stand4hope

Well, phooey! Now you get to sit and sweat for 6 weeks, huh? TAnn, I know you must be very frustrated. Once again, I'll say it - it's just so hard to not know. I'm just kind of staring at this big white space here trying to figure out what else to say. I know this won't help one diddly darn, but it's the only thing that comes into my mind to type: When they said my husband's tumors had grown "a little", but we really need to wait another 4 MONTHS to re-scan to know for sure, my heart sunk to my knees. It doesn't matter if it's 4 months or 6 weeks - the waiting is just no fun, so I can identify with how you must be feeling. Just try to keep your mind real busy with other things, if you can. Have you ever tried cross stitch? I haven't done it for a while, but it is absolutely mind absorbing, easy to learn, and you just keep wanting to do more so you can see how it looks. Another good thing to do is work crossword puzzles. You are in my prayers! Love, Peggy

Rick, You haven't posted since February 27. Are you ok? Come out, come out wherever you are! Love, Peggy

Mrs. Manny, It seems I've said this a lot lately, but I'll say it again. I think it's always better to know that not know. I have a little bit of a hard time celebrating a TB diagnosis, but what the heck. YIPPEE!!!! Love, Peggy

That's great, Fay. You're doing better than me. I know I couldn't keep up with my nephew even if I tried. He's quite a bundle of energy. I'm so glad that you got to have a good time with him! Love, Peggy

Oh, dear, sweet Cindi! God bless you! The most powerful thing I have in my arsenal is prayers to God, and honey, you've got them! Love, Peggy

Dear Bill, I see your dilemma. I think it's always frustrating to not know. Sometimes knowing is hard, but at least for me, not knowing is harder. The bad news is that it doesn't sound like you have much choice but to wait it out. At least she's getting good treatment (Tarceva) thanks to your loving efforts and diligence, and thankfully, the Tarceva seems to be working. I know this isn't an information-type post, and I know that's what you're seeking, but I just don't have any answers. I do want you to know, though, that I think I feel your frustration. That's kind of how I felt when they told us that two of my husband's brain tumors had grown "a little", and all we could really do at this point was watch them and see what they do, treat any symptoms, and re-scan in 4 months. Not a very satisfying answer, but I do very much understand the limitations of our oncologists and radiologists and entire medical team. They can only do and offer so much. I wish there was some way to get around this tortuous waiting game, but I don't think there is. I wish I could offer you more because I know how hard you have worked, probably day and night, seeking answers for your wife. I powerfully believe that there is always hope. Six months ago (I think), we didn't even have Tarceva. One or two months from now, there will hopefully be something else. Hope is on the horizon. Love, Peggy

Bill, This sounds good to me. What do you think? Did you meet with her oncologist and get his spin on it? Give your wife an extra hug from me tonight. Love, Peggy

Dear Pattie, Thank you so much for letting us know about Frank. I know this whole ordeal has to be really hard on you, and I hope that you will feel comfortable to talk to us if you need some support for yourself. Please tell Frank how much we love him, miss him, and pray that he will be back with us in just a few short days. Love, Peggy

Kim, I, too, got called back several years ago. They did a needle biopsy, but couldn't get to it because it was too deep, so they had to surgically remove it to do the biopsy. When they did the surgery, they found two cysts, and they were both benign. Even though, they had to go down a ways to get to it, for me, it was the easiest surgery I've ever been through. I had almost no pain at all after the surgery, just a lot of swelling, and never took a single pain pill. I don't know if others had a similar experience or if it was painful, but for me it was quite easy. Well, the incision did get sore and itchy, and aggravating, but that was the worst of it. The anticipation was the hardest part. Tell your mom to hang in there - and you, too! Love, Peggy

Dear Marion, If your scans are clear, and you've been on Iressa since August 2004, I don't understand why you are still having so much trouble eating and not feeling well. It sounds like there might be something else going on. Have you talked to the doctor about it yet? You got a lot of good suggestions here, and I don't have anything to add, other than maybe looking a little deeper into what might be causing the eating and not feeling well. Prayers for some answers very soon, and that you get to feeling better even sooner. Love, Peggy

Jim, I'll never forget how excited we were when my husband got a break from chemo and treatment of any kind. I forget if it was 2 months or 3 months before he started Iressa, but during that time, he really regained a lot of strength. I pray you get the same results. Keep fishin' and CONGRATULATIONS! Love, Peggy

Karen, I wish there was something like Tarceva for SCLC, too. On the flip side, I also wish that chemo worked as well on NSCLC as it did on SCLC. And then on other flip sides, I also wish SCLC didn't grow so fast, and I wish that NSCLC wasn't so common, and I wish, I wish, I wish. I also wish that we knew that Tarceva would work forever, but so far, there hasn't been any such guarantee. My hope and prayers are always that we can all keep beating it back and back and back, and, who knows, maybe tomorrow, maybe next Wednesday, maybe in June, maybe next year, something else will be out there that promises a complete cure, or at least something else that will knock it back some more. No matter how we look at it, all cancer, and any life-threatening disease is a horrible thing for any of us to go through. My prayers are once again extended to everyone on this board, and Karen, I pray that chemo is doing it's knock-it-dead routine on David. Love, Peggy

Cindy, I just love you to pieces and I am so happy for you! Love, Peggy

Hi Everybody, I know this is way too premature, but I can't help but be optimistic and excited. My husband said today that the discomfort he was having in his right hip has backed off about 90%. That was the only area where he was having noticeable problems with the bone mets. He has been on Tarceva for only 6 days, but Bill's wife had miraculous results with Tarceva in a short period of time, so I can't help but have a lot of hope. I also know that Fay A. had good results, and I'm very anxious to hear how Tina's husband's scan results (Charlie) come out, as well as TAnn and Mr. Ry's next scans, as well as others. I know that Tina says Charlie is feeling a lot better. Soooo, anyway, I'm raising a cup of Starbuck's to Tarceva success for my husband and everyone else who is trying it. I'm also praying a lot, too! Love to all, Peggy

Today, I am thankful: 1. For another good day. 2. That my feet didn't hurt at the end of the day. 3. That is was the most beautiful spring day ever. 4. For solutions to problems. 5. That it's almost bedtime. Peggy

Congratulations on three years, Joanie! That is so inspirational to so many. Love, Peggy

Beth, Stage IV doesn't mean anything more than the cancer has spread outside the lung. Of course, there can be various degress of Stage IV, as well. My understanding is that a large percentage of the time, lc isn't even discovered until it has reached Stage IV because there are no symptoms to send a patient to the doctor. The only symptom my husband had was a severe headache, and he only had that 3-4 wks before diagnosis. By that time, he had a 7 cm. tumor in his lung, 8 brain mets, and we don't know how many bone mets. The headache disappeared in 24 hrs. with decadron, and he also had radiation to his shoulder for pain from a met. Other than that, he has been nearly symptom free for 20 months and continued to work a full-time job. He, of course, had problems with treatment and has some fatigue, but those couldn't be classified as cancer symptoms. So, yes, you can be Stage IV and feel good. If you look good, and your color is good, than I think that is wonderful. Love, Peggy

Today I am thankful: 1. For another good day. 2. That WalMart wasn't too crowded. 3. For Warmer weather (but, oh, really windy). 4. For emoticons. 5. For online ordering. Love to all, Peggy

Then we KNOW she's going to be beautiful! Congratulations, Sharon! I'm so happy for you. What a wonderful gift! Love, Peggy

Just wanted to thank you all again, and also to clarify a couple of things from the first post here. The met that I thought looked like the adrenal gland was not. It was on the spine, and the one I thought looked like it might be on the trachea was on the top of the sternum (the manubrium). Also, there are two lesions that the report said are on the "right lung or chest wall". Since I wrote you last, I asked the onc if that meant there is cancer in that lung now, and he mumbled around and said something like, "Oh, I don't think so. It's probably on the bones." I guess it really doesn't matter because Tarceva is going to knock it all dead. Right? Right! Love to all, and thank you, thank you, thank you! Peggy

Doggone it, Frank. I just hate hearing that you are having a rough time. How long do you have to go for the chemo and radiation? I will pray for good results with the your CT scan and that you are empty-headed, and that the effects of treatment ease up real soon. Love, Peggy

OMG!!! Bill, I have goose bumps up and down both arms! This is absolutely, incredibly, completely and thoroughly FANTASTIC! I know you saw my recent post about my husband, and I so much appreciate hearing this great news. It is very encouraging and I hope we get the same response to Tarceva. He started taking it today. I hope you and your wife are going to celebrate BIG TIME!! Love, Peggy

Hi Steven, Of course, I don't know what it is either, but I certainly pray that it isn't cancer. Let us know when you find out. Love, Peggy

Summer, I am so sorry! Love, Peggy

Today I am thankful: 1. That hubby started Tarceva today. 2. That new treatments for lc are always on the horizon. 3. For comfortable house slippers. 4. That I got my filing done at work yesterday. 5. That hubby can retire with full benefits in November. Love to all, Peggy