SJAS

Bruce, You have my prayers that all is well. We will be anxiously awaiting your return.

Dan, Sending prayers for strength and comfort at this newest turn in the road.

TBone & family, Through a huge lump in my throat and tears trickling down I can only whisper - Peace... for you all.

Happy Birthday Dean! Your zest for life and wonderful outlook has become a HUGE model for me. Thank you

Thanks Rick! Boy, those pics took me right back to a typical Michigan get-together at the lake (complete with requisite clouds). Looks like a great time and fun to put a more personal face on familiar names.

Chubb club here I come. When Steve started losing weight so rapidly, the doc said to bring anything/everything into the house that he might eat, and also start cooking with butter, cream etc. Yikes, put all that stuff in a house that hasn't eaten that way in 30 years and it really was a recipe for disaster. Yep, Steve put on a FEW pounds and I exploded. To make it worse, our two teenage sons eat EVERYTHING and don't gain a pound. I keep this up and I'll outweigh Steve. Eeeks!

Sharon, I too agree that your dad got good news and yes, I have met some people who are doing incredibly well on Iressa. Steve just started Iressa as a second line treatment, but I almost wish that he had been started on it when he came up clear after his first rounds of chemo and radiation. Then maybe we wouldn't have been back to the second chemo. which didn't work. Also chemo can have very damaging permanent effects, so if your dad can avoid it - go for it. Praying the Iressa works!

Sure hoping Bob can get the answers he needs for some pain relief and all goes well with the tests. Lucky he is to have such an informed, caring friend like you.

Val, So sorry your dealing with those darn painful bone mets. Steve uses MS Contin (30 mg) and liquid morphine (Roxinol - sp?) for breakthru pain. One thing that is always emphasized to us is to stay ahead of the pain, particularly when using a timed release med like MS Contin. Good luck!

TBone - We're all praying our hearts out that this will be a quick turnabout and you'll soon be home with your loving family.

Steve just got started on the 250 mg dose. No side effects so far but it has only been a few days so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Steve just started the Iressa this week and no obvious effects yet. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the only ones he gets are the ones we're after with it.

Don & Lucie, So tickled about the quick recovery after such a nasty chemo session. Don, I get the feeling we'd all enjoy a meal in your good company. Lucky Lucie to have the pleasure Sending my prayers too.

You all put such a smile on my face ! Yep, TAnn, know what you mean about the thoracentesis. Steve had two of them and they were rough. The last one they had to stop because his blood pressure crashed. The first tech that came into the room said, "So you're here for a thoracentesis," and we both yelled, "NO - NO!" PARAcentesis. Probably scared her to death .

Just a quick update on Steve. He had a paracentesis today and it was a breeze - well, ok maybe a breeze for me and more like gentle blow for him. They did a local, inserted a needle with a tube and drained fluid from his lower abdomen. He no longer looks and feels like a suddenly pregnant woman. He's at home, resting comfortably. Of course, we did have to give him a hard time about the fake weight gain he had pulled off at the doctor's appt. on Tuesday. He has been trying hard to gain weight and we were surprised that he had indeed put on several pounds (high 5's all around). After today it's going to take a lot of ice cream to replace the 10+ lbs in fluid they pulled out. Baskin Robbins here we come! The other good news is that the Iressa was approved right away and he is on Day 2. Thanks to all of you for your caring and support and info (the website was great).

Wow, great ideas - I plan to steal several for my mom's next birthday Something we did for a beloved (altho' totally wild) pastor who was moving to another church is that we set up a video camera and had people come in and tell their favorite stories about her, favorite memories, etc. It turned out great and she loved it. Happy B'day to your mom!

Hello Memere, Just want to add my greetings to the rest of the gang. You'll probably find yourself spending more and more time here (like me!), and it's a good thing. The caring, support and encouragement here are second to none. Sorry you had to come and that you ended up with such a loser onc. on the first try. You'll be well prepared for the next one now. Take care....

Caledon, I think your title says it all. You really needed to vent and this is just the place to do it. There are so many frustrations and disappointments with this disease. You're right about the clarity it brings. I wouldn't waste any energy on "friends" or "family" who aren't there for you. You now know who really counts and you're gonna need every ounce of energy in this fight. Thank heavens your family is so well educated as you have to do so much legwork and advocacy before making decisions. Hang on for the ride!

You were way overdue for some good news and it sounds like you got a bundle of it. Such wonderful, wonderful news. Prayers always.

Hi Denise, Sorry to hear about the pleural effusion. My husband was also not a candidate for surgery, but had a completely collapsed left lung from about 6 liters of pleural effusion. He had a thoracentesis 2x (needle through the back for drainage), a chest tube for 9 days and then also the talc procedure. That was a success for him and he has had no further breathing problems. Hope they can do something similar for your mother. Pleural effusions are NO FUN! On a lighter note, Steve got served with a jury duty notice right when he got sick and the pleural effusion earned him a permanent dismissal.

Hi David, Hoping that this new drug really blows the doors off those cancer cells for you. I love reading all your posts about the kids and cars. Steve's brother came from Michigan to help us and he is such a classic car freak. He about drives off the road every time one passes. The movie American Graffitti is a sacred tome to him (he even went to nearby Petaluma and asked around until he found the road where the car race scene was filmed). A Michigan car nut in California is a dangerous thing! Have a great time at the party, and don't waste too much time pitying us poor wannabees

Ben, Welcome to the board! You're going to be such a help to your family by linking up to this place. I don't get to this part often - mainly just have time to get to NSCLC and a couple of others, but want to particularly recommend the NSCLC section to you. I have picked up a lot of helpful tidbits from it and the support is fantastic. My husband has NSCLC - adenocarcinoma also. It is always a challenge, but there are good moments too. Re the bone mets. Steve has a lot and just recently had to go on pain meds. Anyway, I know lots of info is just overwhelming in the beginning, so I won't clutter the already excellent info you're getting from other members. Just want you to know that we're here to help, support and even make you laugh sometimes. Take care

Joni, I almost never have enough time to make it to this section of the board, but boy am I glad I came tonight. What a fitting tribute to a wonderful man. My heart is with you all.

Margaret, David & Karen, YIPPPPPEEEEEE! Just made my day a whole lot better.

I'm sure cheering for Lucie too. I always enjoy your warm posts. They feel like a big hug - so I'm sending one back (((HUG)))!!