WowJanMarie what an inspiring story. I am sooo sorry about your mom. But you know this is exactly what I try to relate to other people around me. I want quality, not quantity of life. I am one to do very extensive research when it comes to MY well being. Ive had heart bypass and still have some inoperable blockages. This I also had to take into consideration when it came to chemo. I have the heart problem under control as of now. If I can do what I can now, I want to do it. I AM NOT one to sit and feel sorry. I do not let this illness consume me day to day. I have no immediate family around me in the state. So basically when it comes to it, I am alone. this board is helping me to find what I need to live each day to the fullest while I can. And like I said, I am at peace with myself about this. I have donated my body to science, an I have a living will so as I want no mechanical things to keep me alive. My main goal is to eat what is best for me. Do get exercise and move on. LOL...the hardest part is WHAT diet, what supplements I should take and so on. This is my search. Someone mentioned a tea here called lotus powder tea for wet lungs or pleural effusion. Im having trouble finding it. I am also waiting for a book I have coming "Beating Cancer with Nutrition". I KNOW there is no cure but if I can make everyday living better while I can, this is what I want to do.
I know it was hard for you with your mom and my heart goes out to you. Yes, people dont want to let go, but I myself know that if suffering or prolonging is worse than passing, I would rather pass on. People can take so much suffering before they just dont want it anymore. and when you lose your quality of life, it is even harder. Thank you for your prayers. Bless you for taking the time for me. I really DO appreciate it. Everyone here has been so very nice to me and believe me it helps more than they realize. Bless them all.
Prayers and hugs to you. Thank you
I'm sorry I haven't been on the board for a few days...
We ordered the tea online. The brand is
Mitoku Macrobiotic dried Lotus Tea powder and dried ginger powder.
It comes on a bag with 8 oz.
No 'YOU ARE NOT A QUITTER' Don't let anyone say that and please don't believe it of yourself. You are dealing with your cancer in your own way, you are in control of your life, to some extent your death, and are free to choose to do as you wish.
At this time in your life, more than any other you have the absolute right to do as you want to do, to put yourself and your wishes first. The people in your life must learn to respect that and you. It may take time for some to do so. I have made many discoveries about the people in my life during the past year, new people have come into my life and some old faces are no longer around. Some accepted my decision immediately, others became silent for a while, and are now making contact again. I think it's difficult for them. First they have to come to terms that you have cancer, and many people don't know how to react. Then they have to come to terms that you are not having chemo.
Most people know very little about cancer, other than 'people get cancer they have chemo and their hair falls out, and with a bit of luck they are cured'. The info put out by the mainstream media. So in a way it's possible to understand their reaction. That does not mean we have to alter our choices to accommodate that reaction.
PLEASE don't let people put a downer on you because you are not doing what they want you to do. This will wear you down and right now you need your all energy for you, to maintain your quality of life for as long as you are able, and it may be a long time who knows.
I don't know what the odds are for stage lllb but the odds are often wrong. When I was diagnosed they told me three months to one year, in fact my doctors are very surprised that I am still here.
I was invited to have my kidney removed at the beginning or the year as I was getting a lot of pain, I met with the surgeon and he offered to remove the kidney the next day, and put me on interferon for the rest of my life. Then a group of medics had a meeting about the surgery would have been very complex as I have breathing problems as well. I had to decide quickly a 5 minute decision, to be made whilst standing outside the hospital, I decided against surgery, and interferon, as I 'knew' my quality of life would be destroyed.
My decision was based on the little voice inside me - I KNEW it was wrong for me to have the surgery.
Why am I telling you all this - Well it's to ask you to keep listening to that little voice inside, it knows more than we ever can know rationally. The good news is that my kidney pain has reduced over the past seven months.
Years ago my stepfather was diagnosed with colon cancer with mets in the liver. His prognosis was three months without chemo and six months with chemo. He decided against chemo, everyone thought he was crazy, depressed, giving up and so on. He lived over five years was happy and could do most things, having very few symptoms until the last month of his life.
Perhaps a lot of people decide not to have chemo, we just don't get to learn about them as there is really no meeting place and I think most medics don't want to think or talk much about that option as it's not pro-active for them.
Years ago in the 50s or 60s there was a movie, and I don't remember the name of it sorry, perhaps someone does, there was a song in the movie and one of the lines was 'I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair' sung in the shower.
My main cancer treatment is standing in the shower singing 'I'm gonna wash that cancer right outa my bod' performed with a bit of a dance so the water hits it's target areas - daily.
Laughter is the best medicine
Good luck and don't let them bring you down. You are in my prayers,
Thank you so much Cee for the encouraging words. THEY are very much appreciated. I can understand other peoples feelings and I respect that but I also let them know IT IS MY LIFE. Like I have said, I am at peace with myself and have no regrets on my decision on the route I have chosen. My main goal now is to boost my quality of life the best I can and hopefully can with excercise, nutrition and common sense. My oncologist doesnt seem to be into "other" methods of help. When I asked him what I could do at home for myself, the only thing he said is what I do everyday. Well duh, things need to change in some degrees as far as what my body needs and doesnt need right now. But I find it confusing as to what to decide on. Sooooo many things out there and trying to decide what is best is the confusing part. Wish they just had a list that said take this, dont take that, this is the vitamins, supplements and food you need. But it isnt that easy.
Again thank you, I do appreciate it. Bless you. You have done so well for yourself and I appreciate your time for me.
Hello Turbo58 I do not have cancer but I read this site because I lost my mom to stage 4 sclc in 2005, I was her care giver. It was very hard for me to watch her go down and trying to do the right thing for her and she off course put her faith in my hands. She did have radition for the brain metastics but it only made her quality of life worse. It is my opinion and my opinion only that I wish she had lived her remaining life with quality but she wanted to fight and she did. Any way getting away from that I went to health and nutrition stores and asked them for helpful products to boost her immune system and they were great so I would suggest you go to the sourse and tell them what you are wanting and I am sure they would be most compassionate and helpful to your needs. I am not sure if I can mention names of suppliments and nutrition on this site so I won't but I'm sure you know what I mean? Also on-line books sites (I probably can't mention) but if you enter nutrition and supplements for cancer in the search bar you will come up with a large selection of books on this very topic. I have to tell you Turbo I really do admire you for your decision on taking charge of your own health in your own way, it may not be for everyone. I also admire other's in their faith and challenge with this terrible disease. There will always be opinions and disagreements with all choices, but it is yours to make. I hope you all find a health program that works for you. ((((warm hugs))))
Thank you ebrena. Having this disease is hard, but attitude and wishes of the one whom has it is what I feel counts. I plan to do my best with what I have and come what may. And I will certainly post here what works for me hoping to help someone else as those who haved helped me. Its time for MY body to fight back with all I have. Hopefully, what I choose is right for me, meaning diet, supplements etc. And I do plan this weekend to get to a nutrition store and will definitely do what you suggest, ask!!! Thank you for your input. It is taken to heart and appreciated so very much. Bless you
Hi. Just checking in and had a couple questions if anyone can help. I am doing okay. Taking vitamin supplements and teas. No pain. I did discover a while back another supraclavicular node swollen and a swelling on right side of neck. I had a CT scan done last week. Went to oncologist this morn. he said I had very enlarged thyroid gland. I am to see a radiologist this thurs. After the fact, which is my fault, I thought well why would they want radiation on my throat area for this? Wouldnt they just want to remove thryroid gland? Puzzles me a bit. BUT I am going to wait and see what this other dr says. I STILL refuse chemo and such. Dont even know if I want any radiation. My onc says it is pressing on trachea and keeping my airway open is more important right now. ONLY radiation to throat area. AND he also says that he would like me to take a drug called Tarceva. Some pill for cancer. Havent heard of this before but that is neither here nor there.
Has anyone heard of lung cancer spreading to thyroid gland and what is method of treatment for it? This is a little puzzling to me and want to know what I can before any decisions on anything. I feel good beside being fatigued and this awful cough.
Thanks everyone and Bless all of you. I read posts everyday and wish EVERYONE here the best.
Hi
Just saw your post, I don't get online very often so sorry for the delay.
Palliative radiation is I am told very effective and if you have a mass growing around the trachea may be well worth having. You could choke to death otherwise, a very frightening way to die. If it was me I would have the PRT palliative radiation therapy, for the trachea mass. It has a high success rate.
Dont know about mets to thyroid. Lot's of people here have experience of Tarceva, by bumping this post you may get a reply or do a search Jan Marie's mum was on it for a while.
Sounds like your cancer is on the move - mine does that then stops for a while. Hope that you are feeling ok within yourself.
Hi and thank you for asking about me. I am doing fine so far. I just finished 6wks of radiation for preventive measure. Had it done to neck and chest. Neck was most important to keep airway open. It wasnt bad, some burning of skin and trouble with throat but I got thru it. THEN...came down with nasty head and chest cold. Trying to get over that now. Am to have CT scan and bone scan next month. As far as remedies, lots of vitamins and some supplements. I take Vit E, C, B12, COQ10, multi vitamin. Take Melatonin at bedtime. Among the other prescribed meds I take every day. Lots of those!!! I am fatigued easy but do every day chores. No pain. All blood work has remained normal and good. I did discover a change in one breast. Saw Dr this morn and am having mammogram tom morn. I know it is probably spreading but this I expected. Would I have been diagnosed early, say Stage I or so, I would have considered chemo. But not for me. It is not worth it to me. I am at peace with my decision. I have great Doctors, which makes things soooooo much easier. My oncologist and radiation oncologist both told me that attitude, careful nutrition and exercise can help a person more than they realize. Suggested not to go overboard with supplements but work on immune system and vit supplements. So far it has worked for me.
Again, I thank you for asking.
I am really happy to hear you are doing okay. I read your post about a month ago when my Dad was first diagnosed with lung cancer stage III b with pleural effusion. He is still trying to decide what he wants to do. One thing is he will be getting a second opinion from MD Anderson.
I do believe in natural remedies as I have a son with autism, we have taken the alternative approach with great results thus far.
I hope that you will continue to post. I think alot of people come on here to read and don't really post so I wanted to bring your topic back up because it is real important to keep updated on how things are going and to see if anyone else has any advice on using natural sources.
Keep your chin up, looking forward to hearing from you more often.
Sherri
