Kim - Cancer: Lung Message Board

Janmarie2 · 05-03-2006, 05:47 PM

Kim. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and Stan and praying that you get good news about yesterdays CT scan tomorrow. Both you and Stan have been in my thoughts alot the past few days and who knows maybe prayers sent fom O.C .will carry lots of clout being that you too are in O.C! I hope so anyway. I took my mom to chemo this morning then we stopped at the Olive Garden for lunch so at least part of the day was fun. Hope you manage to have a good evening despite all the anxiety of waiting for CT results. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to you and Stan. Hugs JanMarie

Kimslos · 05-03-2006, 08:16 PM

What a sweetheart you are...thanks so much for thinking about us, the prayers and the posting...means lots. The last couple of nights and even during the day(but more severe at night) have been terrible for Stan. I think he got about 5 minutes of sleep last night. He had pain in the kidney area, lower back that penetrated to the legs and around the liver area. It worries me, but must not let it tear me apart...will wait for the results. While Stan had his scans done yesterday I thought some retail therapy would help, but I could not find a thing I liked...must have been my mood cuz it is not like me to walk out of a store with shoes or a top or some new shirt for the boys. My friends were so shocked to hear I came home empty handed...but the mall was empty since it was 1st thing in the morning so it was great walking around by myself pulling myself back together in a sense if you know what I mean.
Wonderful you got to squeeze in a nice lunch with your mom...Stan loves Olive Garden. I do hope and pray your mom has a good week with chemo and can stay strong.
I too have been thinking about you and sending prayers your way...It is so sad that your dad is having to have tests done.
Thanks again JanMarie...you are a very caring person and cannot thank you enough for being so thoughtful. Thanks for the hugs...Hugs for you too!
Kim

Kim003 · 05-04-2006, 10:01 AM

I hope someone has some positive thoughts for me. My mom has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. She had surgery last year to remove a lobe that had two primary spots of cancer. Everything appeared to be fine. She just went for a routine CT scan and they found a small spot on her opposite lung. She had a biopsy which confirmed this new cancer matches one of the spots from the previous year. There are 3 lymph nodes involved now. She has had further tests that show there is no cancer anywhere else. We live in Omaha Nebraska. Supposedly we have the best doctors at the cancer center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. We were able to meet with my mom's oncologist. If you can believe it--they are not going to treat her yet. They want to watch the spot. She said the spot is so small that they do not want to waste the drugs they do have to treat it. I just ccannot get this through my head. I talked with my mom about getting a second opinion. She refuses. She says we have the best doctors right here. My mom did talk to her primary care physician who said that if we did go to Houston-- they would want to know what we were doing there with such cutting edge doctors in Omaha. My mom's oncologist supposedly pioneered the stem cell transplant. So she must be pretty good. It is really hard to put in trust in a doctor. My mom is just a name to them. I can't imagine my life without my mom.

My mom has an amazing attitude!!!!! She is a fighter. She is determined to keep going and continues to work. I work part time and she watches my two little ones two days a week. I am a special education teacher. I did quit my job for next year. I feel like my world is coming to an end. I can't sleep or think about anything else but my mom and the cancer. I have three little kids and I can't even enjoy them knowing what my mom is in for.

I would appreciate any thoughts anyone has. Thank you!

Kimslos · 05-04-2006, 06:10 PM

Hi Kim,
Sorry to hear of your mom's battle with cancer, but that is wonderful to hear she has made it a year, but on the other hand sorry to hear she has another spot on her lung and lymph nodes. I was shocked to hear they do not want to do anything with her cancer, but I am not a doctor. I had always thought no matter what type of lung cancer they are all over it immediately. What type of lung cancer? I am the firm believer even if you go to the best doctors you should always get a 2nd opinion, but that is my opinion and we are all different in what we believe. Your mom does have a lot going for her and that is you mentioned she is fighter and has an amazing attitude. I have read and heard that makes a ton of difference!
I do hope you find some strength to carry on and enjoy life as your mother is doing so at this time.
God Bless,
Kim

Janmarie2 · 05-05-2006, 01:14 PM

Kim003, Sorry to hear about your mom. Is her cancer non small cell or small cell?
My mom has NSCLC Stage IV . June 2004 was when she developed a pleural effussion that then lead to the discovery of lung cancer.

I also do not understand why they would wait instead of trying to stop it dead in it's tracks while it is very small. Would Cyberknive be a possibility? They could go in and zap the tumor with cyberknife being that she has already had a lobe removed and surgery may no longer be an option, thou I have met people that have more then 1 lobe of a lung removed ( even some with an entire lung removed). If it is NSCLC how about Tarceva ? Tarceva made my mom's actual lung tumor disappear and it has not come back so we are only dealing with liver mets at this time. Tarceva does not work for everyone but when it does work some people have great results.

Do you go to her doctors appointments with her? If so do not be afraid to ask lots of questions and bring up things they have not discussed and even be ready to argue at times! Doctors are only human so do not think they have all the answers.

I know the feeling of having all your thoughts centered on your mom and cancer as I have been there . Try to relax and spend sometime with your kids doing fun things as if she is like my mom she will worry about depriving her grandkids of their mom or depriving you of your life and she does not need that burden to deal with too. Last year my sisters and I spent a week in Utah volunteering at Best Friends animal sanctuary and at first I was not so sure about not being there for my mom but When I saw how happy she was that we were doing something fun.. having some " me time" I was able to relax and really enjoyed the week.I was able to put her illness out of my mind during that week. It was something we all needed.

I will add you and your mom to my list of prayers.Take care and come here when you need some support or just to vent as we all understand what you are dealing with, JanMarie