Geoff

Please pray for my mom. She had a MRI today because she has begun having pretty bad headaches. She has just gone on decadron. She has brain mets and whole brain radiation that finished about 2 months ago. Thank you, Geoff

Thanks for the posts Terri. God Bless Geoff S

A social worker I met from cancer care said that he had a 14 year stage IV survivor in his group thearapy.

I'm so sorry Shelly. Words fail at times like these. Geoff

Mo, Melinda and I are praying for you and your family. You are an amazing and wonderful person. Geoff S

Terry, I found out that Rhode Island Hospital also does it which as you know is pretty close to Boston: http://www.lifespan.org/services/oncolo ... lation.htm In regards to the whole brain radiation our onc said that at least in my mom the way the tumors were situated there was probably a lot of microscopic cancerous activity which the whole brain radiation would take care of. Hang in there, I’ll be praying for you guys, Geoff

My mom just had whole brain radiation she had a lot of lesions, probably more than 8. However the radiation oncologist we saw at Sloan said that if the patient had up to 4 lesions he would consider treating them steriotactically or individually instead of whole brain. I’m not a Dr. and I don’t know your husbands case but I remember hearing our doc say that. We are going to the Sleepy Hollow branch of sloan near Terrytown. Feel free to PM me for more info. Geoff

My mom had swolen ankles and feet at first as well. They checked her for blood clots and she didn't have any. She took a diuretic for a few days and the swelling went a way and has not come back. I still don't really know what caused it.

yet more on rfa http://www.lungcanceronline.org/treatme ... l/rfa.html

Hello all, I first spoke to the Cancer Care people at the Labrecque Classic fund raiser in NYC a couple of months ago and found them to be a very valuable resource. Here is the link: http://www.cancercare.org/ They also do a occasional teleconferences where you can participate in lectures on various topics and can even ask questions at the end. After you register they call you when it happens so it’s free. The old conferences are archived on the web so you can check them out. http://www.cancercare.org/TelephoneEduc ... .cfm?c=416 Best, Geoff

I don't know if this was posted before by someone else but I found this to be very interesting http://www.med.cornell.edu/news/press/2 ... 14_03.html

Joyce, I don’t know if you saw this in another thread but I found this story to be pretty interesting. http://www.thecancerzone.com/pam.html There is some stuff in there about things that may enhance the effectiveness of taxol like vitamin D etc. You’re in my prayers, Geoff

Cat, Melinda just told me that she gets a shooting/stabbing pain from what was repeatedly diagnosed as a large cyst/imflamed groups of milk ducts in one of her breasts (this was originally dx'd when she was 17 and she has been seeing a breast specialist every couple of years to "keep tabs on it"--esp. since her mom got breast cancer the first time). Because she has always been "too young" for a mamogram--they have been dx'ing her with ultrasound. She plans to demand a mamogram as soon as school is out (despite the fact that she is still "too young") now that her mom has gotten breast cancer for the second time. She has consistantly been told, though, that they do NOT think it is a tumor as a) it changes size and tenderness it has not grown/changed since she was 17 and c) that breast tumors don't usually hurt (something she questions more now). But she wanted me to let you know that she definately gets shooting/stabbing pains there on a regular basis--and has for years! So maybe what you have really is a cyst. But, still, please monitor it! I hope this helps. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Geoff (and Melinda)

Hi Dave unfortunately I don't have any medical advice for you but you will be in my thoughts and prayers untill you get this figured out. Geoff

You may wan't to check out hyperbaric oxygen treatments as well. http://www.cabrininy.org/hyperbaricOxygenTreatment.html

I’ve found this site to be pretty helpful on the supplement front. We’ve got mom on a bunch of supplements and have cut out all sugar. I’ve particularly found Cary’s info on TM (copper reduction) very interesting and Jim’s story at http://www.thecancerzone.com/pam.html very helpful. I am actually going to post more about mom’s regimen soon but I’m still researching and changing stuff. Like some others on the site I believe in combining traditional and non-traditional to hit the cancer with everything at ones disposal. More to come, Geoff

My mom had a really bad cough and a lot of phlegm leading up to and after her diagnosis. We found out that a tumor had totally blocked of one of the bronchi preventing any air from entering that portion of her lung. She has had three weeks of radiation that shrunk the tumor and opened up the airway. Her cough has gotten much better and almost gone away completely. She had side effects like a very irritated esophagus, trouble swallowing etc, but most of that has cleared up as well thank God.

Thank you Dean, I'll be praying for you. Geoff

Shelly, It is very brave of you to talk about your struggles and fears with God. I think most people wrestle with their faith at times whether they admit it or not. The Bible contains several examples of Jesus chastising the Apostles for showing a lack of faith, and they were right there watching him perform miracles. So spend time praying and reaching out. Get a study bible and start reading. Seek out other Christians to talk to about your fears and doubts. Just remember that faith will grow in us, the more we use the more we will get, so start small. Have faith in the fact that God loves and forgives us for everything, including a lack of faith, so you need to forgive yourself as well. I will be praying for you and your family. Geoff

Cheryl, We are all blessed by your attitude, thanks.

Prayers on the way!!!

I'm debating the whole soy thing myself. John posted these links regarding soy in another thread if you haven't read them. Both pro soy http://www.drlark.com/nc/brh_soy.asp http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.h ... onId=76903

I found these articles and figured they may be of interest to some. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 070424.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 065709.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 205813.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 074209.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 071855.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 064623.htm http://www.thecancerzone.com

Jane, Melinda and I will be praying for you and your brother as you go through this. With MUCH love hugs and prayer, Geoff

Please see Melinda's post about a clinical trial at Yale in the "New Research" section. Unfortunately mom was not eligible because they are not allowing people with brain involvement in this phase I trial. The trial has not been officially approved by the administration yet but it should be in the next couple of months. I probably should not say this as I am not a doctor, but I have a good feeling about the potential of this treatment. All the people I have corresponded with up there were very nice and I have been praying for them and the success of this trial. Geoff