What to Expect! !

[misspiggy]

I have just been diagonised with nsclc in stage 3B, fairly advanced. I was told the average time frame is 10 months. I would like to know what happens from now to the point I am unable to get out of bed. When I decided not to go through chemo and rad. my doctor put me to Hospice and I have signed up with them. I am just curious on how do I act. It might be a hard question as everyone is different and I suppose the answer is do whatever you feel like doing. Do you suppose that I will feel fine and then on day wake up and feel the end is near! I don't know what to think or do. When I mention Cancer to someone they say I look good but don't realize that sick lungs don't show. I don't want to say anything to anyone and they they look at me and wait. I feel like the little boy that cried wolf.

Thank you. Miss Piggy

[RandyW]

HTese are my personal thoughts on this and I may hear about it but here goes.

1) It is hard to say what will happen next. Could Be anything. Have seen miracles unexpectedly happen and Have seen the worst happen.

2) How advanced is the Lung Cancer. IIIB is not too bad considering there are IV Survivors here but taking Chemo. that is your decision which I do respect and will not say anything against.

3) do you want to let Lung Cancer win now or fight. Fighting means doing what you can and want to do and not letting LC Keep you bed ridden unless it is that advanced which I do not know if it is or not.

4) Remember Doctors have a God complex but only Godis a doctor. He is the only one who knows how much time any of us has left.

Now my advice is this; Do what you want to do and can do. Don't believe a Dr that says you will be dead in 10 months phoooey on the Dr on that subject.

Look in alternative Forum. there is a lot of info in there about gealing with Lung CAncer without using Chemo or Drugs or Radiation. LOTS OF INFO there. THose are my personal thoughts and suggestions. I will say a prayer for you and can help with any research needs you may have on any subject. Am really good at that part i have been told. Wish and Pray for the Best for you and Please let me know If I can help in anyway. Remember yestaerday, cherish today and PRay for tomorrow always!!!!

[Treebywater]

Miss Piggy--

Now you LIVE. Now you do the things that you love... Now you say the important things to the important people in your life. Now you climb mountains if that's your thing, or bake cookies if that's your thing, or adopt 30 dogs if that's your thing. You live. And in living you will fight that cancer--you'll show it who's boss. Because you won't let it take living the life that you have left away from you.

People used the 'you don't look sick' bit with my Mom too. And up until the very last month of her life she really didn't, even with the treatments she was on (and didn't do well with).

There aren't any right or wrong ways to do this. Just do what comes. If people don't believe you, that's their deal. You can only do what is right for you.

[Frank Lamb]

Miss Piggy,there are many here at your stage of the disease and many here staged more advanced.It is my feeling that every day we should make the very most of everything available to us.

I also agree with Randy in that no matter how good drs. are they don't always know how long we have.As with many others here I was given 6 to 12 months.I am now nearing almost 3 1/2 years and am still having lots of good days and still pretty active.

This is your choice and we will support what ever you decide but you may want to get other opinions.

There are many treatments available out there that could make a difference.Most of them are uncomfortable but also doable.It has been well worthwhile to me to this part of the game.

[Linda661]

Mary:

Expect to live your life and enjoying every day of it to the fullest. Expect that your hospice support will help you control any symptoms you encounter along the way so that you are comfortable, feel the best that you can, and help you be as independent (and where you want to be) as long as possible along the way.

I may be wrong in what I'm "hearing" in your post, but please don't sit and wait/wonder/worry for "the end" to come. As others have said, noone can say for certain a timeframe. Enjoy every day, and if you wake up and feel bad, discuss what you feel with your doctor and hospice team -- they are there to help you manage whatever comes your way.

Your hospice team has many resources to help you, besides the nurse and your doctor. There are social workers, home aides, volunteer services, and counselors, for example, who are also available to you to help you address and plan for the many things you are thinking about right now.

Hope this helps,

Linda

[luvmydog2]

I have nothing more to add that the others have said. They have given you good advice.

You ask "what comes next." What comes next is what you want to come next. You made the decision to take the Path Less Traveled and I respect your decision on that. Only you knows what is best for you. Now back to your question. You made the first decision now you decide what comes next. Take that dream vacation you always wanted or take that airplne ride or spend the rest of your life tring to meet that person you always wanted to meet. Remember, YOU are in control of your life and not the cancer.

Stay with us and keep us posted on things as they progress. We are here for you.

[Welthy]

MissPiggy,

I totally respect your decision and echo the fine statements made above. The only other thing I would add is that you should make sure you have all your affairs in order. Financial, insurance, medical power of attorney, yada, yada, yada. I AM NOT saying this because you have chosen the path less traveled. My husband and I made sure we got our ducks in a row immediately when he was diagnosed. It made it easier to get the "things you don't want to think about" out of the way so we could get on with our lives (and in his case therapy.) Enjoy your journey sister and keep us posted!

With much respect and best wishes,

Welthy

[ernrol]

Miss Piggy,

I respect your decision, but I can't help sharing with you what I was told when I was diagnosed with inoperable stage IV lung cancer with a pleural effusion. I was told if I did not choose treatment to go to Hospice. I choose to get the treatment. The same doctor told me that they would make me very sick; fortunately he was not my oncologist. I started chemo Carboplatin and Taxol with Tarceva in August 2005. I have been cancer free since November 2005 and I never got sick or lost my hair. My quality of life is better than before I was diagnosed.

I just thought it would not be fare not to share this with you.

Ernie

[Nick C]

My mom's approach to being terminal was this:

If there was a 1% chance she could beat it, she would have unhooked the water leads, unscrewed the drain, scraped off the caulking and thrown the kitchen sink at herself! She said she would have.

My mother felt great when she was diagnosed with 10 metastaces in her brain from the lung and all other stuff too.

She knew there was nothing to do. So she did radiate the brain hoping she would keep her mind in tact and in her words live every day like it was her FIRST. Meaning wonder in everything like you've never seen it before.

And she did that for 30 days!

I wish for you the same quality of days, just many many many more of them. And if there is a chance at fighting, then I wish for you blessed decision making.