can't help you with your query, but can tell you that my Mum (who is a Stage IV NSCLC) was also never offerred radiotherapy. The doctors told her that chemotherapy was her only option. I know that Mum was not keen to have radiotherapy on her primary lesion in her lung, for fear of damage to the lung tissue. I suspected that if there is tumour in multiple sites radiotherapy is less often used, but then I have read of many cases of brain secondaries being treated with radiotherapy?????? I hope you find the answers you are looking for and that the shrinkage continues. Jana xxx

And you can add me to the list too. Shall be hoping for some fantastic results. xxx

Hi Kelly Nice to meet you and welcome. Reading your post reminded me so much of my family and what we are going thru. My Mum was diagnosed in August of last year, unfortunately her stage at diagnosis was a Stage IV. She has a tumour in her left upper lobe, positive mediastinal lymph nodes and some bone secondaries as well. My family are also very close and have been a great support to each other, and we also refuse to believe the prognosis of incurable. Really, how do they know that? They don't, so we don't have to accept it. The hurt your feel being scared about your children not remembering your Dad I can also relate to, as I am trying to get pregnant myself at the moment (I have no children) and I am devastated at the thought my children would never meet my Mum. I try not to think about that too much. I also relate to what you say about how life seems so different since the diagnosis, and I totally agree. I do so wish that I could wake up one morning and not have to think about the fact that my Mum has cancer. That would be wonderful. I have recommended to other people to research "Ian Gawler" on the internet.. Ian was given about two weeks to live by doctors and is alive 27 years later. He tried multitudes of different therapies and there is alot to be learned from him I believe. I hope you can look it up and find some information that may help your Dad. I will be thinking of you, your Dad and your family and hoping for some good news on the next scan. Jana xxxxx

Hi Carolyn Welcome! You will find all sorts of support and encouragement on this message board. My Mum was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC in August of last year. It sure is one rollercoaster of a ride, but it is nice to know everyone is here for you. Keep in touch. Let's hope for more shrinkage in the next scans. xxx

You are SO welcome and I am so glad you found it inspiring. It truly is an amazing story. I wish everyone wish a diagnosis would read it. It just proves that people DO beat the odds. Thanks for the info. on the book you mentioned. I'll look into it. My Mum is trying alot of different things, so if you ever want to have a chat please feel free to PM me. Jana xxx

Hi Welcome to the board. You will find alot of love and support in this group. I am very sorry to hear about your sister, and then your Mum. My Mum is also living with Stage IV NSCLC. Keep in touch. Let us know how the test results go. Thinking of you Jana xx

Hi I know my sister, karenl, has mentioned this before but if you are interested in alternative treatments I would recommend you use the internet and put the name Ian Gawler into a search engine. He was diagnosed and after failing several treatments was given 2 weeks to live. Well, 27 years later he is still alive. There are alternatives, always. Wishing you well Jana xx

Sending all the positive thoughts in the world, sweetie. xx