Dollfan19

Jen's sister just contacted me and asked me to inform the board of what was happening at this time... Jen is in the process of passing as she chatted with me. She wanted all on her friends and family to pray...please, if you have had contact with Jen and remember her struggle please pray that her passing is peaceful and pain free. We need to give the family the support and strength we have all taken on as the LCHELP family. God bless. JCAWORK: hello who is this Dollfan19: abby Dollfan19: hi jen JCAWORK: abby are you jenfriend Dollfan19: yes JCAWORK: this is debbie her sister Dollfan19: hi debbie JCAWORK: abby jen is passing away now JCAWORK: we are with her Dollfan19: I am so sorry JCAWORK: and it is almost time Dollfan19: go be with her Dollfan19: hold her Dollfan19: tell her how much you love her JCAWORK: could you please ask for prys on the board i am to upset Dollfan19: absolutely JCAWORK: ithat her whole family and friends are with her and she is ready to leave JCAWORK: i am crying as i wright this Dollfan19: its ok JCAWORK: but would love your help Dollfan19: pelasew go be with her Dollfan19: I will do it now JCAWORK: i will check her llllchelp notes later JCAWORK: and up date Dollfan19: have the strength to guide her JCAWORK: that JCAWORK: she is irish and drank to the end and she loved everyone on this board as so do i JCAWORK: i hope god will call soon Dollfan19: talk to her Dollfan19: she can hear you Dollfan19: hold her tight JCAWORK: we brought her home from the hospital to be next to the fire Dollfan19: and she will embrace JCAWORK: yes JCAWORK: i will send my love i have to go Dollfan19: love to all JCAWORK: my email is weebledeb@aol.com Dollfan19: god is with you JCAWORK: so please email Dollfan19: I will JCAWORK: i need to be with her Dollfan19: if there is anything you need I am here Dollfan19: go JCAWORK: love you for being her friend Dollfan19: love and hugs

Please look up something called Peregrine Pharmaceutical. It looks as though it might work for lung cancer but have not heard anything about it so far. I have been out of the loop for a year. Good luck!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... -headlines State finds high levels of cancer-linked radon in some S. Florida homes By Neil Santaniello Staff Writer Posted November 21 2004 It's an indoor air threat -- a cause of lung cancer -- that slips invisibly into a home. You can't see, taste or smell radon, a radioactive gas exhaled by the ground below you, created by disintegrating uranium in rock and soil. Out of sight, radon also remains out of mind for much of South Florida. Many people know little about the naturally-occurring gas, despite estimated deaths of between 15,000 and 22,000 people a year, according the National Academy of Sciences. Yet, according to test results compiled by the state, radon invades thousands of South Florida homes at levels the federal Environmental Protection Agency deems potentially dangerous to inhabitants. Measuring radon indoors is easy and often inexpensive, requiring nothing more complicated than a shoe-polish-size canister of activated charcoal for starters. But most homeowners don't bother. Some cling to the perception that radon is mainly a hazard oozing out of rockier northern areas, where houses are dug right into the earth -- not in sandier Florida, where most homes are built on top of flat, supporting concrete slabs. The state department of health, however, calculates that about 750 Floridians a year die of radon exposure. "In general, most people don't think there's radon in Florida," said Doug Wall, a Naples-based professional radon measurer. "`We don't have basements' -- that's the first thing out of their mouths -- `We can't have radon here.' Well, radon is everywhere." Indeed, radon tests around South Florida have found potentially harmful levels of radon dotting the tri-county map, levels that regulators say should provoke changes to homes to reverse the condition. The results were gathered by the health department's office of Radon and Indoor Air Toxics from state-certified radon testing, and companies that specialize in reducing radon in homes. Of 3,468 Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade residences measured for radon for the first time from 1999 to 2003, 37 percent, or 1,290, had radon at or above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air, state records show. Under Florida's radon protection program, those tests are optional, unlike mandatory inspections required of health and child-care centers and of elementary schools operated or regulated by the state. Forty-six percent of the multifamily homes checked during that time frame, and 5 percent of the single-family homes, had high radon levels, the state figures show. A picocurie is a measure of radioactivity equal to the disintegration of about two radioactive atoms per minute. The EPA's radon danger line of 4 picocuries, 10 times the amount of radon generally found in outdoor air, is a nonenforceable public health guideline. Exposure to that much radon is the same as soaking up 200 chest X-rays per year, and creates a cancer risk similar to that for a smoker who puffs on half a pack of cigarettes per day, the EPA says. The incubation time for cancer caused by radon is about four decades. "You don't get it tomorrow because you get a whiff of it today," said Thomas Pugh, director of the Institute for Building Scientists at Florida A&M University. "It should not be a panic-producing thing," but it shouldn't be ignored either, he said. If levels reach 4 picocuries, the agency recommends such home modifications as sealing off potential radon entry points or adding equipment, and often fresh-air intakes, pipes and fans, to increase air pressure in a home and thwart radon accumulation. Tests results vary widely The state compendium of radon tests shows four times as many multifamily homes -- largely rental apartment complexes -- tested from 1999 to 2003 than single-family homes. Rental complexes change ownership periodically in major commercial real estate transactions that often mandate environmental audits. Those audits systematically look at contamination problems, including radon, sending professional radon testers sweeping through buildings as part of the real estate transaction. Homes differ in their radon vulnerability, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Radon can reach potentially toxic levels at one house but remain benign next door, so paying for a radon test -- which can cost $10 to $20 for a do-it-yourself version, or $150 or more for a professional assessment -- makes sense, said Kristy Miller, an EPA spokeswoman. "That's the only way to know for sure," she said. In South Florida over about the past half-decade, harmful radon levels have cropped up at several properties, including: Amli at Ibis Apartment Homes on Northlake Boulevard west of Beeline Highway; Via Lugano Apartments in Boynton Beach; Sherwood Forest at Coral Springs; and Plantation Colony Apartments in Plantation. All subsequently added or are installing equipment to control radon, their managers or other representatives said. During the past five years, recorded radon levels have crept as high 33.2 picocuries -- eight times the EPA radon action level -- in the tri-county area. The top reading occurred in a single home in the 6700 block of West Oakland Park Boulevard in Lauderhill, but remains well below the peak radon reading recorded in all of Florida so far: 267 picocuries in Gainesville, state health officials said. The Earth belches radon from radium -- a decay product of uranium -- with the help of fissures in rock and the pores between grains of soil, which allow the gas to escape. Radon goes into the atmosphere or is trapped in homes, pushing through various apertures: the cracks in concrete slab, for instance, or the gaps girdling pipes that penetrate indoors. Rock incorporated into home decor and other building materials and well water can also emit radon. "If radon is able to move easily in the pore space, then it can travel a great distance before it decays, and it is more likely to collect in high concentrations inside a building," according to the Geological Survey's "The Geology of Radon." With air pressure in the ground and around a home generally greater than the pressure inside it, an imbalance is created that draws radon indoors. The gas can then pool inside basements and crawl spaces, on ground floors and higher. As radon decays, it releases atoms of heavy metals called alpha particles, or "radon daughters." Those daughters latch onto particles of smoke and dust that people inhale with the air. If the particles become mired in lung tissue, they can bombard it with cell-damaging radiation. Often a basement or ground-floor threat, elevated radon also can appear much farther upstairs in Florida, in the upper floors of some high-rise condos and apartment buildings. Harmful levels have appeared as high as the ninth floor of a building at 410 Flagship Drive in Naples, state records show. Naples radon tester Wall said he has measured excessive radon even higher up in buildings, inside 20th-floor penthouses. That has fueled a belief that radon is emitted from the walls, ceilings and floors of high-rise homes formed from cubes of concrete. Concrete is forged from aggregate such as gravel or crushed stone, sand and cement -- stuff quarried out of the ground where radium is found. Proponents of this radon-from-concrete explanation say that the escaping radon is being concentrated by steamy Florida's energy efficient building code, intended to keep cooled air from escaping from homes. The relatively airtight homes the code engenders likely trap the gas, they argue. "It's a strong hypothesis," said Clark Eldredge, a radon specialist in the bureau's Radon and Indoor Air Toxics office. Others argue that radon more likely is traveling from the ground upward through building chases -- conduits that carry plumbing and electrical lines -- or other vertical passageways such as elevator shafts and garbage chutes. "The sources that you're getting from the upper floor may be from the earth several floors below," Pugh said. "It may not have anything to do with the materials of the building." Pugh considers it "very doubtful" that building materials generate a radon hazard on their own. Howard Singer had his Boca Bath & Tennis condo checked for radon in 2001. The retired New York textiles salesman learned he had levels of 8 picocuries in his condo at St. Tropez, on Boca Club Boulevard -- twice the EPA danger level of 4. Singer's radon quickly fell to 2.4 picocuries after he spent $1,300 to equip his home with a radon reduction system. The last measurement taken, in March 2002, found radon had crept up to 3.1 picocuries but remained below the federal action level. "I didn't even know what radon was," Singer said. "You never read about it." Medical office manager Linda Quinines had no idea her rental unit at Plantation Colony Apartments in Pembroke Pines had tested high for radon -- 10.5 picocuries -- in 2000. She did not recall anyone from management raising the issue when she moved into the complex on Southwest 12th Street two years ago. She said no one told her about the radon reducer that came with her apartment. "I definitely would have liked to have known about it," said Quinines, who lived there with her two sons, husband and a dog. They are moving out in May but radon didn't chase her off; her family simply bought a new home, she said. Donna Barfield, an attorney speaking for the complex owner, said the radon systems brought the gas down to safe levels. She said the devices are on a maintenance schedule to keep them operational. She said she knew of no radon information in Plantation Colony rental leases "other than the standard radon disclosure" required for real estate deals. State standards optional Government maps highlighting more radon-prone geography point to mountainous areas of the United States, the upper plains and stretches of the Midwest, and parts of the northeast. Pennsylvania and New Jersey have radon-rich areas. Florida generally falls on the lower end of the nation's radon hazard scale, said David Rowson, director of the EPA's Center for Healthy Buildings. Working against radon awareness is its lack of a signature in cancer cases. There's no telltale clue pointing to radon in a biopsy or autopsy. Scientists and health officials estimate a death toll, and derive that figure from long-term studies of miners who work in virtual caves of radon below the ground, workers who have died from cancer "at rates five times the rate expected for the general population," the EPA reports. "We didn't study rats, gerbils, hamsters or beagles: We studied people to come up with this," said Michael Gilley, a radon supervisor in the health department's Bureau of Community Environmental Health. The Florida Building Code addresses radon prevention in new residential construction, but its radon-resistant building standards are optional -- tucked into the code's appendices. Counties can adopt them voluntarily but only one, Hernando, has done so, said state officials. The standards -- developed by the Florida Department of Community Affairs from 1989 to 1995 with funding from a building permit surcharge -- were not made part of the regular building code because the issue was controversial and mandatory radon-proofing would boost construction costs, said Jack Glenn, technical services director for the Florida Homebuilders Association. Also, radon was an obvious problem only in some parts of Florida and officials "didn't want to paint the entire state with a broad brush," Glenn said. The building code instructions basically prescribe a sealing regimen to keep radon from infiltrating a home -- a passive approach. The code does call for more active measures, such as mechanical radon reduction, which would have required more ventilation in homes and "that flies in the face of energy conservation," Glenn said. Federal and state officials have created Internet tools to rough out radon potential in counties and states. One posted by the EPA can be found at www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html and designates three color-coded levels of escalating potential danger: yellow, orange and red. The EPA map takes into account indoor radon readings around the nation, geology, foundation types and soil permeability, EPA officials said. Florida health officials offer tools that report radon measurements in the state database by ZIP codes at www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/facilit ... index.html. Residential real estate contracts in Florida flag radon as a potential problem in homes but not in a big way. They do include a mandatory three-sentence radon disclosure statement that warns homebuyers radon can occur in homes and "may present health risk to people exposed to it over time." "Legally that's all the federal and state law require a Realtor to do," said Marla Marlin with the Florida Association of Realtors in Orlando. Staff researcher John Maines contributed to this report. Neil Santaniello can be reached at nsantaniello@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6625 [/url]

I know that I haven't posted in a long time but I have kept in touch with everyones life....I am still reading and weaping. Jim'ds birthday went unnoticed by most of his family, nothing was shared with me expect for the following post by his son. I am very touched. A Birthday Gift for My Father Andrew Tatum First and foremost, this article is not about the Miami Dolphins or football in general. Instead, this article is about someone who means very much to me, my father. As some may or may not know my father, James Tatum, passed away on April 2, 2004 due to lung cancer. His birthday is today... October 9th… he would have been 48 years old. I will always remember this time last year, how proud he was of the fact that he was trying to start anew by quitting both smoking and drinking, a daunting task to quit just one. However, he tried too hard too late… the many years of smoking caught up to him and he was diagnosed with cancer. My father was not just a father to me, he was my best friend. Undoubtedly, losing both was, and still is, one of the most difficult things I have ever been through. Some days are unbearable, but I know I must work through them… as it is what he would have wished. However, as each day came closer to today I knew that I would have to somehow try my hardest to know that I should not cry, but should try and do something positive. An impossible feat I first thought. I couldn’t help but think about how I would normally be thinking of trying my hardest to see him today. How hard it was to know that this year, unlike the previous 20 years of my life, I wouldn’t be purchasing a gift for my father. However, I have found a way that I can still give something to my father, but in a different way. As the founder of FinHeaven & Co, I have the means to communicate a message to hundreds of thousands of people. Surely there are many other organizations out there that spread this same message, but this is something I want to do for my father, my friend. Fact: Lung cancer doesn’t affect just smokers, it can affect anyone. Fact: Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women. In fact, it causes more deaths than colon, breast, and prostate cancer… combined. Fact: Lung cancer will cause an estimated 160, 440 deaths this year. Fact: Lung cancer patient’s five-year survival rate is the lowest of any cancer, at 15.2%. So, what do I really hope to do with this article you ask? It’s simple. Perhaps you don’t know someone that has cancer now, but sadly it affects almost every individual in one way or another. I recall one day two years ago sitting in a class room with an American Cancer Society representative asking my class if anyone has been affected by someone with cancer, almost everyone raised their hand but me. At that time, I thought that I could possibly be one of the lucky individuals not to affected and never even dreamed of one day losing my father to this disease. Now, I hope to spread this same message to many other people, but please don’t take this as preaching. I am, however, pleading that you make yourself aware of cancer, not just lung cancer. Don’t think you can fly under the radar and not be affected as I once did, please don’t fool yourself. Cancer is a very deadly and real disease. Take the next step and donate to programs like the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, the Moffit Cancer Center, or many other organizations. If you can’t donate, participate. I, for example, am involved in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life every year when it comes to Tampa. As for me, all I can do is move on with life. Not a day goes by where I think about how much different it could be if I could talk to my father one last time… if I can just call him up and ask for his advice. But I can’t. However, I know he is still with me. Guiding me. Living in me. Happy 48th Birthday Dad. Love, AJ Related Websites: Moffit Cancer Center & Research Institute American Cancer Society American Lung Association Truth

Thank you all for your warmth and guiding words. The day ended up being okay after all even though Jim was missed terribly. I spent some of the day with his family along with my daughter who left today for college. After the afternoon event was over, my daughter and I went to play bingo and I won twice. We had fun and it is always great fun to hang with your child when they are in the process of becoming an adult. I can't even imagine what the holidays are going to be like, we still have several months to continue healing. Again, thank you all for being there... Abby

Not a whole lot makes a difference anymore....you think about things you used to care about and nothing....or not a whole lot, especially when you have kids. Today is my birthday....wow! happy bithday to me...it used to look forward to this day for the creative gifts I'd receive from Jim...when I awake tomorrow....only to have lunch with his Dad and son and others.... nothing ....where is he? Why won't he show himself to me anymore? G-d I miss him....please just one more dream..... Every day is a new breath of life for us caregivers....I would have given anything for it to have been me.....he is out of pain and I am still full of pain and anguish..... I love you Jim. Abby

Along with the pads (blue chucks as they are called), you can also purchase a plastic mattress cover so you don't have to keep turning the mattress. They are fitted and very inexpensive. You can find them at Wal-Mart, etc. Again, keep up the strength and keep eating pizza. It does have all the food group if you put them on top. Abby

Don, You're doing a great job with your mom even though you are eating yourself happy. I think it's normal under any situation. I did it and have not stopped and the reason is no longer with me. It just feels great. I had a Freshetta (spinach, portabella shrooms & garlic) last night, you must try it. Two of us at the whole thing. Awesome! I hate myself today. Your courage with your mother is outstanding, please keep up the great job. She's knows you love her. Abby

Has anyone heard from JoniRobertWilson? I emailed her a reposnse last week after having some contact with her and she has not been on to read the email. I'm concerned after her last post. Please post if there is any news. Thank you all!

My husband had the choice of both lines of treatment explained to him by the doctor and the doctor leaned towards the CPT-11. After I did some investigation, studies showed longivity with the CPT-11 vs. VP-16. His tumor was 20 cm initially, his entire right lung and gone, shrunk to 2.5 within just a few months. After four months of treatment be began sliding downward because of his liver. The doctor then switched him to the VP-16. If his liver hadn't been so bad, he would be here today. The oncologist called my husband a miracle, he was only expected to live several weeks but the CPT-11 gave us more time, noi enough but more. I hope my input will aid in people looking into this drug as a possibility for treatment. Abby

Beth, It's great to see you again, touching base. It sounds like things are improving with Bob and you have a great attitude. There is not much you can do for the loss of appetite except what you are doing. Jim took Marinol and Megace and it didn't seem to do much of anything except make him high. I was his greatest drug of choice, creating food with love, mind you I gained alot of weight showing him how good my cooking was. Seriously, reminding him every hour to eat was the key to keeping the weight on even if it was an Ensure. Keep the faith... Abby

Diane, I've been exactly where you are today, in fact my daughter is graduating tomorrow and her step-father didn't quite make it long enough. My daughters dream was to have Jim there to see her graduate; he believed in her. Last night we cried together about our loss but we came together and said we will both represent him there and stand tall so he can see. Stay strong for your Dad and tell him you love him. You are in my prayers and thoughts, Abby

While my husband was dying the hospice nurse went to sleep. This was the nurses first and last visit to our house; I didn't have hospice until the very end, that night. The nurse complained about her 11 month old baby and was late getting to the house because of the baby. Oh, well, nothing I can do about it now but let others know that the nurses are NOT there to sleep. Good luck and speak what you feel. Abby

I guess you could say that my subject line says it all.... Every day is just another day. There is not much in my life that makes a difference anymore. My daughter goes off to college mid June and then it's just me. When am I supposed to clean out his draws and his side of the closet? When do I put his glasses away? When do I stop pretending he is away on vacation? When? When? When? When does the anger stop and I begin to heal? When is it easier than yesterday? I don't think I have ever missed someone this much before. My parents death didn't feel this way, I don't think anything can feel this way. How many times in your life do you find your soulmate? I go to group, I talk to other women that are widows (I hate that word), I get up every day and do what I'm supposed to do but none of this makes it okay. Enough rambling....at 3:12 a.m. on the 2nd of June two months will have passed. It is a full moon and a clear night, I guess that says it all. I'm okay....tomorrow is another day to practice smiling. Thanks all for listening as usual. Be well!

Beth, I have been following your postings....my husband didn't have anything close to what your hubby is experiencing. Sorry I can't help you at all. I just wanted to let you know that I am here for you, always. Take care of your hubby....cherish the love you have and try to stay positive in front of him. He needs you. Lots of love and prayers for you....along with all my strength. Abby

Mary, I'm sorry for your shocking Dx. This board has been a life saver to myself and many others. Everyone on here has a wealth of information and first hand experience to share with you when you ask. You can even tell us how you are feeling, share emotions that others might not understand and talk medical. Most importantly, stay strong for yourself but share your love with your family. Lots of hugs, Abby

I want to thank all of you that have continually given me guiding support especially my last post. I often go back and read the responses again and try to be positive and move into another direction other than the deep, dark hole within my heart. Time is so precious in all aspects of this horrid, unforgiving disease, even after your loved one has passed. I read most/all posts on here and can feel most everyones pain, very rarely joy. I want to sit and converse as an organized group one day(like bereavement). Maybe we could make an impact on others. Thank you again and please be well, Abby

Although today marks one month it feels like it was the day before yesterday. I have gone through the denial part, waiting and wondering when he is going to walk back in the door. It feels like he's been gone since the day before yesterday. For me the pain has crept up on me. The first couple of weeks it was pain and heartache....now it's real pain that nothing seems to fix. I didn't think it would be this bad considering I had 5 months to plan for this day. There is no planning. I thought I had said it all, but I actually had said nothing, because the outcome remains the same. Sleeping next to the person you lose and sharing all of your emotions, I feel, makes this worse than losing a parent. I have lost both of my parents at two different times of my life. I say to myself every day that I wish I was a year down the road and feeling better but some days I feel pitiful. People tell me I am as strong as a ox, I've been the rock throughout the 5 months. Even Jim asked me how I was doing it. He used to admire my strength but it was all a facade. I used to cry in the car. If I was weak how was he supposed to be strong and continue on his treaments. For the longest time he was my rock....and never wanted to show me weakness, never admitted he was dying. Well he was and is no longer here. I don't have a 5 year old on consume my time but I wish I did. Jim was my time even when he wasn't sick. We used to do something together everyday. We had a lifetime of memories in 4 years, we never stopped doing with each other and when the kids were home, it was the kids. What do I do without my rock? I am starting to feel guilty for not doing much of anything during these last 4 weeks but cry. If you could lose weight from crying, I would be skinny. I will never be the same from this and don't think any person in my lifetime will compare to my love for Jim. He was the savior of my love, hero of my heart. I hope and pray that the next time I post on here, my heart has healed some. Thank you all for your ongoing support, we all need it to continue and accept our situations. For all of the cancer patients that read this, please keep being strong and fighting. The caregivers out here will help find the medicine and put the word out, at least I know I am. Love to all and keep up the strength.

Who is working on the cure for lung cancer? Where do we all go to make the difference? Where do they get their financial backing? From what I've read, there is little research done and not many changes have been made over the years regarding treatment. HIV/AIDS patients get more $$, and that disease can be prevented for the most part. I promised my husband that one day I would find a way to make a difference, I guess now is a good time to start. Abby

I'm sorry to be writing this but I think I have to for all the caregivers out there really trying to make things happen. I know we were only married for a short time but I've known Jim for many years before we had a relationship. Everyone tells me how to deal with mourning and grief but it just doesn't seem to get any better. Tonight will mark 3 weeks that my bestest friend has left me. People tell me he is in a better place but I do know better. He is not in a better place reagrdless of his religous beliefs. He didn't want to die and NEVER acknowledged it, EVER. While he was passing, he was telling someone in his head NO. He was verbal. I am having such a hard time with this, no one can imagine. I read peoples messages on here and think....my husband only lived 5 months from beginning to end, they should be thankful. I am thankful for every day that I am here no matter how miserable I am, and trust me I am. I am young and was once happy, and now feel very empty. I don't feel like the emptiness will ever get better but may go away for part of the day. I want my husband back however way I can have him. I know this is selfish but oh so true. We were young, just found the life we were waiting for and it was all taken away so quick. I am tired and just can't rest, I'm still so much in love. For all the caregivers out there that might read this....please take every day you have with your loved one as the last because you never know when the time will come....and time is your best friend. Cherish every minute you have. Abby

My husband never had a problem with diarrhea but we were told endless times that it could be a big problem, they even used the word explosive. We were told to have Imodium AD on hand and to use at the onset. After Jim's treatment with the Irinotecan which was the first week of the month, he was very nauseated, even vomitted for several days, but by the 4th month we had figured out how to sleep through it until the next week. It took an entire week and the next treatment to get back into the swing of things. Drinking alot of fluids did help along with the gatorades, etc. He never completely lost his hair but it started to thin out on other parts of his body. Jim was a very hairy man, so some was ok to lose. When he moved into the second line of chemo, I noticed he lost his hair right away. As for your guilt....I have the same guilt and as you know Jim has just passed. I feel like it's my fault he died, my fault he took the last treament, I should have stopped him. Don't feel guilty, it's a waste of precious quality time. Abby

I would like to thank everyone for all their encouragement and kind words. My husband has been released from the hospital today into the care of Hospice. I see an improvement in him in just the few hours we've been home. At this point in his life, the doctor feels he's done everything in his power and we will wait to see if the etoposide does anything to decrease the liver. His belly is full of fluid which causes him discomfort but doesn't seem to be in any other apparent pain. I think the best thing, if there is such a thing....is that his lungs are better and he is able to breathe. The largest tumor found when diagnosed was 20 centimeters. I know that's really big. That one is decreased to 5.5 cm but it was a hard trip to get to that point. Monday is our next appointment, I will keep you all abreast. Again, thanks for the prayers and please keep them going. I'm not ready to loose him and he's not ready to go.

I have never written on the board but I have been reading for several months. I feel like I know all of you. My husband was diagnosed with Extensive SCLC stage IV in the end of Oct 03. What a blow to a very strong man of 47 yrs old. He and his doctor attacked the disease very agressively with cisplatin and Irinoteacan, 3 weeks on , 1 week off. The chemo is like rat poison. From what I've read about other people taking this, they don't tolerate it at all. Seeing that my husbands primary tumor was in his lungs was 20 cm, some thing had to be done quick. It had also mets to adrenal glands, lymph nodes and "numberous lesions" to the liver. The chemo held him for 4 good months where we did alot of productive family things, etc. until his calcium started to go up, bones! By the time we were going into his 5th cycle, he was too tired to move out of the bed. He was admitted into the hospital, no infection found, the scans looked unchanged except there was fluid in his belly and he's been unable to eat. The liver is becoming out of control. the doctor has changed his chemo to carbo/VP16. He says he has a 25-30% chance of it sustaining his life for another month. My wonderful, caring. loving husband has been given the duration of life. Our 1 yr anniversary is the 16th of March. We were just getting started in life. I hate this disease and every one that still smoke. I think it's wrong that when you walk into a hospital, there are employees that are standing outside smoking when you husband is inside dying from it. For some time I was angry at him, but what for? I used to smoke, it could be me? I just don't know what I will do without my best friend. Have wde exhausted all possibilities?