Newcomer Introduction

[Tomgorad]

I am a newcomer to this site and want to introduce myself. Hope this is the proper place to do it. My username is Tomgorad and I am newly diagnosed with lung cancer and feel like my life and world has ended. Would surely love to hear from some of you folks as help me alot to talk to others. Realize I must get a positive attitude about this but that's easier said than done. Thanks so much.

[Kasey]

Welcome Tom,

There are MANY of us here to help you navigate this site, answer your questions. You need to tell us more about yourself though. Knowing what type of cancer you have, treatments proposed, etc. will help us help you better.

We are glad to be of help to you. So take a deep breath and post again with some additional info for us.

So glad you are here for us to help you.

Kasey

[hopeandstrength]

Welcome, but I'm sorry that you have to be here. My dad was diagnosed in May and this place has helped me a lot! There are many wonderful people here dealing and living with this disease and doing well! That is encouraging to me!

Take care and write more soon.

Cathy

[Snowflake]

Well, Tomgorad, you're normal. I felt as if the entire world was crashing down on me on diagnosis...well, a few minutes after the actual words were spoken and my brain started to work again.

Do you know what kind of cancer? Small cell or non-small cell? Stage? Start to gather information on the type and the treatments for it. Take an active role in your medical treatment, ask questions, write down the answers to refer back to...

Remember to breathe, concentrate on breathing when the crushing feeling begins, inhaling in through the nose and out through the mouth, deep breaths.

Welcome to the family, sorry you have reason to search us out.

Take care,

Becky

[Donna G]

Welcome. May I call you Tom for short? Boy the day I was told I had lung cancer my world fell apart, I cried all the was home and was barely able to call my husband at work to tell him. That day I did not even know much about it and I am a nurse! but not in Onocology. I am glad to tell you there are many chemo drugs, types of radiation, types of surgery,and also many types of diagnostic tests that we all go through . The doctor needs a biopsy to tell the type of lung cancer and many other tests, breathing, bone scans, CAT scans, etc to get enough knowledge to formulate a plan. Have you seen a specialist, a onocologist, or a pulmonologist, been refered to a thoracic surgeon, or a radiologist? Boy those first few weeks they really keep you busy, you get so much told to you it is great to have someone with you to take notes or at least a tape recorder so you can go over it again later. So much to take in all at once. Hope you can give us some detail of what has happened so far, and what they have told you. Waiting to hear. Donna G

[Fay A.]

Hey, Tom,

Just wanted to say "welcome", and let you know that you've just found yourself a rather large bunch of good friends. You are not alone in this. And a lot of us are living with this disease.

[ellakc2]

Hey Tom,

Sorry you have to be here, but it's a great place to

be. Your very normal to feel what your feeling. Once you fine out the type and stage of your cancer, we help answer you questions better.

Good luck to you and take care.

Mare

[Frank Lamb]

Welcome to our support family.You will find many knowing and caring people here.

Just about anything that comes along someone here has been there and done it and can offer good advice and support.

[SBeth]

Welcome to the site. There are many of us here. Please let us help you as you begin your battle and before you know it, you'll be helping others the same way. We're all family and we're all in this together.

[Don M]

Welcome Tom:

Soon you will get over the initial shock and begin to sort through your options. There are many. When I had a recurrence, I went to see a substitite onc. He told dme that it was not likely that I could have an operation and that I should start chemo. He said that lung cancer comes close to being managed as a chronic disease if you can't operate. There is hope. As it turned out for me, my second cancer was operable after all and I am now cancer free.

I remember when I first got a cancer diagnosis, I could not really believe it. I remember being irritated at my pulmonogist's office when they told me the unknown mass in my lung was almost ceertainly cancer. I dealt with it in the midsts of my shock and almost anger by finding out all I could about it, and attending to it step by step. You really need someone to attend the consulations with you.

You know, I still kind of find it hard that it really happened to me twice, at one level, but it did. and I am ok now, but changed.

Post again when you can tell us more about your diagnosis.

Don M

[Tomgorad]

Showing that I'm new to this I used my username but my name is really Donna. Thanks so much for your replies. I will try to figure out how to post more information on my particular case. I have a squamous small cell, stage 3, malignancy in my left lung. It is not operable because it is located too close to my heart and backbone. Am scheduled to start radiation and chemo next week. Would love to hear from any of you. Thanks for your support.

[stand4hope]

my name is really Donna

LOL! That's ok, Donna. I used fake names when I first joined.

I just wanted to welcome you to our little group and I hope we will get to know you better.

By the way, did you mean to say squamous non-small cell (NSCLC) instead of small cell (SCLC)? The two are quite different, but since you said "squamous" and "stage 3", I assume you met non-small cell.

My husband has NSCLC and has been kicking it back for a couple of years, so I hope you plan to be with us for a very long time.

Again, WELCOME!

God bless you,

Peggy

[Don Wood]

Hi, Donna, and welcome! We have the same root name, I believe. Yep, the old life is over, but a new life has begun, and it isn't all bad. It is what you make of it. Please keep us informed of your progress and your questions so we may support you. Wishing you the best. Don

[bunny]

I'm so sorry you have to be here, Donna, but welcome. This place has been a huge source of information and support (and, like fay said perfectly, a rather large bunch of good friends) since I signed on in June. There are tons of people here who've been where you are (I am seeing my mom through her LC) and can lead the way for you.

xoxo

amie

[Maryanne]

Hi Donna,

Sorry you had to find us, but you found the best site for support, prayers and knowledge.

If you go to my story you will read many encouraging stories from your members here.

Do not get hung up on stastics as that means nothing here. People her beat the odds all the time.

Please let us know more information about your LC. You may want to post a profile that will appear on the bottom of your posts.

Again, Welcome,

Maryanne

[francesbean]

Hi Donna, I hope you'll find strength and support in this community as I have. Stay strong and positive!

All my best,

Frances

[flacrakr]

Welcome Donna:

Like you, I felt as if my life was over the day they told me I had LC. Then my instinct of self-survival kicked in. I told my son that I wasn't going to lie down for this disease.

Also dx'd as III-B, and inoperable, I went through the chemo and radiation. I never missed a day at work, although it felt like I was dragging a couple of hundred pounds of dead weight. My energy started returning once chemo was finished. The treatments knocked the cancer out of the lympth node and has stablized the lung tumor.

Bottom line ... my life is not over; it's just changed. I've gotten a tremendous amount of hope from the experiences of everyone on this web site. I pray you do too.

[Patkid]

Welcome, Donna!

You have come to a great place for support and information.

Best!

Pat and Brian

[Ry]

Welcome Donna, I am glad you found us.

[bbays]

Welcome Donna,(Tom was a cute name also)

Welcome. Sorry you had to find us.

I have found much support here when I've needed it.

I'm sure you will too.

God Bless you,

Barb

[jang]

Welcome Donna! You are with a great bunch of people.

[shineladysue]

Welcome Donna,

We are glad you decided to join us. You have just become part of a wonderful online family of folks. You will find everyone very supportive and glad to share their own experiences with you. It is all very helpful. Hope as you learn more, we can be of more help.

God Bless,

Sue

[David P]

Hey there DonnaTomgorad.

ALWAYS expect the unexpected! I too expected my life would soon be over at the ripe old age of 19, after all, - "they" told me it would be. But that's not the way I saw it...and I'm lucky enough to still be around. Get some more information. Find the best medical people you can. Find that positive attitude - it's there somewhere. And don't give up. Keep us posted Donna. (and I'd love to hear the story behind the "Tomgorad" handle). Take care.

David P.

[trishnmiller]

Welcome Donna

This is the place to be...trust me! I come here at least once a day for insight, information, and moral support. I am a caregiver. You will find both patients and their loved ones here to cheer you on and help you anyway you need. You are not alone. We are on this journey together.

Trish

[richinsdakota]

Welcome Donna...as u can see, this is the best place to be for support and info..keep us posted. Good luck...Rich B.