bobmc

Hi Heather; Just wanted to let know I'm thinking of ya, Certainly OK to be freaked out over the cough and plueral effusion, anyone would be!!, But it does sound like you got a good team of doc.'s . Can't add anything but prayers, so I will!! God bless, be well and hang in there; Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey Very nicely done Ry!! Although never get tired of chatten with ya, after all , how else would I learn about " Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" hope I got that right Seriously, Ry's right, we could use more people. We are really just getting to know one another. Conversations, can go anywhere, and you should feel no pressure, say what ever you want, after all we're all on this bumpy road together. If your typing skills s__ck like mine, thats OK, remember everything pretty much pales in comparison to cancer. come out and join us, Becky, Debi, miss ya, Heather, stop on by, the rest please try to figure it out. God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC-stageIIB- left pneumonectomy-5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Dear Still mommy's baby girl: My thoughts and prayers go with you and your mom, Your story is touching; such a dreadful disease. I will certainly be praying for your mom. may God comfort you, your mom and family, hang in there! Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 "absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Yea Estrea, been thinking about that too!!! I think we should do something in Central Park, health walk, relay something to make a splash. I think if you wanna get noticed in the northeast, that's the place. Seems like about the 2nd weekend in Nov. would be right after the marathon and right before the smoke-out. I'm not exactly sure how to get started but I will ask some people. If I remember, someone, ALCASE or Chase W/ Sloan- Kettering did something similar last spring. I 'm also now tied in with the Cancer Hope network, there local and are pretty close with Cure Magazine. I was there yesterday for training, seems like alot of very caring people who were receptive to lung cancer issue's. Also, still working with ACS, but unfortunately there's just a few protests going on in Jersey for the Clean Air Act. I do have to call them within the week so I'll bring up the subject or at least my frustration. I may have a little clout as they are doing a feature on me for Nov. but didn't wanna let that out until I saw it. Anyway, still writing alot of letters, but that's hardly enough. I'm thinking exactly as you are, we gotta do more. God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC-stage IIB-left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

HAPPY B-DAY Dave!!! Good to be a SURVIVOR today!!!, happy for ya, ENJOY!!! God bless and keep doing what your doing Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Ouch, didn't mean to confuse ya Peg. However remember, with me there looking for disease as I'm NED, Bill, because he is a later stage already has the disease. But, from what I'm reading, markers can also have value in telling if treatment is working??? here's another link I found on it, that may help you, but has now confused me??? http://egtm.web.med.uni-muenchen.de/detail/6.htm I just learned that the CEA reading is primary for Adenocarcinoma's and Large cell cancer, and I had squamous type , seems I have a couple of questions also. I think maybe we all should print this data out and ask our onc. 's and see if we can get some clarity. God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB-left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

YES!!! ; that was outstanding!!! God bless Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB-left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hi Bruce, Congrats to ya on the good check up. , Also, had the ultra- sound for the same reason, doc said it was just calcified deposits, not a problem!! , I just figured it was from too much Vodka God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Ohh, Peg, Brings tears to my eye's too, Just overwhelmed for you and Bill!! sounds like it's time for a mimi-trip; Go celebrate!! you two deserve it!! God bless and continue to be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hello Michelle; So very sorry to hear your mom is not doing well; Please know she will be in my thoughts and prayers. I would if possible seek another opinion and hopefully at a cancer center. You might also want to send Peg a pm, I think her husband Bill was in a very similar situation, the Iressa was not working and he went into a new trial. again, will be praying for your mom God bless & hang in there! Bobmc- NSCLC- stage IIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!" Ohh!, I think Peg just posted right in front of me, there's the trial! gemzar?

Hey Ray; Your in my prayers too!! Here's a link for ya on the surgery! http://www.irsa.org/radiosurgery.html Hang in there and fight on! God bless ya Bobmc-NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hello Norme; My doc. plots a CEA reading, he tells me the number should be less than 5 ng /ml , thats for smokers of which I am not and would ideally like it at a 2.5. However, other factors such as respiratory infections can drive it up. So he looks also for trends. Mine was elevated at a 13 last winter but has been trending downward which is good. It's just another tool he uses to watch for recurrence. If the number starts to trend upward to say a 60 like Candy was saying then it's time to look very close. Hopes this helps. http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/5_18.htm http://www.vh.org/adult/patient/cancerc ... mormarker/ God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC-stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey, Gail, Becky & Don, Thanks for the bits of inspiration; I must add, I've learned to pray alot more these days. Never, thought I'd do that, never thought I'd get the strength and comfort . But I do and it's cool. I simply ask that I accept gods will for me today and that those stricken with this disease be taken care of. Amazes me how things have changed at times. Gotta be a purpose. Certainly do look at life differently these days!! Good to be a survivor today! dispite all!! God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

She will be in my thoughts and prayers Dave, Praying real hard for our dear friend Estelle!!! God bless us all Bob mc- NSCLC- stage IIB-left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey Bud; A big CONGRATS to YOU!!!! Two years is a big deal, go out an celebrate. ; enjoy and good to be a SURVIVOR today. God bless and stay well Bobmc- NSCLC- stage IIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Yea Debbie, Hang in there,! You and your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers, you certainly have alot on your plate, keep the faith!! God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Dear Cheryl; My thoughts and prayers are with you and Dick. God bless and hang in there Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hello Frank; Glad you came out of hiding ; Welcome and sorry to hear of your recurrence, let us know what there going to do for you. God bless and be well, and you'l be in my thoughts and prayers Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey Dean, Your disease sounds very similar to mine. Squamous cell causing an infection in the lung that progressed to pneumonia. They put me on a regiment of antiboctics for the infection, The strength came back. Then the scope to get the type. Also, had a mediastinoscopy to check the nodes in the chest. They were enlarged due to the infection but no cancer. Then had the lung operated on / removed. The good thing was that they did both the mediastinoscopy and pneumonectomy at the same time. They checked the nodes when I was on the table, ( took about 1/2 hr) then rolled me over on my stomach and took the lung . Woke up a new man!!, cancer free and very grateful! that was almost 2 & 1/2 years ago. let me know, if you need anything, and remember " let go and let God" God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hello Dana; welcome to the boards and so very sorry to hear of your dad. Think I remember reading your post over on ACS, glad you found your way here also. You will find wonderful and caring people over here too. I was also stageIIB, they took my left lung on 5/2/01 and I also had no chemo or rad. So sorry they didn't get all of your dads, that really stinks to have to do it again. I will tell ya that the recovery for this is a bit slow but it will get better so tell him to hang on and keep up the " can do attitude ".because it certainly helps. The family pic was taken 8 weeks after surgery, I was hiking in the rainforests of Costa Rica , the guide called me a 1-lunged loco and waited alot for me. again welcome God bless and be well, your dad will be in my prayers Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hi all; just got a note from the People Living with Cancer Site. Dr MarK Kris, head of thoracic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center will be hosting a 1 hour question and answer chat on lung cancer from 2:00 to 3:00 PM EST on Nov. 5th. I've heard him before and he is excellent. You can go to the site and pre-ask questions if you like. www.plwc.org God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Dear Peg; Both you and Bill will be in my thoughts and prayers. Will take some extra time for Bill this week. You two are long overdue for some good news. wishing you well and praying real hard. Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey Bonnie, How great to hear from you again and how wonderful that Howard is NED!! ; Hope you get the rash under control and things continue to get better. God bless, be well and thx. for the update Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Joe, So very sorry to hear of your dad's passing. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and may he be at peace with God today. God bless you and your family Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hey Sam; May God continue to bless ya, Happy for the wedding and may you continue to inspire us. way to go!! God bless and be well Bobmc- NSCLC- stage IIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"