GlendaG

My husband has been recently dx'd also with adenocarcinoma, stage IV. I have learned how dreadful those words are but my guy is also committed to doing everything to beat this and keeps talking about all the things he is going to do when he gets this behind him. His conviction is so strong it gives me inspiration. Actually, I find I do much better when I truly turn over my worries about the future to God and stay away from "what if X happens". I try to do my part to help Wayne by researching all areas of treatment and checking for clinical trials that sound promising - I always have lots of questions for the Oncologist. I also find doing this helps me to feel useful and gives Wayne more assurance that he is being supported in this journey. Good luck to you and your hubby. I will add you to my prayers. (I would report a rash to the Dr. Maybe there is something he can take to keep it from getting worse.)

Thanks to all of you for your heart warming responses and useful tips. I have updated the profile to give you a better idea of what Wayne's condition and treatment. If we have to go through this awful journey, we are fortunate to meet wonderful people like you. My husband likes this quote he saw on the wall at our cancer center: There is destiny that makes us brothers; None goes his way alone: All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own ......... ------------- We now have new brothers and sisters - thanks Glenda

Hello, My husband, Wayne, and I have been on this roller coaster ride since December 10th of 2003 when he was dx'd (adenocarcinoma, stage IV). He had hip replacement due to the tumor causing a break. He has had new mets to his vertabrae ( very small) and radiation to those. He just had an MRI of the brain last week and 2 very small tumors were discovered and now he is starting whole brain radiation. He had 2 treatments of chemo (taxol & carbo) and 5 treatments of a clinical durg (ABX-EGF); this was stopped on 3/23 because even though his lung tumor (left side) was shrinking, new bone mets were discovered. He is due to start another line of chemo this week or next. All the research I have done since Wayne's diagnosis has caused me to have overwhelming fear at certain times. I never realized the poor prognosis for lung cancer. All the publicity seems to be on breast and prostate. I never realized that lung cancer took more lives each year than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Have any of you had chemosensitivity done to determine what chemo should be more effective? Thanks for listening, Glenda

Sherri, My husband has bone mets to vertabrae (but no pain); after radiation to the area he has started taking Zometa. He had a hip fracture due to bone met (that's how we found out he had cancer) and the surgeon operated and replaced his hip. Every situation is different but I did see an article in a previous issue of Cure magazine (Winter 2003) about treatment, including surgeries for bone mets. Keep asking questions and keep searching. Good luck and God bless. Glenda