New member, Newly diagnosed

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Comments

  • sammy123
    sammy123 Member Posts: 65

    Welcome
    Hello Cora and welcome to the group! Unfortunately your story is all too familiar, but with that statement take strength that you are far from alone. I've found that this board has been an amazing tool for helping you cope, learn and grow as we travel through this together.

    Please call on me to help however I can.

    Best from London,

    Lee
    www.yurbo.com/leescancer

    Hello Mardigras and Cora:
    I

    Hello Mardigras and Cora:

    I believe I spoke to Chuck about 10 times before we gave the green light. Never got a bill. He consulted Dr. Luketich and then gave me his opinion. I guess my best advice is too get as aggressive as you can to begin treatment. I am a nurse so I sent pathology and reports to 2 wonderful institutions and then decided on UPMC. My husband had 28 sessions of XRT along with chemo week one and week five during radiation. The optimum time is to get surgery 5-8 weeks after chemo/XRT (again if necessary). My husband was dx in May had surgery in July.. Successful no cancer or further chemo needed. Good Luck.
  • sammy123
    sammy123 Member Posts: 65
    sammy123 said:

    Hello Mardigras and Cora:
    I

    Hello Mardigras and Cora:

    I believe I spoke to Chuck about 10 times before we gave the green light. Never got a bill. He consulted Dr. Luketich and then gave me his opinion. I guess my best advice is too get as aggressive as you can to begin treatment. I am a nurse so I sent pathology and reports to 2 wonderful institutions and then decided on UPMC. My husband had 28 sessions of XRT along with chemo week one and week five during radiation. The optimum time is to get surgery 5-8 weeks after chemo/XRT (again if necessary). My husband was dx in May had surgery in July.. Successful no cancer or further chemo needed. Good Luck.

    Phone for Dr. Luketich:
    Phone for Dr. Luketich: 412-647-2911 I spoke with Chuck but you can speak to anyone to get the ball rolling.
  • mardigras
    mardigras Member Posts: 215 Member
    TerryV said:

    Marci,

    EC is too big of a risk to play around at waiting for information. In order to get your quesiton addressed, I must recommend that you begin your own topic with an appropriate subject line. That will draw the best responses from those in the know....

    Prayers to you both.

    Terry
    Wife to Nick, age 48
    dx T3N2M0 05/19/11
    THE 09/08/11

    Thanks Terry
    Thank you Terry. I haven't done a first post yet. I'll try it.
    Hugs
    Marci x
  • mardigras
    mardigras Member Posts: 215 Member
    TerryV said:

    Marci,

    EC is too big of a risk to play around at waiting for information. In order to get your quesiton addressed, I must recommend that you begin your own topic with an appropriate subject line. That will draw the best responses from those in the know....

    Prayers to you both.

    Terry
    Wife to Nick, age 48
    dx T3N2M0 05/19/11
    THE 09/08/11

    Thanks Terry
    Thank you Terry. I haven't done a first post yet. I'll try it.
    Hugs
    Marci x
  • mardigras
    mardigras Member Posts: 215 Member
    sammy123 said:

    Phone for Dr. Luketich:
    Phone for Dr. Luketich: 412-647-2911 I spoke with Chuck but you can speak to anyone to get the ball rolling.

    Thank you Sammy
    Thanks so much for the telephone number Sammy. Can you tell me where it is so that I can look up the area code from here.
    I am also going to try my first post so that I can be armed with all the info.
    I'm so pleased that things are going well for you please God it will continue.
    I wish you all the luck and prayers in the world.
    Hugs Marci x
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    mardigras said:

    Thank you Sammy
    Thanks so much for the telephone number Sammy. Can you tell me where it is so that I can look up the area code from here.
    I am also going to try my first post so that I can be armed with all the info.
    I'm so pleased that things are going well for you please God it will continue.
    I wish you all the luck and prayers in the world.
    Hugs Marci x

    Pittsburgh PA
    Dr. L is in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
  • Lynn_Paul
    Lynn_Paul Member Posts: 22 Member
    NikiMo said:

    Pittsburgh PA
    Dr. L is in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

    Dr. Luketich
    Cora,

    Welcome. I wish I had found this site last year before we decided on a surgeon for my husband who was diagnosed stage III in Sept 2010. After chemo/radiation, he had THE in Dec 2010. The surgery went well. He had post op chemo and was doing great until his latest PET scan which showed a localized recurrence. We met with Dr. Luketich last week and he is going to "re-do" the surgery next month. He told us he feels at least 18 lymph nodes should be removed during surgery. Our surgeon removed 3. One was positive. I can't help but wonder if Dr. Luketich had operated last year if we would be facing this again. Dr. L said they do over 300 surgeries a year. He is the expert in this field, and we did not feel the least bit rushed during the appointment. The first few weeks after diagnosis are so difficult - and not any easier the second time. Our middle child is in her 3rd year of college, and I had to tell her shortly after going back again this year that the cancer was back. Our oldest is home again after graduating from college in 2010. Her being home has helped a lot. She was here, so I was able to stay at the hospital the entire time. Our youngest is 15. He has been a huge help and more mature than a 15 year old should have to be. My advice is, if people want to help ~ let them. It makes them feel good and takes one thing off of your plate.

    I wish you and your husband success in finding the surgery options that are right for you.

    Lynn
  • Lhoskins31
    Lhoskins31 Member Posts: 2
    Cora, I am sorry to hear
    Cora,

    I am sorry to hear about your husband. I stumbled across your story a couple weeks ago and I think it's so wonderful to see how everyone here is so supportive. I anly wish I had found this site after I was diagnosed. There is nothing in the word out there like not knowing where to turn to get questions answered. I will continue to keep y and your husband in my prayers.

    Leah
  • Lhoskins31
    Lhoskins31 Member Posts: 2
    Cora, I am sorry to hear
    Cora,

    I am sorry to hear about your husband. I stumbled across your story a couple weeks ago and I think it's so wonderful to see how everyone here is so supportive. I anly wish I had found this site after I was diagnosed. There is nothing in the word out there like not knowing where to turn to get questions answered. I will continue to keep y and your husband in my prayers.

    Leah