stand4hope

Hi David, We haven't met yet, but it sounds like you've got a lot of friends here that are glad you "busted out of that place." I'm glad, too. Get well soon. God's blessings to you, Peggy

Fay, I got somethin' better than steel toed jump boots . . . . . I got (whisper) . . . . . gang clothes! Those ought to scare that evil cancer away reaaaaaaaaaal good, don't you think? Whenever one of my wonderful friends gets her feelings hurt, or insulted by one of "them" and they come to me in tears, I always hug the friend and while I'm hugging her I tell her, in a very soft voice, I'm going to go home tonight, put on my gang clothes, catch them when they least expect it and they are dead meat! It always makes them smile, and VOILA, they stop crying. Works for me. Ray: That's what you need - steel toed jump boots and gang clothes - and Fay and I gott'em. NOW do you feeling like fighting? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Hi Jane. I'm pretty new here, too. Been on for about a week. I love it! I'm quickly becoming addicted to the people - so caring, warm, friendly and responsive. I wish you didn't have the reason you do to be here, but we're all here for you. Throw your shoulders back, take a deep breath and get ready for the fight against the beast. LOTS OF SURVIVORS HERE who have won the fight! That's when we all dance, if not with our legs, with our hearts. Meet Razz , Laughing and Very Happy: When you see them, you know we are dancing, laughing and smiling! Welcome and God bless you! Peggy

Ray, I, too, am so sorry to hear this report. As you can see, most have tolerated Taxotere very well, but my husband had a severe allergic reaction to it, so had to stop it after the 3rd treatment. Before they had to stop it, though, it shot some HUGE holes in a 7 cm tumor, so by all means GO FOR IT! I've been told it is frequently the first line drug and drug of choice for lung cancer. Please don't despair, please don't give up. I know it's easy for me to say and harder to do, but please, please don't give up! Fight it! Fight it! Fight it! Love and God's blessing to you! Peggy

I'm going to beat somebody else to this: BREATHE! Take deep breaths, it really helps. Hang in there, kiddo! We all understand what you are going through. The anticipation is worse than knowing. Once you know, you'll be able to fight this horrible disease side-by-side with your mom and everybody on this site. God's love and blessing to you, Peggy

Curtis, Unfortunately, I didn't get to know Becky because I just joined at the time of her passing, but I have read many of her posts before she died, and all of yours and everyone else's since she died. I wept as I read those posts. I regret that I didn't get to know her and I can't imagine how much you must be suffering. I'm so glad you have your darling little daughter to focus on, and it sounds as though you are a very strong young man. I wish you all the best in the future and ask God to pour his blessings of comfort upon you and all that knew Becky. Much love, Peggy

Shirley, I am sooooooo sorry for your loss. It sounds like you have great faith in God, and He will help you through the upcoming days, months and years to cope with your terrible loss. Again, I am so sorry. God bless you, Peggy

I've mentioned in earlier posts that my dad has been in the hospital since Jan. 30. Hubby and I went to see him today, and he has made tremendous progress this past week. He actually walked 20-30 ft. on Friday w/a walker, unassisted. Even though he is on a trach/ventilator, he is also now eating 2-3 small meals/day. Most of his problems that put him there (he fell), or developed after he got there, are better or gone, broken ribs, pneumonia developed, endocarditis, VRE, bronchitis, etc., etc. So he has improved in all respects, except for his lungs. He has severe COPD and was actually getting a lot worse before he fell. They keep trying to wean him off the vent, but haven't had much success so far. His pulmonary doc says his underlying disease is just so bad and basically his lungs are shot. Otherwise, at 76, he is quite physically strong and one of the happiest, positive, upbeat guys living. He loves to flirt with the nurses and even though he can't talk since he's on a ventilator, he still manages to smile and wink at the nurses. That's my dad! Just thought I'd share a little good news. It was also fun that hubby could go with me. (That's even more good news! ) I usually go by msyelf 3-4 times a week. Hubby is doing just so much better since that darned old chemo is wearing off. I hope everyone had a very HAPPY EASTER! God's love to everybody! Peggy

Gail, I've heard that also, but particularly with whole brain radiation. I don't know about other areas of the body, especially if it's a different spot. My husband also had Novalis to brain (pinpoint radiation, or stereotactic radiosurgery), but they can repeat that many, many times because they are precisely hitting only the tumors with radiation and not healthy brain cells. I have also heard that sometimes stereotactic radiosurgery can be used on other parts of the body, but I don't think too many places in the U.S. are offering that yet. I do think it's remarkable that your dad has been fighting cancer for 4 years, is 80 years old, and is feeling good and enjoying life. That is very good to hear! God bless you, Peggy

Betty's right - when it rains it pours, and sometimes it's monsoon season! Praying healthy thoughts for you and yours! Peggy

Shirely, I'm sorry to hear that your dad is having so much trouble. Hopefully, better days are ahead. Hang in there! God bless you! Peggy

Ok. Here's my best kid story. My sister (a red head) and her little girl (my niece and also a cute little redhead) was about 6 years old. They were at the grocery store and as my sister was writing a check for the groceries, my niece pipes up and says, "Mommy, I thought you said we didn't have any money in the checking account!" My sisters face quickly matched her hair color. Peggy

Andrea, I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how bad it hurts. May God give you the comfort and strength you need at this difficult time. Much Love, Peggy

Happy Easter Cheryl and Jack. Thank you for the nice message. Have a great day. God bless! Peggy

Ouch! Diverticulitis can be very painful. My mom had it off and on for years. I can't remember how they treated it. Take care, Mo, and I hope you're feeling better tomorrow. Hopefully the antibiotic and pain meds will help you enjoy Easter. (((((Hugs))))) Peggy

Ta da! Here we are. Our son, Mike, age 27, me and Tony. This picture is probably 3 or 4 years old. Our little dog in front had to be put to sleep because she was very old and very sick, but we have two others now that we spoil rotten. Peggy

Welcome home! I'm so glad your surgery went well. Have a VERY HAPPY EASTER! Peggy

Wow, Berisa! That is WONDERFUL news! Is your father comfortable? I know the last you wrote, he was not doing well at all. We're all right there with you 100%. God loves you! Peggy

Hi Deb, I wanted to write to you again because I have been thinking about you off and on all day. I might be reading between the lines, but I get the feeling that you are having a really hard time dealing with your diagnosis. You don't really tell us too much about yourself in your past posts or in your history of treatment, but I notice you've had depression and sleeping problems as well. Have you thought about counseling or treatment for the way you are feeling mentally? In your history you say you are incurable, and I think whenever there's a Stage IV diagnosis, that's the assumption, however, incurable isn't an automatic death sentence. As you can see from many of the people on this site, many are stable, in remission, etc., etc. Curtis is right in the last post. My husband has worked for a very large pharmaceutical company for 31 years, and they are launching new drugs on a regular basis to prolong life and cure diseases, but it takes time, testing, time, searching, more testing, more searching, time, time, time. And like I said in my earlier post, there is a cure, we just have to ask God to lead the researchers to the right spot to find it. In any case, I hope you get the right perspective on your disease through counseling, or even through this site, because even if you survive the disease, depression and cynicism can be quicker killers than cancer. God loves you, Deb! Peggy

Deb, I think there probably is a cure, but it just hasn't been found yet. A cure would certainly put a lot of people out of work, but even if that would be the end result, when the person/company finds that cure, the gates of heaven will open, the angels will sing praises, and the whole world will celebrate. Not even our government will be able to stop the implementation of that kind of news Hang in there, Deb - it can be all-consuming and monopolize all of your thoughts, but that's why I'm grateful for this site. I can encourage others here, identify with others, understand what they feel, and when some are experiencing things far worse than I am, it becomes a little less all-consuming for me. God loves you!! Peggy

Francine, That's a lot of good news all at once, but it sounds like the side effects are dumping a wet blanket on that good news. Nausea will quickly knock the wind out of anybody's celebration. Hope you can focus on the good news and minimize the worries and side effects. I'll be praying for you! Peggy

Welcome TJSNana (I love that - TJSMom and TJSNana!) I'm new, too - just a few days here, but quite a bit of lurking time checkin' out everything before I joined. Actually I was a big chicken! The people on this site are so incredibly fantastic - you are just gonna love it here. Welcome! God bless you, too and you have a very HAPPY EASTER!! Peggy

Wow, BJ! That's great news - to have a 7 cm tumor disappear in 6 mos. is VERY GOOD NEWS! That's about the size my hubby's was (only NSCLC), and that varmit is being a little more stubborn. You need to have a BIG celebration while you are on vacation. Congratulations! May God continue to bless you with good news, good news, good news, good news, and .............. (more and more of the same) forever! Peggy

Oops. I guess I wasn't logged in. Peggy

Fay, You made me laugh out loud! If you asked someone on the street to come in and draw green crosses on your chest, they would be hauling you off in a straight jacket and not to get your radiation treatments I'm afraid -- that is, unless you're drop dead beautiful (are you?). Yes, they did exactly the same thing to my husband, and his x's were green also, but we didn't have to keep remarking them - maybe they just remarked them every day. I don't know. I'll have to ask him tomorrow. Peggy