[Sunday's air]

Happy sunday to all and happy memorial day too. I'd like to thank all the service folks , so here's to all of you for all you are doing and did in the past. Watched a lttle F1 from Monaco this am. Indy coming up later, then Charlotte. I'll catch highlites later. too nice out to be a potato today. I'm glad I was able to get back here this morning. Susan asked me if I posted something that was inapropriate. My god, I hope not. I know I babble, but I spent a while wondering if it was me only who got the exit. Bud, I'm even more impressed to see that you ride a recumbant. I truly admire your efforts. Glad to be back on. Alan

[F.E.A.R.]

WOW Judy, Thank you for so eloquently putting into words exactly what we all feel.I'm currently awaiting results. I feel like I'll get a positive outcome, but like you say, there it is. PS. I still can't like spiders unless they are eating an equally unliked bug. You were a teacher, right? We all would be better with you in front of us in class.Alan

[Hello, I'm Heather and I'm new to the discussion boards.]

Hi Heather, Glad you found us. I'm new here too. All these folks have been great. neat that you got to meet some. I understand what you say about missing some friends. I go through that too. I think some of them don't know how to approach it and are more afraid of hurting you. Reach out to them and reassure them that cancer can't ruin friendships. you're so young, maybe they haven't been exposed to it yet. Now they have been. Best wishes from me as you recover. I'll hope and pray that it's over for you. what a wonderful resume, keep fighting. Alan

[So far..]

Hi julianne. Me again. I remember my onc telling me about chemo affecting my feet that way. It's .only on the bottom of toes and balls of feet. She said when I get that feeling, I'm ready to stop chemo. I said Heck, I felt that 2 weeks ago. They stopped chemo then. The feeling finally went away but I've read some people never got rid of it. called it neuropathy too. I don't think so.

[So far..]

Dear Julianne, I'm 60 years old. I have the same pancoast as your dad. All the same pains, All the same experiences. I couldn't have surgery though because the tumor invaded my spin

e at T1 vertebrae. All the nerves come out of there that affect several things. Ulnar nerve, voicebox. The damage to the spine should be visable on CT scan. It's not carpal tunnel, It's not a nerve on his elbow. The nerve damage isat the spine or plexus.

I've been on all those drugs you mentioned and more. It only feels good when you are asleep. Percacet will take some of the sting out of it and help get to sleep. only good for 4 hrs. I've been out of treatment for 1-1/2 years. It's worse now than before. 2 different highly regarded neurosurgeons looked at me and my scans and say there is no surgery that will fix it. I was told from the start that I may or may not be a candidate for surgery because of the proximity to the spinal cord. I expected to get surgery, heal and return to work. I tried working but was ineffective. I have very little grip in my right hand. I qualified for disability. It helps alot. I'm currently looking for answers too. I wrote the Drs. at cancer grace. they responded negatively. The onc. started me on neurontin 300mg/day. that is a starter dose only. I feel no effect. I see where some patients take 3400/day. I plan on pursuing that along with anything else the pain management drs. and neuro drs. reccomend. My tomor is redused to scar tissue at this time. Some say the healing of the bone may be applying added pressure. I'm no expert but I have been and still am going through it. Pancoast survivors can live a very long time. I know of 1 with 18 yrs. Some of what ales us as survivors has to be considered "battle scars". I am willing to accept it if I must, Without this neuropathy though, I'd feel almost 100%. If anything comes up, keep me in mind as I will you. Alan in Pa.

[It's just another manic Monday...]

Hi all, i've had my posts dissappear too. In fact, I wish you guys could have read my introductory post. It took a while to do and I was so proud of it. Then POOF! I didn't know what to do. That last explanation confused me a bunch. I'm not that savvy. Maybe because I took to long. (no, it was my 1st) I'll call it practice.

I'm going next tue. for a bronchoscopy. They are going to open my right airway and take a piece of tissue near the site of the original tumor. They saw an enlarged node last week. Oh yeah, I'm sorry, this is the just for fun page. It'll be fun when they say it's nothing. see yous later. Alan.

[Friday's Air]

Hi eric, congrats on retirement, you probably won't read this til saturday because of celibrating. maybe not even then if you finish that bottle of scotch. You'll love retirement after you get used to it. Wake up when you want. stuff like that . Every day is saturday. have fun. Alan

[Dad just diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer...]

GET SENICOT it's over the counter follow directions.

[Dad just diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer...]

to bambinokid, Alan, a newcomer here too, When I was 1st dxd, they told me it was stage 4. because of attachment to spine. I was very afraid of my chances at that time. All my family and friends offered all their hopes and prayers. I accepted it all gracefully as I could but was still scared. Every emotion known to man goes through your head 24/7. I was assured that it was not a death sentence by all who were on the treatment team. I met other patients and some of their family. Everyone is facing a different foe. There are many types of lung cancer. Any 2 people with the same thing will react differently. I met a man who had "bilateral" lc. I don't remember about any mets on him though. He was finishing his treatment as I was entering mine.

That was about 2 yrs ago and he and I are both ned at this point. So stay strong for your dad. He needs you. Enjoy your time with him and encourage him along the way. Always expect twists and turns in the road. These are all wonderfull people here who truly will pray for your dad when they say they will. Take solice in this group during the fight. It truly is a fight. you get knocked down, bloodied, bruised and all that. Just remember to get back on your feet and refuse to lose.

Alan in Pa.

[It was a good 4 1/2 year run...]

good morning Janet

Be glad about the gamma knife. gotta be way better than a sharp knife. If anything like cyberknife, you'll be great. worked for me. I once had something they called a "bleb" is that also a"blip"? good luck Alan ,

[Monday's Air]

Good day all,

I've been out all day helping mother in law get her fridge fixed. It's 5 p.m. Just read morning air. When I was in treatment, there was a physical therapist on staff who expressed the importance in preparing yourself. I used the stationary bike while she coached my breathing. She also kept adjusting the resistance until I needed a break. I'll never turn into Bud but He is so right. She also had me climbing stairs. At first 2 flights or so wore me out. After a week i could go all 6 floors without stopping. I forgot how important it is to practice breathing. you will be fine. Sometimes, I actually ran because the chemo made me. It took a while to dial in the plumbing. See you guys later . Have a good night and a better tomorrow.

Alan in Pa.

[Hello, I'm new to this]

Hello everyone, my name is Alan. I'm a lc survivor. I had a pancoast tumor right apex. My treatment began in june 09. I had 30 radiation treatments and chemo (cisplatin + etopicide). After all that I was going to have surgery to remove what was left. That became impossible due to invasion of T1 vertebrae. Then I had 6 more chemo treatments with taxitere every 3 weeks. Plus 5 treatments at Cyberknife of Philly. All done by Jan. 2010. I've been on surveillance every 3 months since with no detectable cancer so far. That's the short history.

I just discovered this site in April's issue of Cancer fighters magazine. It comes from Cancer treatment centers of America. that is where all my work was done. I love that place and highly reccomend it to every one.

I was misdiagnosed for a couple months prior to our demands to look into my symptoms with a little more vigor. Primary Dr. kept calling it back spasms. There was big pain between shoulder blade and spine and tingling and numbness in right pinky and ring fingers. I also had coughing and was losing my voice. He said I had GURD so prescribed prilosec and muscle relaxers. He told me to call him if no releif in 3 to5 days. When I called back in 4 days, I was told he didn't have any openings to see me for 3 weeks. I know right.

I set up an appointment with a new Dr. next day. We met and I asked for a chest xray right now. I asked the radiology guy how long it would take for my new Dr. to get results. next morning by couriour I was told. Didn't hear anything for 22 days so I assumed there was nothing horrible. (mistake) Finally they called and said that there was a"density" consistant with a malignant tumor. They took the liberty of setting me up with a thorasic surgeon. His next available appt. guess yup 3weeks away.

None of this was acceptable to my wife Susan who had just recovered from uterine cancer less than a year ago. She also lost her father to lung cancer 25 years ago and remembered his symptoms similar to mine. She read the website of CTCA and called them. Described what was happening to them. It was thursday. They said to be there on Monday. We did and here I am today almost 2 years later. I still suffer with nueropathy in my right arm but otherwise feel normal and healthy.

My wife Susan tells me I tend to babble on so forgive me if I am. I just want to say how happy I am to find all of you. I've read alot of your stories and am inspired, gratefull and looking forward to taking part in this couragious group. God bless all of you and yours. In this fight I want to have you all on my side as I am on yours. Alan