Fall54

Hi Rick, I'm rather new here but wanted to tell you what a God send this site is !! Thank you so very much. I also wanted to know as I have just watched the tribute what song is playing and if you know by whom? It sounds so very peaceful. Thank you again for helping in putting us all together to be able to make friends and share our ups and downs and to support eachother. You are awesome!

I have to say I know how you feel. My brother had his first cat scan after his first round of chemo and spot radiation to his back and his DR had told him previously that he would be happy if nothing changed as long as there was no growth. Every tumor he has had shrunk!! I was on top of the world and still am. I didnt know at the time that things can change so quickly and he could have growth on his next cat scan until I had read a lot on here, but at least I am prepared for that now. I, also give praise to God!! I am taking the good news and flying with it I am so happy for you and your Dad and your post just ozzed with love and hope. I beleive in miracles as long as we have a loving God. Celebrate and bask in that happy glow I can feel jumping right out of your post!!

Laura, I am going to be becoming my brothers primary caregiver in a few weeks when he moves from Maine to New Hampshire to live with me. He is leaving his wife that just treated him like a dog. I am SO SO interested in any nutritional info you can give me to help him.!! Congrats on all your good news and I love your positive attitude!! Let me thank you in advance for offering to share your knowledge with all of us!! God bless you and your hubby

OMG !! Run don't walk to get David the help he needs!! His onc. is so negligant and inhuman, it's hard to beleive he took any oath to heal. I just for one minute would like to know what he would do if it was someone he dearly loved. God Bless you both and I pray for the bowel obstruction to be rectified and a new onc. ( that CARES) become your NEW onc. Loving prayers being sent your way!!

What wonderful news!! God speed a clean cat scan to you !!!

I forgot to sign in so I showed up as a guest. Wanted you to know who I was in case you had any questions.

You, your Uncle and EVERYONE that has this horrible disease is in my prayers every night. Please keep us updated.

Yes, I believe he is on steroids. They would be in his chemo treatment right??? Thank you for all your posts , you are all an open door after the wind has blown it shut

When my brother was dx with lc he had just celebrated a little over a year of sobriety. He had been a severe alcoholic since he was a teenager. I come from a family of 5 brothers and 2 sisters and none of us nor my parents were ever alcoholics. My parents never drank and the rest of us did our share growing up but grew up and left it alone. Alan was our miracle of 2003. A day my Mother always said she would never see in her lifetime. I told her to never give up hope. Alan saw a DR all through the year of sobriety and got on the right medications for anxiety and depression and Alan feels his DR saved him from drinking himself to death. Alan's next goal he told his DR was to quit smoking and they were planning on his starting very soon after his year of sobriety. Two weeks later he is dx with cancer and HIS DOCTOR told him flat out "Alan, this is not the time to give up smoking". I think the reason he was told this is because his DR was scared he might go back to drinking when he heard he had the cancer. Alan has lc but as stated below it had spread to his liver and he had at least 30 spots. Which would have been the best of two evils for the diasese?? I think the drinking. My brother never went back to drinking and says he has no desire to. Thank you Lord. He has told me on numerous occasions that every time he goes to chemo he plans to quit after the session and never smoke again. He is a bit hard on himself as he has not been able to do that. He has been going through a very rocky marriage and is moving from Maine to New Hampshire to live with my family the first of May. Both my husband and I smoke. I have quit 3 times , twice for 6 months and once for 3 months. My husband one the other hand has never quit and has no desire to which makes it especially hard on me to do. I am Alan's best friend, confidant and sort of surrogate Mother all rolled into one. I dont blame Alan for not quitting but also know his desire to do so. I think this disease is about all he can handle right now. When and IF he quits it will be his decision, made by him FOR him. I worry that living here he may never make that decision but I dont know what I can do about it as I know I am not ready and my husband as I said has a very high stress level and wants no part of quitting. He welcomes Alan with open arms and is the most supportive person I know but he does make his own decisions when it comes to his body. I know how you feel and it is so hard for a non smoker to understand. Your Mother is going through her own war right now and needs as many allies as she can have. Be her allie and realise that She has to make the decision if it is to be made, and if she never does enjoy every minute you have with her as no one guarentees us the next minute. God bless you both.

Hi all, My brother who is very slim ( too much slim!!) was NEVER a sweater, even in the heat of summer. He now has days that he has to carry a hanky to dry the sweat from his head and brow. He says he is not in pain and doesnt know why he is sweating. His last cat scan was a week ago and all results were great. All his tumors had shrunk and his liver function was better. I am just wondering what is going on inside the body that is causing his sweating. He has finished his radiation to the back a month or so back and has no pain there anymore. It is not like this happens daily but when it does happen it happens all day. He is just sitting in his chair and sweating, so I know it isent caused from exercise or exerting himself. If anyone can give me some possible reasons I would love to know them. Is there anything I can do to help when he is like this?? Thanks all and God Bless you.

You are in my prayers Karen. In God we trust and I do!! I know I dont know you but I admire your courage and attitude. You are a special lady.

Hi all, I wanted to thank you for all your replies. I also wanted to let you all know that my brother will be coming to live with me here in New Hampshire from Maine in May, we hope. I am thrilled that he will be here and I feel I can handle it and help him a lot. He lives 3 hours away right now and that has been hard on me. Can anyone tell me will he lose any of his benifits because he is living with me? I have no health insurance and he has Maine care right now that has covered everything. He was just approved to get SS and has gotten his first check. I know that wont change but I am concerned that New Hampshire wont pick up his medical as he is living with family. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I thank the Lord that Alan is coming to live with my family and that we will be there to see him through it all. Whatever all is. My husband was thinking I may be able to go off my antidepressants now. I know I feel so much stronger on them and can deal with things so much better. I am not sure whether I should try to or not. What a wonderful group of caring and brave people here and my love and prayers go out to all of you. I believe in miracles!!

I would love to read the online diary you wrote as I have a brother who is stage 4 and I have read Final Gifts which helped immensily. Thank you for being so open as to let us read it. God Bless You

I am 49 years old and have a brother who is 46 who has been diagnoised with lung cancer that has spread to his liver ( at least 30 spots) and has eaten through a bone in his back. He has completed radiation on his back and has no more pain there. After his first round of chemo all his tumors have shrunk and his liver function is better. I became so depressed and couldnt get a grip on this that I needed to go on an antidepressant. I am doing better now. My brother lives 3 hours away and I have gone and spent several days at a clip with him several times. I am afraid for him. He doesnt seem to know the severity of it. He has never asked his DR. His DR did tell him that it was not curable but was treatable. I think he thinks that it can just be treated indefinantly. I did buy and read the book "Final Gifts" and that has helped me a lot. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on and also go to the American Cancer web site a lot. I am not sure if I am asking any qusetions here or just need the support of others who have been through this. God Bless you all.