We saw my mom's doctor yesterday and got the results of last weeks CT. The lung remains unchanged with no tumors seen, just a scar where it had been, no new mets anywhere but it is suggestive of progression in some of the liver mets. They did not give any measurements which they usually do so with the largest mets. I take this to mean there is some possible slight growth ( but I have heard tumors can fluctuate slightly in size too) so they are not 100% sure if they see progression or not so label it as "suggestive of progression." Liver panels are 100% normal so We are viewing this as stable. Yes we would rather hear shrinkage but this far along in the game stable is ok to hear so we will take it. They will keep her on the same chemo for now as she has yet to get all 3 doses in a round and the doctor feels that may account for no shrinkage and if nothing else the chemo she has gotten has either stopped the growth or at least slowed it to a crawl. So on we go with the Taxotere and Gemzar. I have to be honest the last few doses have not left her as fatigued as the first few did even thou she has been anemic!

He did put her on Procrit so now she has to give herself that shot once a week,which is no big deal as she has been doing her own neupogen injections. Overall she is feeling good and is baking cookies today so the boys ( 3 grandsons ) have cookies when they come visit which they frequently do. The 14 yr old is so darn cute as he comes over after school and volleyball gives her a kiss tells her how much he loves her, fills her in on his day and before he leaves she gets another kiss and I love you. I am not sure he even realizes how much that means to her.

I did bring up the HKI 272 to her doctor but he did not even know what it was! I told him it is the next generation of EGFR drugs that they hope will help people that have the EGFR mutation but quit responding to Tarceva or Irressa and that it has begun phase II clinical trials but still he seemed unaware. This is what makes me a little nervous as chemo is what he speciality is yet he often does not seem aware of the new drugs in clinical trial.( and other cancer patients have told us he is the best one at Kaiser..yipes!) The clinical trials for it have an exclusion saying you can not have had more then two chemo agents so I don't think she could get into one,which considering how well the tarceva did work for her is a big bummer.

All of you remain in my thoughts and prayers and I have not said how nice it is to have Tom who can share his knowledge of having a lung nodule that is not cancer but rather is cocci join our group as he gives hope to those just being told they have a lung nodule as thank god it is not always cancer, Thanks Tom! JanMarie ;)

JanMarie,
So happy to hear that your mom's cancer did not get worse. (well, hard to understand the liver though...but seems okay based on what you read...mets under control so to speak) We always want to hear that all is clear and things are great, but at least the lungs are unchanged! I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers daily. Also, thanks for the info on the books. I have been so busy I have not made it to get the first one so will make it to the bookstore in the next day or two to look at both books. Thanks for sharing the update on your mom's scans. Need to run...see another post to respond to and jump in bed. You take care and give your mom a big hug!
Kim

Thanks Kim, I just want you to know I will be sending extra prayers your way this weekend in hopes that Stan gets some good news with his CT scan. The two of you deserve some good news as you both have been through so much as have too many others here.

My dad now has to get a CT on his chest on May 12th. He went to urgent care last week with chest pain and they did an Ekg and Xray and said it was muscle pain. Then Wed. the doctor called and said there is a bulge in his left lung and he ordered a CT. Since I did not talk to him and the term bulge is not used often I do not know if it is a bulge into the lung like an aortal aneurysem or a bulge out of the lung like a tumor or big bullae? ( which is a big pocket of air created when a group of alveoli , the small air sacks, become one big one, it is seem in emphysema). The pain was on the right side not the left. Anyway now we wait and see what is going on with him and I pray it is nothing serious as I do not think I could deal with it along with my mom's cancer.

My dad is so against doctors and medicine that it would be one difficult ride that is for sure. He has been so grumpy lately but when I talked to him before we learned he needs a CT, he admitted he is afraid my mom will die and about what will happen to him as he knows he is too forgetful to live alone for any long period. I think all his anger is driven by that fear. He was telling me how he tells my mom about alternative cancer treatments he feels she should try but she does not even want to listen. He said I think she wants to die! I told him that she does not want to die but that if she did it would be her choice not his as it is her life and she is the one that has to endure all that comes with any treatment so if and when she says no more that is her choice to make. That is when he got real angry and said "Well I don't want her to die!". Anyway at least I got him to talk about it as I think he needs to do that more. He needs to have a heart to heart talk with her about it as I think that would help alot but as most of us are he is too afraid he will upset her.
Right now I am glad to be home for my weekend of work, not to go to work but to be in my own place where I can set all those issues aside for a few days as working a 12 hr night and sleeping most of the day leaves little time for much else. Well I need to go get some things done . My thoughts and prayers to you all over the weekend and always.JanMariel

JanMarie, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you take care of your loved ones. I pray you get a blessing each day. Take care of yourself. Love from Ky., Pat

JanMarie,
I was so numb and completely speechless when I read what your dad is going thru and could possibly have cancer. I guess the only positive thing that happened was that you got your dad to be honest how he feels about his wife...so hard for one to admit your true feelings to others. I think I might be one of those people...I tell people I will be okay and deep down I know I have to be...but completely scared of my husband not being around. My dad was a HUGE believer in alternative medicine and did not like the medical "ins and outs". He was furious that Stan was not following his alternative care plan he had picked out for Stan...he even wrote our friends a letter in November stating the next time he sees Stan it will be at Stan's funeral...and to think my dad died so quickly from cancer after being diagnosed. I do hope and pray that your dad does not have cancer as it appears he could be a handful for you.
I am sure this is so overwhelming for you right now and I bet it is a relief to be at work even though you have to work such long hours.
I hope your week will be a good one and your mind won't be racing too much with all that is going on with your mom and dad.
Thanks for the extra prayers...always can use them. It appears as if Stan is having more pain and it concerns us that the chemo did not do its job. Stan goes on Tuesday for the scans and Thursday gets the results. I am trying to be very positive and know I cannot change whatever the results may be. I will keep you close to my heart and pray that you and your family have a good week.
Kim

Dearest JanMarie...I think I will take a couple of extra Excedrins in your name. Your dad sounds like he might have some German blood in him. My family is half German and half Italian and I am truly a mixture of the two. I think the German side is WAAAAY more stubborn. He is so afraid JanMarie. I see him striking out tring to cope with what is happening to your mom. These men do not always deal well with pain and life/death issues. Not that there is any easy way to deal with it, but I think men in general have a tougher time. I admire you for trying to keep a level head and even keel throughout it. Hang in there my friend, I am holding you up and praying for you and keeping you close to my heart.

In love and compassion...hugs, peace, and healing to you....

Jan

Jan, You got it right my dad does have some German blood in him. Thanks for your prayers as dealing with him is taking it all out of me. He gets his CT on the 16th and I pray that he too does not have cancer as I don't think I could deal with him. My mom is easy to deal with and despite her illness has remained easy to deal with.

I hope Bud is doing ok and is at least able to find some comfort as being in pain is no fun. I think of you and Bud alot and hold you both close in my heart and prayers, Here's hoping for a good weekend..It should be better then mine being that I work the next 3 nights. UGH! Hugs JanMarie

Janmarie, I'm so glad that your mother's CT scan was stable. I have wonderful news for you. I wrote you a couple weeks ago about my mother's situation and how I learned about Tarceva through your messages on this support group. On Monday, my mother saw her oncologist, and he looked at her CT and PET while we were there from the computer. He acted like he couldn't believe what he was seeing, and first I thought there was something really wrong. He then said that he saw no sign whatsoever of the malignant pleural effusion that she had on the right side of her chest 2 months ago. He said he saw no pleural thickening and no fluid buildup anymore, and tried to show us the comparison between her older chart and the new one. I couldn'f figure it out, but he said it was gone. Unbelievable. He said this was easy, and to stay with the Tarceva and come back in 3 months. It was such a heartwarming moment to watch my mother's reaction and she cried and hugged both of us! She was on the phone the whole day and night calling her family and friends and crying tears of joy. It was so hard to believe that only 2 months ago, her second oncologist told me over the phone in a 'matter of fact' way that the malignancy 'lit up the screen' on the right side of her chest, and to try to make my mother comfortable and don't bother with chemo. He even had my mother's pathology report that showed the genetic mutation that was responsive to Tarceva, as well as her first oncologist and her surgeon. None of them recommended Tarceva, just the one she has now. I am so glad that I found hope and some guidance on other possible paths to take simply by reading your message on this board, and becoming aware of the drug. I thank God every day that he led me to this bulletin board. My mother wanted me to write you and say thank you again, and we are thinking of your mother and praying for you both. God bless you!! Kris

OMG Kris...this is wonderful My hubby was on Tarceva but did not help a bit I found out after the fact that it was going to help mostly people who had been non smokers...and to be truthful, as much as I love my Bud, he was a living chimney stack for 30+ yrs....

I am so very very happy to hear of the good results just like JanMarie's moma....

Let's keep looking up as that is what is going to keep us strong and willing to continue the "good fight". Amen to all of that and here is another name added to my prayer list....well, two..yours'

Take care my friend and know that here is a place of refuge. You are welcome any time....

in love, peace and healing,
Jan

Kris. :bouncing: What great news! :bouncing: I think I have said before that when the Tarceva works it is often quite dramatic and fast. I like to tell my mom's story in hopes that it will help someone else dealing with lung cancer as I think there are still alot of doctors that do not use Tarceva.

Alot of the stories about Tarceva are negative as the drug did not work or caused awful side effects but there is that small group out there that the drug can really benefit so is worth trying.Since my mom is one of those people I think it is our duty to let others know her story.

I really wish it had helped Jan's Bud but it would appear that his cancer does not have the genetic mutation. To others reading this yes there have been smokers that do have the mutation and do repond to Tarceva so it is worth looking into Tarceva .

There is now a new EGFR drug that they hope will be able to take over when Tarceva or Irressa quite working because the cancer mutates again, it is called HKI 272 and is in phase II of clinical trials, so one can only hope it does what is is suppose to do and gets fast tracked into the market by the FDA.

Kris, I hope you and your mom have a great weekend. Being mother's day weekend your mom's CT report was probably the best present she will get and she owes it to your internet searching! Everyone with cancer needs someone to search the internet especially the message boards as you can learn a ton from others dealing with cancer.My prayers for your mom will be of continued response to Tarceva. Tell her Happy Mother's day! JanMarie

Janmarie and Jan, thank you for your wonderful email messages. We just got back from a memorable mother's day celebration with our relatives. She was so happy, and everyone can't get over how great she looks. Last year at this time she went through chemo and had such a bad reaction to it, she was hospitalized twice with dehydration and neutropenia. She stayed inside all summer long. We bought her lots of flowers this weekend, because she loves to work around the yard, so its so heartwarming to see her back outside and pulling weeds and enjoying her flowers. Its truly remarkable. My mom said to say thank you again, and happy mother's day to you and your mother. God's blessings to everyone on this message board and your loved ones.. Kris

LOL...God Bless your mama.....
That is exactly what I would do given the circumstances...pull weeds and plant flowers.....That is such a heartwarming Mother's Day message. Thank you for sharing whis with us.....
My step kids gave my such a wonderful Mother's Day. I never expected anything, but when it started to arrive, OMG....what an awesome gift. I received cards, balloons, bubble bath suds, candles, and a really cool garden knick nack... Kyle, my own son was in bed most of the day with a terrible migraine..he apologized..but honestly, I did not care. Despite the rain, it was a day to remember.

Bud is doing....OK. Best I can say ATM. Let's see what the next scan reveals. I keep praying for a miracle. I keep telling God, no matter now much He needs him up there, We need him more down here. Maybe, it sounds selfish, but that is my prayer... Our Lord has so may angels up there. why can He not spare to leave one on earth with us? That's all....no other requests.

You all take care out there and healing, prayers, thoughts, and love coming your way.

Jan

Thank you Kris and Jan for sharing your beautiful Mother Day with all of us...how touching and loving. Kris it is wonderful your mom is doing so well and can enjoy gardening...I always find that very theraputic! It is so nice and peaceful and after all your hard work you have the most beautiful flowers and plants to enjoy. I don't get to work in the yard as much I use to since Stan was diagnosed, but did manage to sneak out on Friday for about an hour and my 16 year old came and sat next to me for about 20 minutes and we had a great talk. The funny thing is that he thought I was lonely being out there so had to chuckle inside. He is concerned about me so thought it was so sweet of him and I will cherish that memory forever. Now Jan I was thinking about what those great step kids were doing for you yesterday...how special. I am sure it makes Bud so proud to see his kids love you and know they will be there if anything happens to Bud.
I understand your prayer/request to God about Bud...I feel the same way. What fighters we have!
Thanks again Kris and Jan for sharing your special memories...
May your mom stay strong and may Bud find the strength to fight this dreadful disease!
Kim

Kim, Jan, Kris, I am so glad to hear that each of you had a good mother's day. We took my mom out to brunch which she enjoyed despite the fact she felt that she had to wear her wig. She hates wearing a wig but she feels her hair is too thin now to go out without covering her head.

Funny that you all have mentioned gardening as that is my mom's passion.In 2004 when she started chemo she was too fatigued to work in the yard and that is how everyone that lives in the neighborhood figured out something had happened to her. The neighbors nearby all knew but I am talking about all the people that walk in the neighborhood. She was out there and most people say hello to her or stop and chat. When she was no longer out there they all noticed and if they would see me or my dad they all asked if something had happened to my mom and said how much they missed passing by and seeing her working in her flower garden. After starting Tarceva last year she was able to be out there working in the garden again and those same people if they saw me would say how great it is to see her out there again. I think I will always think of my mom when I see a beautiful garden!

I am glad that Bud seems to be doing better and hope his next scan supports that. Avastin is like Tarceva in the fact that when it works people often get dramatic responce to it.I am pulling for him and no Jan it is not selfish to ask that he be given more time here with you, I think we all ask that! My guess is God understands that request!

Kim, I am glad that Stan was able to make it to the mass and lunch as that was an important day for your son and having his dad there made it even more special. I pray that his new chemo helps and does not leave him totally wiped out. You and he are always in my prayers and often in my thoughts especially since I am in OC so much of the time.

Kris, Your news about your mom made me so happy and I told my mom all about it. I think knowing that she may have be an inspiration to others to try Tarceva then hear that they too are benefitting from it gives her a sense of some purpose to put with the cancer. I will continue to pray that your mom continues to benefit and that one day we will hear her CT comes back N.E.D.

My dad is getting his CT today but I do not know when we get the results. he is sort of worried about the contrast as my dad is one of those people that is convinced he will have a bad reaction to drugs and thus he usually does.Which I think is often due to the fact he tells himself he will. I can not imagine him doing chemo if this turns out to be some cancer, I don't even want to go there right now! Well I had better get going.My continued prayers for all who come here. JanMarie

JanMarie, I'm pulling for your papa. Lots and lots of prayers going up for him, my friend.

We have such a great group here. Thank you God for it, but what a shame it even exists. Today when we went for chemo, we had to wait 45 min because all of the chairs were taken. It broke my heart. I wish all cancer centers were put out of business. Oh what a blessing that would be. Allelujah!

Take care all, gotta run. I smell our supper getting....ummmm....well done. LOL

Hugs, love, peace, healing and prayers to you all
Jan