It's been a heck of a year.

Some of you are facing the holidays for the first time with lung cancer in your lives, others are actively in treatment and for some, the holidays will be a time when loved ones are remembered who are no longer with us.

In the midst of it all, what are some of the things you are thankful for?

Me? I am thankful for the family I have, the memories I have, this incredible community we have and for LUNGevity staff, constituents, volunteers, supporters and friends.

Wishing everyone renewed health and a Happy Thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for?

Hi Katie,
What am I thankful for,being dxd with Lung Cancer?come on!OK (only kidding),I have been blessed in my dx taking me to places I would have never visited in a million years ,also meeting some of the most beautiful people one could wish to know,my life has been enriched by LC,and I dont regret its arrival for one minute(saying that at the minute, whens its all quiet on the western front LOL).
It did occur to me I should make a list of all of you who are special to me,to thank you for the blessing that you all are to me,you know what?when I started the list it just grew and grew,and I thought,what if, after posting I left someone out of my list due to messrs Whyte and Mackays or senile dimensia(I swear I have had only one of the former)No names, no pack drill,you all know who is on my list,god bless each and every one of you.

_________________
Regards,
Eric Byrne

To read my story, please follow the link : http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=43268

I am thankful for living each day with the beauty of an awesome God, great family and amazing friends in my life. What more could a girl want?

_________________
We are not dealt a situation we cannot handle. It is how we handle these situations, that defines who we are, and who we'll become.
Age 35 at diagnosis
[size=75]Dx December 2004 Stage IIIB
Started Tarceva June 2005(working)
Stable scans (8/2005)
Stable scans (10/2005)
Stable scans (11/2005)
Celebrating 1 year since diagnosis
1/16/06 NED--just scar tissue and/or fibrosis
4/16/06 NED--just scar tissue and/or fibrosis
7/19/06 Stability again--Thank you Lord Jesus!!
11/19/06 NED
1/19/07 NED Again!!!
4/19/07 NED Again!! God is Good!
7/21/07 NED AGAIN!! Pet was clear!!
10/25/07 NED AGAIN!!! God is Good!
01/2008 Cancer free and thanking God!!
06/2008 NED AGAIN!! Thank you God!!
10/2008 NED AGAIN!! Thank you God!!
2/2009 NED AGAIN!! Thank you God!!
6/2009 NED AGAIN! Thank you God!!
12/2009 NED AGAIN!! Thanks be to GOD!!
6/2010 NED AGAIN!!! Thanks be to GOD!!
5 1/2 Year Survivor
http://www.caringbridge.org/tn/jamie
www.memphislungcancerconnections.com
www.lungevity.org/playingforacure

[/size]

that I am still here!! been a reallllllllllllllllly rough year for me !

_________________
April/03 My Wife Deborah, age 46, diagnosed adenocarcinoma NSCLC
1/20/2006 Admitted to hospital Respiratory distress
1/23/2006 Ran to the light and is waiting for us to be rejoined in the Kingdom Of Heaven Her journey is Over but mine lingers on for Now!!!
4/23/07 DEb is joined in Peace by her Puppy Dawg Daisy from Cancer
8/30/07 Got new Pup named Mocha!!

"No matter hnow much it hurts, No matter how alone you feel, Your friends will help you get through anything!!"
Scrubs!!!!Yes the comedy show!!!

The Reason I advocate
If you would like to see our family photos Click on this link!
http://deborah-wallin.memory-of.com/

My memory-of Link is good to go now if you want to see it!!

I started this morning kind of down - so thanks for this question - I'm not down any longer.

Like Eric, I am so thankful for this site and everyone here - this site wasn't here when I was first dx in 1998, and while I don't post nearly as often as others, just knowing you are all here is such a blessing.



What more is there to say.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Diane

_________________
3/98 Dx squamous cell NSCLC 2a at 50 yrs
4/98 Left lung removed, no chemo/rad
8/08 Persistent cough and shortness of breath, first appt. with pulmonary doc 11/4/08
11/08 X-ray and CT show tumor in right lung. PET scan confirms tumor, shows no apparent spread
12/08 CT/needle biopsy shows squamous cell NSCLC IIIB, doctors don't seem to agree if its a new cancer or recurrence - but onc believes it is a new one
12/08 Start concurrent radiation/chemo, Cisplatin/Etoposide
1/09 Chemo switched to Carbo/Taxol due to intolerance of Cisplatin
2/09 Radiation completed
3/09 Chemo completed
5/09 CT shows spot where tumor was likely/hopefully scar tissue
6/09 Begin Lucanix trial
9/09 CT scan - stable
12/07/09 CT scan - stable
3/1/10 CT scan - stable
6/1/10 CT scan - stable - begin 2nd year of trial
8/23/10 CT scan - stable
10/25/10 CT scan - stable
1/20/11 CT scan - stable
4/25/11 CT scan - stable - completed drug portion of trial, now follow-up with 3-mo scans
8/1/11 CT scan - stable
10/24/11 CT scan - stable. At my request, switching to 6 mo scans.
4/24/12 CT scan - stable.
10/30/12 CT scan - stable.
2/26/13 CT scan - stable

Avatar is with 10-mo-old grandson Ethan at Xmas

I'm thankful for my family and friends, and I'm thankful that my health has remained this good. I had my doubts when I was diagnosed, but I've been very fortunate so far.

_________________
Bud

Long distance cyclist and lung cancer survivor
56 years old at time of diagnosis in 2007, now live in Crowley, Tx
Nov 2007 - Tentatively diagnosed as NSCLC stage I from CT scan
Dec 2007 - Upper left lobectomy, biopsy showed one cancerous lymph node, changing the diagnosis to stage II (squamous cell)
Feb to Apr 2008 - Three rounds of cisplatin and gemcitabine
Apr 2008 - chest x-ray, NED
May 2008 - brain mri, clear
Jul 2008 - CT scan, NED
Dec 2008 - CT scan, NED
June 2009 - CT scan, NED
Jan 2010 - CT scan, NED
July 2010 - CT scan, NED
June 2011 - CT scan, NED
May 2012 - CT scan, NED
December 2012 - CT scan, NED. I am now a 5 year survivor!

June 2009 - Wife Rose diagnosed with breast cancer
Stage III IDC
Sept 2009 - Finished 4 rounds of chemo (AC)
Nov 2009 - Surgery
March 2010 - Finished 12 weeks of weekly Taxol
August 2010 - CT scan, NED
August 2011 - Checkup, NED
August 2012 - Checkup, NED
The rest of my story is at:

http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/vi ... hp?t=38841

My blog - uneasy-rider.com

So, so many things. 25+ years with the man of my dreams. Amazing kind smart children and grandchildren. Great friends.
My own good health.

But in relation to this site, I am so very thankful for the caring, support and information I received from here during those 2 years of our lung cancer journey.

_________________
Ginny
Please use gdecoursey@aol.com for email.

Earl born 1/28/42 - dx 9/21/02 - died 8/18/04. He was the sunshine of my life.

I'm thankful for my family doctor who, out of the blue, decided to give me a chest x-ray and found my lung cancer early enough to still be stage 1.

I'm thankful for my husband of almost 29 years who takes such good care of me. I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter.

I'm thankful for this web site which has helped me so much and for all of you. I don't post much but read every day and consider all of you my friends.

Paulette

_________________
04/02/09 family doctor found spot on upper left lung on chest x-ray.
04/03/09 CT scan with contrast - shows 5cm tumor in left upper lobe.
04/08/09 Met with thoracic surgeon.
04/14/09 PET scan - cancer only in tumor. Echo stress test. Cartiod ultrasound
05/01/09 Vats surgery - Upper left lobe and wedge of bottom lobe. Clean margins and no spread to lymph nodes. Staged 1b because of size of tumor. In hospital 7 days due to fluid in remainder of left lung.
06/09/09 Met with oncologist - because of size of tumor adjuvant chemo recommended. Cisplatin/Navelbine, 4 rounds. Some problems 1st round but minor ones after that. Finished chemo August 24.
09/02/09 CT scan of chest with contrast - NED
03/02/10 CT scan of chest and abdoman with contrast - NED
08/25/10 CT scan of chest and brain with contrast - NED
03/01/11 CT scan of chest and abdoman with contrast - NED
09/19/11 CT scan of chest with contrast - NED
02/24/12 CT scan of chest and brain with contrast - NED
08/21/12 CT scan of chest with contrast - NED
02/22/13 CT scan of chest with contrast - NED
_______________________________________
10/13/86 Daddy died of lung cancer after a 8 month fight. Diagnosed 2/86.

Many things but first and foremost that 3 yrs post dx am still alive and well.

Judy in KW

_________________
Cytology report on fluid removed from lung after pleural effusion and pneumonia Sep 07 showed adenocarcinoma cells. Dx IIIb NSCLC Oct '07 at MDACC, Orlando. Fol 6 rounds Taxol/Carboplatin/Avastin and 2 Avastin, CT/PET 4/1/08 pleural thickening gone and no active cancer cells. 11/3/08 STILL NEVD. CT/PET/MRI 5/4/09 Cancer back, still in the pleura and chest wall, small amt of fluid, all in left lung.
5/11/09 Start on Alimta every three weeks.
7/13/10 Had Alimta on road in Corning NY.
8/24/09 Scans show some improvement. Continue on Alimta.
9/14/09 Chemo on road in Mt Holly NJ.
10/6/09 Started regular Alimta infusions in Key West.
11/3/09 CT and PET scans showed significant improvement. Some issues already resolved.
2/3/2010 No evidence of residual or recurrent disease. NED! Stay on Alimta.
5/6/10 Am considering myself still NED until/unless proven otherwise in July. Rabid radiologist thinks he sees something suggestive of similar to some abdominal cancer. No light up on the PET. Am hoping for the best. Stay on Alimta and scan in 9 wks instead of 3 mos.
7/8/10 Chest CT unchanged (NED Feb '10). Infiltration in the region of the omentum is probably slightly more prominent than before. Diverticulosis requiring antibiotics.
Jul, Aug, Sep, continued Alimta in Corning NY, Portsmouth OH and Mt Holly NJ.
10/14/10 Chest CT unchanged from Feb '10. Findings likely representing progressive nodular peritonal carcinomatosis in the midabdomen. Treatment changed to Tarceva started in Nov.
12/15/10 Chest CT unchanged. Abdomen changes compatible with peritoneal carcinomatosis again identified with mild progression noted.
3/16/11 CT chest unchanged. CT abdomen progression ascites (fluid). Progression of soft tissues nodularity on the peritoneal surface anteriorly with diffuse omental involvement.
4/13-15/11 Hospitalized at MDA. Removed 4 1/2 litres (8-9 lbs) of fluid from abdomen 4/14. Started on taxotere before release on 4/15.
5/16/11 Hospitalized for fever, neutropenic. Treated with intravenous antibiotic and antiviral. Given blood transfusion. Note that KW Cancer Center did not give me my Neulasta shot after my chemo on May 6. Onc had me cancel my 5/26 chemo until after my scan on Jun 6. Was discharged on oxygen. Test w/Dr Gerth 5/26 indicated I could go off sitting and sleeping O. Will do walking test 6/2.
6/2 Did not get requisite numbers on walking test. Left for Orlando 6/5 still on oxygen.
6/6/11 MRI normal; CT stable. Taxotere and Neulasta at MDA 6/7 and 6/8.
6/13/11 Appointment with Dr Olham in KW. Off oxygen week of 6/16.
8/8/11 CT scan showed stable with perhaps some lessening of fluid. Stay on Taxotere.
10/10/11 CT chest still clear, CT abdominal lining stable. Stay on taxotere.
12/19/11 CT chest clear, CT abdominal lining stable, MRI clear. Stay on taxotere.

I"m thankful to be home safe and sound from our long trip to Hawaii. Thankful for the gorgeous weather out there. Also thankful for any weather, no matter what.

I'm with Eric. While having LC is not a good thing, I'm very thankful for the values I learned as a result of it. The priorities I developed needed to be developed. Now when I see the sun shine, or a beautiful flower, or the leaves changing, or my puppy's tail wagging, I'm so thankful to be around to treasure these little moments. I'm thankful to my Father God in Heaven for blessing me richly. I'm thankful for LIFE.

Judy back in MI

_________________
6/07 DX NSCLC, Left Upper Lobe wedge resection: Stage 2.3/4, (2B?) Adenocarcinoma, measures 2.5x1.5x1.1cm. Involving visceral pleura but not through it. 5 rounds chemo, carboplatin and Taxol. Subsequent scans NED.

1/11 3.5 mm node found. 10/11 CT node now 8 mm, and new 6 mm node. 11/11 CT Pet shows slight uptake. 1/4/12 Biopsy - Pneumothorax complication. 1/14/12 Lobectomy of upper rt. lobe. NSCLC Adenocarcinoma in situ, nonmucinous (bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) 1.4cm involves pulmonary parenchyma.
3/14/12 Begin 4 cycles of Cisplatin/Navelbein, with Neulasta shot
4/6/12 Chemo changed to Carboplatin/Navelbine without Neulasta shot. Reduced chemo by 50% due to intolerance.
7/5/12 CT scan is clean, NED for lung cancer! There are issues with liver and stomach that will be investigated but not believed to be because of cancer. Wait and see!

*Avatar was taken 7/3/12 on our way out to see the Fireworks on a friends boat on their lake!

Mom dx SCLC 1/96, passed 10/19/96, age 62
Dad dx Brain cancer 4/87, passed 6/87, age 57
Sister dx Brain cancer 4/83, passed 12/83, age 25

Last night I lit the candle for mom that was used in the All Saints Day remberance service and told her how much we would miss her this week, but that I was going to try to maintain a sense of gratitude--for the "bonus" year we got so she could celebrate her grandaughters graduations, for the "bonus" three years we got beyond what was the common prognosis of her disease, for the people of the LSCS for all of their love and support, for all of her love and wisdom, for the family and friends that closed around us and held us up over the last 6 week, and most of all for a loving God who recieved my mom warmly into His arms. All of these are things for which I am profoundly grateful.

Susan

_________________
76 year-old mom diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer January 5, 2007.

15 radiation treatments to the spine and four rounds of chemo, Jan-May, 2007.

Stable disease May, 2007-May, 2008.

Bone scan May, 2008 shows new mets in the spine, pelvis and ribs.

July, 2008--finished radiation and has a Quadramet treatment.

October, 2008--Scans show mild progression. Began chemo (carbo/taxol/avistin). Will have four rounds of threatment (every 21 days) and scan in January.

01/05/2009--TWO YEAR SURVIVOR!

4/2009--STABLE! No treatment. Next scan in July

7/2009--Scan shows pleural effusion. Fluid drained and malignant. Cancer has spread to other lung and a 13 mm lesion is seen on the liver. Mom to begin Alimta on 8/3

11/2009--Alimta was hard on mom and scans showed progression.

12/2009--began Tarceva, noticed almost immediate improvement.

2/25/2010--Celebrated Mom's 80th birthday!

5/15/2010--Mom watched her oldest granddaughter graduate from college and then paritied well into the night! She's still feeling great.

6/15/2010--Mom watched her youngest granddaughter graduate from high school. Still feeling great!

8/2010-10/2010--Mom begins feeling tired and stays in bed more and more. Scans reveal that the cancer is moving rapidly throughout her body.

10/13/2010--Mom wins her battle once and for all, and passes to a place where the cancer can no longer touch her.

For a more detailed timeline see:

http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?p=360385#360385

Katie Brown! I am soooo thankful for you although I would have rather met under different circumstances
I am very blessed and grateful for a lot this year.

_________________
[size=84]Mom diagnosed 11/03; age 58; NSCLC IIIA
Carboplatin/Gemzar
3/4/04--lobectomy
5/04--completed radiation
5/05--coiling for brain anyerusm found on routine brain MRI
8/05--triple bypass
10/06--PET, brain MRI, CT clear
8/07--NED
Currently in remission/NED
2/12--Stage IV squamous cell, a new beast
4/9/12--My mom passed away

Dad diagnosed 9/06; age 65 (asymptomatic); adenocarcinoma with BAC features
9/06--Wedge resection of 1.4cm tumor
Lots of little nodules remain and a small thing on brain maybe
11/06--Stable
5/18/10--Dx with Macroglobenemia (indolent lymphoma) & nodule growth
6/10--IT'S BACK! Tarceva time
[/size]

I am thankful for the length of time I have been given since my dx. Like Bud I did not really thing I would make it this long, especially with no problems...Thank you God...Every extra day I spend with my 15 year old daughter is a blessing.

I am most thankful for this online community and the people here that have always shown me support. Without this online community at Lungevity I would not have any real support. I am thankful to have a job, home, food and family.

_________________
43 yr old female with a 12 yr old daughter.
May 2007 - Diagnosed with stage 3A Squamous Cell NSCLC.
5/15/07 - In hospital to have left upper lobe removed. Stage and cancer type was confirmed. Removed several lymph nodes, 2 tested positive for cancer. Home after 5 day.
5/24/07 Went to Oncologist. Did CT/PET scans (praying they got all the cancer out).
6/4/07 Got results, lymph node by main artery showed cancer. Can not remove due to location. Good news was that there was no sign so far that it spread any further than that. Set up an appointment with Radiation Specialist.
6/15/07 Receive chemo every week for 6 weeks ( Carbo & Taxol) and radiation 5 days a week for six weeks, (33 radiation treatments were planned). We stopped at 30 treatments because of 2nd degree burns on my back.
Finished radiation and chemo on 7/26/07. Was in hospital and had 3 ½ weeks off of treatments.
8/15/07 Started chemo every 3 weeks for 9 weeks with larger doses.
9/28/07 Finish final chemo. Will have scans done 11/6/07 and see Dr. for results on 11/9/07.
11/07 Received results, cancer free. Was told this was a good sign considering the stage. need to follow up every 3 months with scans.
8/09 - Now receiving CT scans every 6 months, just had one in Aug so far no signs of cancer. Made the 2 1/2 year mark. Still problems with inflamation with lungs due to radiation damage.
3/10 CT scan no sign of cancer. What a relief!
7/10 still going strong no scan for 1 yr now, next scan is March, I am nervous waiting so long but I will survive. I am a survivor.
3/11 CT Scan, No signs of cancer. Thank you God.

I am thankful of course that I am still alive and well nearly 13 yrs after diagnosis of lung cancer. It was a very difficult road to travel but it also brought me many blessings.
I am thankful for all the people that prayed for me, all the people that helped me get to chemo and radiation and through surgery and more chemo.
I am grateful for all the people I am met at the on line support group. I am so grateful that I met Connie Berchem who started the first face to face lung cancer support group here in Minnesota. After 15 yrs of survival we lost her this past month , her memorial service is November 30th. She touched and helped so many people and worked so hard having events to have lung cancer awareness and getting November lung cancer awareness month here in Minnesota.

I am blessed with wonderful family and friends. I am thankful.

Donna G

_________________
NSCLC, 4 cm Pancoast tumor, diag. 12/3/97 Cisplatin and VP 16, Radiation, R upper lobectomy, more Cisplatin and VP 16. Celebrating 16 yrs of survival ! Click here and read MY STORY

http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?f47&t=9092