Outrider1

Congratulations MichelleP! As of today 500 posts and counting...keep it up! You have helped many of us tremendously with your postings. Look forward to 500 more! Dawn

Still cold (41) windy in NTX this afternoon. Awoke to less than freezing and a crust of snow on the ground, which the fur babies loved as they could go out back for a while and run. The bigger two hate to be cooped up in the house which was the case for all of yesterday. Wishing all of you the joy and magic of the season for today and peace and serenity in the coming year. Merry Christmas!!! Dawn

for this Wed and Next Wed. chats will be held on an as needed/wanted basis. That means if you feel the need or want to, to let me know in advance and I will be there to chat when you set the time. This includes those late nights or very early morning chats as I have a really erratic sleeping schedule anyway. Pm me here or you can reach me on Facebook, Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/outrider323) or my e-mail which is listed in my profile info for this site. Michelle, I am available when you are ready. Let me know. To all the rest of you, I wish the Joy and Magic of the Season, Much Love, Laughter, hugs and silly giggles. From me to all of you, have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and May the New Year bring you peace and serenity. Dawn Dawn

LOLOLOL!!!!

(chuckle, chuckle) Us Texas Women really give em' heck! Still chuckling Dawn

Diane, Just pick up a can of Libby's Pumpkin Pie MIX...make sure you get the mix not just plain pumpkin. Follow the recipe on the back and you get perfect pumpkin pie every time(unless you burn it...lol) My sister like to have beat me up when she found out that the pie she thought I slaved over took just 2 eggs, about a cup of condensed milk and a store bought pie shell, lol. Seriously, no need to practice with this one. Dawn

Love your invasion force Randy! Guys maybe I am just a dunce about working Face book, but I don't know how to find any of you! WHAAA!. Would like to keep up with all of you there as well as here. Anyway, still cold here in TX.but lots of sun... Dawn

These are just a few of the sites I have found that mention donating unused drugs. From several of the house bills, you can see that there maybe some stringent requirements. http://jpformontana.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... am-is.html (MT) http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/B ... Baa.pdf(RI) www.UWCM.org (United Way) www.cancer.org/downloads/COM/volunteer_ ... consin.pdf - 2004-07-12 (WI) The other suggestions: any free clinics in your area, Publicly paid for hospitals or health clinics, (ie: supported by tax dollars), Local nursing homes or long term care facilities. Unfortunately due to the amount of information out there you will have to devote some time to looking it all up and deciphering it...It is a shame that someone hasn't thought of this before and done something about it. I would suggest that you start with the state that you currently reside in and then expand outward to other states. I will keep looking. and post any additional info I can find. Dawn

You might also check with manufacturer...Call United Way and see if they have a program to give back unused meds/supplies. If they don't, the internet might be a place to look as well...I will see if I can find anything. I know that I read a news story about donating unused meds/supplies here in TX but it was several years agao. Also you may be able to sent them to another state for use as long as they are not narcotics(1 a : a drug (as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions b : a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically addictive and narcotic or not 2 : something that soothes, relieves, or lulls. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narcotics) definition provide to ellucidate what is and is not narcotic)) (Which chemo is not considered to be narcotic) I will leave a link if I find something. Dawn

Yeah! Dana, I love it when you come into chats on Wed and get chatty with me! Even more I love reading your posts. Sorry about last Wed. Big story behind the start the chat, lose the chat and the alien radiation interferance that kept interrupting my signals between computers here, (in other words, long story...lol) Dawn

Randy, Your positive outlook and weird and wacky sense of humor has kept me going on many occasions! Keep up the posting and next week when it is my turn to do the count, I will look forward to adding more in you column! Dawn

Michelle, I started having panic attacks after my husband died. 15 ER room visits and a week long hospital stay taught me a few things and some coping skills...If you think they could help you, please give me a pm. I take Ativan (lorazepam-generic name) as needed for anxiety which is what I have gotten my panic attacks to now. And then only occasionally. It can be done. I used to have very severe panic attacks where I would be closed to hyper-ventillating and where the muscles of my femur (thigh bone) would cramp so bad with the adrenaline that I would end up limping for about 2 weeks. So I know where you are coming from Just remember the hardest thing you are ever going to do for yourself is Ask for help. Please, please ask. We can take all the time you need so that this can be made easier for you. I don't want to intrude so if you need help with anything, even if it is just a good vent (cry), please don't hesitate. I am here if/when you need me. Dawn

And don't forget Paul Newman..he also died of lung cancer although noone would come out and say it out loud. They were too worried about the stigma attached to lung cancer and smoking....And that all started with the Federal Government and C. Everett Koop's (surgeon general) fight with the tobacco industry. The only way we are ever going to get rid of that stigma is to stop playing into it. By that I mean, stop telling people whether you did or did not smoke. Stop listing it in your bios. Start by telling people the things that we all have in common that can cause cancer such as radon, asbestos, man-made chemicals in everything we eat, and drink and even wear that can be absorbed through the skin, exhaust from burning or burned petro-chemicals, chemical pollutants in the air, land and water. Even the stress of our daily lives can cause cancer. Lung Cancer is not about smoking or not. It is about the very atmosphere that we live in. Sorry, coming down off my soapbox, now. You are also right Katie when you say "shame on the ACS as they are just furthering the stigma and the myth that only smokers get Lung Cancer as many of the members of the community right here can attest to. Shame we don't know any reporters.. Dawn

If you read the article, he states that some of the cancer cells got away so he had adjuvant chemo. That is the clue that it is lung cancer. If they had to take a portion of his lung whether or not the tumor itself was inside the lung or outside is immaterial and Gumble also stated that they took some "other goodies" along with the lung....ie.lymph nodes....It is lung cancer. The person to make the statement about the tumor being outside the lung was the ceo of a large PR firm that is a friend of Gumble's...He was also very quick to add that Gumble was a non-smoker. Here are some other articles the plainly state Lung cancer. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/0 ... ml?eref=ew http://cbs11tv.com/entertainment/bryant ... 57063.html (channel 11 Dallas) http://cbs11tv.com/entertainment/bryant ... 57063.html (cbs 2-chicago) http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/arti ... umbel.html All of theses specify that it is lung cancer. It is certainly a shame that that instead of using this as away to teach and bring awareness, they were in a big hurry to make sure his image was pure and not hampered by something as politically incorrect as smoking. Dawn

Just a reminder chat today at 11:30. Ya'll stop in and say hello. I am getting awful lonesome in chats by myself...come see me, say howdy, and Make my day!!! lol Dawn

An article posted by the yahoo web page posted it in big bold headline letters as Lung Cancer... here is the link http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091208/ap_ ... l_cancer_7 Hope this helps. Dawn

This is what I will be doing on Wed. at 11:30 if you guys don't stop in and say Hi! I know many of you are at work and can not access the chat at that time but for those of you that can, just stop in and say Hi, let us know how you are doing. This is a great way to keep in touch as well as shoot the bulloney about whatever you want to talk about. Stop in and see me on Wed. at 11:30 so I don't do this and have to break out the kleenex. Dawn

Lyn, Usually when they say "no More" they mean a break from chemo, not no more forever. 4-6 rounds of chemo is pretty standard. Depending on the response to the chemo and the length of that response can determine if they give the same chemo or something different when/if it shows back up. Since the cancer has spread, and there is no way of knowing if all of the cancers cells were killed by chemo, that is why treatment is considered palliative and not curative. Although, I know from my own experience just how devastating this news can be, remember to BREATHE. As a matter of fact take several deep breaths. It will help to calm you and center your mind so that you can meet these challenges head on and in the way best to help yourself and your father. Keep your faith, Darlin' it helps loads and also remember you can come back here anytime for a refill on just about anything from information, to (cyber) hugs and understanding. Dawn

Lyn, On the travel re-imbursement, I misspoke. He will be eligible if he meets financial guidelines. Depending on his financial position he may be eligible for travel pay. When you take him into the VA he will most probably have to do what is called a "Means" test which is just the paperwork showing his finances etc. When this paperwork is filled out, since he will be living with you, you may have to declare your financial situation as well, but I do not think so. I will have to ask and get back with you on it. I just know that my youngest daughter still receives a a death benefit from her father and they did not list her benefit on my means test as the benefit is for her support. There are other guidelines about the travel pay that you can get when visiting the travel office in the VA hospital. You also need to look into talking the The Veterans representative there in the hospital as well, they will help with letting you know what he is eligible for and filling out all the paperwork. As far as feeling like you are playing "catch-up", I would suggest taking a notebook with you to Dr.s appts. to write everything down so that you can have a reference to go back over after the appt. I would also write down any questions that you may have before the appt. so that you don't forget. It might help you to write down questions as you read the forums here and at Grace. I know I am always forgetting to tell one or the other of My Dr.s something or ask a question and end up having to call them back. There is plenty of information on the internet, but do not read and rely on any statistics involving cancer of any kind and prognosis (length of time) as many of them are at least 20-30 years out of date. Much of the the cancer therapies being used today have only come into being in the last 5 -7 years and have not been out long enough to gather good quality statistical evidence. Also your dad is not a statistic, so they don't apply. For the personal about me, I was Dx'd in May (May i9s not a good month for us, My MIL died in may, My husband died in may suddenly and unexpectedly a week after I had a car accident, so may is the month I would like to petition to remove from the calendar, lol)of 2008 with chemo started a week after Dx. I did 6 rounds (1 round is infusion week one, wait three weeks, next round started when next infusion came at the end of three weeks)carboplatin and etoposide infusion and then two days of etoposide pills after the infusion. My infusions lasted 3 hours as the drugs had to go in separately and I also got anti-nausea drugs infused before the chemo. My last chemo cocktail was 7 Oct 2008, so currently I am 14 months out from chemo and almost 20 months out from dx. My Dr. are all very pleased with my response to treatment and we are all keeping our fingers crossed that the chemo, just like the Energizer bunny keeps going and going (ie working, lol) and counting our blessings Just remember, where there is breath there is hope. Feel free to pm me about anything. And keep us updated on you and your dad's progress. Dawn

Lyn, First off, cancer is not the "death sentence" that it used to be. I have a Dx of ext-sclc, the most aggressive form of Lung cancer. When I was diagnosed I was 49 years old, could not stand, sit, walk ,or lay down except on my left side. I could not take care of my personal hygiene or dress myself. I had met.s to left hip and femur, all the lymph nodes in the left groin, left 7th rib and cervical nodes, right salivary glands and nodes in the jaw, right adrenal gland, tail bone and L5 & L7 vertebra, left upper arm and axillary lymph nodes and a large mass in my right middle and lower lobes of the lung. I was in bad shape to say the least. One hour after first chemo I could stand and walk, not well mind you but I could do it. It continued to get better from there to the point that I no longer need anything for pain except on a very occasional basis and then it is ibuprophen. I have some other issues going on with my head (ie. possible Multiple Sclerosis, still trying to work that one out) that keeps me using my walker when having to walk a lot (which I do for Dr. Appts at the VA here in Dallas). My quality of life is excellent at this point. I will not ever intimate that your father will have the great response that I have had but I will tell you that with proper nutrition and care that it can happen. The many lovely individuals on this site will give you all kinds of advice on how to bring about good quality will undergoing treatment, and afterwards. They have been through it personally or are caregivers to those that are going through it. There is wealth of information here. And They don't mind answering as many questions as you may have. I personally can help with any questions that you may have about the VA system especially on how to get things done and how things should be working and if I don't know, I can find out. Another place that you can go to get some technical questions answered is www.cancergrace.org. That site is run by a bunch of very caring Dr.s who do their best to answer the technical stuff for us. They can't answer personal treatment related questions but they do a heck of a job answering the hypothetical and the technical. Dr. West (the Grand Pooh-Bah over there, lol) is a guest speaker here at lungevity and sometimes comes in for guest chats. My best advice to you is concentrate on living, and the quality of the living. Be the strongest advocate for your father that you can be as you may have to fight to get what he needs. As far as the issues of making it work inside the house, contact your states agency on elderly and disabled. They may have some programs to help modify your home to accommodate his needs at no cost to you. He is also eligible for travel re-imbursement pay from the VA and if he ever set foot on the ground in Vietnam, he is eligible for compensation for agent orange exposure. This will help in terms of independence for him or to alleviate an financial hardships you /he may be encountering. And lastly, Make sure that you take some time for you and your child. That is just as important as anything else, sometimes more so. Live, Love, make memories and come here and ask all you need to or to vent, if need be. Just know that you are not alone and we will do what we can to help you with this new journey that you are now on. Oh! and remember to breath! Sometimes taking those deep breaths are the only thing that keeps me sane. Dawn

Here is a link for the information you seek...(neat how that kind of rhymned, lol) http://brainsurgery.upmc.com/conditions ... 4720229522 http://www.conquerchiari.org/index.htm I hope this information is helpful to you. Dawn

Carrot cake with pecans and cream cheese icing Peanut butter cookies Chocolate-peanut butter fudge, Pumpkin bread with spice glaze And since I know nothing about baking bread, small tubs Southern Bread Pudding with rum sauce. And last but not least Magic Cookie Bars. (I know that is one more than asked, but these are real easy and taste like Heaven) I put on 5 lb.s just typing that list, lol Dawn

Beautifal day in NTX today. Currently 46 degrees looking to head up to about 67 with sun and a slight breeze. We have been cleaning this week in preparation of Thanksgiving. I have made some progress in the area of mobility in that I am trying to do more. For a while I could not do much due to the pain of various mets and then due to the damage left behind. Next came the the problems associated with balance which is possibly associated with MS. I am learning to compensate for those issues although every once in a while I still forget, and end up having to hunt a wall to brace myself against. It's just that my mind still feels 20 and and my body just doesn't follow suit, lol. Looking forward to finishing the cleaning and relaxing, a little on this beautiful Sunday. Judy, as always my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. Lily, you have been on my mind much, as much of what you have written is very profound and touching and reminds me soooo much of My Mikey. Although he did not die of cancer, he left suddenly without warning of any kind. Just know that I am right there with you, girlfriend. As for the rest of you out there in cyberspace Lungevity land. I think you of daily and remember you in my prayers and hope that, wherever you are that you will have a blessed and wonderful day. My heart sings today and for that I am blessed Dawn

Okay, I'm with you now. I agree with you about the cells in the spinal fluid infiltrating the brain. My hypothesis is that since there are less blood pathways (veins, arteries etc.) around the spinal cord than there is in the brain (which is a target rich environment, so to speak) is the reason that you see less cancer cells in and around the fluid and spine than the brain. Since cancer cells target the brain for that reason, it is the only reason I can see for targeting the brain only to minimize any damage that may occur from the radiation to the spine.(I hope that makes sense) (I am no Dr. but have gathered this from what I have gotten...I think I said that before.lol) As far as the Grace Dr.s I think they are referring to the possible damage from the radiation in relationship to the actual good it might do in reference to the volume given. Most of their posts on the the subject point out that it is a tool to use when necessary, but feel their best options are for the chemo regimes you have noted. I will note in the treatment of my SCLC I have had carboplatin. Of the other drugs you have listed I have been told they do not work nearly as well on SCLC as they do On NSCLC and are not normally used for SCLC. But, I will ad them to my list for if and when my SCLC shows back up. Thank you for the discussion, I found it enlightening. Dawn

It's that time of the week again. Lunch chat at 11:30. I will be out of town next Wed. so we will take a break next week. Come see me this morning and lets talk! About anything under the sun! Dawn