Steff_1959

Well, I started chemo Wednesday. I went in Monday and had a MRI of my brain, CT scan of my chest and abs, a bone scan and an EKG. Determined the cancer has not spread outside of my chest area (thank you God). I'm on low dose gemzar, taxol and avastin. Once a week for 3 weeks then one week off, for 6 cycles. The Doctor said he'll scan after 2 cycles (8 weeks) to see if there are any results. I'm on the 2nd day after chemo and really can't feel any side effects except I think I may be getting constipated so I got some metamucil. I will probably start feeling mild side effects as time goes by but the doc assures me he believes they will be mild and won't interfere with my daily life too much, but as usual with cancer there are no guarantees. I was a little hard to deceide on the clinical trial I think I made the right decision. I feel positive that I have a pretty good chance and am keeping upbeat. Please send me all the prayers, good vibes and good karma you can!

Susan, Got your messages but...what is PM and how do I get to it?

Judy, I am so sorry to hear about what is going on!! My God, with all that you still found it in you to read my posts and encourage me!! Hang in there..cyber hugs and good thoughts being sent to you.

Thank you all so much for the support. I am scared but also ready to fight harder than I ever have before. My family needs me around, at least for a couple more years I have been joining several groups and posting all over the place. I am even on at lunch time from work!!!!! I do have a strong support network and am so grateful for all my blessings. Ned, I just read your update to your story and am so happy for your good news!! I checked out the GRACE site, joined and even posted a bit about my self, looking for more input. Cyber hugs!!!

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing such wonderful news.

Hello, Got the official stage yesterday. The doctor said it was stage 4. I was thinking 3B. But.......this is the hand I've been dealt. He said it is 4 because it is in both lungs and the lymph nodes. I am going in Monday for another CT scan, a MRI, a bone scan and an EKG. He wants to make sure that it has not spread to my brain or bones. Right now I am scheduled for clinical trial treatment of either: Taxol + Carboplatin every 3 weeks for 6 treatments "OR" Taxol, Gemzar and Avastin once a week, 3 weeks on, one week off. I don't have the number of treatments in my notes so I'm not sure how long it would last. The nurse said they are agressive treatments. I am going to UAB in Birmingham Alabama, at the Kirkland Center. My Doctor is Francisco Robert (Vizcarrondo). Has anyone ever heard of him?? He not the warmest person I've ever met but he spent all the time I felt I needed and answered all my questions so that I understood everything (at least I think I did) my family got pretty much the same impression. As he was leaving he turned to my sister and told her that because of all the cancer in my family (fathers side) and in particular we've had several family members with lung cancer that it appears that we may be genecially pre-disposed to it. (sorry for the bad spelling) My sister is the smart one in the family. She is the oldest (by 5 years for me) and never smoked like me and my brother did. Well..anyway has anyone heard of these chemo combos?? This Doctor?? Any advice? UAB Kirkland Center is suspose to be a pretty good place, is a "Comprehensive Cancer Center" ranked in the Top 100 by US News and World Report. I'm kind of scared and still very hopeful. Right now I am taking a deep breath, drinking a glass of wine and searching, searching for info. Thanks for all the support you guys have given me so far.....I don't know if I would be so hopeful without it. I hope everyone is well.

I am overwhelmed with everyone's encouragement!! I finally have my appointment at UAB, it's for this Wednesday! I am looking forward to getting an action plan and getting started. I am actually creating these little scenarios in my head about how great it would be if things worked out this way or that way. To answer some of the questions, the 1959 in my log on name is my birth year. I'll be 51 this year. I am living in Montgomery Alabama and am an accountant. My employer has been super understanding. I'm working every day and hoping to continue to do so. I am married, 2 kids. My son is 23 and going to Auburn Univ. Montgomery (just out if the Coast Guard) and my daughter is 18 just graduated high school. Susan...glad to see another one from the gump! It'd be great to get together someday. Ned..I watched those videos thanks so much they were awesome. I have learned a lot these past few months. Lung Cancer is finally starting to get some attention and the advances are amazing. My next post will be good news from my doctors visit (I hope) I am going to work on creating my profile and work on reading everyone's story. Life is sweet.

Almost forgot...Eric I love that quote!!! And I won't let them get me down.

Thank you both for the warm welcome. I have visiting cancer sites looking for information and survivors ever since my brother was diagnosed. Cancer is so, so scary and my brother only lasted 10 months I was desperate for survivor stories and knowledge. If all I had for a frame of reference was my brothers journey I think I may not be so hopeful. But.....thankfully with the web-sites and the brave people who are willing to share I can look forward with hope. I was diagnosed almost by accident. I had pneumonia back in May. I went to the local walk-in clinic and got anti-biotics. They took 3 x-rays over the course of 5 days and it took 2 courses of antibiotics to clear it up but I did get better. The doctor said that the x-rays were not completely clear yet and that I should get a follow up in about 6 weeks to be sure it is gone. So....I figured maybe it is time I got a primary doctor and stopped going to the walk in clinic all the time. I found a nice doctor and went for a check up. I told him about the pneumonia and he sent me for the follow up x-ray. There was still something there. He wanted to get another one in about 3 weeks later, that one was not changed from the previous one. Then he sent me for a CT scan and that showed the small masses and swollen lymph nodes. He then send me to the pulmonary doctor. He did the bronchoscopy which came back negative for cancer but he wanted to do a PET scan just in case he missed something. The PET did show uptake especially on my lymph nodes so he scheduled an EBUS Bronch with one of his partners and she was able to get some good samples of the lymph nodes which came back positive. I don't know how but I kind of knew that I had it back when the first follow up x-ray was not clear. I don't really feel like I have cancer. I have a little ache in the middle of my back since the EBUS. I would sometimes get pings in the middle of my chest and an ache in my back which I totally ignored. A ping??? I don't know if these are physical symptoms I should have paid more attention to or not. I am at a computer all day at work and a lot after work I though my aches and pains were from sitting humped over a computer for so long. Right now I am very worried. I just can't wait to talk to a oncologist so I can get a clearer picture of exactly what is what. Right now I feel kind of in limbo. I will be a frequent visitor I know cause I need others who are going through the same thing. That is one thing that totally tore me up with my brother.......I was able to love him and care for him but since I did not have cancer back then I could not fully understand. It can be a lonely time. I will let you all know what the oncologist says.....thanks for being here.

I'm a newbie. I got my diagnoses a couple of days ago. All I know for sure right now is that it is called adenocarcinoma and it is in my left lung mostly and my lymph nodes on the left side and some of the middle nodes (I think). I was diagnosed by a pulmonary doctor after many x-rays, CT scan, PET scan and 2 bronchs. I am now waiting for the cancer center at UAB (Alabama) to call with my first appt. date. I am scared. My brother just passed from lung cancer about 1 1/2 years ago. I was his primary caregiver. My tumors are small, 17mm on the left lung and 10mm on the right. The right showed the least uptake on the PET. I am also very, very hopeful and encouraged by the survivor stories I am finding. I am a fighter. I am an optimist by nature, always have been. I believe I have a chance. I hope that I can be like some of you guys that have been on here a while, encouraging others.