New member

micha_d
micha_d Member Posts: 4
in Lung Cancer #1
I am a new member and wanted to say hi to all the others in this community.
I am a 39 year old stay at home mom who was diagnosed 3 months ago.
I joined to learn some tips from others in the same circumstance as me.
I will contribute what I can to all of you.
Thanks,
Michelle

Comments

  • joep531857
    joep531857 Member Posts: 32 Member
    #2
    new member
    Dear Micha_d:
    My name is Joe and I have been a member here since 2/11. Sorry you had to become a member of our club. I was wondering what your course of treatment is going to be, so we could give you some tips. I am stage 1b non small cell adenocarcinoma of the left upper lobe. I had surgery Jan 18 to remove my left upper lobe. That was followed by 4 mos of weekly chemotherapy. I have been NED (no evidence of disease since surgery). I am feeling pretty good and trying to get stroger. Any thing i can share with you i will be more than happy too.
    Sincerely,
    Joe P
  • micha_d
    micha_d Member Posts: 4
    #3
    joep531857 said:

    new member
    Dear Micha_d:
    My name is Joe and I have been a member here since 2/11. Sorry you had to become a member of our club. I was wondering what your course of treatment is going to be, so we could give you some tips. I am stage 1b non small cell adenocarcinoma of the left upper lobe. I had surgery Jan 18 to remove my left upper lobe. That was followed by 4 mos of weekly chemotherapy. I have been NED (no evidence of disease since surgery). I am feeling pretty good and trying to get stroger. Any thing i can share with you i will be more than happy too.
    Sincerely,
    Joe P

    treatment
    Hi Joe,
    Thanks for the response. I don't know all the medical terms but this is my understanding of diagnosis and treatment: I have non small cell cancer. My tumor is right now considered "inoperable" because it is large (the size of a peach) and high up my lung (right side), close to my heart. The cancer is also in my lymph nodes. All my doctors have said that my heart and tumor right now do not have a lot of "interaction" I am getting radiation everyday, have done 6 weeks and am scheduled for at least 6 more.
    I guess its not common but I am doing double agent chemo one day every 3 weeks and radiation at the same time. Beside cancer I am very healthy (funny thing to type) so my doctors, who work closely together, have set up this treatment schedule. The radiation is already improving conditions, tumor shrinking and more air in my lungs. They (DR's) said they may re-stage me at some point but I am trying not to get hung up on staging and operations and concentrate on making the most of my treatment.
    I have the best doctors and LOVE them, love the whole cancer team. I am so lucky to have a great hospital minutes from home and i think they are taking good care of me. So that's my basic medical info.
    Already found some great suggestions on the board for small issues (mouth sores etc) and if I get stuck on anything I will post. What a great resource!
  • joep531857
    joep531857 Member Posts: 32 Member
    #4
    micha_d said:

    treatment
    Hi Joe,
    Thanks for the response. I don't know all the medical terms but this is my understanding of diagnosis and treatment: I have non small cell cancer. My tumor is right now considered "inoperable" because it is large (the size of a peach) and high up my lung (right side), close to my heart. The cancer is also in my lymph nodes. All my doctors have said that my heart and tumor right now do not have a lot of "interaction" I am getting radiation everyday, have done 6 weeks and am scheduled for at least 6 more.
    I guess its not common but I am doing double agent chemo one day every 3 weeks and radiation at the same time. Beside cancer I am very healthy (funny thing to type) so my doctors, who work closely together, have set up this treatment schedule. The radiation is already improving conditions, tumor shrinking and more air in my lungs. They (DR's) said they may re-stage me at some point but I am trying not to get hung up on staging and operations and concentrate on making the most of my treatment.
    I have the best doctors and LOVE them, love the whole cancer team. I am so lucky to have a great hospital minutes from home and i think they are taking good care of me. So that's my basic medical info.
    Already found some great suggestions on the board for small issues (mouth sores etc) and if I get stuck on anything I will post. What a great resource!

    treatment
    Hi Michelle,
    I cant help with radiation, I never had it. But with chemo I maybe able to help. I was on cisplatin every 4th week and vinorelbine(navalbine) every week for 16 weeks. I hope and pray all goes well for you. If i can be of help just let me know.

    Joe
  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #5
    micha_d said:

    treatment
    Hi Joe,
    Thanks for the response. I don't know all the medical terms but this is my understanding of diagnosis and treatment: I have non small cell cancer. My tumor is right now considered "inoperable" because it is large (the size of a peach) and high up my lung (right side), close to my heart. The cancer is also in my lymph nodes. All my doctors have said that my heart and tumor right now do not have a lot of "interaction" I am getting radiation everyday, have done 6 weeks and am scheduled for at least 6 more.
    I guess its not common but I am doing double agent chemo one day every 3 weeks and radiation at the same time. Beside cancer I am very healthy (funny thing to type) so my doctors, who work closely together, have set up this treatment schedule. The radiation is already improving conditions, tumor shrinking and more air in my lungs. They (DR's) said they may re-stage me at some point but I am trying not to get hung up on staging and operations and concentrate on making the most of my treatment.
    I have the best doctors and LOVE them, love the whole cancer team. I am so lucky to have a great hospital minutes from home and i think they are taking good care of me. So that's my basic medical info.
    Already found some great suggestions on the board for small issues (mouth sores etc) and if I get stuck on anything I will post. What a great resource!

    Welcome to the club nobody wants to join, and ...
    "I guess its not common but I am doing double agent chemo one day every 3 weeks and radiation at the same time."

    Actually, that is pretty common, and many of us have done it under your circumstances. I'm approaching two years after that treatment, and so far, so good.

    If you have any specific questions for any of us, sing out!
  • catcon49
    catcon49 Member Posts: 398
    #6
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    Welcome to the club nobody wants to join, and ...
    "I guess its not common but I am doing double agent chemo one day every 3 weeks and radiation at the same time."

    Actually, that is pretty common, and many of us have done it under your circumstances. I'm approaching two years after that treatment, and so far, so good.

    If you have any specific questions for any of us, sing out!

    micha
    Hi Micha. I'm glad you found your way to this web site. There are alot of informed people here who can help and need help, or just want to vent. Stay strong and I will be sending plenty of prayers your way.

    cathy
  • genias3kids
    genias3kids Member Posts: 3
    #7
    ^Micha_d
    Hey Micha:

    I'm just starting the journey, my mass is 3 cm and in the lower left lobe. I feel akin to you because you have young children too. Reaching out to give love and support to you.

    Right now I'm so overwhelmed and worried. I deal with anxiety issues anyway. This is the second time cancer has hit my family. My husband was diagnosed 16 years ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. At that time my kids were 2 and 4. Since then we had another baby, (2002) who just celebrated her 10th birthday. I want to make that jump to the positive side :) I want to learn to take each day as it comes and not look at the glass as half full. Tell me your secret!

    With love and Peace
    Genia
  • micha_d
    micha_d Member Posts: 4
    #8
    genias3kids said:

    ^Micha_d
    Hey Micha:

    I'm just starting the journey, my mass is 3 cm and in the lower left lobe. I feel akin to you because you have young children too. Reaching out to give love and support to you.

    Right now I'm so overwhelmed and worried. I deal with anxiety issues anyway. This is the second time cancer has hit my family. My husband was diagnosed 16 years ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. At that time my kids were 2 and 4. Since then we had another baby, (2002) who just celebrated her 10th birthday. I want to make that jump to the positive side :) I want to learn to take each day as it comes and not look at the glass as half full. Tell me your secret!

    With love and Peace
    Genia

    Not sure my secret...
    I spend a lot of time thinking about the immediate instead of the future. I am unable to control the future and if I spend a lot of time thinking about it I feel afraid. I have been concentrating on the day to day...treatments I am doing NOW (not future ones) decisions for my baby for now, not what type of college degree is the best, (he is only 2!) but concentrate on looking at pre-schools. This helps me stay into areas I can control which helps me a lot.

    I also have scheduled visits w/ friends 3 nights a week when the baby is in bed. This lets me forget about the cancer and be myself. Also to talk about cancer with people who love me.

    I have my dark moments but when they are over I put it aside refuse to wallow...(until the next dark moment, hee hee)

    Have you ever tryed guided meditation. I have a great one I would recommend. I've bought it for almost everyone in my family. It's by a Dr. Andrew Weil. He has a lot of meditations and guided imagery that I love. My husband puts it on my MP3 player and it is so nice to listen to when I get stressed out. I love his 8 Meditations for Optimum Health but all of his stuff is good and costs like $10-$15.

    Good luck and write ANYTIME. I try to check my account every couple day.

    Peace and love to you!

    Michelle

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