stand4hope

Hi Pat and Brian, Wow! I missed it all today. You guys have had it rough, that's for sure. I'm glad Brian got the fluids for the dehydration and antibiotics. Hope you feeling much better tonight, Brian, and that you get a good night's sleep. You ought to see what they think about throwing in a little Decadron to give him a little umph. It sure is working for my hubby. Another hot meal tonight waiting for me after work. I understand that Decadron helps with SOB, too. Love and hugs, Peggy

I'm here. I'll take all the hugs I can get. I'll take my usual - a hot cup of Starbucks - bold please! Love to all, Peggy

Dear Elaine, I, too, feel your anxiety. I agree with Ry. I would call and insist they fax you the report. Tell them you want to see the report ahead of time so that you can ask questions. If she gets difficult, try (politely) demanding they send it to you because it's your body, your report and you paid for it. If you don't have a fax machine, send me a PM and I will give you my work fax number and they can fax it to me. I can then scan it and email it to you, or I can even call you and read it to you if you want. I will be there until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (Indiana time). Try deep breathing and relaxing your shoulders - it helps with the tension. Love and hugs, Peggy

Dear Kathi, Ditto all of the above. Now, you can relax and enjoy some quality time with your family. AMEN!! Love, Peggy

Billie, I'm really sorry to hear about your dad. My dad died of severe COPD (emphesema) and received a lot of morphine in his last 1-2 weeks before he died. The thing with morphine is that, especially when it's given in heavy doses, it does adversely affect breathing, slows the number of respirations per minute, etc. However, the good thing is that it takes away the struggle to breathe that the patient feels, so it's very comforting to the patient. Without the morphine, the struggle to breathe is a horrible, horrible and frightening experience. I'm glad your dad won't have to experience that. Sending you great big hugs and much love, Peggy

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Addie, he gets very chatty - especially when I'm trying to sleep. That usually starts on day 3 which is tomorrow. Maybe I should take a nap on my lunch hour to prepare in advance. LOL! Don't set fire to those TV dinners - send them my way. I think Don will get tired of cooking dinner in just a few days, so I'll need them.

Doug, I think the anxiety and stress of waiting for scan results is a disease all its own, so I have named it myself. It is called scanititis. I think it's one of the worst diseases there is. We are all looking for a cure, so if you discover it, please share. I will pray for good results. And - about the flatulence. Well, with love and affection, all I can say is "Keep it to yourself, please!" LOLOLOLOL!!! Love, Peggy

BETTER THAN THAT, Becky! He cooked New York Strip Sirloin and chicken breasts on the grill, and corn on the cob that he went to the store, bought and shucked himself. What a guy! It was really good!

Hi Beth, I just bet this cocktail is your magic bullet!!! How have your blood counts been after 7 treatments of Alimta? The onc about scared the wits out of me talking about how it could affect blood counts and platelets. Of course, I know the B-12 shots and Folic Acid help, but I was just curious if yours have dropped much during the treatment. Don't count on it, Beth, and never say never. It seems to me that new solutions keep popping up every day. Love and hugs, Peggy

Thank you, Becky! Sandy, Glad to hear it's over and done with. I hope you took an extra pillow with you. It will be your best friend for a while. Get well and get back to us ASAP with your cute, smiling face. Love, Peggy

My husband was a new man today. Energetic and active all day. And, not only did he eat a big dinner, but he cooked it, too. I had forgotten how effective (for the good) Decadron could be. Maybe I need some of that stuff. Is there a black market for Decadron? LOL! Anyway, it sure made me happy tonight to see him so active and feeling so good! Just thought this might help spread a little cheer! Love to all, Peggy

Hi Cindi, I was glad to see your update. I was thinking about you last night and wondering how you were feeling. I'm encouraged and happy to hear that you are feeling so much better. Love, Peggy

Don and Lucie, I apologize for being late as well. One week off the board and it's almost impossible to catch up. I sure am glad to hear your good news. More! More! More! Love, Peggy

Hi Val, Like the others, I'm really sorry to hear about the progression. I know that can be devastating news. It sure was good that the doctor had an aggressive plan already in place when your mom got the news. I'm sure if you like and trust the doctor that your mom does, too. I don't know anything about the drug, but thanks to Ginny's post, we all know a little more. Prayers for your mom. Love, Peggy

Dear Nancy, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine your pain, but my heart aches for you. May God hold you very close in the days ahead and for all time. All my love, Peggy

You're going to be ok, but it's just different for everybody. Don't worry if it takes you longer or shorter. I am embarrassed that I can't give you the name of the person that said this. It was somebody on this board and this is the second time I've quoted them and wish they would write and take credit for this statement because I think it was just wonderful. You will often hear people say that it gets easier with time, but this person's statement was a perfect response to that: ~~~~~~~~"It never, ever gets easier, we simply grow stronger." You WILL go stronger. Love and great big hugs, Peggy

Phew! We really needed good news, Joanie! So glad to read this! Love, Peggy

Hi Millie, I sure understand the feelings you are having about your mom getting the treatments. I've just gone through the same kind of hand-wringing. Should we or shouldn't we? It's really tough to want them to get MORE treatment that you think will make them worse instead of better. We're so used to "treatment" making things better. With cancer, the treatment has to make them worse before they hopefully get better. That's really, really hard to choke down. Bottom line in our case is, it was his decision, and I think he made the right decision to get more treatment, even though it scares me out of my wits. My guess is from the way you described your mom's reaction is that she will want to get the PCI done. Once she makes that decision, the best you all can do is say, "Great, Mom! We're behind you 100%." Then run home to worry and cry some. Works for me!! Love, hugs and prayers for your mom, Peggy

Hi Teddie and Welcome (and you, too Amy)!! I'm very late in welcoming both you and Amy, but I was away from the board for a while and got a little behind. I was a little confused when I read your post at the top because it says SCLC at the top and NSCLC at the bottom. After reading Amy's earlier posts, I'm assuming that your sister has NSCLC. Did the surgeon say why no surgery? I'm assuming you are referring to the surgery to biopsy the hot spots that showed up on the PET scan. Did he think they were positively malignant, and that's why? or did he think they were nothing and that's why? Anyway, I'm glad she's getting her chemo started and we are looking forward to meeting her when she gets her computer running. It sounds like you have a wonderful support group with your big family. That's wonderful! Keep it up, because she will need it. Again, Welcome! Love, Peggy

I bet this is the only place in the world where everybody celebrates because someone gets to have SURGERY!! LOL! This is great news, Carol. Get it cut out forever!!!!! Love, Peggy

Cyndy, This is a hard post to respond to. Do I say congratulations? or do I say I'm sorry? I guess maybe both. You have done so well these past six months and if, or when, I have to face this, I pray that I can even be half as strong as you have. So, No. 1, Congratulations for surviving 6 months and getting past Father's Day, and each day, and No. 2, I'm so sorry you had to go through these past six months without your beloved. Love, Peggy

Kathi, I am so sorry for this bad turn. I just asked God to help you get there on time, but Kathi, if you don't make, please remember that it's ok. My sister didn't get there in time when our mom died and it took her two years to get over it and realize that it was ok, and that these things just can't be planned ahead. I do pray that you will make it, though. Sending you big hugs, honey!! (((((((((((KATHI))))))))))) Love, Peggy

Dear Missy, Yes, it's very up and down. My hubby has been having a couple of good days, then a bad day, a couple of bad days, then a good day. . . . . I'm sorry to hear, though, that your mom is in the hospital. It's 1,000 times more scary when they have to be hospitalized. Please keep us posted. Love and hugs, Peggy

Karen, We have to pry information out of his primary onc (I think the official term is the "medical onc" - he gives the chemo and oversees everything). Not only that, he mumbles, so 80% of the time Don has to ask me later what he said. LOL! He's a very qualified physican, though, just closed mouthed. Not with me - I make him tell me whatever I want to know, and I get copies of all the reports. The radiation onc and Novalis (SRS) onc are wonderful to voluntarily give lots of information and answer every question. Thank you so much for the prayers. Love, Peggy

Hi Karen, Yes, we have SRS experience. Don originally had 8 mets. Two tiny ones disappeared with WBR. In Nov. 2003, he had 6 mets zapped by SRS (Novalis). It was pretty successful. Two mets disappeared and the other 4 shrank about 30% and have remained stable until the past few months. That's well over a year. He had no side effects at all. Just a little bit of a headache where they attached the helmet. It was a very, very long laborious day (6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). There were many delays, both waiting for them to set up the machine between each picture, waiting for the onc to come back and check the setup, and one time the machine broke down for about an hour. It took about 2 hours for the onc, a neurosurgeon and ??? (I forget the third kind of doctor) to set up the computers for each individual met. I had to leave the room when they attached the helmet. Well, actually they told me to leave, and that's a good thing because I couldn't have stayed anyway. He said it really didn't hurt but just a little when they attached it, and then the rest of the day it was just awkward and uncomfortable. The mask, I understand, is a little easier. That's about all I remember, but we're getting to do it all again in a couple of weeks, so, unfortunately, I'll get a refresher. It's a good procedure, Karen, and very, very effective. Love, Peggy