Hi there!
My name is Dom I live in Columbus,Ohio,diagnosed mar 2011 with small cell-I was having some side effects from hiv meds and the PC was doing a lot of blood work and saw my sodium was low-he called and told me to go to the ER-they found the tumor then.
I also have had HIV since 1987-just started meds a fews years ago-numbers are good and undetectable.
I am male,50 years old-VERY active and healthy-I own a professional dog walking and pet sitting service here in Columbus-I do yoga daily-workout regular-probably walk 15 miles a day-I juice carrot/beet/apple/ginger/garlic with powdered wheatgrass added. I am almost completely raw-I do eat chicken or fish maybe 1 a week each-otherwise I make protein drinks from Whey Protein,yogurt,almond milk,blueberries.MY diet is full of anti-angiogenisis.
I pray,meditate,journal,see a therapist weekly.
I am not taking any supplements,or anti oxidants-I am getting everything from my diet during chemo.
I have had NO side effects from chemo..I have worked fulltime even chemo days-my hair did start to thin,so I shaved it off and still shave as it hasn't all fell out.
Originally they thought it was limited,I was on my way to the setup for radiation to my lung when they called and said that they had found small mets to my liver and ruled out radiation.
I started carboplatin/etoposide-after 2 rounds(3 infusion every 4 weeks) they did scans lung tumor reduced-liver mets almost gone and dead tissue from bone mets that they didnt even see before..
I was receiving free treatment and was going to the community clinic-I had 4 different oncologists in 4 visits-when they were giving me the results for the scan they said Excellent especially for stage 4-I was shocked-I didnt know I was stage 4-When I asked about it the oncologist looked at me and said you have stage 4 small cell cancer and your prognosis is less than a year-I though i was going to pass out...when I asked about it he got perturbed and left the room.
So I had good news and BAD news to stomp it out..I decided then and there that I was going to have to go someplace else-I got a referral from my PC to the James Cancer Clinic one of the big NIH recognized places.
When I went for the consult-they seemed surprised that I was there, they said "people don't usually switch if things are going well and you are doing very well" I told them about what happened and they said you are in the right place-the new onc only does lung cancer-she said that she did have clinical trials for me,I asked if she had long term survivors and she said yes 2,3 4,5,7,and 11 year. She is from Egypt and I couldnt understand her well but had a friend with me and he said yes thats what she said.
I have done round 3. I see the old docs tomorrow for round 4-they said all they were going to do is 4 rounds...I have scans appt setup at new place for july 8th.
Anyone have any suggestions?..I think I am doing well-other than the sodium issue I had no symptoms-the sodium issue has passed as the tumor has gone down.
I am interested in the medical as well as alternative--any long time survivors?
I am a very determined person and I am going to do anything and everything I can.
I am used to managing disease--are my expectations unreasonable.
Oh I may have forgot to add..I feel and look great! Tan, healthy,muscular,great appetite, sleep well.
I have been reading alot of the entrys on here and in inspire.
I am anxious, and depressed...I feel guilty for being so as i am doing so well..but I am soo afraid that things will change.
Can anyone give me any info?
thanks alot
hugz
dom
