dadstimeon Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 I CONSIDER MAY/2002 TO BE MY SECOND PART OF LIFE. THAT WAS THE START OF MY DIAGNOSES AND THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY WITH LUNG CANCER. YES THERE ARE MANY DOWN SIDES TO LUNG CANCER, BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY UPSIDES TO IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. FROM DAY ONE I FELT I WAS GOING TO BEAT IT AND STILL DO TO THIS DAY. KNEW MY LIFE HAS FOREVER CHANGED, WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME AND WILL NEVER BE BACK TO NORMAL. TO QUOTE ONE OF OUR WISER MEMBERS (DON WOOD) IT'S A NEW NORMAL. I NEVER FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF. NEVER SAID WHY ME OR BLAMED ANYONE OR ANYTHING FOR THIS. JUST FELT THIS IS WHAT I HAVE AND THIS IS WHERE I AM AT IN LIFE. THIS IS THE CARDS I'VE BEEN DEALT. I FOCUS ON WHAT I CAN DO/NOT ON WHAT I CAN'T DO. I FOCUS ON LIVING/NOT ON DYING. KEEP MOVING AS BEST AS I CAN. I LOOK AT LIFE, PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY. I HAVE LEARNED TO ENJOY THE SIMPLER THINGS IN LIFE. NOT TO TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED. THAT IT ALWAYS COULD BE WORSE. TAKE IT ONE-STEP AND ONE DAY AT A TIME. IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO ME. IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT OLD FRIENDS. MY FATHER (HE WAS 40/HEART ATTACK) WHO DIED WHEN I WAS NINE NEVER GOT THAT CHANCE. EVERYONE FROM MY FAMILY/FRIENDS/DOCTORS/NURSES HAS BEEN VERY CARING, SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING. I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I CONTROL MY CANCER AND NOT MY CANCER CONTROLLING ME THANKS TO EVERYONE'S DEDICATION IN HELPING ME FIGHT MY DISEASE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT EVERYTHING HAS FALLEN INTO THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AS I GO ALONG AND FACE MANY CHALLENGES AND ADJUSTMENTS. I HAVE MET A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO MY LIFE AFTER MY DIAGNOSES. MY BEST FRIEND IS ONE OF THEM. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN AN EVERYDAY PART OF MY LIFE AND I CONSIDER IT PART OF MY TREATMENTS. ALL THE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD MAKE UP THE NICEST PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE THAT I CONSIDER TO BE MY SECOND FAMILY. OPENING UP FOR SUPPORT, CARING, SHARING, COMPASSION AND LOVE IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT WHEN ONE FACES ADVERSITY. I THINK THANKS TO ALL (FAMILY/FRIENDS/DOCTORS/NURSES/SECOND FAMILY) MENTIONED ABOVE I HAVE BECOME A BETTER PERSON. I ALSO TRY IN MY OWN LITTLE WAY TO HELP OTHER'S THAT HAVE THIS TERRIBLE DECEASE. PEACE, TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS, RICH MY JOURNEY WITH LUNG CANCER - AS THE CHEMO DRIPS! 5/02 DIAGNOSED NSCLC STAGE IV BAC @ 49 / NEVER SMOKER / POSSIBLE METS TO ADRENAL GLANDS / PROGNOSES 24 MONTHS IN ADDITION OTHER HEALTH ISSUES-- TREBLE BY-PASS / STENT / SEVERAL HEART ATTACKS / HEART DISEASE / CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE / ITP (IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA) / SPLEEN REMOVED / SLEEP APNEA / ALLERGIES / AADD (adult ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER) / LYMPHEDEMMA,CELLULITIS BOTH LEGS / NEUROPATHY / MYOPATHY /ARTHRITIS/PINCHED NERVES UP SPINE AND NECK) / TYPE 2 DIABETES / ADRENAL DEFICIENCY / USE WALKER/CANE / OXYGEN 12/02 START GEMZAR/CARPO (6 RNDS) 4/03 CT SCAN RESULTS NOT EFFECTIVE NODULES GREW MORE / ADRENAL GLANDS SAME 6/03 START TAXOL (9 RNDS) 8/03 CT SCAN RESULTS ENCOURAGING NEWS / SOME NODULES DISAPPEARED, SOME GREW SMALLER / DEVELOPED SOME NEW (ALL SMALL) ONES / ADRENAL GLANDS ALSO SMALLER 9/03 START TAXOL AGAIN (7 RNDS) 12/03 CT SCAN RESULTS / EXCITING NEWS ALL NODULES GONE EXCEPT FOR (VERY SMALL) TWO / ADRENAL GLANDS ARE REMARKABLY SMALLER 1/04 START IRESSA FOR MAINTENANCE 2/04 CT SCAN RESULTS GREW 2 NEW NODULES / BACK UP TO 4 / ADRENAL GLANDS THE SAME / STAYING ON IRESSA 3/04 CT SCAN TO DETERMINE IF IRESSA IS WORKING / CT SCAN RESULTS, REMARKABLE SUCCESS / ALL NODULES GONE OR BARELY VISIBLE / ADRENAL GLANDS STABLE / STAY ON IRESSA 7/04 CT RESULTS STOP IRESSA NO LONGER WORKING / NODULES (SEVERAL) ARE STARTING TO RE-APPEAR IN BOTH (ALL SMALL) LUNGS / SOME VERY SLIGHT INVOLVEMENT IN LYMPH NODES IN CHEST AREA/PELVIC AREA / ADRENAL GLANDS STABLE 8/04 START NAVELBINE (9 RNDS) 9/14/04 MILD HEART ATTACK PRIOR TO CHEMO / STOP CHEMO / SET-UP FOR CATHETERIZATION 9/27/04 SEE ONC TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT / CONT ON WITH TREATMENTS 10/25/04 CHEMO CANCELED / HAVE PNEUMONIA / WHITE CELLS BORDERLINE 11/1/04 CT SCAN 11/03/04 SEE ONC TO RE-GROUP AND GO FROM HERE / CT SCAN RESULTS NODULES STARTING TO SHRINK AGAIN / EVERYTHING ELSE STABLE, LOOKS GOOD / WILL TAKE SHORT BREAK 12/04 START NAVELBINE AGAIN (4 RNDS) 1/7/05 STOP NAVELBINE / PROBLEM WALKING, BALANCE / WEAKNESS LOWER BODY 1/8/05 CT&MRI RESULTS, BOTH CLEAN / ARTHRITIS IN LOWER BACK, A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR / SLIGHT NEUROPATHY IN FEET / TAKING A BREAK FROM NAVELBINE / WAIT UNTIL AFTER CT SCAN IN FEB TO SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE 2/9/05 CT SCAN 2/11/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / SIX NODULES (TOTAL) IN BOTH LUNGS / ALL VERY TINY / EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / START TARCEVA 3/21/05 TOUCHED BASE WITH ONC / WILL GET A CT SCAN ON 5/16/05 AND SEE ONC (FOR RESULTS) ON 5/23/05 TO SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE 5/23/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / STABLE / SOME NODULES DECREASED, SOME GREW SLIGHTLY, SOME STABLE / GREW SOME NEW ONES BUT ALL ARE VERY SMALL, UNDER 1.6 CM OR LESS / ONE IN THE UPPER RIGHT LUNG IF IT GIVES ME ANY PROBLEMS WITH PAIN OR ANYTHING MIGHT NUKE THAT ONE / ADRENAL GLANDS, LYMPH NODES IN THE UPPER CHEST/PELVIC AREA ARE STABLE / STAYING ON TARCEVA AND WILL GET ANOTHER CT SCAN AND SEE MY ONC IN EARLY AUGUST / OTHER THEN FATIGUE 8/3/05 CT SCAN 8/8/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / STILL STABLE / NO PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING ELSE OUTSIDE THE LUNGS, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD / STAYING ON TARCEVA / WILL SEE MY ONC IN EARLY OCT 10/5/05 SAW ONC TO TOUCH BASE / OTHER THEN FATIGUE/MEMORY ISSUES- ALL IS WELL! 10/28/05 DIAGNOSED WITH AADD 12/1/05 CT SCAN 12/16/05 ONC APT TO GO OVER CT SCAN / EVERYTHING GONE (IN BOTH LUNGS) EXCEPT FOR TWO VERY SMALL NODULES / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD WITH ADRENAL GLANDS ETC. 2/9/06 ITP ACTING UP / PLATELETS DOWN TO 4000 / START (80MG) PREDNISONE / GOING BACK UP / TAPERING OFF PREDNISONE TO SEE IF THEY STAY STABLE 2/27/06 MILD HEART ATTACK / WILL TREAT MEDICALLY / STILL IN THE PROCESS OF SOLVING THE PLATELET (ITP) PROBLEM 3/13/06 APPOINTMENT WITH ONC / CT SCAN LATER THIS MONTH / OTHER WISE NEXT APT WITH ONC 6/23/06 UNLESS PROBLEMS ARISE 3/22/06 CT SCAN 3/24/06 RESULTS OF CT SCAN / ALL THE NODULES ARE GONE EXCEPT FOR TWO VERY TINY ONES, BARELY VISIBLE, NOT WORTH WORRYING ABOUT / EXCELLENT REMISSION MY DOCTOR CALLS IT / ADRENAL GLANDS EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / STAYING ON TARCEVA / PLATELET'S (ITP) BACK TO NORMAL 5/14/06 INFECTION IN LEFT LEG, SWOLLEN / GIVEN ANTIBIOTICS / WRAPPED IN A UNO BOOT FOR TWO WEEKS / SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL 6/21/06 CT SCAN 6/23/06 APT WITH ONC / STOP TARCEVA / BACK UP TO 6 NODULES, BUT ALL ARE TINY / LEG ACTING UP AGAIN, STILL SWOLLEN AND ULCERATING / NEED TO GET THAT HEALED FIRST BEFORE I CAN START ALIMTA 7/7/06 LEG LOOKS MUCH BETTER AND IS SLOWLY HEALING 7/26/06 APT WITH ONC / PLATELETS DOWN TO 5000 AGAIN / START (80) PREDNISONE / STOP PLAVIX, ASPIRIN / GETTING 4 INFUSIONS OF (ITP) DETUXAN / WILL RESUME CHEMO (ALIMTA) WHEN LEG IS CLEARED AND PLATELETS ARE STAPLE 7/31/06 OFF TO THE ER / MILD HEART ATTACK, ITP AGAIN / LOSS A LOT OF BLOOD / AFTER MANY TESTS / NO DAMAGE TO HEART / NEEDED PLATELET TRANSFUSION, NUMEROUS BLOOD TRANSFUSION ETC—DOCS SAID CAME TO WITHIN TWO DAYS OF BUYING THE FARM / WILL ALSO START RITUXAN (4) INFUSIONS 8/4/06 HOME / FEELING MUCH BETTER AND READY TO GET BACK ON TRACK 8/8/06 APT WITH ONC / NEXT UP (ITP) RITUXAN (4) BEFORE I START ALMITA 8/17/06 START CHEMO RETUXAN (4) FOR MY ITP THEN BACK ON ALIMTA 9/13/06 APT WITH ONC / CHEMO TREATMENT FOR ITP WAS A SUCCESS / START ALIMTA NEXT 12/28/06 APT WITH ONCOLOGIST / FINISHED WITH ALIMTA / TAKE A BREAK FROM CHEMO ALL TOGETHER FOR A WHILE / WILL GET A CT SCAN NEXT MONTH AND SEE HER AFTER THAT AND UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES DRAMATICALLY WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY CHEMO / WHEN I DO START BACK UP WILL BE EITHER AVASTIN OR TAXOTERE / THE LEG, NOT SURE ABOUT THE LEG THE LATEST TEST (MRV) WAS INCONCLUSIVE / STILL NOT SURE IF THERE IS A BOLD CLOT BUT SHE DID SAY THE BLOOD TO THE VEINS IS VERY SLOW / MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS VERY HARD GETTING A GOOD STUDY OF THE VEINS WHEN IT IS BELOW THE KNEE / SINCE IT AS GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE LOSING SOME WEIGHT AND IT FEELS BETTER / WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A WAIT AND SEE ON IT AND MY ONC WILL CONFER WITH MY PCP AND CARDIOLOGIST TO GET THERE INPUT / DOES NOT WANT TO START ME ON ANY BLOOD THINNERS YET BECAUSE OF MY BLOOD (ITP) DISEASE 1/22/07 PET/CT SCAN 1/24/07 APT WITH ONC TO GO OVER PET/CT SCAN RESULTS / NO CHANGE SINCE THE LAST CT SCAN LAST JUNE / SEVERAL NODULES STILL THERE IN BOTH LUNGS BUT ALL VERY SMALL AND NOT DOING ANYTHING BUT HANGING OUT AND BEHAVING THEMSELVES / EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / GAME PLAN IS TO TAKE 3 MONTHS OFF AFTER 48 MONTHS OF CHEMO AND SEE MY ONCOLOGIST IN APRIL 3/23/07 DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHEDEMMA 3/31/07 EXPERIENCING SOB / WENT TO THE DOCTORS AND WAS TOLD HAVE PNEUMONIA AND FLUID BUILT-UP IN LUNGS FROM MY CHF / SENT TO THE ER AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL / AFTER SEVERAL DAYS SENT HOME FEELING BETTER, FLUID GOING DOWN AND HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION / ALSO SENT HOME WITH OXYGEN TO HELP WITH SOB. 4/23/07 APPOINTMENT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD CANCER WISE / EVERYTHING IS IN CHECK / SOME NODULES STILL THERE BUT VERY SMALL AND DOING NOTHING / WILL SEE MY ONC AGAIN IN JULY UNLESS SOMETHING COMES UP OTHERWISE / GETTING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES RESOLVED ALSO / OTHER THEN FATIGUE AND NEUROPATHY I REALLY CAN'T COMPLAIN, IT COULD ALWAYS BE WOSRE 07/30/07 APT WITH ONC / BEING SETUP FOR CT SCAN / SOME ISSUES WITH NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET AND HANDS MAKING IT MUCH HARDER TO GET AROUND/DO THINGS OR KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING / LOOKING INTO SOME OPTIONS FOR THAT. 8/17/07 CT SCAN 8/20/07 ONC CALLED ABOUT RESULTS OF CT SCAN / TWO NEW NODULES IN MY LUNGS BUT ARE SMALL, DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW / SUSPICIOUS (ENLARGED) LYMPH NODE IN MY LEFT GROIN THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE (LAST CT SCAN) SO SHE WANTS A SURGEON TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF HE CAN GET AT IT FOR A BIOPSY / DOES NOT THINK IT IS DUE TO LUNG CANCER BUT LEANING MORE TOWARD LYMPHOMA BECAUSE OF MY BLOOD DISORDER / WILL NO MORE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS IF THAT IS THE CASE AND WHAT THE GAME PLAN WILL BE 8/30/07 APT TO MEET WITH NEW ONC / NEEDLE (CT GUIDED) BIOPSY TO FINE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LYMPH NODE IN MY GROIN AREA / TIME WILL TELL / TO MY OLD ONC- A VERY SPECIAL THANKS FOR EVERYTHING AND YOUR THE REASON I'M STILL ALIVE AND DOING WELL, TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS YOU- YOUR THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!!! 9/4/07 APT WITH PHYSICAL THERAPIST TO START AN EXERCISE PROGRAM TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS OF FEELING TIRED/WEAK, UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT IMPROVE 9/7/07 APT WITH NEUROLOGIST TO SEE IF ANYTHING GOING ON THERE / 4 PROBLEMS – NEUROPATHY, MYOPATHY, PINCHED NERVES/ARTHRITIS GOING UP MY SPINE/NECK / WILL TREAT WITH MEDS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY 9/14/07 PET SCAN PRIOR TO BIOPSY ON LYMPH NODE 9/19/07 PET SCAN RESULTS / RADIOLOGIST AS WELL ALL MY DOCTORS (WENT BACK OVER ALL MY CT/PET SCANS) DO NOT THINK BIOPSY NEEDED AT THIS TIME, PET SCAN DOES NOT SHOW ANY ACTIVITY / WILL RE-SCAN IN 6 MONTHS- SOUNDS GOOD TO MY, I’LL TAKE IT! 10/15/07 LEFT LEG INFECTED AND VERY SWOLLEN AGAIN / GIVEN IV ANTIBIOTICS PLUS ANTIBIOTICS TO TAKE AT HOME / ALSO 4-PART BOOT 11/14/07 LEG INFECTED AGAIN / ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOR IV ANTIBIOTICS AND TREATMENT 11/21/07 HOME FROM HOSPITAL / LEG LOOKS, FEELS BETTER / CONTINUE WITH ORAL ANTIBIOTICS AND TREATMENT WITH VISTING NURSE 1/08 LEG IS FINALLY HEALING AND GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION / HAVING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE SLOWING ME DOWN 2/22/08 DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES 3/10/08 CT SCAN 3/12/08 CT RESULTS / STILL STABLE, ADRENAL GLANDS NORMAL, TWO LYMPH NODES GREW VERY SLIGHTLY / RE-SCAN IN 3 MONTHS 3/28/08 MRI SCHEDULED 4/1/08 APPOINTMENT WITH NEPHROLOGY / DID A BUNCH OF BLOOD TESTS / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD 4/10/08 APT WITH ONC TO TOUCH BASE 6/12/08 HOSPITALIZED FOR CHF / CT SCAN, NUMEROUS OTHER TESTS PERFORMED / NEED A CATH AND POSSIBLY STENT IN ONE OF MY ARTERIES. IF CANNOT DO STENT FOR SOME REASON THEN POSSIBLE BYPASS / ALSO ON CT SCAN NODULES GREW LARGER AND SOME LYMPH NODES WHERE ENLARGED / TALKED WITH ONC AND AT THIS TIME WILL HOLD OFF DOING ANYTHING (GET HEART PROBLEMS RESOLVED FIRST, ALREADY HAD A LOT OF CHEMO AND AT THIS TIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A PROBLEM) AND RESCAN IN AUGUST / CANNOT DO CATH, DEVELOPED RASH ALL OVER BODY / POSSIBLE ALLERGIC (RASH) REACTION FROM THE DYE/CT SCAN? ALSO TOLD I SEEMED CONFUSED/DISORIENTATED AT TIMES, TOLD THEM MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS TELLING ME THAT GROWING UP. LOL. 6/18/08 DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL / FOLLOW UP ABOUT RASH, HEART, LUNGS 6/29/08 HOSPITALIZED FOR A VERY BAD INFECTION THAT WENT TO MY BLOOD AND SEPTIC. ALSO BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 50 OVER 40 WHEN I GOT TO THE ER. TREATED ME VERY AGGRESSIVELY WITH IV ANTIBIOTICS AND MEDS TO BRING MY BLOOD PRESSURE BACK UP. SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY CAME (WITHIN DAYS) CLOSE TO PUSHING UP DAISES IF I DID NOT COME IN, NEVER FELT THIS WORSE IN MY LIFE. 7/4/08 HOME FEELING BETTER AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE BACK ON TRACK SOON TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE FROM WHEN I WAS THERE EARLIER THIS MONTH 7/12/08 ER / PLATELETS 1 MILLION / AT FIRST THOUGHT I STILL HAD AN INFECTION, GIVEN ANTI- BIOCTICS THEN TOLD DO NOT HAVE INFECTION, ANTI-BIOCTICS STOPPED 7/17/08 HOME / FOLLOWUP WITH PCP, ONC, INFECTION DISEASE DOCTOR 8/4/08 APT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD CANCER WISE, STILL STABLE / STILL HAVE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES TO DEAL WITH 8-11/08 DOCTORS APOINTMENTS/TESTS MORE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT/TEST/ AND EVEN MORE DOCTOR’S APOINTMENTS/TESTS 11/26/08 BROKE BIG TOE RIGHT FOOT / ALSO INFECTED 11/28/08 CT (SCAN) GUIDED BIOPSY TO CHECK FOR LYMPHOMA AND IF LYMPH NODES ARE BLOCKING BLOOD FLOW IN MY LEFT (SWOLLEN) LEG / RESULTS TAKE ABOUT SEVEN OR SO DAYS-- THE FUN NEVER ENDS! 12/08 RESULTS BACK / BOTH TEST NEGATIVE/ ONCOLOGIST STILL FEELS ANOTHER BIOPSY IS NEED TO RULE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON SINCE 11/07 / WILL PURSUE SURGEON TO SEE IF HE WILL BIOPSY ON 2/18/09 / NOT ENCOURAGED HE WILL DO IT BECAUSE SAW HIM ALREADY AND HE FELT I WOULD BE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF MY LUNG CANCER AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES 2/9/09 PLATELETS (5K) DOWN AGAIN / STARTED (80MG) PREDNISONE AND MONITOR WITH DAILY BLOOD TESTS 2/11/09 PLATELETS STARTING TO GO BACK (10K) UP 2/14/09 ONCOLOGIST CALLED / PLATELETS BACK DOWN AGAIN TO 6K / HAVE TO GO TO ER AND GET ADMITTED FOR PLATELET INFUSIONS ETC / HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 2/16/09 RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL / PLATELETS BACK UP TO 100K / HAVE TO GO BACK ON (RITUXAN ) CHEMO FOR ITP / RECEIVED FIRST TREATMENT BEFORE GOING HOME 04/09 DIAGNOSED WITH ADRENAL DEFICIENCY, WILL START ON MEDS 04/29/09 ADRENAL DEFICIENCY IS NOT THE REASON WHY EXPERIENCING DAILY FATIGUE, EXTREME PAIN TO THE POINT OF BEING DEBILITATING / STILL TRYING TO FIND AN ANSWER AFTER (SINCE NOIV07 COUNTLESS DOCTORS APPOINTS, TESTS, AND HOSPITAL STAYS ETC 05/09 UNDETERMINED INFECTION THAT WENT TO MY BLOOD STREAM / TREATED WITH FLUIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS 06/09 TEN DAYS IN A (LIFE CARE) FACILITY FOR REHAB TO BUILD UP (OVERALL) STRENGTH AND TO SWITCH PAIN (OXYCONTIN TO METHADONE) MEDICATIONS DUE TO UNEXPLAINED SEVERE CHRONIC (SINCE NOV07) PAIN 7/31/09 ER / ADMITTED FOR CHF / TREATED WITH MEDS ETC AND RELEASED NEXT DAY 8/3/09 PET STRESS TEST / LARGE AREA NOT GETTING ENOUGH BLOOD TO HEART / BEING SET-UP FOR A CATH PROCEDURE 8/7/09 ADMITTED TO B & W HOSPITAL FOR CATH PROCEDURE / HAD STENT INSERTED LEFT MAIN ARTERY / RELEASED NEXT DAY 8/12/09 APT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS (ALL TESTS, BLOOD WORK ETC JUST HAD IN HOSPITAL) OK ALL THINGS CONSIDERED AND STILL STABLE / WILL GET CT SCAN SOMETIME LATE SEP OR EARLY OCT TO LOOK AT LUNGS AND LYMPH NODES TO DETERMINE IF ANOTHER BIOPSY IS NEEDED OCT/09 RESULTS OF CT SCAN / LYMPH NODES LOWER LEFT GROIN AREA ARE SMALLER / STILL CANCER ADRENAL GLANDS / SOME NEW NODULES IN LOWER LEFT (ABOUT ¼ INCH) LUNG / WILL DO NOTHING FOR NOW BECAUSE OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES AND POORER HEALTH / RE-SCAN IN FEB _________________ TO READ ABOUT MY PROFILE, JOURNEY WITH STAGE IV LUNG (BAC) CANCER, DIAGNOSED MAY, 2002, PROGNOSES TWO YEARS AND MY STORY PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW. http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 2155#72155 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR / HELPFUL LINKS: http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 512#324512 Top Ten Reasons Why I’m A Lung Cancer Survivor 10. Not going into funeral mode the day I was diagnosed. I never once thought this was it, that life was over or why bother. Lung Cancer is not a death sentence and one can be cured of it or still have a life living with it for many years. 9. Not dwelling on it. How I got it, why me, what if I did this/that or the blame game etc. It’s counter productive and wasted energy. 8. RESEARCH, RESEARCH and more RESEARCH. Knowledge is the key! The more one knows the better one can make decision with their doctor and better fight. Keeping it simple, does not really matter to me every little word on a report. Try to get down to the chase of what is going on and what needs to be done. 7. Living life to the fullest by making the best of it every day and by keeping busy. Life is short enough so why let a day go by. 6. I appreciate everything my family/friends do for me. I let them (especially Kathy and Tina) know how much it means to me and how much I love them. 5. Not making my disease about me. It affects my family/friends just as much if not more. My life has changed and I have to learn to adjust to the new normal. If I can’t do things or go places does not mean they can’t. It’s very important they have a life and go about it. 4. Keeping an open mind about treatments. Don’t know unless you try. Laughter, it’s the best medicine, does not have to be all doom and gloom. Exercise, it’s good for overall health and a great stress reliever. Healthy (common sense) diet, this one I need to improve on. I can eat in a coma. 3. Staying positive and having a good attitude. YES it does make a difference regardless of what adversity one faces. Have my days like anyone else but they are few and far in between. 2. All my doctors/nurses. I’m very blessed/fortunate to have a great medical team and great health coverage. 1. My wife.my daughter and my closest friend I love them the most and they mean the most to me. I owe it to them, there the ones who have stood by my no matter what and showed me the true meaning of family, life and love is all about. You can lead a horse to water but can’t get it to drink. Bottom line it’s up to me to be pro-active, to keep trying and to never never never give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 IT’S BEEN OVER 4 YEARS SINCE I POSTED ABOUT MY STORY/MY JOURNEY AND WANTED TO CONTINUE TELLING IT SO THAT THIS GIVES THOSE (FOOD FOR THOUGHT) WHO ARE GOING DOWN THE SAME PATH ENCOURAGEMENT, THAT THERE IS HOPE, LIFE TO LIVE/THINGS TO DO AND ONE CAN LIVE LIFE WITH LUNG CANCER… FOR THE MOST PART IT’S BEEN FAR MORE POSITIVE THEN NEGATIVE, I HAVE A FANTASTIC SUPPORT (MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND CLOSEST FRIEND WHO I ALSO PROMISED WOULD NEVER GIVE UP OR STOP TRYING) GROUP, AND MEDICAL TEAM AND THINGS HAVE FALLEN INTO PLACE AS I GO ALONG. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRAVELING DOWN THIS ROAD WE ALL KNOW WHAT LIFE’S HARSH REALITY BRINGS AFTER BEING TOLD “YOU HAVE LUNG CANCER” --THAT OUR LIFE HAS FOREVER CHANGED/WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. IT’S DOCTORS APPOINTMENT, PROCEDURES, TEST AND TREATMENTS TO KEEP IT GOING --SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN’T BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OR TRULY KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONAL AND MENTALLY UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN THERE/DONE THAT. RATHER THEN FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE (OTHER HEALTH ISSUES, CANNOT WORK, DRIVE A CAR, WALK/STAND VERY (USE A WALKER/AND WAS APPROVED FOR A SCOOTER) WELL, FAMILY/FRIENDS THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED AND ON AND ON IT GOES) SIDE I CHOOSE TO STILL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE SIDE AND THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT (MY WONDERFUL WIFE/MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER AND MY WONDERFUL CLOSET FRIEND WHO ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR MY VERY SURVIVAL) PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY/MATERIAL THINGS CAN REPLACE THEM. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE QUANTITY OF FAMILY/FRIENDS ONE HAS IN ONES LIFE BUT RATHER IT’S ABOUT THE QUALITY THAT TRULY MAKES THEM MY HERO’S (AS WELL MY WONDERFUL ONCOLOGIST, THANK YOU GOD) AND THE REASON I’M STILL ALIVE AND DOING OK ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. THERE’S NO MAGIC BULLET OR SECRET POTION IT’S LUNG CANCER/LIFE (LEARN AS YOU GO) 101 AND IT ALSO COMES DOWN TO THAT I’M VERY BLESSED/FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH SPECIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AT THE RIGHT TIME. LUNG CANCER (OTHER HEALTH ISSUES) HAS NOT/DOES NOT STOP ME (AND YES I HAVE SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND CANNOT DO A LOT OF THINGS ANYMORE) FROM LIVING LIFE, DOING THINGS OR LAUGH/JOKE. NO ONE HAS TO STOP WHAT HE/SHE IS DOING, TIP TOE AROUND ME OR ACT LIKE THIS IS IT OR IT’S OVER WHY BOTHER. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT IF ONE HAS LUNG CANCER ONE HAS TO GO INTO FUNERAL MODE, GIVES UP OR THINKS IT’S HOPELESS? NO SAYING IT IS EASY/DOES NOT HURT BECAUSE IT’S NOT EASY AND DOES HURT. I JUST DECIDED NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT OTHERS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO, THE PATH I CHOOSE AND THE LIFE I LIVE. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE ROAD WERE I SAW MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER (MY PRIDE AND JOY) GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND SHE NOW WORKS FOR A SMALL GRAPHICS (SHE ALSO DEVELOPED THE BOSTON/MICHIGAN WEBSITES) FIRM. THIS YEAR (2008) MY WIFE KATHY AND I CELEBRATED OUR 33RD ANNIVERSARY. SHE HAS PUT UP WITH A LOT OVER THE YEARS, SUPPORTED ME/STOOD BY ME NO MATTER WHAT AND HAS BEEN MY MAIN CAREGIVER THRU IT (24X7) ALL. CAN’T IMAGINE DOING THIS WITHOUT HER. ALSO MET GERI (ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER) AND WE STARTED THE BOSTON WALK IN 2006 AND ALONG WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE (FAR TO MANY TO MENTION WITHOUT FORGETTING SOMEONE) WE HAVE RAISED OVER FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SO FAR AND HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS FOR YEARS TO COME. SAW THE RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES, THE PATRIOTS (WENT TO THE PATS/COLTS PLAYOFF GAME IN THERE NEW STADIUM) WIN THE SUPER BOWL AND SOME OF MY FAVORITE (ROD STEWARD, RINGO STARR, BEACH BOYS, CELTIC WOMAN) MUSIC ENTERTAINERS. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE-- I STILL GET UP EVERYDAY, THANK GOD I’M STILL ALIVE, STILL ABLE TO DO (NOT ANYWHERE WHAT I COULD ONCE DO) THINGS AND LIVE LIFE AS BEST I CAN. I’M STILL THE SAME (GROUCHY/CRANKY AT TIMES) PERSON, ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS, AND DOING THINGS WITH MY FAMILY/FRIENDS WHENEVER I CAN. I STILL LAUGH/JOKE AND DON’T SIT AROUND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, GET ANGRY OR TAKE IT OUT ON OTHERS. LIFE IS SHORT ENOUGH AS IT IS AND TO ME IT’S A COP OUT AND TAKING THE EASY ROAD. YES I HAVE MY DAYS WHEN IT (LIFE/HEALTH) CATCHES UP TO ME BUT THANKFULLY THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. SO I DO HOPE THAT THIS GIVES OTHERS HOPE, THAT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHERE ONES JOURNEY TAKES THEM, THAT IT ISN’T OVER BECAUSE ONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER AND THAT NO ONE CAN TELL US OTHER WISE. PEACE, TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS, Rich MY JOURNEY WITH LUNG CANCER - AS THE CHEMO DRIPS! 5/02 DIAGNOSED NSCLC STAGE IV BAC @ 49 / NEVER SMOKER / POSSIBLE METS TO ADRENAL GLANDS / PROGNOSES 24 MONTHS IN ADDITION OTHER HEALTH ISSUES-- TREBLE BY-PASS / STENT / SEVERAL HEART ATTACKS / HEART DISEASE / CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE / ITP (IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA) / SPLEEN REMOVED / SLEEP APNEA / ALLERGIES / AADD (adult ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER) / LYMPHEDEMMA,CELLULITIS BOTH LEGS / NEUROPATHY / MYOPATHY /ARTHRITIS/PINCHED NERVES UP SPINE AND NECK) / TYPE 2 DIABETES / ADRENAL DEFICIENCY / USE WALKER/CANE / OXYGEN 12/02 START GEMZAR/CARPO (6 RNDS) 4/03 CT SCAN RESULTS NOT EFFECTIVE NODULES GREW MORE / ADRENAL GLANDS SAME 6/03 START TAXOL (9 RNDS) 8/03 CT SCAN RESULTS ENCOURAGING NEWS / SOME NODULES DISAPPEARED, SOME GREW SMALLER / DEVELOPED SOME NEW (ALL SMALL) ONES / ADRENAL GLANDS ALSO SMALLER 9/03 START TAXOL AGAIN (7 RNDS) 12/03 CT SCAN RESULTS / EXCITING NEWS ALL NODULES GONE EXCEPT FOR (VERY SMALL) TWO / ADRENAL GLANDS ARE REMARKABLY SMALLER 1/04 START IRESSA FOR MAINTENANCE 2/04 CT SCAN RESULTS GREW 2 NEW NODULES / BACK UP TO 4 / ADRENAL GLANDS THE SAME / STAYING ON IRESSA 3/04 CT SCAN TO DETERMINE IF IRESSA IS WORKING / CT SCAN RESULTS, REMARKABLE SUCCESS / ALL NODULES GONE OR BARELY VISIBLE / ADRENAL GLANDS STABLE / STAY ON IRESSA 7/04 CT RESULTS STOP IRESSA NO LONGER WORKING / NODULES (SEVERAL) ARE STARTING TO RE-APPEAR IN BOTH (ALL SMALL) LUNGS / SOME VERY SLIGHT INVOLVEMENT IN LYMPH NODES IN CHEST AREA/PELVIC AREA / ADRENAL GLANDS STABLE 8/04 START NAVELBINE (9 RNDS) 9/14/04 MILD HEART ATTACK PRIOR TO CHEMO / STOP CHEMO / SET-UP FOR CATHETERIZATION 9/27/04 SEE ONC TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT / CONT ON WITH TREATMENTS 10/25/04 CHEMO CANCELED / HAVE PNEUMONIA / WHITE CELLS BORDERLINE 11/1/04 CT SCAN 11/03/04 SEE ONC TO RE-GROUP AND GO FROM HERE / CT SCAN RESULTS NODULES STARTING TO SHRINK AGAIN / EVERYTHING ELSE STABLE, LOOKS GOOD / WILL TAKE SHORT BREAK 12/04 START NAVELBINE AGAIN (4 RNDS) 1/7/05 STOP NAVELBINE / PROBLEM WALKING, BALANCE / WEAKNESS LOWER BODY 1/8/05 CT&MRI RESULTS, BOTH CLEAN / ARTHRITIS IN LOWER BACK, A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR / SLIGHT NEUROPATHY IN FEET / TAKING A BREAK FROM NAVELBINE / WAIT UNTIL AFTER CT SCAN IN FEB TO SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE 2/9/05 CT SCAN 2/11/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / SIX NODULES (TOTAL) IN BOTH LUNGS / ALL VERY TINY / EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / START TARCEVA 3/21/05 TOUCHED BASE WITH ONC / WILL GET A CT SCAN ON 5/16/05 AND SEE ONC (FOR RESULTS) ON 5/23/05 TO SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE 5/23/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / STABLE / SOME NODULES DECREASED, SOME GREW SLIGHTLY, SOME STABLE / GREW SOME NEW ONES BUT ALL ARE VERY SMALL, UNDER 1.6 CM OR LESS / ONE IN THE UPPER RIGHT LUNG IF IT GIVES ME ANY PROBLEMS WITH PAIN OR ANYTHING MIGHT NUKE THAT ONE / ADRENAL GLANDS, LYMPH NODES IN THE UPPER CHEST/PELVIC AREA ARE STABLE / STAYING ON TARCEVA AND WILL GET ANOTHER CT SCAN AND SEE MY ONC IN EARLY AUGUST / OTHER THEN FATIGUE 8/3/05 CT SCAN 8/8/05 CT SCAN RESULTS / STILL STABLE / NO PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING ELSE OUTSIDE THE LUNGS, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD / STAYING ON TARCEVA / WILL SEE MY ONC IN EARLY OCT 10/5/05 SAW ONC TO TOUCH BASE / OTHER THEN FATIGUE/MEMORY ISSUES- ALL IS WELL! 10/28/05 DIAGNOSED WITH AADD 12/1/05 CT SCAN 12/16/05 ONC APT TO GO OVER CT SCAN / EVERYTHING GONE (IN BOTH LUNGS) EXCEPT FOR TWO VERY SMALL NODULES / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD WITH ADRENAL GLANDS ETC. 2/9/06 ITP ACTING UP / PLATELETS DOWN TO 4000 / START (80MG) PREDNISONE / GOING BACK UP / TAPERING OFF PREDNISONE TO SEE IF THEY STAY STABLE 2/27/06 MILD HEART ATTACK / WILL TREAT MEDICALLY / STILL IN THE PROCESS OF SOLVING THE PLATELET (ITP) PROBLEM 3/13/06 APPOINTMENT WITH ONC / CT SCAN LATER THIS MONTH / OTHER WISE NEXT APT WITH ONC 6/23/06 UNLESS PROBLEMS ARISE 3/22/06 CT SCAN 3/24/06 RESULTS OF CT SCAN / ALL THE NODULES ARE GONE EXCEPT FOR TWO VERY TINY ONES, BARELY VISIBLE, NOT WORTH WORRYING ABOUT / EXCELLENT REMISSION MY DOCTOR CALLS IT / ADRENAL GLANDS EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / STAYING ON TARCEVA / PLATELET'S (ITP) BACK TO NORMAL 5/14/06 INFECTION IN LEFT LEG, SWOLLEN / GIVEN ANTIBIOTICS / WRAPPED IN A UNO BOOT FOR TWO WEEKS / SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL 6/21/06 CT SCAN 6/23/06 APT WITH ONC / STOP TARCEVA / BACK UP TO 6 NODULES, BUT ALL ARE TINY / LEG ACTING UP AGAIN, STILL SWOLLEN AND ULCERATING / NEED TO GET THAT HEALED FIRST BEFORE I CAN START ALIMTA 7/7/06 LEG LOOKS MUCH BETTER AND IS SLOWLY HEALING 7/26/06 APT WITH ONC / PLATELETS DOWN TO 5000 AGAIN / START (80) PREDNISONE / STOP PLAVIX, ASPIRIN / GETTING 4 INFUSIONS OF (ITP) DETUXAN / WILL RESUME CHEMO (ALIMTA) WHEN LEG IS CLEARED AND PLATELETS ARE STAPLE 7/31/06 OFF TO THE ER / MILD HEART ATTACK, ITP AGAIN / LOSS A LOT OF BLOOD / AFTER MANY TESTS / NO DAMAGE TO HEART / NEEDED PLATELET TRANSFUSION, NUMEROUS BLOOD TRANSFUSION ETC—DOCS SAID CAME TO WITHIN TWO DAYS OF BUYING THE FARM / WILL ALSO START RITUXAN (4) INFUSIONS 8/4/06 HOME / FEELING MUCH BETTER AND READY TO GET BACK ON TRACK 8/8/06 APT WITH ONC / NEXT UP (ITP) RITUXAN (4) BEFORE I START ALMITA 8/17/06 START CHEMO RETUXAN (4) FOR MY ITP THEN BACK ON ALIMTA 9/13/06 APT WITH ONC / CHEMO TREATMENT FOR ITP WAS A SUCCESS / START ALIMTA NEXT 12/28/06 APT WITH ONCOLOGIST / FINISHED WITH ALIMTA / TAKE A BREAK FROM CHEMO ALL TOGETHER FOR A WHILE / WILL GET A CT SCAN NEXT MONTH AND SEE HER AFTER THAT AND UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES DRAMATICALLY WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY CHEMO / WHEN I DO START BACK UP WILL BE EITHER AVASTIN OR TAXOTERE / THE LEG, NOT SURE ABOUT THE LEG THE LATEST TEST (MRV) WAS INCONCLUSIVE / STILL NOT SURE IF THERE IS A BOLD CLOT BUT SHE DID SAY THE BLOOD TO THE VEINS IS VERY SLOW / MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS VERY HARD GETTING A GOOD STUDY OF THE VEINS WHEN IT IS BELOW THE KNEE / SINCE IT AS GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE LOSING SOME WEIGHT AND IT FEELS BETTER / WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A WAIT AND SEE ON IT AND MY ONC WILL CONFER WITH MY PCP AND CARDIOLOGIST TO GET THERE INPUT / DOES NOT WANT TO START ME ON ANY BLOOD THINNERS YET BECAUSE OF MY BLOOD (ITP) DISEASE 1/22/07 PET/CT SCAN 1/24/07 APT WITH ONC TO GO OVER PET/CT SCAN RESULTS / NO CHANGE SINCE THE LAST CT SCAN LAST JUNE / SEVERAL NODULES STILL THERE IN BOTH LUNGS BUT ALL VERY SMALL AND NOT DOING ANYTHING BUT HANGING OUT AND BEHAVING THEMSELVES / EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD / GAME PLAN IS TO TAKE 3 MONTHS OFF AFTER 48 MONTHS OF CHEMO AND SEE MY ONCOLOGIST IN APRIL 3/23/07 DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHEDEMMA 3/31/07 EXPERIENCING SOB / WENT TO THE DOCTORS AND WAS TOLD HAVE PNEUMONIA AND FLUID BUILT-UP IN LUNGS FROM MY CHF / SENT TO THE ER AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL / AFTER SEVERAL DAYS SENT HOME FEELING BETTER, FLUID GOING DOWN AND HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION / ALSO SENT HOME WITH OXYGEN TO HELP WITH SOB. 4/23/07 APPOINTMENT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD CANCER WISE / EVERYTHING IS IN CHECK / SOME NODULES STILL THERE BUT VERY SMALL AND DOING NOTHING / WILL SEE MY ONC AGAIN IN JULY UNLESS SOMETHING COMES UP OTHERWISE / GETTING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES RESOLVED ALSO / OTHER THEN FATIGUE AND NEUROPATHY I REALLY CAN'T COMPLAIN, IT COULD ALWAYS BE WOSRE 07/30/07 APT WITH ONC / BEING SETUP FOR CT SCAN / SOME ISSUES WITH NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET AND HANDS MAKING IT MUCH HARDER TO GET AROUND/DO THINGS OR KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING / LOOKING INTO SOME OPTIONS FOR THAT. 8/17/07 CT SCAN 8/20/07 ONC CALLED ABOUT RESULTS OF CT SCAN / TWO NEW NODULES IN MY LUNGS BUT ARE SMALL, DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW / SUSPICIOUS (ENLARGED) LYMPH NODE IN MY LEFT GROIN THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE (LAST CT SCAN) SO SHE WANTS A SURGEON TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF HE CAN GET AT IT FOR A BIOPSY / DOES NOT THINK IT IS DUE TO LUNG CANCER BUT LEANING MORE TOWARD LYMPHOMA BECAUSE OF MY BLOOD DISORDER / WILL NO MORE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS IF THAT IS THE CASE AND WHAT THE GAME PLAN WILL BE 8/30/07 APT TO MEET WITH NEW ONC / NEEDLE (CT GUIDED) BIOPSY TO FINE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LYMPH NODE IN MY GROIN AREA / TIME WILL TELL / TO MY OLD ONC- A VERY SPECIAL THANKS FOR EVERYTHING AND YOUR THE REASON I'M STILL ALIVE AND DOING WELL, TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS YOU- YOUR THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!!! 9/4/07 APT WITH PHYSICAL THERAPIST TO START AN EXERCISE PROGRAM TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS OF FEELING TIRED/WEAK, UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT IMPROVE 9/7/07 APT WITH NEUROLOGIST TO SEE IF ANYTHING GOING ON THERE / 4 PROBLEMS – NEUROPATHY, MYOPATHY, PINCHED NERVES/ARTHRITIS GOING UP MY SPINE/NECK / WILL TREAT WITH MEDS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY 9/14/07 PET SCAN PRIOR TO BIOPSY ON LYMPH NODE 9/19/07 PET SCAN RESULTS / RADIOLOGIST AS WELL ALL MY DOCTORS (WENT BACK OVER ALL MY CT/PET SCANS) DO NOT THINK BIOPSY NEEDED AT THIS TIME, PET SCAN DOES NOT SHOW ANY ACTIVITY / WILL RE-SCAN IN 6 MONTHS- SOUNDS GOOD TO MY, I’LL TAKE IT! 10/15/07 LEFT LEG INFECTED AND VERY SWOLLEN AGAIN / GIVEN IV ANTIBIOTICS PLUS ANTIBIOTICS TO TAKE AT HOME / ALSO 4-PART BOOT 11/14/07 LEG INFECTED AGAIN / ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOR IV ANTIBIOTICS AND TREATMENT 11/21/07 HOME FROM HOSPITAL / LEG LOOKS, FEELS BETTER / CONTINUE WITH ORAL ANTIBIOTICS AND TREATMENT WITH VISTING NURSE 1/08 LEG IS FINALLY HEALING AND GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION / HAVING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE SLOWING ME DOWN 2/22/08 DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES 3/10/08 CT SCAN 3/12/08 CT RESULTS / STILL STABLE, ADRENAL GLANDS NORMAL, TWO LYMPH NODES GREW VERY SLIGHTLY / RE-SCAN IN 3 MONTHS 3/28/08 MRI SCHEDULED 4/1/08 APPOINTMENT WITH NEPHROLOGY / DID A BUNCH OF BLOOD TESTS / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD 4/10/08 APT WITH ONC TO TOUCH BASE 6/12/08 HOSPITALIZED FOR CHF / CT SCAN, NUMEROUS OTHER TESTS PERFORMED / NEED A CATH AND POSSIBLY STENT IN ONE OF MY ARTERIES. IF CANNOT DO STENT FOR SOME REASON THEN POSSIBLE BYPASS / ALSO ON CT SCAN NODULES GREW LARGER AND SOME LYMPH NODES WHERE ENLARGED / TALKED WITH ONC AND AT THIS TIME WILL HOLD OFF DOING ANYTHING (GET HEART PROBLEMS RESOLVED FIRST, ALREADY HAD A LOT OF CHEMO AND AT THIS TIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A PROBLEM) AND RESCAN IN AUGUST / CANNOT DO CATH, DEVELOPED RASH ALL OVER BODY / POSSIBLE ALLERGIC (RASH) REACTION FROM THE DYE/CT SCAN? ALSO TOLD I SEEMED CONFUSED/DISORIENTATED AT TIMES, TOLD THEM MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS TELLING ME THAT GROWING UP. LOL. 6/18/08 DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL / FOLLOW UP ABOUT RASH, HEART, LUNGS 6/29/08 HOSPITALIZED FOR A VERY BAD INFECTION THAT WENT TO MY BLOOD AND SEPTIC. ALSO BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 50 OVER 40 WHEN I GOT TO THE ER. TREATED ME VERY AGGRESSIVELY WITH IV ANTIBIOTICS AND MEDS TO BRING MY BLOOD PRESSURE BACK UP. SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY CAME (WITHIN DAYS) CLOSE TO PUSHING UP DAISES IF I DID NOT COME IN. NEVER FELT THIS WORSE IN MY LIFE. 7/4/08 HOME FEELING BETTER AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE BACK ON TRACK SOON TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE FROM WHEN I WAS THERE EARLIER THIS MONTH 7/12/08 ER / PLATELETS 1 MILLION / AT FIRST THOUGHT I STILL HAD AN INFECTION, GIVEN ANTI- BIOCTICS THEN TOLD DO NOT HAVE INFECTION, ANTI-BIOCTICS STOPPED 7/17/08 HOME / FOLLOWUP WITH PCP, ONC, INFECTION DISEASE DOCTOR 8/4/08 APT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD CANCER WISE, STILL STABLE / STILL HAVE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES TO DEAL WITH 8-11/08 DOCTORS APOINTMENTS/TESTS MORE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT/TEST/ AND EVEN MORE DOCTOR’S APOINTMENTS/TESTS 11/26/08 BROKE BIG TOE RIGHT FOOT / ALSO INFECTED 11/28/08 CT (SCAN) GUIDED BIOPSY TO CHECK FOR LYMPHOMA AND IF LYMPH NODES ARE BLOCKING BLOOD FLOW IN MY LEFT (SWOLLEN) LEG / RESULTS TAKE ABOUT SEVEN OR SO DAYS-- THE FUN NEVER ENDS! 12/08 RESULTS BACK / BOTH TEST NEGATIVE/ ONCOLOGIST STILL FEELS ANOTHER BIOPSY IS NEED TO RULE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON SINCE 11/07 / WILL PURSUE SURGEON TO SEE IF HE WILL BIOPSY ON 2/18/09 / NOT ENCOURAGED HE WILL DO IT BECAUSE SAW HIM ALREADY AND HE FELT I WOULD BE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF MY LUNG CANCER AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES 2/9/09 PLATELETS (5K) DOWN AGAIN / STARTED (80MG) PREDNISONE AND MONITOR WITH DAILY BLOOD TESTS 2/11/09 PLATELETS STARTING TO GO BACK (10K) UP 2/14/09 ONCOLOGIST CALLED / PLATELETS BACK DOWN AGAIN TO 6K / HAVE TO GO TO ER AND GET ADMITTED FOR PLATELET INFUSIONS ETC / HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 2/16/09 RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL / PLATELETS BACK UP TO 100K / HAVE TO GO BACK ON (RITUXAN ) CHEMO FOR ITP / RECEIVED FIRST TREATMENT BEFORE GOING HOME 04/09 DIAGNOSED WITH ADRENAL DEFICIENCY, WILL START ON MEDS 04/29/09 ADRENAL DEFICIENCY IS NOT THE REASON WHY EXPERIENCING DAILY FATIGUE, EXTREME PAIN TO THE POINT OF BEING DEBILITATING / STILL TRYING TO FIND AN ANSWER AFTER (SINCE NOIV07 COUNTLESS DOCTORS APPOINTS, TESTS, AND HOSPITAL STAYS ETC 05/09 UNDETERMINED INFECTION THAT WENT TO MY BLOOD STREAM / TREATED WITH FLUIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS 06/09 TEN DAYS IN A (LIFE CARE) FACILITY FOR REHAB TO BUILD UP (OVERALL) STRENGTH AND TO SWITCH PAIN (OXYCONTIN TO METHADONE) MEDICATIONS DUE TO UNEXPLAINED SEVERE CHRONIC (SINCE NOV07) PAIN 7/31/09 ER / ADMITTED FOR CHF / TREATED WITH MEDS ETC AND RELEASED NEXT DAY 8/3/09 PET STRESS TEST / LARGE AREA NOT GETTING ENOUGH BLOOD TO HEART / BEING SET-UP FOR A CATH PROCEDURE 8/7/09 ADMITTED TO B & W HOSPITAL FOR CATH PROCEDURE / HAD STENT INSERTED LEFT MAIN ARTERY / RELEASED NEXT DAY 8/12/09 APT WITH ONC / EVERYTHING LOOKS (ALL TESTS, BLOOD WORK ETC JUST HAD IN HOSPITAL) OK ALL THINGS CONSIDERED AND STILL STABLE / WILL GET CT SCAN SOMETIME LATE SEP OR EARLY OCT TO LOOK AT LUNGS AND LYMPH NODES TO DETERMINE IF ANOTHER BIOPSY IS NEEDED OCT/09 RESULTS OF CT SCAN / LYMPH NODES LOWER LEFT GROIN AREA ARE SMALLER / STILL CANCER ADRENAL GLANDS / SOME NEW NODULES IN LOWER LEFT (ABOUT ¼ INCH) LUNG / WILL DO NOTHING FOR NOW BECAUSE OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES AND POORER HEALTH / RE-SCAN IN FEB _________________ TO READ ABOUT MY PROFILE, JOURNEY WITH STAGE IV LUNG (BAC) CANCER, DIAGNOSED MAY, 2002, PROGNOSES TWO YEARS AND MY STORY PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW. http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 2155#72155 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR / HELPFUL LINKS: http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 512#324512 Top Ten Reasons Why I’m A Lung Cancer Survivor 10. Not going into funeral mode the day I was diagnosed. I never once thought this was it, that life was over or why bother. Lung Cancer is not a death sentence and one can be cured of it or still have a life living with it for many years. 9. Not dwelling on it. How I got it, why me, what if I did this/that or the blame game etc. It’s counter productive and wasted energy. 8. RESEARCH, RESEARCH and more RESEARCH. Knowledge is the key! The more one knows the better one can make decision with their doctor and better fight. Keeping it simple, does not really matter to me every little word on a report. Try to get down to the chase of what is going on and what needs to be done. 7. Living life to the fullest by making the best of it every day and by keeping busy. Life is short enough so why let a day go by. 6. I appreciate everything my family/friends do for me. I let them (especially Kathy and Tina) know how much it means to me and how much I love them. 5. Not making my disease about me. It affects my family/friends just as much if not more. My life has changed and I have to learn to adjust to the new normal. If I can’t do things or go places does not mean they can’t. It’s very important they have a life and go about it. 4. Keeping an open mind about treatments. Don’t know unless you try. Laughter, it’s the best medicine, does not have to be all doom and gloom. Exercise, it’s good for overall health and a great stress reliever. Healthy (common sense) diet, this one I need to improve on. I can eat in a coma. 3. Staying positive and having a good attitude. YES it does make a difference regardless of what adversity one faces. Have my days like anyone else but they are few and far in between. 2. All my doctors/nurses. I’m very blessed/fortunate to have a great medical team and great health coverage. 1. My wife.my daughter and my closest friend I love them the most and they mean the most to me. I owe it to them, there the ones who have stood by my no matter what and showed me the true meaning of family, life and love is all about. You can lead a horse to water but can’t get it to drink. Bottom line it’s up to me to be pro-active, to keep trying and to never never never give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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