Jump to content

Debra Ann

Members
  • Posts

    8
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  1. Good Morning All, I was able to take care of my Dad here at home just as he had wished. My Dad passed away Sunday evening. As unbelieveble as it is that he's gone, I feel a sense of peace knowing that he no longer is suffering. The pain was so severe at the end. Hospice would have started today. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. Take care of your loved ones! Debra
  2. After only 3 weeks on Tarceva, and after all my financial concerns surrounding obtaining this drug, my Dad's doctor stopped this form of treatment. In the 3 weeks of taking it he lost 12 more pounds. He was so nauseated. His doctor wanted to see if after stopping the Tarceva if his appetite would return. During this visit I did discuss with his doctor that he had become very confused. He was very off balanced as well. We had an MRI done to see if there's any problems with the cancer and his brain. I get those results this week. Well I can not believe how well my Dad is now doing. He seems to be acting normal again. Can once again get up on his own. He's eating. Not large amounts but eating. Now I am truly wondering if the Tarceva was creating all of these problems. Anyway, I'm hoping for a good report on Thursday but prepared for any news they throw at us. Just wanted to check in and wish everyone a Marvelous Monday!
  3. Michele, I certainly hope things will be alright there for your husband, and you of course. I enjoy reading your posts. I almost feel by reading what you're dealing with that I'm getting a glance at what is yet to come for me taking care of my Dad. Hang in there. You'll be in my prayers today! Debra
  4. Thank you very much for the welcome. I actually put the wrong date of my Dad being diagnosed. It was January 7, 2008. I still get hung up with the 2007 since that is when everything had actually started. I hope your Mom is doing better. My Dad has had a nice week other than being weak. He just keeps on trying to get up and go though and I am so glad he has the desire to do so. Right now he simply can't eat much. He does have the desire. Gives me his order, I cook it, he takes 2-3 bites. I eat the rest! I'll probably gain 50 pounds being here although I did read a post where someone lost 35, now that I could handle. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Debra
  5. You guys are just amazing! Thanks for ALL the info. I am sooooooo praying that this Tarceva is and will hold this cancer at bay for my Dad. If it does, we will definitely need to seek some additonal help for the coverage of this drug. I simply did not realize that treatment was so expensive. After reading the brick walls some of you have been up against, I can't help but wonder how many folks just threw their hands up in the air and said the heck with it. Or more sadly, how many folks are out there without any help to make these calls or file forms. Gosh there must be a solution somewhere!
  6. Thanks Randy for the information, I plan on trying to figure out something on this!
  7. I want to thank everyone for the nice, warm welcome as well as for all the kind words. I can already see that you are a great bunch of folks here. I've been reading posts here and I do feel rather lucky right now that my Dad is still able to pretty much do things for himself. I am only making it easier for him by doing all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. He is very weak but takes care of his personal basic needs at this time. I don't go anywhere though, I do stay right here with him because I worry so much about him. I do have a question though if anyone is familar with this. My Dad is taking Tarceva. Has only been on it for 2 weeks. His co-payment after Humana pays is $2305.09. This is actually slightly more than his monthly income. We did get assistance from something called Chronic Disease Fund. They will pay out $6000.00. This gets us through the 2 months that he needs to be on this medication prior to testing to see if it's holding the cancer at bay. My question is, does anyone know of other types of assistance for drugs? I can not believe that this medication is so expensive. If it's working for my Dad of course we will want to continue on it. I've given up my paycheck to be here with him. I hate to think that we will need to charge this amount each month for him to have this medication, but maybe this is something common and I am just not aware of what people go through to get treatment. Anyway, I was just wondering about this. I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday. It's a nice sunny day here in Missouri. Debra
  8. Dear Lungevity Community, I'm uncertain as to how I found this site but I am very glad I have. I've been reading posts for a couple of weeks now and decided to jump on board. I've left my home outside of Little Rock to stay and help my Dad here in Missouri. We are in a very rural and small community. I'm sure this website will help me feel surrounded by folks. I wished I had all the detailed information of my Dad's lung cancer history as I've noticed in most of your posts, but I don't. I'll just have to summarize it in a nutshell. January 7, 2007 is when we found out Dad had Stage IV lung cancer, left lung. This was discovered while trying to detect what was creating the extreme pain of his left arm. Besides in the lung, the cancer was in the bone of the left arm as well as in his lymph nodes. He had surgery on his arm, followed with radiation and then several series of chemo. It was last month that he was told the chemo was not working as there was a new spot now on the lung as well as a small spot on his liver. I'm not sure of which chemo drugs were used along the way, I know the chemo has been on going for some time though. He will now be on the drug Tarceva for 2 months at which time he will get more tests. If this drug is holding the cancer at bay, he will continue to take it. If not, then he will discontinue taking it. It's my understanding that this is pretty much it as far as the plan of treatment. The doctor did say that if he was not taking Tarceva that hospice could come in at this time but since he's on Tarceva this is still a treatment for his disease and they won't come in until he's no longer being treated. I guess you can tell that I am not very informed medically about all of this which is why I am looking forward to being a part of this community. I have been to several doctor's visits in the nearly 2 years of my Dad's journey. I do love his doctors and staff. I've just basically tried not to take over my Dad's "business" and let him take whatever route he chose. It's that he is now so weak and frail it's hard for him to do much of anything. I am now here to stay and I'm sure I'll be getting very educated along the way. I'm just so fearful of what lies ahead and hope I can provide the care my Dad will need. It's all on me so I hope I don't let myself down but mainly him. Right now I don't have any questions, I guess I'm just seeking some reasurance as a caregiver. Thank you in advance for any and all forms of support. Debra
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.