TAnn

Well, the update on my Denver catheter is that it seems to be working. We have drained fluid daily for 2 weeks and the last 2 nights have not been able to get much fluid at all, about 100cc's. Had a chest x-ray today and it showed very little fluid left, which is very good. HOWEVER, I have been experiencing such bad pain with each drain and also just pain in that lung all the time, that they finally prescribed me a strong pain killer. I haven't gotten much sleep, can't get comfortable, or wake up in pain, so hopefully these pills will help with that. I'm usually not one to take the strong stuff... The goal is to keep the fluid out long enough so that the membranes form a "seal" and no more fluid will accumulate. The bottom portion of my lung looks like it still has not been able to expand back to normal. This could be due to scarring, or just the fact that it has been compressed for so long from the fluid. This may be the cause of some of my pain. Anyway, once I go a couple of weeks without being able to drain, then they probably will take out the tube. I have a ct scan next week and then we will tell if I get to remain on the study drug and on my "chemo break"! TAnn

Hi T-Bone, Well, if you are like me, you probably were a little disappointed in not getting your port. You probably had yourself psyched-up for it and now you have to dread it all over again. That has happened to me on more than one occassion, usually due to miscommunication. In the end, it all works out for the best. Good luck with the port placement and I pray that they have good news on the bone scan. Will be watching Friday for the update! TAnn

Mo, Hope you have a wonderful time with your church. You are such an inspiration to us all. I just don't know how you do all that you do while on chemo! (Especially Taxol/Carbo!) Keep up the good work! And HAVE FUN!!!!! TAnn

Mo, So sorry to hear that you are feeling so bad. I don't know when you had your last chemo treatment, but when I had Taxol/Carbo it usually hit me between the 3rd and 13th day. (Usually everyday during that time!) The more treatments, the worse it hit me. If your counts are low, you will definately feel bad. Hopefully the dr. can do something to make you feel better. In the meantime, rest, rest, rest!!! TAnn

I lost most of my hair while on carbo/taxol. It started coming back and then went on taxotere and it started thinning. Now that I'm not on chemo, it has come back very dark, (I was blonde, very light light brown) and it is very curly and it has alot of gray. I hate it! It is like when a baby starts getting hair. You just can't do anything with it!!! TAnn

Berisa, I am so sorry that your dad is going through this downturn. It must be very hard on you and the family to make all the decisions. I pray for the comfort of your father and that the doctors do all the right things to help him. TAnn

Mo, Don't we (cancer patients) suffer enough? Chemo, radiation, tubes hanging out of our sides (or at least mine!). Why not eat what we enjoy? My dr. said the same thing to me, if you like it eat it, especially when you are on chemo. In fact, I never liked sugar until I was diagnosed with lung cancer! Now, I have to have a little dessert after dinner. (even if it is just a pop-tart!) Wierd huh? Enjoy the goodies in moderation, but the main word is ENJOY! TAnn

Ray, I'm glad to hear that you are back in the "fight"! I had 5 rounds of Taxotere with clinical trial (maybe - it's double blind) ZD-6474. After the 4th round of treatment, I had 31% shrinkage! So you just never know what will work and for who. My main problem with any of the chemo's I've received is low blood counts and neutropenic fevers. Overall, Taxotere treated me much better than Taxol/Carbo! We have to hang in there, even when we feel like we are down for the count! I know how you feel and where you are coming from, I think we've all felt the same way at some point! Keep your chin up and when it's down, let us know and we will all do our best to pick it back up for you! TAnn

I knew that people w/malignant pleural effusions (like me) were candidates for the GVAX trial. My question is can you do this through your regular oncologist. I plan on asking mine about it next Wednesday when I see him, but just wondering if any of you may know if you have to actually go to the facility conducting the trial? Thanks, TAnn

Carlton, So happy to hear your bone scan came back negative. I too have rib pain and we are thinking it is from the fluid. You must be so relieved with the good news. Here's praying that your next scans have the same good news! Keep on enjoying that break! TAnn

Thanks to you all... It has now been almost a week since the procedure and I am still feeling very sore. I have to sleep on my back, which I'm not used to and I've been "told" that I snore like a freight train! (Personally I think my husband is hearing the dog!) I still experience pain with every drain. We have drained over 3,000cc in 6 days and it looks like there is no end in sight Maybe after a few more days, I will feel some relief. Even though my breathing is better, I'm still in pain. Not much of a trade off....... TAnn

Mo, So sorry you had to spend Easter Eve in the ER. My dad has suffered from diverticulitis for many years. I know at one time he went into the hospital for IV antibiotics and that helped him alot. So hopefully your antibiotics will do the trick. Hope your Easter day is better with the pain meds. I'm still very sore from my catheter and on Advil all day long. It does help and I really don't like taking those strong pain pills if I don't have to. Praying for your diver.... to solve itself, along with a good diet. My dad can't have much meat, only steamed chicken and fish. (Yuk!) If he does decide to indulge...he ends up paying for it later! Good Luck TAnn

I just wanted to add my thoughts and prayers for Bill's recovery at home. I'm sure just being at home will perk him up. Praying for your strength in helping Bill to feel better. Happy Easter. TAnn

Hi Cheryl, The tube is not permanent, although I hate to think of the process of taking it out......YIKES! The only thing I'm taking for the pain is advil. Can you believe that? This is another one of those procedures that they (the dr.'s) think is not that "difficult"! Easy for them to say! TAnn

Hi everyone, On Wednesday I went in to have a pleurex catheter put in to drain the massive quantity of pleural fluid that has built up around my lung. (you could not see my lung on my last x-ray, it was totally covered up with fluid) The procedure went ok, I am still pretty sore and really don't like looking at it..... Basically, they install a tube on my right side in the front. Part of the tube is in the pleural cavity and what's left is hanging out of me so that I can drain it every day. It has a valve on the end so that it doesn't flow constantly. They give you a kit that includes a vacuum sealed bottle to drain the fluid in. My husband, Al, has been absolutely wonderful. We have now drained it twice, he actually does everything. It gets me upset, because as the fluid drains, it causes alot of pain due to the re-expanding lung. So I really have to give all the "kudos" to him. I don't know how I could go through any of this without him. He is my strength! When we are done with the draining, we just coil up the tube and cover it with gauze and a big "sticker" that keeps it nice and dry. Yet another new adventure in this journey called cancer...... Trying to stay strong and positive, TAnn

Hi Mo, I too went to the pulm. yesterday, (Mon). I've been having ALOT of pain and I know it is from the fluid. I thought they were actually going to put in the "Denver Cathetar", but as usual, communication mix up and they have scheduled me for Wednesday, (tomorrow). My x-rays showed the fluid completely covering my lung. On the x-ray, you can't see my right lung at all, just the white shadow of fluid. They were going to do a thorencentesis yesterday, to make me more comfortable, but I told them I could wait until Wednesday. Why get stuck twice????? My drs don't really push the talc procedure. The success rate is not always that good, I know some on the board have had complete success though. Anyway, we have chosen the cathetar route, where I drain the fluid everyday. I am very nervous about this procedure, as I have a history of not doing well during the thorencentesis. (passing out, throwing up, etc.) They say they will give me something for the nausea. I'm glad you are feeling better. Let me know how everything goes for you. Feel free to pm me if you want! P.S. - Do you have just fluid build up, or do you have a malignant effusion? TAnn

I had 5 rounds of Taxotere and my nails did not turn black, but they did do some interesting things. First they got this ridge on them, if you've ever had fake nails put on, you know when they start to grow out it is flat by your cuticle and a "bump" for the rest of your nail. That's what happened first, now that I've been off Taxotere for about 1 month, my nails have pink and white stripes! No kidding, kinda like a tree, a stripe for every treatment! I think they are very "cool" looking. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow! Good Luck! TAnn

Hi Deb, Welcome to the site. Glad you chose to post when you are having a bad day. We all have them, that's for sure, but the people here always make you feel better! Praying that your disability comes through soon Good luck with your chemo and keep us posted! TAnn

TeeTaa, That was an excellent re-cap! Bravo! I thought they handled it better than I expected. I did have a small fit when they showed her smoking though.... I'm sure they won't get into too much detail with stage, type, etc., but overall, I'd have to give the episode a "9"! TAnn

Dear PierMarie, I have a malignant pleural effusion. In fact, that is how they diagnosed my cancer. The tumor showed up on a ct scan and I had (at the time) a very small effusion. So they took a small amount of the fluid, apparently they did not need much, because it tested positive for tumor cells. I never had to have a broncoscopy or any other invasive procedures. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary date of diagnosis, April 10th and I have had the fluid drained 4 times. On Monday, it looks like they will be inserting a Denver Cathetar so that I can drain the fluid myself every other day. My last x-rays showed the fluid was almost up to the top of my lung. There is alot in there. If your mom only has a very small effusion, I agree that they should just watch it. Sometimes it is very risky to do a thorencentesis with only a small amount of fluid. And since she has other mets, it would not change their course of treatment. No since in putting her through a procedure. They say it is supposed to be an "easy" procedure, but believe me, I have had plenty of problems with it. (The first time I had it done I fainted!) Please feel free to PM me if you would like more information. I find I am learning more that I ever though I would about this terrible disease! TAnn

Curtis, Through my tears I am sending you my deepest sympathies. This is such a horrible disease. I am so shocked! Becky was an inspiration to us all. She was so strong and positive. My prayers go out to you and your daughter and your entire family. I am so sorry. TAnn

Curtis, Sending prayers for Becky. Let her know we are thinking and praying for her and I know she will feel better real soon. As soon as they hook her up to those IV antibiotics, she will bounce right back! You take care of yourself too TAnn

Hi Cathy R, I went through 5 cycles of Taxol/Carbo when I was first diagnosed. Nothing shrunk, nothing grew. I lost all my hair. I went on a "break" that only lasted 1 month when the tumor started to grow again and I went on Taxotere with clinical trial ZD-6474. I received 5 cycles of Taxotere and am still taking the daily pill of ZD-6474. When I started Taxotere, my hair was just starting to grow back. I amazingly did not lose ALL my hair with Taxotere, it just thinned at the top a little bit. Now that I'm on another "break", my hair is growing back much quicker than after the Taxol/Carbo. I also had fewer side effects with Taxotere. Low Blood Counts were my worst effects. I also had 31% shrinkage of the primary tumor with this regimine! Keep your chin up and I hope the Taxotere does the trick! TAnn

Natalie, That is so wonderful that you got through to someone at the OC and that you actually heard back from them. It would be great if they ran the tribute! Thanks for being a genious! TAnn

Stephanie, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. You and your family will be in my prayers. I know you were glad to be there with your mother in the end. May you know that we are all with you through your very tough time. TAnn