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karenwentzel

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Posts posted by karenwentzel

    Help Me... So Confused :)

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hi Susan,

    (((hugs))) sent to you from AZ. I have extensive SCLC with tiny brain mets along with many other small mets. I am going through the same treatment plan as you. Cisplatin and etoposide. I had my 2nd treatment last week. I have scans coming up in a week or so to see how the treatments are working. My oncologist was very positive with me as well. She says that age, being female, and no other real health conditions put us in the group who see the most positive results. I will be doing radiation either soon (if the scan doesn't show tumor reduction) or after chemo.

    This is such a crazy trip, Susan. I was diagnosed just over a month ago. I am just starting to get a handle on my feelings.

    Please consider me your buddy. :-)

    Karen

    Hi I'm Sarah

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hi Sarah,

    Sending warm cyber (((HUGS))) to you. I cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling right now. I do think, however, that by you reaching out to turn this tragedy into a positive by helping to find a cure, your pain will be eased.

    Thank you in advance for helping end this dreaded disease!

    Karen

    My story

    in SHARE YOUR LUNG CANCER STORY

    Posted

    My diagnosis is SCLC, extensive due to all the mets. My chemo regime includes Cistplatin and VP 16. My 2nd treatment will begin March 28th.

    I am an RN. I work at Mayo Clinic as a kidney transplant nurse coordinator. I love my job but wonder if or when I can return. I am 46 years old with 3 children ages 25, 11, and 10. The youngest 2 are still at home. I am single but my ex lives close and has really been a great help.

    I am going to fight this for me and my kids.

    Karen

    My story

    in SHARE YOUR LUNG CANCER STORY

    Posted

    I had an upper respiratory infection in early February, 2011. Over the last 1.5 years, my allergies and asthma have gotten worse. When I finally went to my primary care office in late February, she restarted more allergy meds. I did complain at that time of a clicking sound at end inspiration. It was a mystery to her as it was to me. She set me up to see her in follow up on March 2nd. I ended up needing a steroid 'burst' to get my asthma in check. I finished the steroids on Sunday, February 27th, and by that night, my lower back, bilateral hips, and bilateral knees were killing me! I tried ice, heat, icy hot, advil, nothing would take this pain away. I went in on that Wednesday, March 2nd, and told the PCP about this extreme pain I was in. She thought it was something that had gone systemic and recommended xrays then follow up with somone in the rheumatology department. Just as an after thought,I told her that my breathing still wasn't quite right. She decided to get a chest xray.

    Before I could drive from the PCP office to my office, she called me and told me my right upper lobe was collapsed and I needed a CT scan of the chest. I complettd this as soon as I got to my office on the hospital campus. I sat at my desk looking at my other images that had been completed earlier. Back, hips, and knees just showed degenerative changes. I thought, I'm 46, okay I have arthritis. Within an hour my PCP called asking me to come back to her offie to discuss the CT scan. I refreshd my screen and my CT report was there in front of me. I went into shock at that point and have not returned to normal since.

    The CT showed a large right hilar mass consistent with malignancy with multiple lytic lesions suggestive of extensive mets. I was directly admitted my the hospital then sent for MRI brain and CT abdomen pelvis. It would seem that I have lots of little “sparkles” that lit up over my entire chest and brain. I have spots on my liver and kidneys and right femur. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SO QUICKLY?! I had my first round of chemo that weekend.

    My life has turned into BC (before cancer) and AD (after diagnosis). I still am trying to figure out what the heck has just happened to me? Not sure how long this stage takes to sink in what is going on.

    That’s my story so far. I hope to be writing updates for a long, long time!

    Karen

    New Person here *waving*

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Well, I had written a reply but it seems to have been lost!

    I am very happy to meet you all! You all are my glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark time.

    Last night started losing my hair. I do have a wig, but think I should invest in some nice silk scarves. This AZ heat will probably not feel good with a wig on.

    I started journaling today. I had to get some of these thoughts, feelings, etc out. I am exhausted now.

    I look forward to getting to know you all for a LONG time!

    Karen

    New Person here *waving*

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hello to you all,

    Man, sure wish I didn't need to be here. How fast our lives can be changed! I was just diagonosed with extensive small cell lung cancer on 3/2/2011. Completed my first round of chemo on 3/5/2011. I am now out of the hospital and at home wondering "what the heck just happened to me?" I wish you all well in our journey(s) through this terrible thing called cancer.

    Karen

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