Nushka

I also had chemo and then radiation where my tumors were. It was suppose to give me approximately a 5-7% better chance of a cure. I took it and so far so good. I would not change anything about my treatment plan. I will say that there are some side effects. I have a little SOB and a wheeze but I'll take it. I wanted the best chance I could get. Nina

Got to copy this one and send it on. Too funny. Nina

I had my last appointment with my radiation oncologist today. Chest xray was clear (will let me know what the radiologist says later). My oncologist released me in June 2006. She said to make sure my PCP was diligent and let her know if I needed anything or wanted her to order any more xrays etc. I feel like my umbilicus has been cut. Happy to be on my on but needing a little security blanket to take the place of that life line. I have lots of confidence in my PCP though and feel like I have been given a miracle. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. It has been 3 years and 10 months since dx. I never thought I would be alive this Christmas. Its all because of you and others praying for me. I just wish I knew what I was left here to do. I feel I owe alot somewhere. Nina

Colored lights on the tree. I always think of children at Christmas and at heart I am still one too. I love the colors and santas, snoopy, handmade and candy canes on the tree. My kids always helped me put it up so I do it like they did. Nina

A pastor concluded that his church was getting into serious financial >troubles While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed. > >So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the >congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church. > >Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task. >The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen >and were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious >doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to >himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louis stuttered badly. > >But, not wanting to discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway. > >He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday. > >Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked Jack, "Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?" > >Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, "Using my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on behalf of the church." >"Fine job, Jack!" The minister said, vigorously shaking his hand. > >"You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you." > >Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many bibles did you sell for the church last week?" > >Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied," I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and here's $280 I collected." > >The minister responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are >truly a professional salesman and t he church is also indebted to you." > >Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, "And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?" Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope. > >The minister opened it and counted the contents. "What is this?" the >minister exclaimed. "Louie, there's $3200 in here! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in just one week?" Louie just nodded. > >"That's impossible!" both Jack and Paul said in unison. "We are >professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many >bibles as we could." > >"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister agreed. "I think you'd >better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie." > >Louie shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-f-for >sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered. > >Impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!" > >"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," Louis replied, "W-w-w-w-would >y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this b-b-b-b-bible >f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??"

Sharyn, I would be just a panicky and you are but I hope this is just a precaution. Praying that all is well and that your holidays this year are good. Nina

Tracy, This is wonderful news. Just in time for the holidays. I hope avastin alone will continue the shrinkage til there is no more there. Nina

They could have saved alot of signs with a simple "dead end" lol. Loved the pic. Nina

I had to laugh at this one. I wondered at the beginning where the flour was... Nina

Welcome Sawyer. I know you are anxious. That is very normal. Your mother sounds terrific and attitude does count. Let us know as soon as you can about the results of the test. Type, cell type, location...stage...all of that is important. Adding you to my prayer list. Nina

Now that was funny. Thanks Larry. Nina

Hope you get "let out of jail" soon. Hospitals are the pits. How was the green jello that Cindi mentioned? Glad you have a computer there to keep us informed. Nina

I am glad you have scans scheduled to get to the bottom of this,but I have had for years interior chest wall muscle spasms. It hurts like the devil...thus the common name..devil's grip. I am praying this is what is going on. It hurts like crazy but muscle relaxers and something for temporary pain is all that is called for. Let us know. Hoping all is well. Nina

Love it..brought a smile to my face. Nina

Cindi is right...they were all great. Nina

What a hoot Larry. Keep em coming....oops! Nina

Congratulations girl! Talk about good news all around. I know Suki must be on cloud nine. Let us know all the details...er....of the wedding. Nina

Sounds like good news to me. Congratulations. Nina

Trish, It all sounds very good. I hope things continue to improve and that your holidays are wonderful. I have two stupid questions. What are IMRT and IGRT? Nina

No words can express how sorry I am about your daughter and her lost fight. Continue in her name to fight this monster. She was such a young person to have to go through what she must have endured. Thank you for telling us. Nina

Tracy, I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and relaxed a little. Keeping you in my prayers that the scans are good and that you can keep yourself busy so as not to worry so much. The waiting is the worst part. Nina

Your mother has a very good chance. Please read my profile after my post. It will tell you that I am almost 4 years post dx and well over 3 years past treatment. I would suggest that she do chemo and radiation just to put the icing on the cake. The fact that she was a candidate for surgery is a really good sign. I wish you and your mother the best. Nina

According to my doctor, Magic Mouthwash is the name. It can be malox with lidocane, benedryl and nystatin. It can be made without the benedryl and it can be made without the nystatin. Seems the most important mixture is malox and lidocane. Good luck Nina

HELL EXPLAINED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENT The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well : Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)? Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some varient. One student, however, wrote the following: First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changin g in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added. This giv es two possibilities: 1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose. 2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over. So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh m y God." THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

Kim, I remember you well. I can't imagine how painful these last months have been for you. I admire you for having the strength to keep going. You are right in having no regrets. I know you were a loving daughter and mother. It is so appropriate that you are in school for nursing. You will make a wonderful nurse because you care so much. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep in touch. Nina