kreed70

Go to the "Good News" link on here to read about how to contact the Today Show to give our support and thanking them for doing a segment on LC!!

Jill, I am so sorry that all of this is happening to your mom. Don't listen to them about length of time someone has. Only God knows how much time one has. I am not sure about hospice and when they should be called. Many people on here know a lot though. I do know that many people have survived a long time being Stage IV. Prayers to you and your family!! Kelly

Hey all~ My mom is off Tarceva just got Alimta on Thursday 10/26/06 for the first time. Today she is having alot of pain in her back. The latest scan showed progression from T2 to T3 vertabre- which is why she was taken off Tarceva. In your experiences, could the Alimta or any chemo "cause" worsening pain, hopefully, only to then make it feel better??? She was just prescribed Oxycontin and Oxycodone for pain by the onc as well. Thanks! Kelly ***************UPDATE 10/31/06*********************** Still in alot of pain yesterday. Called oncology nurse and after talking to onc. felt they that pain was due to overall fatigue and since she is laying/sitting these past few days and not up moving around much, that the muscles, joints are stiff. She will be going in on Fri. for weekly blood test while on chemo. Hopefully she will feel a little better by then. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

My mom has been on Oxygen since her surgery. Maybe that would help?? Kelly

I'm sorry that all of this is happening. You are a good daughter to her. I would look at anti-depressants. They could help alot!! It helped my mom! My mom was a 1/2 empty type person before as well. I wish that she were more of a fighter w/ this!! WE can help fight for them! I love the pic of the puppy! I'm sure he brings laughter to the family! Thought and prayers are with you. Kelly

Mom my gets scanned every three months. This beast can progress fast at times and her and onc and the family feel good about three months. Now, of course, if she were having things suddenly going on, she would get scans "off schedule". I hope this helps!!

Michele~ Letting you know that I am praying for the delivery of your third angel. The thoughts you hold of your mom will be with you in the delivery room! Kelly

John, I am very sorry for your loss. What a nice tribute to your mom. She is loved very much, I can see. Kelly

Sorry that all of this is going happening. I completely identify w/ the selfish heart thing! Sending prayers. Kelly

I'm very sorry for your loss. You'll be in my prayers. Kelly

Nation's Number-one Cancer Killer Doesn't Have To Be October 25, 2006 WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement by the American Legacy Foundation®: New research released today shows great promise in the early diagnosis of lung cancer -- a major public health breakthrough. Lung cancer is the nation's number-one cancer killer. Each year in the U.S., 173,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and 160,000 will die from it. Dr. Claudia Henschke, the study's lead author, found that lung cancer can be detected at its very earliest stage in 85 percent of patients by using CT scans. When diagnosis is followed by prompt surgical removal, the 10-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is 92 percent. Early diagnostic tools, such as these scans, are part of the solution to overcoming the nation's number-one cancer killer, lung cancer. Henschke's research, from a team at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine today. If these data receive the broad scientific acceptance that we anticipate they ultimately will, a substantial subset of the 100 million current and former adult U.S. smokers would be candidates for screening. To ensure accuracy of these screenings, carefully-monitored centers should be established in every state to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services. The cost of these screenings annually is less expensive than an annual pack-a-day smoking addiction. Moreover, screening costs may decrease as screenings become more widely-used. A new program for Lung Cancer Awareness Month which begins in November from the American Legacy Foundation® and National Association of Broadcasters, Code Blue for Lung Cancer, calls for early diagnosis of lung cancer, helping smokers quit and a search for a cure. Henschke is a physician-researcher who appears in the Code Blue program. The American Legacy Foundation is working to raise awareness with the American public that no one deserves to have lung cancer. We are hopeful that the stories told in Code Blue and research such as Dr. Henschke's will help all of us better understand America's number-one cancer killer. If we are to beat it, we must learn how to limit our lung cancer risks by preventing youth from starting to smoke and helping smokers quit. The American Legacy Foundation® is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, D.C., the foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism, strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grassroots marketing campaigns, public relations, and outreach to populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco. The foundation's national programs include truth®, Great Start® and a Priority Populations Initiative. The American Legacy Foundation was created as a result of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. Visit http://www.americanlegacy.org. SOURCE American Legacy Foundation CONTACT: Julie Cartwright of the American Legacy Foundation, +1-202-454-5596, jcartwright@americanlegacy.org Copyright © 2006 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved

I read a bit about it in my own research. It looked good! The person to ask theses types of questions of is Randy W. Go on the link here that says something to effect of New Treatments or Clinical Trials and post your question there. He has such a gift of getting the info on the new stuff out to us! Good luck!! Kelly

Hi everyone~ My mom was taken off Tarceva due to progression. She will be getting Alimta every 3 weeks. I see a mixed bag on here of people getting a mixture of both or one or the other. Does anyone have any info on one over the other or the mixture?? Researcher Randy- Ya got anything good for me??? THANKS!! Kelly

What is her onc. saying? Are they not treating her w/ chemo/rad due to the pnuemonia? Hopefully she get treatment fast and feel better. Kelly

Congratulations on the baby!! Glad to hear that your mom is doing well!! Kelly

The talk must've lifted a huge weight off of your shoulders. You are doing great in taking care of your mom. I can't imagine how hard all of this is. Sadly, I may find out. We are here. Kelly

ISAIAH 53:3-5 “THE TENDER SCAR” “The stages of grief don’t always come in the oft-quoted order: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. (A person may experience) them all repeatedly, and often in different combinations…(A)ll of that is normal…(Grief) lasts as long as it lasts. Healing comes with time, leaving a tender scar.” “Grief is a journey, not a destination. You can’t reach it like a stop on a railroad, then leave it behind. Likewise, it’s not a dead end, bringing (one’s) life permanently to a halt…life has changed, but (the) trip continues…Grief is a journey that, while intensely difficult, isn’t without hope or the promise of enjoying life again.” “Trust that things will get better, and rejoice when they do. Treasure the memories, but determine to move forward. And choose to lean on God’s loving promise: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ (Jeremiah 29:11).” Heavenly Father, we know that You are sovereign over all of life and death, but sometimes it’s hard for us to let go of loved ones, or beloved dreams. Help us to trust Your plan and Your timing, knowing that there is a time to live and a time to die, a time to mourn and a time to rejoice. Thank You for bearing our burdens, that we may be healed from our wounds and remember without hopeless pain. Lord, use my life and my scars to comfort others with the comfort I have received from You. In Jesus name, amen. Title and article quoted from the article “The Tender Scar- Journeying Through Grief” by Richard L. Mabry from “In Touch” magazine, October 2006. See www.intouch.org for further information.

Hi~ Welcome to the best LC support around! I would get a second opinion- fast!! There are tons of people on here who have liver mets and are doing really well! Granted, I don't know all the details and am not a doc but my mom got a second opinion and went from inoperable to getting surgery. You'll get a lot of responses keep checking back. Prayers for you and your family. Kelly

My mom was dx at IIIb and was inoperable then got second opinion and they were able to operate after finishing chemo/rad. I'm all for second opinions!! Good luck!! Kelly

Kelly~ Sorrry, but I am not familiar w/ anything in this area. I'm sure we have people here that are though! Good luck! Thanks for warning me to watch my food when my mom's Decadron kicks in!! Kelly

Happy Birthday!! Enjoy the Red Hats!! Kelly

Andrea~ Just praying that all will work out for you!! Suck a duck is right!! Kelly

My mom was dx at IIIB. Not in lymph nodes. She had chemo/rad first and the tumor was dead when they went in. First opinion was inoperable then got second had surgery. Does she want surgery? If she does and can take it then listen to the doc who thinks it can be done! Good luck! Keep us posted!! Kelly

My mom got her results back. Not good. Not horrible. See Test/Result Time. She is being prescribed Decadron day before, day of and day after Alimta. I am very, very nervous!!! With only taking it 3 days a month can the side effects be so bad?? What are your experiences?? She has no brain mets that we know of. Thanks! Kelly

Hey all~ We got the results back yesterday from the latest scan. A new lesion on T3- bone in back. (T2 was the first to flare up in July 2005.) Off of Tarceva on to Alimta and Decadron (totally freaked out by the Decadron!!) Will start taking OxyContin and Oxycodone for pain. I am just now getting very upset!! I was so, so relieved that it wasn't in the liver and adrenal glands. They didn't do an MRI. I guess I should be worried about that too! You know you're not in Kansas anymore when the report is (only) one new spot of cancer and you feel like you just won the lottery!! Can I just say that I want to get one of those t-shirts that says "Cancer Sucks", wear it everyday and go on my own stop-the-world-from-smoking crusade by taking the evil things right from their hands and stepping on them (my mom smoked for 45 yrs). I do feel better after that little rant! Thanks!! Love you all!! Kelly