Hi all,
Dad will be back in the Onc. office for labs Jan. 28 after a whole 3 weeks. He has been off of chemo since a week before c-mas. Last CT revealled almost nothing in lungs and mets to liver were smaller. Will be having a new CT next week sometime. SO afraid that these new tests will reveal something has grown or something new (SCLC is like a stubborn weed)....My anxiety gets worse with each day as we get closer to having these new tests ! Dad doesn't tolerate chemo, so there may not be viable alternatives for him. Keep us in your prayers that the tests come back good and send positive thoughts our way. Want dad to be in that statistic of survivors. Bless all of you

_________________
- Katie Brown, Co-Founder and Director of LCSC-

15 yr cancer survivor.

"Any of us who have experienced the cancer journey- and survived it-
have an obligation to make the path clearer and aid those that come after us."
- Lance Armstrong

In memory of Jessee Dewey, SCLC
December 29, 1938 - September 6, 2003
Lisa Dewey- Jan. 22, 2007
my parents are together in heaven


facebook www.facebook.com/lungevity

I will add your dad to my prayer list. Mom's repeat tests are in 10 weeks. Keep positive thoughts flowing. Let us know the results. Best wishes, Fay

Katie -

From the book "There's No Place Like Hope":

"I've dealt with the anxiety of further tests by choosing to live my life somewhat like a picnic on a cloudy day. I've gone ahead and planned the picnic, made the food, packed the car, gone to a great location, and am having a blast - even though the weatherman still says there's a chance of showers.

I have two choices: I can either let the prediction of rain ruin everything as much as the rain itself would (and this still wouldn't prevent the rain from falling if it is going to). Or I can throw some rain gear in the car just in case - in the trunk, out of sight - and enjoy every minute of sunshine that I have. It may not rain at all or, if it does, it may just be a sprinkle - but I've made up my mind that the mere "possibility" of rain will not rob me of even one second of joy.

So far, I have enjoyed many storm-free years. Enjoy the sunshine. If the rain falls, deal with it then, but in the meantime have some wonderful picnics!"

Or if you didn't "get' that one, how about: (and this one may sound harsh, but it is well-intended!)

"We will all die someday, that is a given, but let us each die but once - not over and over again each day by letting cancer, or anything else, steal the goodness from our days."

Your dad is in my prayers.......

SandyS

_________________
11/1/02 - Diagnosed Small cell
2/27/03 - Finished 6 weeks of daily radiation
3/15/03 - Finished 6 rounds of chemo
06/03 - CT showed No Evidence of Disease!
09/03 - CT showed No Evidence of Disease!
01/04 - CT showed No Evidence of Disease!
01/04 - Mammogram - mass found
01/04 - Breast Ultrasound - mass unidentifiable
01/28/04 - Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
01/30/04 - Breast Biopsy Benign!
04/05/04 - Physical/all looked good. One small skin issue they want to look into...
06/04/04 - CT - Lungs look great!
06/15/04 - CT of Adrenal Gland
06/18/04 - Biopsy of Adrenal Gland Tuesday 6/29....
07/07/04 - Biopsy NEGATIVE - still NED!
11/29/04 - CT shows some growth in nodules in lung - waiting for PET...
12/21/04 - PET negative except minor activity on the adrenal, which we've already biopsied...
4/25/05 - Adrenal gland mass grew some more - surgery to come soon...
6/22/05 - Surgery scheduled to remove left adrenal gland
6/25/05 - It's benign! Yahoo!
5/26/07 - STILL CLEAN - 5 years this November!

Katie, I am sending positive thoughts your way; your dad is in my prayers. How has your dad been feeling? Please know that there are alot of people out here with your dad in their prayers, and that can be a powerful thing. Take care, and keep us posted. Deb

_________________
knowledge is power!!!

"Statistics describe a group, not the individual."

Dad has advanced NSCLC: diagnosed 1/02
brain mets treated with Gamma knife in 1/03. Started Iressa 1/03. It worked for a while.
Stopped Iressa 6/03, mets to liver; fluid drained from lungs in 7/03-talc procedure
started navabaline (1x a week) on 7/11/03
bone mets-switched to Gemzar 8/29/03 (2wks on/1off)
Radiation to bone met on shoulder blade (10 rounds in total)

December 23, 2003
Daddy left this Earth-and I will never forget how lucky I was to have him for a father. "Thank you, Daddy, I love you and will always miss you, but you will live always- in my heart and memory."


"What a grand world this would be
if we could forget our troubles
as easily as we forget our blessings..."


The secret of health for both mind and body
is not to mourn for the past,
worry about the future,
or anticipate troubles,
but to LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
WISELY AND ERNESTLY.---Buddha

Picture is of Daddy and me on the way to the church on 10/20/96.

I have finally gotten to this point---

I tell myself that cancer has taken up enough time in my life. I don't want to give it any more of my time. If the news would be bad, why use precious time worrying in advance?

Try to keep yourself focused on the moment.

_________________
NSCLC BAC 4/01 Stage 1A
non-smoker for 17 years
breast cancer 1997: mastectomy/chemo
breast cancer 1993: lumpectomy/radiation
Both stage 1

Avatar picture - my guys at my 50th

Dear Katie,
As I said somewhere else on the board, dealing with my dad's cancer was harder on me than facing my own situation. You have my total empathy. I know you are trying to put the best face you can on everything while simultaneously feeling so helpless. Blessings and peace of heart are sent your way for you, your dad, and all your family. Keep us informed when you feel up to it. These scan things are very edgy business.

_________________
"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong

"Every moment is a breath-taking, transitory experience, never to be repeated again." - Don Juan Matus

Tiny
Age 58 at dx; lifelong non-smoker
12/01 dx NSCLC bronchoalveolar-type adenocarcinoma (BAC), Stage IIA
2/02 Lobectomy RLL; no chemo or rad
6/03 MRI = "empty"
3/05 Bone Scan = negative
2/08 CT = "No Evidence for Metastases or Recurrence"
Enjoyed 6+ years of NED
1/09 CT/PET:Recurrent disease: multiple new nodules in both lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, and spot on liver.
2/3/09 Bone Scan: Degenerative arthritis (hooray!)
2/4/09 Started Tarceva
~~ picture: Temple of Poseidon, Greece 4/08 ~~

Everyone here had great advice! You need to remember that everyday is a memory, either they are ones filled with good things or they can be memories of worry and sadness. Easier said than done I know.Just know that God can be right there with you if you let Him. Hold on to Him during these times. Our prayers are daily for you.

_________________
[size=10:07600f51db]'I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me' (and He does!)

I am a 50 yo (DOB 10/13/56), wife, mom of 3, ER nurse (semi-retired).
I was 44 and diagnosed 2/2001 SCLC Extensive R Lung, mediastinal area, vessels of the heart, and L adrenal gland, Cisplatin and Camptosar (Irenotecan) x 9 mos.
Remission 1 yr.
June 2002-youngest got her drivers lis. OH NO! 1st Milestone.
Relapsed in 2/2003, tumor in L lung-6 wks radiation and chemo- carboplatin, VP-16 for 6 mos. also in Feb. 2003 I fell and broke R leg-surgically repaired.
Last chemo treatment Aug. 2003.
Sept 2003 son got married! Another milestone met!
March 2004 pericardial effusion.
Dec. 2004 pericardial effusion still present but smaller and stable
Feb. 2005-I made it--4 years!!!!( since the day I was diagnosed, YEAH!)
Remission TWO YEARS (Aug. 2005)!!!!!!!!!! This time
August 1, 2005 CT scan shows NED and MRI confirms I am still empty headed!
Nov. 2005-all scans STILL NED!!
FEB. 2006- 5 YEARS SINCE DIAGNOSIS!!!
March 2006-All scans still NED
July 2006-All scans NED
Aug. 2006-3 years no chemo-oh yeah!
Dec 2 2006 Middle daughter was married!! Another milestone!
Oct. 2006-All scans NED
Feb 2007-All still NED !!6 YEARS since orig diagnosis!!
June 2007-NED NED NED!!
June 2007 Youngest daughter turned 21!! She was 14 at my diag!
August 2007-4 years since last chemo!!
April 2008-still clean, almost 5 yrs since last chemo, Praise God!

Pic- CindyRN and KatieB at the 2007 Bash
[/size:07600f51db]

I, too, get very anxious when my oncology appointment is on the horizon. I start listening more intently to my body. This can be both good and bad. I have to realize that, as one approaches their sixties, as I am, there are those little aches and pains that remind of things we did when we were younger (we always seem to pay for those things as we age, don't we ).

I, too, keep a note pad, next to my computer, to write down things that I must ask my onc when I see her next time.

Most of my appointments with the Oncologist have usually turned out to be ok, so as time goes by, I have the pre-appointment anxiety has lessened, but, nonetheless, I still get anxious.