bobmc

Hello Andrea; and welcome, so sorry to here about your mom, I'll echo what others have said about a second opinion; I'm a firm believer in getting one. I did an although it didn't change anything, it gave me a sense of comfort that I was making the right decisions which is so important. I also found it real helpful to write down my questions before my dr's visit and have my wife write down his responses. It's so easy for information to get missed or misunderstood. Again glad you found us and know more than anything that we are SURVIVORS. God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC stage IIB - left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today !!"

Hey Tiny; Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice !!!!!!! Go out and celebrate !!!; just don't fall off any rock walls !!; I know exactly what ya mean by " easier said than done " the waiting and wondering can drag you down: had my scans on April 7th and see my onc. on Fri. ; way too much time to speculate, were gonna talk about it; God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!!"

I just read a really good article in the readers forum of CURETODAY.COM. It's written by S. Epatha Merkerson who plays police lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC's Law and Order. She really hits the nail on the head as she discusses lung cancer and being a caregiver. Check it out it's good, sorry don't know how to make the link, could use some help. God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC stage IIB - left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today ! "

Hello Tommy, Welcome and as Donna said you are amoung AMIGO'S. They took my left lung out almost 2 years ago and I still have pain from time to time which is usually because I'm playing golf, or working about the yard. I usually take some advil or aspirin for it and that works just fine. I was 50 when they operated and I see your a bit younger, so stay active, exercise and work on your breathing. It will get better but it will take time. Like Dave P. says " exercise rules " OH, The family pic was taken 8 weeks after they took the lung, I was hiking in the rainforests in Costa Rica with the family, I was really sore back then but also really determined to live. Remember you are a SURVIVOR. God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC- stage IIB - left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

WOW Bonnie; that' really great!!! I'm so happy for both you and Howard ; GO OUT AND CELEBRATE !!! God bless and be well!! Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 "absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

WOW Shordy; what a great message I can really identify with your dad, had a happy moment when I read about cutting the grass. I remember being 3 weeks out of the hospital after they took my left lung and doing the same thing. My wife was in shock, I had 75 ft. of plastic tubing strung from the ox. machine over the deck out into the yard where I was doing the weed wacken on my front lawn. My wife said why the ------ are you doing that, My answer " CAUSE I CAN " Keep doing what your doing, Shordy God bless & be well Bobmc - NSCLC- stage IIB- left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today "

Hey Tiny; That's OUTSTANDING NEWS !!! Congrats and I really like your style - ice cream, banana's & chocolate sauce - WOW !! Enjoy ! God Bless & be well Bobmc - NSCLC stage IIB - left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hi Diana; That's the ticket!! A trip to Cape May! enjoy yourself, you deserve it! Don't miss the sunset flag cerimony at Cape May West and a meal at The Washington Inn. Here's hoping you get warm weather and sunshine!! God Bless & be well and glad your here Bobmc NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!"

Hello again Diana; I was just thinking about you, I'm so very glad you found us. I remember after my surgery how comforting it was to have a friend who was a lung cancer survivor. She let me know what it was like for her and it helped to realize that we really can get through this. That there is hope! So first of all know that.! I also identify with the rollercoaster ride as you put it. I can't say that I was up & down with the emotions as much as you. I was just afraid and anxious that I couldn't or wouldn't be able to do the things I could before. I n the first few months everything seems so difficult. I remember having to be so slow and meticulous. You know, things like, showering, getting dressed and tieing my shoes, ( really used to pis_ me off - tie one then take 6 breaths then the other - 6 more breaths ) - get the picture; THIS TO SHALL PASS; Anyway the message is that it will take some time but you'll ge through it. At 3 months after the operation, I was able to start playing golf again, which was such a lift for me. It was just something that I loved to do and it helped tremendously with my attitude. At 5 months I went back to work which was a bit scary but I had allot of support. Now, it's just about 2 years and things have smoothed out, I'm not the way I was but thats OK. I'm learning how to become a survivor and get on with my life. God Bless & be well ; and hope to here more from you Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying lif today "

Hi all; Boy, all these posts really got me to thinking and I usually try not to question the why's, ya know, just stay grateful for the todays; If that makes sense; I guess, as a result of the cancer, I've really grown spiritually. I'm kind of learning to put one front in front of the other, to watch my expectations and leave the results up to God. Just seems to work OK for me, although its not always easy to do. Anyway, Rita thanks for the story, I absolutely agree with you. I'm also an "early stager", and my cancer was also found by an x-ray. The dr. first dx.ed me with the flu, but ordered the x-ray because he new I smoked (quit the next day), and wanted to be sure there was nothing else going on. Very, very, grateful he did, as they dx.ed the cancer 4 weeks later after a broncoscopy. So, when I hear that x-rays or CT scans arn't proven to improve overall life expectancy, I say bulls---t. Unlike you, though there was no wait and see. The nodes in the center of my chest were enlarged and they didn't know if it was the spread of the cancer or the infection (was dx.ed with pneumonia not flu). Anyway, I saw a surgeon who proposed doing a mediastinoscopy to find out. If the nodes were cancer free he was going to roll me over and operate on the lung if not I'd be a late stage and a candidate for chemo or radiation. Boy, I can still feel the fear, I blacked out in his office as he was explaining this to me, talk about being overcome by the anxiety. They took the left lung and 18 nodes the same day. I was staged at a IIB because they found the cancer had just started to spread to one node that was inside the lung. That was almost two years ago, and like I said I've become real spiritual as a result, Wow, didn't mean to go on like this; I like what someone said about being there for other people, I feel the same way. It's very important for me these days to be able to share what it was like for me. Like I said, I remember the fear and there was a survivor who helped me when I was first dx.'ed. She was a saint and SHE GAVE ME HOPE!!; Ya know, led me to believe that cancer was not a death sentence. Anyway, I'm rambling, it's good to be here! God Bless & be well Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 " absolutely insist on enjoying life today!!"

Yes Deb. that's very, very good news, I'm so happy for you, your dad and family, looks like Iressa's doing it's thing. and I certainly can picture your frustration. We just keep marching on breathing in and breathing out. But the cool thing is that were still marching. God bless & be well - keeping you and your dad in my prayers Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 absolutely insist on enjoying life today!

Hey Karma; My thoughts and prayers will be with you, your dad and your mom. Sounds like he's a real fighter. Hang in there! God Bless & be well Bobmc- NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 "absolutely insist on enjoying life today"

Hey Karma; I agree with Laurie; that sucks!!!!, no negativity!!!!!!; Get Grandpa on the web! Where did get that banana???; it's GREAT !!! God bless you and your family - be well Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB - left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 "absolutely insist on enjoying life today"

Hi Sara; Also want to welcome you to the board, so ,so sorry to hear of Ed's dx. Know that you are not alone, Cancer is a terrible thing to deal with and you will find good information and caring people on this site, AND as Connie says "lots of hugs" God bless you and Ed and be well Bobmc - NSCLC- stage IIB - left pneumonectomy - 5/2/01 " Absolutely insist on enjoying life today "

Hi Randi; OUSTANDING MESSAGE!!; I thought the article was right to the point; It made my day. thank you for writing it; God bless and be well Bobmc - NSCLC - stage IIB -left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 absolutely insist on enjoying life today!

Hey Kristen, That's really great news. I'm happy for both you and your dad. Tell em welcome to the 1-lunger club; from 1 -lung Bob and remember we live close by so if he needs anything, call or e-mail me. The recovery's a bit slow, but it is recovery now; tell em to take the pain meds. when your suppose to, use the ox. at home if they give it to him, works good at night for sleeping, keep the pillow under the left arm, squeeze when coughing, get plentyof rest but keep trying to exercise and most important of all remember each and every day that your a survivor. Good to be alive today!!; thanks very much for the update God Bless & be well Bobmc - NSCLC- stage IIB, left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 Absolutely insist on enjoying life today!

Hi Kristen; Your Dad will absolutely be in my prayers tomorrow; Reminds me of where I was almost 2 years ago. Be grateful his cancer was caught early and know you are not alone. God Bless you and your dad & be well Bobmc NSCLC - stage IIB, left pneumonectomy 5/2/01 absolutely insist on enjoying life!

Hi Tcandy & Marie: My very best to you both and you will certainly be in prayers; It just seems that the passage of time is the only thing that lessens the anxiety. My 2 year scans are coming up in April, but trying not to think about it, it's too far away and I'm trying to learn how to live and enjoy one day at a time. Easy to say but hard to do! Be well; God Bless and enjoy each day! Bobmc NSCLC - StageIIB- Left pneumonectomy 5/2/01

Hello again Kristin; Your dads news is very, very good, I had my entire left lung removed on 5/2/01, stage IIB and I will echo what others have said; take the pain meds when your suppose to, do the breathing exercises, walking and physical exercise but don't overdo it ( I had/have a tough time with this ), stay positive the recovery seams slow but you will get better. Also ASK FOR HELP; I had / have a hard time with this too, think it's a" man thing"; Also, I'm a firm believer in second opinions, most dr.'s are ok with it. My surgery lasted about 5 hours, post- op the rest of that night, up and walking the next day ( abit wacked but on my feet ), out of the hospital in 4 days , on ox. as needed for 4 weeks, ( it helped at night ); pain meds, tylenol w/cod. for about 6 weeks, 8 weeks after surgery I was hiking through the rainforests of Costa Rica taking pic.'s of wildlife and fishing for tuna, it was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be, but I was able to do. I insist on enjoying life today!; It's been 21 months now, I still get sore from time to time, usually when I'm overdoing it, still need reg. tylenol or advil but that's ok and obviously my breathing is not what it used to be, but I had the entire lung removed and was a heavy smoker. I'm also in pretty good shape and am now 52 years old. I see a med. oncologist every 3 months and have ct scans done of my brain, chest & abdomin every 6 months. My best to you and your dad and God Bless Bobmc NSCLC stage IIB, left pneumonectomy 5/2/01

Hi Kristen; My very best to you and your dad, sorry to here the news; I was dx. with NSCLC stage IIB, squamous type on April 15, 2001 and had my left lung removed on May 2, 2001. That "I can beat it atitude" certainly helps and my message is that you certainly can!! I just passed 21 months cancer free and although the road is rough at times I'm still on it and enjoying the hell out of life today, Be well and God Bless - keep posting and know your not alone Bobmc - just back from sunny Mex. where I got to wack golf balls into the sea of Cortez, Absolutely insist on enjoying life today!!

Hello Ellen; my very best to you; I was dx. NSCLC stage IIB, Squamous type, on 4/15/01 and had a left pneumonectomy on 5/2/01. I am also like you very, very grateful that the disease was caught early. I presently see my onc. every 3 months, I have ct scans of the head, chest and abdomen every 6 months, along with a chest x-ray and bloodwork. At the other 3 month interval, I have only a chest x-ray and bloodwork done. I am comfortable with this and feel if anything is developing it should be caught early. I originally began seeing my GP for the tests and follow up care ( my decision ) and he tried to reduce the number of tests as he was concerned about unnecessary exposure to radiation. I believed him but let him know that I was unhappy about the test schedule. We both consulted with my onc. and as I stated I now see him for follow-up care. I would advise you to also let your doc. know you are unhappy, and would like a second opinion. I would also speak to my insurance carrier about it. You need to and should feel comfortable about your follow up care. God Bless and be Well Bobmc