stand4hope

Frankly, Mo, I can't help either. The reason is because if I still had a 10 lb. supply of Easter candy, I'm afraid I would most definitely inflict the "grave danger" upon it that you speak of in your subject line, and then throw the scales in the trash can!! Peggy

Yes, he does have a good sense of humor, Don. Another one: He said some of the guys at work were asking him if it bothered him to not have any hair. He said he told them: "Not a bit. I feel sorry for YOU, you're the ones that have to look at it!" Peggy

WOW!!! Frank, that is incredibly good news. I am so happy for you!!! Woohoo, Woopee, Yahoo and all those type of things!!!! Blessings, Peggy

Doggone it! That's really sad, Chrissy. Thanks for warning us, and I'm sending prayers for him right now. Blessings, Peggy

One time when my hubby was getting his navelbine (it's given by slow injection rather than iv), they just

Mo, Aside from all that, how do you feel? Is the pain better that you were having over the weekend? Praying that you will have good scans and that your platelets will go higher and higher and higher so you can get more of that good chemo that loves to eat up, wipe out, and completely destroy all those nasty cancer cells. Praying for you, Peggy

Ditto John's response. My husb. has stage iv w/mets (multiple) to brain and the immediate attack was against the brain mets (2 wks whole brain radiation treatment - WBRT), and then simultaneous chemo and lung radiation. Now, his situation may have been different than yours because he was symptomatic with the brain mets only - mega edema and severe headache. Best of luck and keep us posted. God's love to you, Peggy

Hi Charlotte, Welcome! I'm only here for about 2 weeks, so I'm still new, too. I've never joined one of these boards before because I couldn't imagine talking to "strangers", but I am really glad I came here, and am glad you found us. My husband has similar diagnosis and he also became very tired from the brain rad, but didn't have any swelling. You said your husband says he is not going to let this beat him. Our son fell apart when his dad was dx'd, but hubby got right in his face and, like your husband, he told him that he was going to "beat this thing" and he wasn't going to tolerate him acting like he had been given a death sentence. He was quite forceful (as in LOUD), and just wasn't going to tolerate any talk like that. I just LOVE that kind of attitude, don't you? Again, welcome! God bless you, Peggy

I just got a PM from Peg about Bill. Here's what she said: "Things continue to deteriorate. Hospice was started today. Thank everyone for their prayers." That's all she said. I can't even begin to imagine her pain. It's just so sad. I'm so sorry for them. I just can't even write anything now. Please pray. Peggy

Oh, Jackie, I'm teary-eyed, too. I'm so sorry you lost your soul mate. Words can't express what I feel for you, especially that you can say you are happy, too. It just takes my breath. God heard that "Thank you" and I just know that He smiled and wept a tear, too. He loves you so much! Me, too, Peggy

Margaret, I understand your dilemma. My husb. was off work for 2 months, but he wasn't terribly sick - just couldn't wake up. He was so weak, he slept almot 24/7. He also ran a low-grade fever for 3-4 weeks which really worried me and it made me crazy to be at work, but I still worked. Anyway, he's not the type that likes to be hovered over AT ALL - and I would have driven him crazy checking on him all the time. He just wants to be left alone when he doesn't feel good. (I know, most guys like to be babied - right? That ought to bring some responses, huh?) He is currently doing great and is back to work full steam ahead himself. However, like your husband, he is Stage IV, and I know there's a possibility that our situation could always change. Your husband's diagnosis and treatments sound very similar to my husband's, however, I see that he is going to start Taxotere tomorrow. If I were you, I would wait until he gets through at least a couple of those treatments before you got a new job unless you need the money real bad. I say that because (1) Do you go with him when he has treatments? If yes, a new employer might not like that very much, and (2) most of the people on here who have had Taxotere say they did ok with it, however, it is a very powerful chemo drug and I think heavy-duty fatigue is pretty universal. If your guy is already somewhat fatigued, the Taxotere will probably bring him back down some. Another HUGE point: You said Jim wants you to get a job ASAP. I'm kind of from the old school, and if that's what he wants, that would carry a very heavy weight, if not the heaviest. Not only is he your husband, but he's the patient. Hmmmm - hard choice isn't it? Hope that helps. Lots of others on here will have other opinions, so listen to them all and then make up your own mind. I wish you and Jim a successfull win in this fight, and know that God is on your side, too. Blessings, Peggy

Elaine, QUITE THE CONTRARY! I hope I never, never, never need that hospice info, but am very grateful to have it just in case I do. Just so everybody doesn't go to thinking I was offended about anything anybody said - I WASN'T OFFENDED BY ONE THING! I was specifically referring to the man in the coma and the comments about doctors and med mal lawyers. Ok - now, hold on, let me explain. I don't know all the circumstances about the poor man in the coma, but if I was in a coma for a year, and on a feeding tube, with only 1% chance of surviving, I would hope and pray that my loved ones would let me go be with my Lord - my time would have come and gone - to me, that isn't quality of life. We don't know all the circumstances behind this matter, so that's all I'll say about that. (Ok, that's my disagreement no. 1). Also, disagreement no. 2 (and you're either going to love me for this or hate me): I work for a law firm with some of the finest med mal lawyers you would ever want to know, and in fact, they are currently defending two of my own personal doctors, that I love with all my heart, on matters of which they are probably innocent. I bet if you asked all of your doctors that you love if they have ever had a malpractice suit filed against them, most of them would say "yes". Anyway, both of those situations are the ones to which I referred, and both of those posts had 100% valid situations to deal with, neither of which offended me in the least. Like I said, back to Fay's post - please be sure you get treated for what ails you!!!! Love to all, Peggy

Ooooh - I really like that - "Happy Dance". I'm new here so I hadn't heard that one before. I assume it's "free form" and nobody gets to watch - so I'm going to Happy Dance for you, too, Angie. There's some other good news on here today, too, and I'm gonna Happy Dance all over the house. Peggy P.S. No peeking!

Ry, Since you posted this Mon. and that was 1/2 way, and this is Tuesday, you are now MORE THAN 1/2 WAY. Now you can say 2 weeks and a few days. I can't imagine having to give myself my own IV medicine. You're a bigger person than I am. Glad you're almost finished. Peggy

WOW! WOW! WOW! Great news! 55% is A LOT. You are entitled to this good news day. ENJOY! Love, Peggy

WOOPPEE! Thanks for sharing this good news, Dave. All the good news everyone posts really gives me hope, and I "stand4hope". Congratulations! God bless you, Peggy

OUCH! I think Fay's post might be getting a little off-topic real fast, and I'm very, very, very sorry if I contributed to get any of it started. I'm afraid this is a thread that could go bad and maybe cause some bad feelings amongst us. It's now expanded to issues far from the intent of Fay's post. I don't know how much freedom is allowed on this site, but I do know how easily things can get "political" or "controversial" - I hate it when that happens. Any chance we can leave Fay's post to just say what it says so that people know they have a right to get treated for things unrelated to cancer and leave it at that so there won't be any hard feelings. Love to all (and as my late Mom would have said: "Peace baby!") Peggy

Dear mpbarbie, I am so sorry for your loss. My brother has a special place in my heart also. I pray you will be feeling better soon. God's comfort to you, Peggy

Oh, Andrea - that is really sad. Keep us posted on this. Thanks. God bless you, Peggy

GREAT NEWS!!! Four months, Six Months, 26 Months - however long it takes to get good news is worth it!! God bless you! Peggy

Love to hear that kind of news!! A pleased onc = a pleased patient! Praise God! Peggy

Fay, Whether I agreed with you or not (which I do - STRONGLY), I'm not a medical provider, but I do "claim to love you" (even though I don't know you). Like Ry, I also appreciate you posting this message. I haven't gotten even close to anything like this with my husband, and pray that I never do, but as I've posted before, my dad is very seriously ill from severe COPD (former smoker, but quit about 25 yrs. ago). He fell on Jan. 30 and has spent the past 2 1/2 mos. in the hospital with broken ribs, infections & lot of problems. I've seen posts, and have seen firsthand, where former smokers or current smokers are treated like they basically "did it to themselves by choice" by medical providers. About a month ago, I told my dad's pulmonary doctor that I prayed that if I ever got old and sick that I would have a doctor that would fight for me as hard as he has fought for my dad. I know for a fact that because of the severity of his COPD and age (76) that some doctors never would have put in the time and effort. At the point when they admitted my dad to ICU for the second time (where he remained for 6 weeks), there wasn't much hope - he was on 8 liters of oxygen and struggling HARD for every breath. He said he didn't want to go on a ventilator if he was terminal (which he basically was and is), but he still has LIFE. This doctor told him that he would give him a 50/50 chance to "get better" if he at least tried it, but he gave him 24 hrs. if he didn't. He told dad he would respect his request if he really didn't want to, but that he really hoped he would try. After he was put on the vent, he continued to develop many other problems, all of which made him worse, but this doctor just would not give up. He has now been released from ICU, is in a long-term acute care hospital, and has gotten over all many quite serious problems he developed after he fell. He is still on the ventilator because the COPD really isn't getting better, but right now he feels good and is in GREAT spirits, is walking with a walker, etc., etc. and really doing well. To my dad, his only living sister, and to my brother and sisters and my dad's friends, just because he is going to probably die, eventually, from the COPD, we are grateful to God that he had one of those blessed doctors, of which there are many I'm sure, that fight for the life of the patient and don't choose death just because they're going to die anyway (or because they're sick because they smoked). This is a very serious post, so I don't want this to change the tone of this thread, but after those bad ole' doctors lose their licenses, I hope 1,000 geese fly over and POOP on all their empty heads. Peggy

I agree with Rochelle. The most immediate life-threatening problem is the bowel problem. Since the MD and onc won't do anything to help him through this crisis, either find another MD real quick, or go to an emergency room ASAP. Please don't worry what any of those other doctors think about it if you do. Peggy

Prayers coming your way, Andrea! Peggy

ATTABOY!! SIC 'EM Peggy