robobbi Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Hi everyone - My name is Roberta and I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in December 2004. It was a fluke that it was even found since I didn't have any symptoms...that Sunday I was driving to meet my family for dinner and felt my heart beating more rapidly than usual. My daughter's father-in-law is a doctor and suggested I go to the ER. They did tests and heart was fine but I told the ER doc that I had been having some discomfort in my stomach and he did a CT scan. That showed some nodules in my right lung but said "probably of no consequence" and to follow up in 6 months...and I said NO WAY. Found a surgeon and had all the tests - full chest Ct scan, PET scan. The CT scan showed a tumor in my LEFT lung and had surgery on December 20th and they told us it was benign. The doctor came in the next day with the bad news that it wasn't benign so I had to have more surgery in January, 2005 to remove the upper lobe of my left lung. Lymph nodes and margins were okay, thank goodness. I had 8 treatments of chemo, first Gemzar/Carbo and then was switched to Gemzar/Cisplatin. Had lots of problems with my blood and needed shots most of the time. I completed chemo in May of 2005 and so far, so good. Although I must say that every three months when I go for my scan I'm filled with anxiety. Ironically my daughter had been part of Lungevity for several years before my diagnosis because a friend of hers has lung cancer. I know that talking with all of you will help and if I can be of help to anyone, please just ask. Roberta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonni Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Hi Roberta....welcome to the board and as usual we alway's say sorry you had to be here but glad you found us...Anyone here will help you anyway they can. Happy you are doing well...but I'm sitting here thinking...first they tell you benign and then the next day 'bust your bubble"..grrrrrrrr..I wish some of these doctor's would get the facts straight before they make any comment at all...freaks me out.... Stay well and God Bless....PamS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robobbi Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 Hi- Thanks for the welcome! The day after surgery they removed my chest tube and then I had a lung collapse...so they had to reinsert the chest tube which is NO fun. I was laying there and I kept saying to myself " I can take anything because it was benign" and then the next morning was told it was malignant. I wouldn't wish that emotional swing on anyone...but we get through things we never even imagined. Thank again for the welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Hello Roberta and welcome, I am very impressed with your wonderful outlook on things. Sorry you had the need to find a site such as this, but I think you will be an inspiration to many here. My best to you, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Welcome Roberta, I am glad you found our site. We need survivors like yourself here to help others just starting this journey. I hope your daughter will send her friend here also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggiesmom Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Welcome to the board. Glad to read that you're doing well and continue to fight the fight. Please stay and continue to give your support. We sure can use it Joanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonjo Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Welcome Roberta, Congratulations on your almost 2years of survivorship! Your story is an inspiration to the rest of us here. Keep up the good work! Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernrol Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Roberta, Welcome, you came to a great place to get info and find friends. I would like to invite you to join a lot of us on the LC SURVIVORS forum. Here all cancer patients discuss various topics and try to help each other. The LC SURVIVORS is A forum for anyone diagnosed with Lung Cancer, those in treatment and those who are not, to express their thoughts and issues from a patient's perspective. Ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jang Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Welcome Roberta. Glad you found us. There are lots of great people and good advice here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Hi Roberta, welcome. I hope you stay cancer free. It is a good thing you did not wait for 6 months. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robobbi Posted October 12, 2006 Author Share Posted October 12, 2006 Thank you everyone for your welcome to me. It's an unfortunate way to find "family", but that's what we are... Roberta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Welcome, Roberta, and congratulations on almost 2 years of survivorship. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Welcome Roberta, I know this is not a place you wanted to be but we are glad you found us. This is a great big family. We try to be there for each other in any way we can. Congratulations on two years. Nice to meet you. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raindog Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Hi and welcome Roberta, Thanks for sharing your story, Every bit of inspiration from survivors helps so much. Thank you for coming here to share your travels. Best wishes to you and your family, -Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Hello Roberta, I too am sorry to hear you have the need for us, but I sure am glad to hear you could swing in here and check us out and make some wonderful friends and get some wonderful support. I am an 11 year stage IIIA-B lung cancer survivor. So, please know that this crud can be beat. There really are many many many long term lung cancer survivors running around this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Welcome, Roberta, and congratulations on almost 2-years survivorship! Glad you found us. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robobbi Posted October 12, 2006 Author Share Posted October 12, 2006 I said it before and I'll say it again - thank you. Hearing from all of you is wonderful, inspirational and very "connecting". I wish I would have known about all of you when I was first going through all the trauma but I don't think the need for these connections will ever stop. Roberta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Hi Roberta, Just want to add my own welcome here. I can truly relate to what you said about not knowing you could survive the diagnosis of lc. It is amazing to me the strength and courage that resides deep inside each one of us. When we need it, it is there. You have truly found it, girl! again, Welcome! Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma's kid Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Hi Roberta and welcome to the family!!!!! Sorry you have a need to be here but really glad that you found us. Great group and lots of support and info! Continued prayers..glad you are doing well and that's music to our hearts (yours tooooooooo) Libby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrnalu Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 welcome Roberta,Glad to hear your story and that youre doing well.Yes we do always need to connect with each other and this is the place. I feel so close to the people here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Just want to welcome you Roberta. You certainly have been on a rollercoaster ride, but you are doing just fine. Your story is inspiring and I love your spirit!! We are always here for you and could use you to help some of the newbies who are so scared. We are here to give them support and can answer any questions they may have. Please join us in helping them. They have to know the LC is NOT a death sentence and there are so many treatments out there, they just have to find the one that will work. Take care and again welcome here, we are sorry you had to find us but you found the best family here. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robobbi Posted October 19, 2006 Author Share Posted October 19, 2006 To Myrnalu and Maryann- Thanks for your welcome and Maryann, I agree with you about trying to help anyone who needs it. As I've said before I wish I had known about this site when I was first going through everything..but I didn't, but if I can help anyone in even the smallest way it will help me. Thanks again for the welcome. Roberta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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