This is Me

[MO_Sugar]

A reply to a post today from KarenC. made me realize I had not ever posted my "story" so here goes.

I woke up every morning of the last week in May with my face totally swollen, eyes almost swollen shut and unable to see for almost an hour. I tried sleeping sitting up, on one side or the other, nothing worked. I thought my allergies had kicked in so I went to my regular clinic. A PA who gave me an allergy shot and told me to come back in a week if there was no change saw me. Well, the next Saturday came and there had been no change so back to the clinic I went. This time a “real” Doctor took one look at me and sent me to the hospital for an x-ray.

He called me at 9AM, on Monday morning, at work, (NOT a good sign) to tell me that there was something on the x-ray and by the looks of it there was a good chance it was cancer. He already had a CT Scan set up for Tuesday and a Broncoscopy set up for Thursday when he called me. Turns out that the swelling was from Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

I did the CT scan and when I awoke from the Broncoscopy there was an Oncologist sitting by my bed telling me he wanted me in Columbia (90 miles away) the next morning to start chemo.

I started chemo (Carboplatnium and Etoposide) on June 6th, 2003 for 5 rounds. Started radiation on June 30, 2003 for 31 rounds and am currently undergoing PCI, which started on November 18, 2003 for 15 rounds. Currently I am “Stable” which is fine with me!

I am a 48 year old, “Single” lady, live on my own, have a job I adore and have been blessed to work for a wonderful company that has gone out of their way to make things good for me during the past few months. They went so far as to even give me a promotion! I have good insurance so I have not had to worry too much about the bills. I have had few side effects so have been able to work through most of the treatments (did have to take a few days off to spend in the hospital when counts went to almost 0) but all in all I have just been blessed. I have faith in God and a wonderful church family that has been behind me every step of the way, 2 grown kids that live relatively close and a 4-year-old grandson that I adore! I have always had the attitude that I can beat this (comes from Viking forefathers I think) and my Doctors have the same attitude, which makes it that much better!

Well, that’s my “story” and I’m sticking to it, lol.

God Bless you all,

MO

[Don Wood]

MO, thanks for your story. Sounds like things are progressing well. Keep us updated. Don

[cathy]

Glad to know you Mo.

[Tiny]

It's "MO" better to know you! Thanks! Glad things are going so well for you. As you say, "stable" is a great position to be in and maintain.

[ginnyde]

Hi Mo.

Glad to know you.

Ginny

[lynne]

Mo,

Thanks for sharing.

It is always encouraging to hear positive stories! Gives me renewed hope!

Lynne

[Joe B]

MO,

Sounds like you are doing well..... Do you (did you) have Small Cell or Non Small Cell LC?

I am glad to hear about your extensive support network, that I am sure is a huge plus!

[David A]

Mo, suire is nice to get to knmow you better. So great you have such a great employer. God Bless you my friend.

[norme]

Mo, you go girl!!!!

[Snowflake]

Sugar ('n Spice?),

Glad to see you're in a "good place" in this bad space!

Becky

[Guest canuckwebgrrl]

Nice to meet you Mo. Your positive attitude is quite inspirational.

[bobmc]

Hi Mo.

thanks for the story and love your attitude and faith. ; I too am learning to " let go let God ".

God bless and be well

Bobmc- NSCLC- stageIIB- left pneumonectomy- 5/2/01

" absolutely insist on enjoying life today"

[mhutch1366]

Hello MO,

Grand to meet you, sorry the circumstances couldn't be brighter.

God bless us all,

MaryAnn

[dadstimeon]

Hi Mo,

Great picture! Glad things are going well and you are staying so positive. Peace, take care and God Bless.

Rich

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The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / That’s The Key

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http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html (Questions To Ask The Doctor About Lung Cancer)

http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html (With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free)

http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org (The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS)

http://www.centerwatch.com (Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch)

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer (Lung Cancer In The News)

http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp (The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free)

http://www.drugs.com (Drug Information Online)

http://www.alcase.org (ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov (Unites States / National Library Of Medicine)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html (Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia)

http://www.google.com (Great Search Engine)

http://blochcancer.org (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients)

http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.gov (Cancer Information Service / NCI)

http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org (Cancer Research Center)

http://www.aicr.org (American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR)

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org (Cancer Hope Network)

http://www.acor.org (Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders)

http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html (Lung Cancer Information Library)

http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer (Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 (Healthfinder)

http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm (Medicine Net)

http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm (Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory)

http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung (National Foundation For Cancer Research)

http://www.patientadvocate.org (Patient Advocate Foundation)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html (Lung Cancer Links)

http://www.cancer-free.com (Cancer Free Connections)

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer (Health Insite)

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com (Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page)

http://www.cancerlifecenter.com/engine. ... =dictionar (Cancer Life Center/ Cancer Dictionary)

http://www.canceryellowpages.com/Resour ... G%20CANCER (Cancer yellow Pages)

http://icare.org (ICARE / The International Cancer Alliance)

http://www.vh.org/index.html (Virtual Hospital)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

http://cancernews.healthology.com/focus ... cancernews (Cancer News)

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If I Could Catch a Rainbow:

If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you its beauty, On the days you’re feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I’m finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow fair, But let me be what I know best A friend that’s always there. Author Unknown

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