Jerrye

Has anyone had a pancreatic stent placed? I have developed an obstruction, tumor or gallstone, and am having this procedure Friday morning. My dr did say that while they were not sure what the obstruction was, it definitely is not pancreatic cancer. Wheww!! Any information would be appreciated. I also get a platelet transfusion tomorrow. This developed within less than a week. Is this common? How fast do you feel better? Can't wait to get this completed, I am jaundiced and nauseous. Only in some pain if I try to eat something high in fat (the krispy kreme donuts did not set well this morning, but I think the pain was worth eating them!) Thanks Jerrye

Andrea, You are doing the right thing. Research your options, make a plan, then execute. I totally understand the stress of a "six figure" career. Change your life while the decision is yours to make. Lung cancer forced the change for me. Who knows, if I had been less stressed and worked fewer 70 hour weeks, my body might have been able to fight it off. I understand having to take something like prozac to deal with your Mom's illness, but being in a job that causes the need is bullsh*t! You have your JD/MBA, find something that fulfills you where you can use your education. As everyone here knows, life is too short. Take care Jerrye

MO, horned toads, I almost forgot about them! We used to catch them in vacant lots and bring them home. Mom LOVED it. (yea right) Becky, we get full grown frogs in our pool. My 100lb white German Shepard is obsessed with them. He wants outside at least 10 times a day to circle the pool and look for them. Thank goodness he has never caught one. I think he just likes the chase Jerrye

Just returned from the appt with the new onc. HUGE difference. I think he is a keeper. Actually discussed treatment options with me! What a novel concept! The man actually chuckled at one of my stupid jokes. Could this be a new medical life form? A human being? And the medical staff... they were actually friendly and smiling! I feel as if I have just emerged from cancer treatment purgatory. Needless to say, I will not be going back to the old onc. Will call in the morning and cancel all appts. Peggy the old onc is double ugly, she looks alot like the princess ogre in SHREK. Shelly, if you want to kick some a**, be my guest, I'll be happy to give you directions to my old onc's office. Elaine, perhaps the new onc will describe me as "exceptionally beautiful 45 yo female who looks awesome bald" Looks like I will complete my last 3 radiation treatments and wait 3-4 weeks to rescan, then start taxotere. Wow! I have 3 weeks to recover and get some energy back! Thanks Cheryl for the recommendation, I look forward to trying the hashbrowns! Thanks to everyone for the support. I am FORTUNATE to receive such good advice from such a caring group of people! Jerrye

So, the carbo/taxol causes this! I have had INTENSE shoulder pain for about 8 weeks and my onc just said it was from stress. How long does it take to go away? This is the only thing I am taking pain meds for. Jerrye

Elaine, I am currently undergoing radiation to my lung (3 more treatments left!). I have developed a cough with the radiation. Not too annoying, it is more of a dry "ladylike" cough. Better than a big loud wet cough, but I still look forward to it going away.... Jerrye

Don and Ry, thanks for the reply. My old onc is history even if the new onc is an ogre (which I doubt since I got the recommendation from Cheryl and she seems to like him alot) Also, the new onc is at Baylor where they are doing the GVAX trials. Jerrye

Hi everyone, On Monday, I am going to a new onc for a 2nd opinion(my thanks to Cheryl for the recommendation). At first I felt a lttle silly changing drs after 4 months of treatment until I started reading copies of the reports that I am sending to the new onc. All of her reports start out as "unfortunate 44 yo female..." Sorry, but that really hit me the wrong way! Unfortunate is breaking a fingernail, not lung cancer. I also found out from the path report that no testing was ordered to determine if this is a primary or secondary tumor. (does this mean that it could be a met from some other kind of cancer?) I got more information from the path and CT scan reports than I ever received from the onc. My onc never seemd to answer any of my questions directly. I guess in her mind, I am "NSCLC Stage IV" not a person named Jerrye. Come to think of it, I do not recall her ever calling me by name. Also, a cash cow, since she wants me to continue to receive the chemo that is not working since it is the textbook chemo for LSCLC. I had a good cry about this and have almost recovered from an afternoon of the "blues". It is tough enough fighting this disease with emotional support. The last thing I need is an onc that treats "by the textbook". Thanks for hearing me out. I was having a down day and needed someone to listen. My husband is very supportive, but after he read the "unfortunate female" he lost it and was madder that I have ever seen him. Thanks for listening. Jerrye

Famous Sexy Quotes ... "Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand." Woody Allen "Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night." Rodney Dangerfield "There are a number of mechanical devices which increase sexual arousal, particularly in women. Chief among these is the Mercedes-Benz 380SL." Lynn Lavner "sex at age 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope." Camille Paglia "sex is one of the nine reasons for incarnation. The other eight are unimportant." George Burns "Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship." Sharon Stone "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps." Tiger Woods "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-witch." Jack Nicholson "Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is." Barbara Bush (Former US First Lady, and you didn't think Barbara had a sense of humor) "Ah, yes, divorce, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet." Robin Williams "Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place." Billy Crystal "According to a new survey, women say they feel more comfortable undressing in front of men than they do undressing in front of other women. They say that women are too judgmental, where, of course, men are just grateful." Robert De Niro "There's a new medical crisis. Doctors are reporting that many men are having allergic reactions to latex condoms. They say they cause severe swelling. So what's the problem?" Dustin Hoffman "There's very little advice in men's magazines, because men think, 'I know what I'm doing. Just show me somebody naked'." Jerry Seinfeld "See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time." Robin Williams " It's been so long since I've had sex, I've forgotten who ties up whom." Joan Rivers " sex is one of the most wholesome, beautiful and natural experiences money can buy." Steve Martin " You don't appreciate a lot of stuff in school until you get older. Little things like being spanked every day by a middle-aged woman. Stuff you pay good money for in later life." Emo Phillips " Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same." Oscar Wilde " It isn't premarital sex if you have no intention of getting married." George Burns

Don, From all of your quotes from song lyrics, seems that you and Lucie really enjoyed the disco era! Just teasing, apparently, I was there too, I know what song lyrics you are quoting... Jerrye

I had a bone scan which would show activity in any bone after I had a PET scan. Bone mets can feel like a pulled muscle - it did in my sternum. Get you onc to order a bone scan to be safe. If you husband has not had a PET scan that would be a good idea too. Jerrye

Elaine, I have never broke a bone, but I do have bone mets. The "bad" bone met in my right thigh didn't cause any pain. But, the met in my sternum, felt like I had pulled a muscle from coughing or laughing too hard. If you feel like you have a pulled muscle or any discomfort, even minor, get it looked at. Better safe than sorry. I do have acute pain in my shoulder that is nothing (at least cancer related, I rolled my car when I was 22 and all stress lands there) Good luck at you appt. hope everything goes well. Jerrye

Andrea, I hope this means that you are taking that honeymoon! IF you are, catch some rays for me, get some rest and drink many pina coladas! Jerrye

Excellent! Should be a mandatory install on all human operating systems. Thanks for sharing, Jerrye

Does anyone know of a good onc in the Dallas area? I am not totally happy with mine and would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks Jerrye

Tbone, The same thing happened to me when my pelvic bone was radiated. The radiation onc said that the good tissue was swelling and causing the pain. He prescribed dexamethasone. It helped tremendously, but only time completely took the pain away. Good luck Jerrye

Sorry, I am a programmer, I have to analyze a trick involving numbers.... Jerrye

Okay, hear goes... I did not finish the explanation.... The remaindar is 1899. Circle the 8 add 1 + 9 + 9 = 19; (y) The sum of all of the numbers is always, 9, 18 or 27 ( a number divisiable by 9) if y < 9 then x = 9 - y; else if y < 18 then x = 18 - y; else x = 27 - y; Jerrye

I figured it out. The the sum of the digits is divisible by 9 Ex. 9728 7829 -------- 1899 1+8 + 9 + 9 = 27/9 = 3 Ex. 4312 1234 ------- 3078 Jerrye 3+ 0 + 7 + 8 = 18/9 = 2

I really needed that today. Thanks Jerrye

Andrea, go on a cruise, they are the best most relaxing vacations that I take. For relaxation, GO in MAY, before the kids are out of school, for at least 7 days. (You can probably get a mini-suite/balcony on Princess to the Virgin Islands for about 950.00 each, plus airfare.) If I did not feel so cr*ppy now, my husband and I would be right there with you! Also, the ships do have ship-to-shore phones in the room and internet cafes (not real cheap). But the last time I was in USVI, I was able to call home on my cell. Take care and go on your honeymoon. Don't wait for a convenient time or you will never go! FYI, I am a size 2 and have never worn a bridemaid's dress that looked good on anyone... Sleeveless? My arms are too skinny. I think it is a conspiracy to make sure that the bride is the star... Jerrye

Lisa, I was told after the first CT scan of my abdomen(Jan 2004) that my ovaries were covered with cysts. My onc said we will deal with this later... After 2 full doses of carbo/taxol and subsequent CT scan, they were gone. Hope for the same outcome for you... Jerrye

I friend of mine with breast cancer and bone mets is on Aredia. She had severe side effects with zometa. I am on Zometa and so far no side effects. Hope the change to Aredia works for you. Jerrye

Carleeb, I too have had excruciating pain in my left shoulder blade radiating done my arm for at least 8 weeks. The dr's have xrayed, bone scanned, CT scanned and PET and see nothing, I am having an MRI next week for a extra check. But so far, the general consensus is that it is stress related. No, REALLY? I began going to a chiropractor that I have used for years and he is working on the muscles only. I also began acupuncture last week. I have seeing a HUGE inprovement. Before, it hurt all of the time, getting worse in the evening and becoming unbearable at night (or during weather changes, such as thunderstorms). Yesterday, for the first time, I did not take anything for pain until about 1:00 in the morning when the pain woke me up and that could have been caused by the bad thunderstorm moving through the area. Long story, but just a thought, acupuncture and or chiropractic care may give some relief. Also, the acupuncturists suggested working with me on the cancer. I think I'll try it. Most changes she suggested were diet (juicing raw vegetables, and eating 80% veg/fruit and 20% protein) and finding the CHI that is congested. Don't know if I believe the CHI thing, but I'll try it since sticking a bunch of painless needles in my body for 30-40 minutes could be worth the outcome. You and your husband are in my prayers.... Jerrye

I feel better that it is not the onc that is the problem. I do not have any experience with negativity from family members. I will have to defer to others on this board that have had more experience with this sort of situation. Hopefully they can give you suggestions. Take care, Jerrye