twodogs

Sandra, Thanks for the reply. Young folks hardly ever get treated at our Cancer Center either. It is usually a case where they are away from their home area or special arrangements have been made. We do perform other procedures for some youngsters with other than Cancer illnesses, "brittle bone syndrome" treatment is one that comes to mind. The process is similar to chemo, using different drugs. No matter to me what their underlying illness is, the kids just crack me up emotionally. I guess that's what makes it so difficult for us, I must be hardened to those who are more mature and I know I might have made some lifestyle changes considering what's going on now. These young children don't even get the options or choices I've had. John

Linda That is certainly a great reaction. I wish I'd thought of that last June when I was hospitalized for the P'monia. It sure puts things in perspective, having something so treatable and relatively quick to cure. Great attitude. Prayers and Best Wishes, John

My January Scans and Chemo were pretty uneventful. My blood counts were good enough to stay on my six week cycle of Chemo with no blood infusions. I think I dropped a few emails but they were general and not a real update. Yesterday we went in for my regular six week checkup and treatment. My blood counts are still good so I got to skip the blood infusions again. My CAT Scan results were also good except for what Doc referred to as just a “Tiny Bit” of fluid left in that area near the right pleural lining that was still there or back there, or whatever. He has increased one of my chemo doses a “Tiny Bit” to address that fluid and he is very happy with the success we and he have had with my treatment. Sometimes he almost embarrasses me with his praise and glee over how well things have gone. He really has done a fantastic job and I had to get him talking about the economy and the Market to bring him back to earth. I jokingly asked him if he was making a killing in this market and he seemed shy about answering “yes”. A year or so he got hooked up with some outfit playing both ends of the game, market up or down he’s still doing fine. I’m going to research some of his clues later and check it out. We were well on the way to having a perfect day in Cancer Clinic when they brought in a frail looking, sixth grade girl and sat her next to me. Her Dad and Mom and Brother were all there with her to give the moral and physical support and family strength to undergo her treatment. We didn’t even get a chance to chat with them because they pulled the privacy curtain but we did get to listen to the whole treatment. The little darling had a port installed which they mentioned was very small and they talked her trough the process with everyone getting into the act. They coached her and consoled her and educated and informed her on everything they were doing and how it would feel. When they got to the part where they were prepping her port and installing the needle she was as frightened as a person could be. Everyone within earshot, family, patients, nurses and visitors, was reduced to tears. I was blubbering right along with the rest of them and any concerns I had for myself just melted away. You guys know it all too well but I’ve just got to say it again. I HATE this disease. I hate it most of all for attacking the young, the innocent and the helpless. They do not deserve it and they did nothing to cause it. I certainly don’t have a clue on how to find a cure but I believe that the faith and prayer and support of family friends and even strangers will make the ultimate difference. RANT>>Obama can spend $5 Billion to fund ACORN, just to get more illegal votes and meanwhile, we have to ask and beg for money to find a cure for this.>>Rant off Oh yes, I broke my Lenten vow on drinking once again, I think that’s an unbroken record of 55 years straight.

For what it's worth, I just plain could not eat for over a year. I started out with chemo and radiation at the same time and the radiation wiped out my esophagus. That problem caused an inability to swallow hardly anything without pain. Then, I lost my sense of taste to the chemo so all my food tasted just bad. I got through that by basically living on ice cream and cream filled pastries. Through it all, I lost about fifty pounds in that first year. I still have occasional swallowing problems and my taste buds have never really stabilized. I'll enjoy something for perhaps several months and then quit it overnight. I have managed to gain most of my wait back, as much as I want anyway. It really frustrates my wife because we only shop a couple times a month and when we do, we load up. She'll have a freezer or refrigerator full of what I liked last month and then I won't or can't eat it anymore. I kind of got off point here, which I usually do. That point was to understand what's going on and help her choose the things she can eat and not necessarily what she should eat. My oncologist and nutritionists used to argue over my diet. One was trying to keep me alive and the other was trying to make me healthy. I went with the "eat anything I could get in and down" plan. Dairy Queen worked for me. We'll all be pulling for you both. John

I'm sorry that I can NOT tell you what is causing the irritating and persistent hair loss. I can only share that my situation in that regard is nearly the same as you are experiencing. I went from my absolutely white, Buffalo Bill/Wild Bill Hickok, long locks and curls to bald as a cue ball, right after PCI. In less than a month my hair started coming back in and six months later was thicker and darker than it had ever been. Since then it has gradually worked its way back to "mostly white" and it's not thick or long or curly. I'm currently back on chemo , once every six weeks and still have hair but it is gradually diminishing in the fashion you describe. One of my Oncologists did tell me I could try those miracle lotions you see on TV but she wouldn't really say that they work. No matter how we turn out, hair or not, Have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. John

Geri, I don't know how I missed your post but I'm sorry I did. You have a great attitude and a great story to go with it. Best wishes, happy holidays and a Merry Christmas to you and your family. John

Judy, I am on Avastin too. I don't remember if it's again or the first time but it does give me some concern. I wake up around 4:00 AM the morning after the infusion with serious hiccups that then continue for another day or two. I often get pretty severe intestinal pain along with the hiccups and never know what's going to happen with my bowels. The hand pain you have has been with me for a few years now. I never am sure whether it's drug induced or comes from me sleeping wrong or inadvertently just pinching some nerves. I haven't actually thought much about the Avastin as being a cause of my aches and pains. I'm at the point now where old age is a major player in the game. I don't think there's any way to beat that. My biggest whine these days is that I'm so run down. I have just about zero energy and the same amount of strength. It seems like I'm going downhill a whole lot faster than I was going uphill but I'm still going. The real problem I'm having is that I feel great, until I actually have to do something. I don't know if this is coming across as a pity whine for myself but I don't mean for it to be that. Just sharing what happens along the way and I can guarantee you a lot of our misery does come from the med's. You just hang in there and if you need a whine now and then, just do it. My prayers and best wishes are with you, John

Okay, I apologize. I buzz through once in a while but don't post much anymore. It's NOT because I'm cured and don't care. I never have forgotten, ,or will ever forget, all the caring and wonderful people on this site who have helped me stay in an upbeat and positive mood for so long. I just seem to have gotten back into the treatment routine and lost a lot of the energy I once had. That, and sitting around watching the stock market eat up most of our life's savings lately, has been pretty depressing. This past summer was a pain in the rear. Hospitalized at the end of June with pneumonia and some other cancer complications. Got out of that and then my port failed and had to be replaced. A week later I had a mini stroke which put me back in the hospital where I promptly managed to contract a bacterial blood disease of some sort. Things are going pretty well now. My blood counts are all good, I mean really good. I've gone for a few months now with no blood infusions required and am on a six week treatment schedule. My cancer signs are stable and that's hard to argue with. I'm still gettin' by on the prayers of my friends, neighbors and relatives plus a great team of medical professionals. I'm sorry and ashamed for not stopping in to visit more often. I consider you all to be some of my very best friends and if anyone is close to Devil's Tower you can come on over and kick my butt. John

Kathy, what a great attitude. I've heard it said, " if they don't scare you to death with that initial prognosis you've got a pretty good chance". Keep up the spirit and the fight. Wishes and prayers. John

My nephew's son was very young when he was diagnosed with Infantile Leukemia. He was the only one in the family afflicted with a cancer at that time. We all lived it and prayed through it for him and he has survived and is now healthy and approaching his near pre-teen period. When he found out my cancer had recurred he sent me an email that simply read: "Uncle John, Cancer Sucks. Get well soon. Love Brandon." Nearly broke my heart. John

I'll be emailing this to our local weekly newspaper editor in the morning. John I send out email updates to my family and friends whenever I have any events in my cancer progress or treatment. This is pretty much the latest issue and it may be appropriate, particularly in view of the up-coming Cancer Relays for Life. Cancers of all sorts exist in our community and we meet people suffering from this disease every where we go, young and old. " April Cancer Update April 23, 2008 I had a couple good days at the Gillette Hospital Cancer Center, (The world’s greatest Oncology Clinic), Tuesday and Wednesday. We got there a little early both days and I just flashed through my blood draw and CAT scan on Tuesday. On Wednesday we got a good report from the Doctor. My cancer site size has decreased and so has the amount of fluid in the pleural lining. We started the chemo and blood infusion procedures just before 9:00 AM and got out of there at 5:15 PM. Another full shift but things really went well and we were close to setting a new speed record, even using the lengthier and more drug intensive procedure I'm now on. While there, we met and chatted with a teenage girl who was being treated for causes she did not care to share with us. Her Grandma was there with her and it appears they’re new to this whole situation. They seemed eager for any kind of information and seemed to hang on every word they heard. It didn’t matter to them whether it was from staff or patients or caregivers. We are off-cycle for meeting them again for a while as she’s on an "every - other - week" routine and I’m on that; “go two weeks - skip two weeks routine. That’s too bad because I'd sure like to spend more time talking to them. Everything is so depressing and terrifying early in these cases and everyone I've met has felt so helpless early on. It seems like we’ve always got some young person in there who couldn’t possibly have brought this on themselves. For all the bad things about cancer, one of its worse characteristics is, it often attacks the most innocent among us, our babies and our other kids, (ours of those "other' type are in their 40’s). Thankfully, we all know quite a bit about breast cancer because of the publicity and those who are targeted by that disease. But, did you all know that Lung Cancer, not Breast Cancer, is the leading threat to women in the United States? Lung Cancer actually kills more women than breast cancer. It is the presumption that all lung cancer is brought on by smoking that muddles that issue. And while there is ample cause to make this presumption, it still strikes randomly and without warning. (Okay, there is a warning on the cigarette pack, but not on the air we breathe or all the food and water we consume.) Cancers of all sorts exist in our community and we meet people, young and old, suffering from this disease, every where we go. All successful cancer treatment research eventually benefits the full range of cancers. Two of the drugs I currently take were developed for treating cancer other than lung cancer. Hopefully, you or your family will be spared the horror of finding this out first hand. All cancers are bad cancers. It strikes without discrimination or logic. Many are deadly but many are curable. We can be part of the solution. If you’re having a Cancer Support event of any kind in your area, please throw a couple bucks in the pot or join in the event. I’m going to try to get some of this in my radio bit for a couple sessions. Feel free to use it for whatever benevolent purposes you may have. Beyond that, all U.S. copyright laws, restrictions regulations, prohibitions,. I’ll sue your a** implications, blah, blah, blah and etc., apply. John

Mine are just like Katie's dad's were. They start in the middle of the night following my chemo and then it's off and on for at least a day. Sometimes it goes for a couple days but gets sporadic after the first two. It's new to me this time around. Didn't get them in 2003. Probably my new meds. John

Randy, Thank you. We have a constant parade of bunnies around our place here that we kind of worry over and protect. I'll be looking at them differently now that you've shared your story with us. John

We participate and Marilyn, my wife, is a team captain for the event. The complainers apparently do not understand why there is no "fund sharing" with the relay. It is not a benefit event for local cancer patients. Relay for Life collects money for research which is sent directly to the American Cancer Society for the benefit of all. Some people are just not natural givers and come up with excuses like this. We have some others in our community who think it should be like the Red Cross and also refuse to support us. We prefer the money goes to research as it is currently. Our daughter has had breast cancer and a lumpectomy and my lung cancer is currently being treated with at least two drugs which were originally developed for breast cancer treatment. The beauty of the research we've benefited from is that the drugs don't care who you are or what you have. If they are effective you can use them. John

I hung the flag out for the Pony Express rider. As soon as he sees it and stops by we'll have one on the way from Wyoming. John

Becky, Too young, too young, too young! I was just sitting here sipping on a Martini in celebration of my daughters recent clean and clear mammogram. She has had BC and a lumpectomy plus radiation and medication and is also cancer free. I am so happy for the both of you that I have decided to have a second cocktail. Congratulations go along with my wishes and prayers for the both of you that this is the beginning of a very long, happy and cancer free future. John

Rakwel, Here's a little more info. Probably more than you wanted to know. I copied part of this and cut it out to carry in my wallet as so many people ask about it. Sometimes though, I even forget I have it. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/h ... ndex=10123 John

Welthy, Thanks for the info. I have been on the same level of Carbo, (per treatment), all along but as I mentioned, going to less frequent treatments. One thing we observed was that the pump was running at max. speed as we were anxious to get to the blood infusion. The nurse reset it to minimum when she went to consult with the doc and it was complete relatively soon after the reaction began. I'll copy your comments and take them in with me the next time just to make sure we're on the same page. Thanks again. John

For the first time, I had a drug reaction while undergoing treatment today. I'm on Carboplatin and Abraxane along with the anti-nausea juice and the decadron they give me. I also get blood infusions when they are necessary which was also today. We were just buzzing along, finishing up my last IV bag of the chemo treatment when my palms started itching a little. I told the nurse, who consulted with the doc and they concluded it was a typical reaction to Carboplatin. As time went on it became very irritating and both my hands became fully involved. I scratched as best I could and finally the saline flush and the blood infusion calmed things down and I eventually got back to "normal". I've been taking this stuff off and on for over four years and this was the first time I ever had any kind of reaction during treatment. The blood process took over three hours, (two units), and everything was fine. About a half hour after the treatment, on our way home, my butt cheeks began itching like crazy and I didn't know what it was or why it was happening. After maybe fifteen or twenty minutes that itching nearly disappeared and I made it home with no more concern. I did a "home butt check" including the "spouse participation section" and we couldn't see any rash or bug bite evidence so, hopefully, that is over too. My condition is currently "stable" which is pretty good considering some of the options. We've recently decreased my treatments from three to two and now down to one time a month also. Just thought I'd share. John

Here I am, late as usual. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! And many more. John

I've been having Cat Scans since June of 2003 with no instructions on eating UNTIL NOW! Just recently, maybe one or two scans back, they told me not to eat within two hours of the scan. Must be some new concerns.

I think there's a sort of secret rule about having to wake up at 4:00 AM. Kind of like earning a merit badge. When I went through my first round of treatment a few years back it was summertime. That worked out fine for me as the Decadron insured I'd be up and out before the birds woke up and I got a whole lot of little chores done around the house. This time it's run into winter which is not near as much fun. At 4:00 AM now it's around zero and either ice or snow covers nearly everything. Fox and Friends starts at 4:00 and we have The Weather Channel and HBO all night and that's about it. Lately I have been falling back to sleep for an hour or two after waking and watching TV but you could just about bet I'll be up wandering around the house sometime around 4:00. I just figured it's normal.

Can you drink wine with lung cancer??????? I think this is a fair question to ask your oncologist because we are all in the same boat but in a different seat. Personally, I can drink anything with cancer. I just can't drink as much as I used to and I don't have a clue if it's hurting or helping me. If they tell me to stop, I will. Bars, taverns, night clubs and lounges had always been a significant part of my life but my first year after DX I hardly drank or went out at all. The second year I could handle an occasional whiskey and water session but had a hard time with beer. Following that I had about a year of Uncle Mikes and box wines. From there we almost totally quit going out and I pretty much got on a course with a normal but very light routine, (an occasional anything), and developed a fondness for box wines and Bud Light, which I'd never tolerated well pre-cancer. As I said, I can and do drink anything, the only difference now is that most of my drinking is at home and pretty limited. I know this doesn't answer the real question you asked, (I believe the answer to that is yes). Your medical team has the best technical answer. John P.S. Okay, I was finishing off a Martini while I typed this.

Debi, We have a bit in common. This was my fifth Christmas post diagnosis and I recently had an experience similar to yours, and I quote: "The Cure magazine just took hold of me, I started questioning all that I have done, all the plans I am making, the projects I'm on, starting to feel silly in thinking that I actually have a life ahead of me. It took about an hour to get myself back. My self-doubt is right there on my coffee table. So my New Years resolution is going to be to cancel Cure magazine. I know that it is there if my cancer comes back, but I just can't have the reminder anymore. I am living and I am well and I will only go back if it drags me back and then I'll read the damn magazine. Right now I'm on strike. " Somehow I had the same reaction to this issue and reading your comment helped me make up my mind. I got up from here and asked my wife if she knew where the magazine was and she is reading it as I type. I had told her a couple days ago that I didn't want to see it anymore but she'd not read it yet. When I told her I wanted to cancel it and why, she heartily agreed. We also have a daughter who has breast cancer so we read as much as we can but she doesnt like the content either. They need somebody like Katie or you on the editorial board to get them focused on the hope and success and the possibility of positive futures for cancer patients. Good luck and best wishes and many more Happy New Years. John

To all who are in the quitting process: I quit cold turkey on June 26, 2003, the day I was diagnosed. I had smoked for nearly 50 years and very heavily for the last 20-30. It was not easy and my turkey did get some help from the Nicoderm patches. I used them for the prescribed period and for several months more. From then until last month I carried a Nicoderm patch and a nitroglycerin patch, (heart concerns), in my wallet "just in case". I'm sure they were both way past their expiration and probably would have been ineffective if I did need them. I still get the old involuntary grab for the pack once in a while and probably always will. As an aside and an add-on we have recently become aware of the presence and danger of Radon and its risks for lung cancer. We've had our house checked twice lately and are going to have some improvements made in a couple weeks. Our area is classified as having high Radon levels as is a great deal of the country. I think the money I saved on cigarettes could have paid for the Radon mitigation a couple years ago had we known about it. (Sorry for the detour. I think that's what they call a thread hijack) John