Feeling good but guilty. - Cancer: Lung Message Board

easyrun262 · 11-02-2006, 02:34 PM

Hi Friends- I am living full of life with Stage 4 lung cancer and was hoping to hear from others with a similiar diagnosis. I was diagnosed last October as a result of back pain. A base-of-the-spine tumor had developed and radiation eliminated the cancerous tumor. I completed 6- 6 week cycles of chemo. I also have many metastatic lymphnodes throughout my body but nothing creating problems. I am painfree but the fatique remains to the point that my activity level has decreased and my weight has skyrocketed. I went from 140 to 200lbs.

Since the cancer is dormant (my oncologist says that it is sleeping), and I'm painfree, I'm actually starting to think that I have been misdiagnosed. I'm also starting to feel guilty that I should be feeling this well despite a dire prognosis. Is there anyone out there who feels the same way? This is bothering me more than the cancer itself. Please, I welcome your feedback.

Kimslos · 11-02-2006, 03:15 PM

Hi-
Wow, I read your posting with much happiness that you are feeling great! oh, I would never feel guilty...enjoy life to the fullest! You have already been quite an ordeal having chemo and radiation so relax and let's hope and pray your cancer stays asleep forever while you run around and enjoy yourself.
I wish I could say my husband is feeling good, but not the case. I hope you come across someone else in your situation. I know there is a gal Pat would comes to the posting board once in a while who is cancer free.
Thanks for such a great posting...nice to hear some good news!
Kim

bt8425 · 11-02-2006, 07:06 PM

My God, don't feel guilty for feeling well. Don't know about mis-diagnosis, but would investigate the large weight gain to insure its not some type of edema problem. I to have gained 20 lbs in past couple of months, from 220 to 240, i'm under Radiation and Chemo now for NSCLC stage 1, 1A or something, but I had an echo cardiogram to rule out Pulmonary Hypertension which was negative. Weight gain will come with inactivity, but 80 lbs seems unreasonable. How are your legs, ankles extremities etc as far as water retention? I would pursue the issue of weight gain with the Doctors, it's great the big "C" is quiet, don't need any other problems. Be well and keep us up to date. Bill B

mabegb · 11-02-2006, 09:09 PM

hi- i do understand what you are feeling. i was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer at the beginning of the year. except for a few pains in my back every now and then i feel really well. i had 3 weeks of radiation over the summer but no chemo. i did recently start to use supplemental oxygen, but not all the time. i use it when i ride my excercise bike and do strenuous stuff. otherwise my life is the same i have four kids and a husband that require my constant attention. instead of feeling guilty i feel blessed. i know it does seem strange im at stage 4 and still doing everything.
enjoy this time you have and maybe you are cancer free. i do believe in miracles. good luck to you.

angelmama39 · 11-03-2006, 04:53 PM

Easyrun, I am so glad that you are in the position you are..........

My mom is in stage Iv...with brain mets. all went well with the tumor removal from her brain, and she is cancer free in the head........she had radiation in the head after the removal just as a precaution................

The tumor in her lung shrunk 30% after chemos........She will do 2 more and they will scan her again.

She is terribly fatigued at times. (depends on the cycle of her chemo)...BUT, (big BUT here)........she was atrophied a bit from the brain tumor, which put her body at a more restful state. She starts therapy on the 13th.

She is staying with me and my family. She cooks, sleeps, reads, talks on the phone, we take occasional walks, we run errands, grocery shop, and we even went to the cidar mill twice. She is limited as to how long and how much she can do. Alot has to do with the atrophy.

Question?

Did you have shrinkage? Or did it stay the same? How many chemos did you have? (I don't understand what a session from a line means)......

Why did you "stop" the chemo?

Ok, I would love to hear from you......

Is surgery an option....why, or why not?

((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

Angel