stand4hope

Bald is beautiful! Love, Peggy

Jennifer, My husband, too, had an allergic reaction to Taxotere, however, most of the people on this board that have had Taxotere have done just fine with it. Not only that, it is a very good chemo to knock the life out of those cancer cells. God bless you, Peggy

Oh my goodness - how precious! I WANT A GRAND-BABY!!! Love, Peggy

Dear Angie, I can really relate to what you are going through. As you know, my husband is the one with lc, and we have a son who is not coping well. However, since late January, my dad was the one that was in the most critical condition with severe COPD and lost his fight on June 25. Most of the time, I chose spending time with my dad rather than at home, but it was a very painful choice every time. Most of us women just have a natural instinct to care for those we love that are in pain or suffering. Even though I had three men, all of whom were needing my attention, I was drawn to my dad because he was losing his fight for his lilfe and he was the most critical. Not only that, he was stuck in a nursing facility where they just couldn't give him the attention that he needed. I just had to go frequently to keep after them about a number of things and just to love and hug and kiss my dad. If I hadn't gone, there wouldn't have been anybody else since all my family lived out-of-state at the time. Anyway, I understand where your heart and mind is right now - it's with your dad. That doesn't mean you don't love your husband and kids, it just means that it's hard to play and have fun when your precious daddy is having a hard time and fighting for his life. It's ok, Angie. It's really ok. Your feelings are not dis-placed and they are normal. I think it's a little harder for someone young like you that has a young husband and a young family. I know that as my husband and I have been together for so many years, it isn't too big of a deal when we are apart for a while when these crises hit our family. Our love is solid and we both know the other one will be back and we both have geniune compassion for what the other one is going through. My husband couldn't have been more supportive about my time and attention to my dad. He loved my dad, too. Not only that, after 36 years, he knows it wouldn't do him any good to complain anyway because I'm going to do what's in my heart to do whether he complained or not. Angie, it will get better - I promise, and you will be glad you fussed over your dad. Love, Peggy

Dear Tess, You have my heart as well, along with my prayers. One of the hardest thing for me to read on this website is when our friends are going through horrible pain, both physical pain and mental pain. I am so glad that your Rob is comfortable and the pain is better. You have described a remarkable man and I know that I appreciate your sharing so much about him and his goodness. May God bless you now and forever with His comfort and His love. Love, Peggy

Oh, no. Carleen, this is just heartbreaking. Keith has been doing so well, and now this. I'm sure you are filled with fear and worry and I am asking God to send you His strength and to remove your fear. Is his pain under control now? My son has had two attacks of pancreatitis (not cancer related) and has been hospitalized both times. It is excruciatingly painful. I pray that Keith's pain is gone. Much love and prayers coming your way. Love, Peggy

Hi Katie, We're all rootin' for you here. You go girl! Peggy

Mine is pretty obvious. I do stand for hope, thus stand4hope. I stole it from someone, though, from another source, so it isn't original. My nickname is Peggy - real name is Margaret. I'm only called Margaret by doctors, bill collectors and old teachers. My grandmother used to call me Pejjie Jean Punkin' Shell. Don't ask me where she got that. My middle name is Jayne. Anyway, that was picked up by a lot of my family and they still occasionally call me Pejjie Jean or Pejjie Jayne. When I was a teenager I baby sat for a little boy that couldn't say Peggy - it came out Piggy.

I would leave it alone, Andrea. I think your question to her husband was perfect: After that question, and assuming they know that your mom has lung cancer, they know what they should do. Any further questioning or commenting from you would probably be met defensively and could even damage your friendship. Similar situation: A good friend of mine had a tiny melanoma on her leg. It was a very frightening thing for her and for me as her friend. Fortunately, it was in the minimal depth range to be considered nearly 100% contained when they removed it. However, because even a tiny little melanoma can be dangerous, just like our lc patients, she has to get lung scans every 3 mos. and be examined, then 6 mos., then every year, etc. She was also told she should NEVER let her skin be exposed to the sun again without adequate protection because she was high risk. Anyway, both of my sisters are fair-skinned redheads. One of them has been paranoid about always trying to get a tan since she was a teenager. She's 54 years old now and still, continually, goes to tanning beds, lays in the sun, etc. She doesn't get much tan, but she turns in to one big freckle, so she looks tanned. I told her recently about my friend with the melanoma, and that she was even more high risk because of her fair skin. She didn't appreciate it at all, and in fact, just ignored my comment; and she continues to bake in the sun. People KNOW about these things, lung cancer risks, smoking risks, sunbathing risks, overreating risks, and also that a cough could be serious, but I don't think most of them appreciate others giving them advice about what they should or shouldn't do. I know I don't. If you don't care about affecting your friendship, you could push her to get a chest ct or x-ray, but I doubt that will cause her to get it done. It could also keep her from telling you about other things in the future that are going on in her life. Just my two cents, sweetie. I wrote this big, long thing because I know how upset you get about these things and you are probably laying awake at night worrying about your friend. Let your heart be your guide. Love, Peggy

It does sound kind of scary, Jamie. I don't blame your dad for being nervous. One surgery is hard enough, mentally and physically, let alone two so close together. Keep us posted. Love, Peggy

Joni, I must confess that I saw your first post about Robert shortly after you put it up, but I just stared at it and shook my head, with yet again more tears. I just shut off my computer and didn't come back to post until tonight. Joni, there are no words that are adequate. When someone on this board loses a spouse or has a spouse that is not doing well, I just kind of freeze and find myself speechless. It's something that my brain says to not listen to, but my heart says to respond. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the only way I can think of to say that I know what you are feeling, yet, how can I? I haven't felt it myself, so how can I possibly know what you are going through? I guess it's because even though I haven't "been there" physically, I've "been there" mentally. You're right about having to do all the planning for the funeral. It seems like you should just be able to curl up in your bed and cry for three days before you even have to think about getting up and talking to ANYBODY. Unfortunately, that isn't the way it works. I often think those first few days after a death that we are kind of numb. If we weren't "numb", I just don't think we would be able to get through the planning, socializing, talking and playing the "word games" with all the visitors. Joni, I'm rambling. I just want you to know that you have been on my mind all week, as well as all the others that are hurting this week: TBone, Ginny, Earl, Cheryl, Jerrye's Mom, Dave, etc., etc., etc. I'm so overwhelmed with compassion and caring, but so helpless to ease your or their pain. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Much Love, Peggy

Joni, My heart is breaking for you and Alex. I am so sorry that you have had to endure this pain. My God give you His comfort and love at this difficult time. Love, Peggy

In the 1950s, my sisters and I use to swing on our old heavy-duty rusted swing set and sing this song at the top of our lungs. It was my favorite song that I loved as a child and the song that is still my favorite, and, according to Becky's criteria "developed a different meaning as I grew and changed". I sang this song in my car on the way home from the hospital after my dad died. Jesus Loves Me By Anna Bartlett Warner Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. And I love Him, Peggy

Wow, Cindy. There is a definite LIFT in your voice (er, words, that is). You sound very upbeat, even with the upsetting choice that your daughter has made. (Nancy: If you have 3 kids and they are under age 12 - freeze them; if they are past 12 - it's too late. ) Congrats on the new Dell - and you will love the cable connection. I've had cable for about three years, and it's worth every cent. It has never been down except for when my modem pooped out a few months ago (which the cable company immediately replaced), and it is really, really FAST. And a HUGE CONGRATULATION on your test results. I bet you have been doing some happy dancing. I'm very glad to hear the pericardial effusion is smaller. My husband still has his, too. It grew with the June scan, but stayed the same with this week's scan. It's good to hear from you Cindy - WELCOME BACK! Love, Peggy

Roanna, I'm just a little confused (but that's not unusual). First of all, what kind of full body scan did he get? Was it a bone scan? If the onc now says the scan doesn't tell if it's cancer, then why did they do the scan? Also, you don't mention any chemo in your post or in your profile. Has your husband also received chemo? I was just curious about that. You may have said in previous posts and I just missed it. My husband's radiation onc says the radiation continues to work for at least 6 weeks, but you can see changes in the lung as more time passes. In my husband's case, he has continued to show small degrees of lung collapse with each scan which they explain is frequently caused by the radiation, scar tissue, etc. As they radiated area gets age to it, it just kind of gets leathery-like and continues to shrivel some and you get a reduction (or collapse) in the total volume size of the lung. A 6-week scan is frequently done after lung radiation, but we were told ahead of time to not expect to see great results because it takes time for all the radiation "fuzz", irritation, etc. to calm down so they can actually see what success was obtained. Now, as far as them NOT treating the painful areas with radiation, I would thoroughly question their logic in that. If they did the scan looking for cancer, and there are two spots that show up, and your husband has pain in those areas, I absolutely DO NOT understand why they have not recommended radiation to those areas. I think if you would read many, many posts on here you would see that radiation for bone mets causing pain is the common procedure to kill that pain. Just my two cents, Roanne, but I would be calling them Monday morning and looking into this, and if I were you, I would also seek a second opinion. Best of luck to you, and God bless, Peggy

David, So sorry to hear about the brain mets. Stereotactic is dyno-mite treatment and will zip them to la-la land. How about calling them dumb and dumber. Peggy

YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!!!!! Love, Peggy

Welcome back, Andrea. I'm glad you won enough to pay for your trip - that means you can go again next month, right? Love, Peggy

This is so true for me and my family, too. I've never heard this poem before, but I have copied it to keep forever. Connie, you have been through so much. Yet here you are, day in and day out with your funny, uplifting, encouraging messages, and now this powerful post. . . . . Thank you, my dear. We have been touched by an angel, and that angel would be you. Love, Peggy

I logged on at lunch and this was the first post I read all day. I immediately logged off and had to leave my office for a while to get control. I can't believe how much I have fallen in love with people I don't even know. Tell TBone I don't feel his pain in my body, but I sure do feel it in my heart. Move over Elaine, is there room for two criers? Love, Peggy

Woohoo! A welcome back song for you, Dean: Dean, Dean, Bo Bean Bannana Fanna, Fo Fean Fi Fo, Mo Mean Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaan! Oops - all except the "Mean" part. WELCOME BACK, DEAN!! Love, Peggy

Jack, Wow! It doesn't seem like it has been 11 days. I am so glad that she is well enough to come home. Give her a big hug for me, and tell her we are looking forward to hearing from her as soon as she is able. Love, Peggy

Woohoo, Paddy. Those sausage rolls sure do sound yummy, and I am so glad that David enjoyed them. Tell David I said HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Also tell him HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and I pray that he will have many, many more of both to celebrate. (P.S. I sent you another PM). Love, Peggy

Tina, I have never heard of this either. Please keep us posted how Charley is doing. How are you and the girls doing? It's got to be grueling to keep going back and forth to the hospital. I hope they are able to get Charley's pain under control immediately, and I also pray that the frustration and depression will disappear. God bless you, Peggy

There's a lot of sad news on the board this week, so I wanted to counter with a little bit of encouraging news to maybe help give hope to anyone that might need it at this time. My husband was diagnosed almost a year ago (August 7, 2003). His cancer was quite advanced at that time, and even with all the bombardment of treatments, the cancer was winning and has progressed even further, particularly including a very troubling pericardial effusion. Iressa was started 4+ weeks ago. I don't ask him very often how he's feeling because he gets irritated with the question. The encouraging news is this. I asked him this morning if there had been any return of the shoulder pain. He said it is totally gone. I asked about the other bone pain and he said "none". He then added that this is the best he has felt since this whole thing began. Other than a little fatigue (it's more of an endurance thing) and a fairly mild Iressa rash, he feels great. He looks great too, a little thin, but otherwise, he looks really good. He rode his motorcyle for three hours early this morning (it's too muggy to ride for long), and now he is outside washing his truck. I think this is a miracle. I attribute this to his previous good health, his positive attitude, his continued efforts to work, his insistence to not "think about it", his dietary choices, Zometa, Iressa, prayer, and to God. He gets a chest CT scan this week and we get results on Friday. I do know and understand that this could change with the blink of an eye, but I choose to remain optimistic and continue to "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." My love to everyone, Peggy