Just a short note to let you know I am still around just not online much anymore. Hopefully that will change. I will receive one more chemo treatment in about two weeks and then they will be giving me a break to recuperate. Maybe then I can return to my chat friends and more frequent visits to the message board. Hang in there everyone and you are all in my prayers.

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[size=9]5/3/06 Biopsy on right lung which they managed to collapse.
Diagnosed w/ inoperable NSCLC on 5/6/06
Start radiation on 6/19/06
Start chemo with taxol and carbo on 6/23
Went in for a port on 6/29/06 and during the procedure my left lung collapsed
Released from hospital on 7/3/05
Resumed daily radiation and chemo once a week starting on 7/5/06
Completed chemo on 8/4/06 and radiation on 8/8/06. Appt. w/ onc 8/25/06 - hemoglobin a little low everything else looked good.
10/2/06 Stable
12/13/06 Stable
2/14/07 Stable
5/4/07 Stable
7/30/07 Stable
1/20/08 Managed another birthday
1/24/08 Bone Biopsy T2 - not performed because they said it was too dangerous
Feb. 2008 - start radiation to spine and Zometa infusion
3/27/08 Bone Scan scheduled due to shoulder pain
May 08 New spot in lower lobe of right lung and a couple of spots in lymph nodes. Going back into chemo and general radiation on lymph nodes and cyberknife to the lower right lobe.
Shoulder pain was determined to be a torn rotator cuff.
Ruptured disc in lower back.
July 08 ... started Avastin/Taxotere/Zometa to be given every 3 weeks.
MRIof lowerback and chest CT scheduled for August.
Spinal Injecttion for ruptured disk pain 8/18/08
CT of chest, pelvis and abdomen on 8/25/08
Brain MRI 11/7/08
2 small and 1 large tumor in brain start WBR 10/19/08

Good to hear from you, Judy. Hope you're feeling a lot better soon! Aloha,

Ned

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Ned is just my nickname, though it would be nice to merge it with the other meaning eventually...

Aloha means "Hello, goodbye, love, compassion, welcome, good wishes." It means belonging to others with a common humanity. It's defined better as a feeling in the heart than by words.

Dx NSCLC adenocarcinoma IIIb Sep 2006, now stage IV. Taxol+Carboplatin+Avastin 4 mo., Avastin 8 mo., Tarceva 16 mo., Alimta 12 mo. (sometimes combined with Cisplatin or Carboplatin), Navelbine since Feb 2010, 10 sessions of WBR in March 2011. See My Cancer Journey: viewtopic.php?p=351369#p351369 — UPDATED 03/05/2011.

Above left: Our golden retriever Rosie, who joined the family on 3/5/08 at the playful age of 2.

Below: Hannah, our golden companion 1994-2007.

Hey Judy-

Good to hear from you. Hope you are feeling better. We need you to return to chat soon - they are really misbehaving there. Of course, not me, but the others - so hurry up and feel well soon!!!!

Hugs - Patti B

Thanks for checking in Linda. You are in my prayers as well. Good luck with your final chemo. I am sure you are looking forward to a break from that. Take good care

Sandra

_________________
See my survival story at http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=39390

43 years old at diagnosis, wife and mother of 2 wonderful children (1 of each, 12 and 13).

March 2007-cough that wouldn't clear, gets progressively worse, can't sleep on left side by July 2007
August 2007-cloudy x-ray
Aug 27-finally a CT scan, and hospitalized, 3 litres of fluid on lung. Fluid drained, hospital stay, bronchs, mediastinoscopy, thorascopy. Had been told cancer earlier, not in fluid though. Tests done to confirm staging. Staging confirmed as Stage III A, later changed to III B.
Oct 4-PET scan for radiation planning.
Oct 17-Nov 28-30 radiation treatments
Oct 17 to Jan 11-4 rounds of chemo, cisplatin and etoposide
Jan 28-Ct scan/chest x-ray
Feb 12-doc said re CT scan "results are excellent, could possibly be a complete positive response!" Don't think it gets much better than that. I won't say NED yet....
Mar 18/08-NED!!!!! based on updated CT scan. Small pleural effusion left,difficult to tell, but rest is NED. And also cleared for START, liposome vaccine clinical trial.
April 3-1st day of vaccine, every week for 8 weeks, less frequently after that
-May 8-PET scan results, bone mets!!! Lungs still clear. Begin radiation/chemo planning. Off of clinical trial after 5 treatments.
-May 27 and 30, 2 radiation treatments, 14 greys total
-June 10-July 21-first 3 alimta infusion, also receiving zometa infusions separately
-CT scan results July 21-lungs still clear, back a mess, referred to a neurosurgeon for possible surgery
-Aug 13-1st gemzar infusion (stopped alimta, was intolerant and gemzar thought to be more effective)
Aug 16-MRI as reported pain in right leg, results were probable nerve damage from spine mets
-Aug20-end of first cycle of gemzar. Treatments stopped as was intolerant, too many side effects.
Sept 25-bone scan ordered by pain doc
Oct 3-started Tarceva, 150 mg
Oct 23 PET scan results-progression in spine and left lung with lymph node involvement-CRAP!!!!!
Nov 5-Tarceva down to 125 mg
Jan 20-failed bone cement procedure, pain worse
Jan 23-admitted to hospital for 10 days: full kidney failure, later discovered infection in chest which was lanced, identified dropped foot, off of Tarceva since Jan 20
Mar 31-1st of 10 radiation treatments to the spine
May 12-started navalbine

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will". -Mahatma Gandhi

"When the going gets tough, the tough get waterproof mascara" (assuming you have eyelashes left after chemo!)

Judy:

I completely understand about being offline, I was for a long time when Mom was not doing well. Mom's still hasn't been on computer in forever. LOL Hope your final chemo went well. What was the results of the scans?????

You are in my thoughts and prayers!!!!

Kerri

_________________
Keep on fighting ALL you brave warriors!
Kerri (Gottlieb) Cucciniello 33 years old
Daughter of Patty Gottlieb aka MOST AMAZING WOMANI KNOW
Picture is from my Wedding Day in 2005.
MOM DX 8/27/07 NSCLC Stage IV
both lungs and few lymph nodes
Age 62
1st Chemo 9/10/07 @ Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC
TREATMENT: Taxol and Carboplatin for 6 Rounds, every 3 weeks for 5 hours of straight treatment.
After 2 rounds CAT SCAN and VISIT WITH ONCOLOGIST. Everything stable
12/26/07 Hospitalized for pneumonia.
1/3/08 Starts 10 days intense radiation to help breathing.
Radiation successful in breaking up lung tumors
2/08 Scan shows 2 small spots on liver but brain scan all clear
Starts on Chemo- Alimta every 3 weeks.
Mom has Shingles and is in a tremendous amount of pain. On Fentanyl patches for PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia
3/10/08 Mom doing much better but falls and breaks her ankle and 4 Metatarsal bones. But she is in good spirits
4/25/08 Mom hospitalized for pulmonary embolisms. Symptoms presented similar to Pneumonia. Will need Lovenox shot daily.
6/19/08 CT Scan shows all of Lung tumors are gone as well as all spots on liver except one. Lung function has gone from 28% to 57%!!!
8/27/08 Starting Tarceva, stopping Alimta after 7 months. All Lung Tumors still gone, but spot on liver is bigger.
10/08 2 Brain tumors discovered. Mom chooses radiation over surgery
12/23/08- Mets to Femur bone. Drs at Sloane tell us they are stopping treatment & send us home with hospice. They give her 3 months.
2/15/09- Mom passes away peacefully at home with my Dad and I there.
I miss her terribly but I am happy she's no longer in pain.

Hey Gal Pal, we missed you. Nice to see you check in. Take your time, we'll be here when your feeling better. ((((JUDY)))))

_________________
Warm and Gentle Hugs,
Connie B
Date Dx.d, 7/21/1995, Age 43, Adenocarcinoma, Stage IIIB, had 3.4cm tumor and three cancerous lymph nodes.
7/25/1995 had Left Lung Removed along with several lymph nodes.
9/9/95 Started Chemo (VP-16/Cisplatin), & Radiation (36 treatments). Cancer Free.
8/11/2003 CT Scan found 4mm Nodule Right Upper Lung. Did PET scan & Nodule Lite up. Also found a Tumor in my Left Atrium (Heart)
8/21/03 Open Heart Sugery for Myxoma Tumor in Left Atrium. During heart surgery (3) surgeons checked 4mm nodule & agreed it did not appear to be cancerous.
11/2004-CT & PET scan, nodule still there 6mm will watch.
4/2005-CT, Nodule still there and has grown to 8mm will do another CT in 9/2005. Waiting & watching nodule.
9/2005 CT Nodule has shrunk to 5mm. Doctor's feel nodule could be scar tissue.
2/2006 Having Shortness of Breath problems.
4/2006 CT, nodule 5mm No Change.
11/2006 CT scan no change in Nodule.
4/26/07 Results of CT scan shows I have another Noudule. Now have two nodules, one is 6-7mm & the new one is about 3mm.
9/2007 CT shows 3 nodules all mm in size. First 2 have no change in them. New one is very small. Repeat CT in 6 months.
12/11/07 Still NED
5/7/08 CT (right lung) (nodules watch) two new nodules I now have 5 nodules. Will watch via CT scans.
10/08 CT Scan showed 1 nodule 6mm has grown to 1.2cm.
5/22/09 CT Scan (awaiting results)
7/4/09 PET Scan (3 nodules in left lung are now 1.4c.m in sizes.
8/13/09 Did Bronhcoscopy
8/18/09 NOT Cancer, no cancer found.
Next PET Scan Oct 2009.

READ MY STORY @ http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/vi ... hp?t=13224

Lost my Father age 56(1970), Mother age 66 (1987), and Sister age 43 (1988) all to Lung Cancer
AVATAR is in Iowa @ the Presidential Cancer Forum

Hi Judy. Glad you checked in and are ok. People have been asking about you in chat. Hope you are feeling better soon and can join us again.

Muriel

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Dx NSCLC 5/03. Surgery UR lobe. Staged as 1B. Chemo (taxol & Carbo)9/15/03 - 11/13/03. Wonderful CTs until Nov 04. Surgery 11/27/04, again staged as 1B. Chemo (Cisplatin and Gemzar) 2/05 to 6/05. Good CTs and PET since chemo.

Hey Judy, So good to hear from you!!! Glad your Chemo is winding down... and hope things are definetely on the upswing!!! Love, Sharon

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Sharon R.
Lost my Daddy go NSCLC he fought a vailant battle for 4 years... HE IS MY HERO
Picture is my grandson Gavin
PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR CUSTOM SUPPORT/MEMORY BRACELET. A PORTION OF EACH SALE GOES DIRECTLY TO LUNGEVITY
www.ilovinglyremember.com

Hi Judy; I am a little late on this post but if you are reading, I want you to know that I am still thinking of you and praying for you. You are one that I watch for.

_________________
Mary

67 year old male @ diagnosis Jan 2008
smoked 45+ yrs - Quit 2002
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stage 4
Diagnosis, treatments, surgery, & BACK Oct 2010:
http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=38034