Friends mom has stage IV LC with it in both lungs

[Karma1976]

Hello all hope everyone is doing good!

here is the deal so far

so far cat scan came back with nothing and PET results are coming this week. It is non small cell also. she has an appointment to discuss Iressa. anyone have anything other then i can reiterate to her about this form. my dad was stage IV due to the bone met. she is due to double lung, so anyone here who has some words of wisdom or suggestions? PLEASE post!!

Thank you.

[dadstimeon]

Hi Karma1976,

Sorry to hear about your friend's mom. I too have stage IV lung cancer in both lungs, blood stream and adrenal glands. I’ve had great success with Taxol and will be starting Iressa in January. See my signature. Research (knowledge is power) as much as you can for your friend's mom's. Be pro-active. Have your friend's mom stay focused and positive. Take one step at a time and one day at a time. I’m curious why your friend's mom is starting out on Iressa? There are a lot of options out there for your friend's mom to try. Of course everyone is different. I see you’re from Massachusetts. So I’m I. If you want to talk on the phone e-mail me. Hope this helps. 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

*************************************************************

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

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_index.asp?b=cancernews (Cancer News)

************************************************************

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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[Karma1976]

It is actually my friends mom. I lost my dad to lung cancer in may and am helping her out. I can tell her so much based on my experience and his, but it was similar type and different in the same instance so I amglad for your help. She is discussing the Iressa option cause chemo might have been a fright and also cause good things have been said about Iressa. My dad was suppose to do Iressa back when it first got approved but it took 2-3 weeks from the actual approval to it getting to the doctor and by then it was not an option for him.

[dadstimeon]

Yes, it’s your friend's mom. Sorry about the mix up. I corrected my first post. Just a side note on chemo. They have come along way as far as side effects go. I did have very few problems. And they have medication to off set it. But again everyone reacts differently. Yes, Iressa can does work well. Good luck. Peace, take care and God Bless.

Rich

*************************************************************

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

*************************************************************

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

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)

************************************************************

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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[Guest DaveG]

Karma:

As you know I have been restaged to Stage IV because of mets to my lymphatic system and now I have liver mets. I try my hardest to dwell on the positive things about lung cancer and life in general. Lung cancer has given me the opportunity to meet a large number of very wonderful people filled with love and courage. I has given me the opportunity to take on a cause, a very positive one at that, lung cancer awareness and fund raising for lung cancer research.

I coninually am setting new goals for myself. I have found that by prioritizing my goals by the date, the most immediate one first, and the later ones down the list, is constantly getting me through all my trials with lung cancer. My most immediate goal is to have a wonderful Christmas at our son's house. My next goal is to have a wonderful 33rd wedding anniversary with my wife on January 14. Just prior to that, on January 4, is my next CT Scan and I am praying that one of my wife's anniversary gifts will be shrinkage of the liver tumor. As you see, I am able to project long term goals, such as the golf outing in July, and use short term goals in between to make things reasonable and possible.

I believe this is one thing you should stress to your friend, making obtainable goals. It has helped me stay positive and continue to have a good attitude about my cancer. I am, also, never afraid to talk, openly, about having lung cancer. When approached with the smoking stigma, I usually ask the person this question: "You must have a reason for asking that, what is your reason?" In most cases this approach defuses the stigma issue because it will usually embarass the person asking the question. Then I can usually proceed about myself and what I am doing for lung cancer. I like asking you participation from the individual and many times, the question will arise: "What can I do to help?" The stigmatization has been removed and now the individual realizes that lung cancer is a disease like any other disease and should be approached as such and not as a social problem.

A strong positive attitude with the realization that none of us deserve lung cancer, and accepting the fact that habits, good or bad, did not necessarily bring on lung cancer.

[Karma1976]

you're so great dave!!! Honestly and amazing person. I especially LOVE your answer to the smoking question.....i HATE that!!!

well her is an update today she was having a 2nd biopsy cause they were tyring to determine what kind of NSCLC she has, (my friend does not like where she is being treated right now and actually her mom has an appointment with my dad's old oncologist tuesday) well during the 2nd biopsy her lung collapsed

Now I am hoping this is from the biopsy itself and being her second or do you think it may be plueral effusion?

[Fay A.]

Karma,

During my first fine needle aspiration biopsy my lung collapsed. It's one of the those risks that goes along with the needle biopsy. I can't state that this is why your friend's Mom's lung collapsed, but it isn't an uncommon thing to happen with FNA. I've been told that it isn't uncommon for the lung to collapse when they're doing a bronchoscopy, too. It took a while, but my lung eventually reinflated except for a small portion that was removed during the first surgery.

Wishing you all well,

Fay A.

[LindaMRG]

Dave, that is a very good answer to the smoking question. I think people ask it because they can feel that if they never smoked it will never happen to them, we know thats not true. No one deserves lung cancer, no one.

[Hope J.]

. When approached with the smoking stigma, I usually ask the person this question: "You must have a reason for asking that, what is your reason?" In most cases this approach defuses the stigma issue because it will usually embarass the person asking the question.

Dave, I like your method of showing people what they are really doing when they ask "well, did they smoke?" or seem to assume if people smoked, well they deserved this horrible disease.

I have had to shut people down myself, because it's this annoying smug attitude they get when they realize the friend I'm so sad about dying of cancer is also a former smoker.

These aren't mean people normally, but they really step over the line so I shut them down myself - usually just saying NO One deserves this disease...or I turn the conversation into the present, and how we can help my friend or her family that are suffering so much.

[Guest]

Hey guys... Well, since this is about my mom i feel i should add some stuff about her. She is still in the hospital recovering from her lung collapsing. I guess they have to wait until her lungs is done draining fluids...how long were you in the hospital when your lung collapsed?

Anyway, she is losing hope and already giving up...i don't know what to do. I tell her she has to think positive and I am always there for her and encouraging her to fight, but she really is losing hope. It is way too early in the game for her do so. Any advice?

Oh, and thank you Karma for helping out so much and giving my sister all the information that you have been giving her.