I need urgent help

Piums
Hello, Sorry you have to be here. I had Stage 1A NSCL and had the vats. I posted on an old thread with a Stage III B 8 year survivor. It says oxygen and Stage IIIB, buts thats not the poster, I want you to read the poster if you scroll down some. I hope this helps. Lori

Dear piums,
I am so sorry
Dear piums,
I am so sorry about your diagnosis, I know you are scared.
Now take a deep breath. One thing at a time. You say you have stage IIIB. So I believe from that that you have non small cell lung cancer in a lung and in lymphnodes on the same side AND on the other side. NO metastases have been found. Don't know how large your main tumor is or if you have more than one in the same lung? There are MANY treatments. Chemo. Many different kids. Often they start with a platinum based chemo like Cisplatin in combination with some other chemo. If radiation is an option they may add Etoposide as the second chemo drug. It all depends on you situation. Some chemo will make you loose your hair BUT it will grow back. Mine came back curly and soft.
You are young and strong so your body will probably hold up well.Or do you have other medical issues?

"There is a time limit...." Nope. There IS NO TIME LIMIT!!! Check the bottom of your feet. Do you see an expiration date?

Get yourself a digital recorder so you can record your meeting with the onc, that way you can focus on the meeting and not note taking. Do you have someone to come with you? Write down your questions in advance. Find out how large the tumor is what lymph nodes, locations etc. Get copies of all scans (they will make a cd for you), all reports etc. Start making your own file.
Find out what treatment options they offer, ask about the side effects and so on. Ask for a copy of the pathology report so you know what kind of cancer you have.
Then comeback here and we can talk about what they have suggested. People here may have been on the same treatment.

There is life and there is hope. You will be able to laugh again. Soon.

Miss Bella

there is life after cancer
hi plums, i was diagnosed on jan 29th of this year (stage IIb) and had the upper lobe of my right lung removed and then went through chemo. i would have to say that yes the chemo is rather unpleasant but just keep looking forward to getting the last cycle over with. i too almost said no to any more chemo but looked at it like God wants me to know what it feels like to be on this side of cancer for a reason. maybe so that i could go on to help other cancer patients get through their troubling times. i did complete my chemo and i'm sure glad i did. when it is all over, you will really appreciate life alot more. i know how scared you are because i too was petrified but when it's done you will feel better. i went on to have one of the best fun summers i have ever had in my life and you can too. the picture on my profile was taken just a couple of weeks ago. does it look like i was having fun? only if you could have been there!!!!! there is life after cancer and i think it is even more intense because now i don't take it for granted. i wake up every morning and thank God for one more day, live as if it were my last and when i go to bed, i pray that he will allow me to do it all over again the next day. hang in there and don't give up. keep fighting the big fight. i know that there are alot of things that you cannot control right now but take control of the things that you can. i wasn't going to let the chemo take my hair so i had my head shaved. wouldn't you know it, my hair just grew back in and i never really lost a single hair to the chemo!!!!! they have come so far with the chemo drugs and treatments so don't let it scare you. you will only feel bad for a little while and then it goes away until the next treatment but you will get through it. just don't give up!!!!! i am always here to talk with. my thoughts and prayers will be with you, bill zepp

new normal
Plums,

Sorry about your diagnosis.

my 40 year old wife was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on september 10.... after our initial shock, we realized, that this is not a death sentence. I don't know about your overall health outside of the cancer, but please don't pay too much attention to the numers. I am a mathematician. There are so many variables to consider. The numbers tell you only medians and five yar survival rates. It does not tell u range, or how you will react to treatment.

My wife for example is going through chemo and we r at disney for a week. She goes from nine in the morn till past midnight....the chemo has made all of her obvious cancer symptoms disappear.

My point is.... I don't know what your new "normal" will be, but it can certainly be very tolerable.

One day at a time darling!
This is not a death sentence. First of all, theres great medical advances for you to explore that can keep you alive for decades. The stats are outdate.

Second of all, your body can be strengthened with a healthy diet and exercise and supplement program. There is no reason why a smart and otherwise healthy 29 year old woman cant beat cancer! You can beat it. One day at a time.

Okay! first, go ahead and panic a bit and say holy s*T! i dont want to die! Then, with that conviction, do your first two jobs: One is to decide whether you like your oncologist. Get a second opinion and decide which doctor makes you feel warm and confident. if neither do, maybe start treatment with the better of the two but try to find another doc.

The other job is to say goodbye to sugar. Stopping all sugar consumption can help to arrest cancer growth, thats important esp since you have not started chemo yet. Even if the docs office offers ginger ale and saltines. Dont drink any soda or eat processed white crackers like that. Simple starches become sugar.

Grab these books:

How To Prevent and Treat Cancer With Natural Medicine http://www.amazon.com/Prevent-Treat-Cancer-Natural-Medicine/dp/1573223433/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289582420&sr=8-1

the cancer fighting kitchen, http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Fighting-Kitchen-Nourishing-Big-Flavor-Treatment/dp/1587613441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289582506&sr=8-1 which has a great index of ingredients that counter inflammation and a million tips on how to adjust flavors and textures to support cancer patients through treatments.

Be in touch!

phelangelica said:

One day at a time darling!
This is not a death sentence. First of all, theres great medical advances for you to explore that can keep you alive for decades. The stats are outdate.

Second of all, your body can be strengthened with a healthy diet and exercise and supplement program. There is no reason why a smart and otherwise healthy 29 year old woman cant beat cancer! You can beat it. One day at a time.

Okay! first, go ahead and panic a bit and say holy s*T! i dont want to die! Then, with that conviction, do your first two jobs: One is to decide whether you like your oncologist. Get a second opinion and decide which doctor makes you feel warm and confident. if neither do, maybe start treatment with the better of the two but try to find another doc.

The other job is to say goodbye to sugar. Stopping all sugar consumption can help to arrest cancer growth, thats important esp since you have not started chemo yet. Even if the docs office offers ginger ale and saltines. Dont drink any soda or eat processed white crackers like that. Simple starches become sugar.

Grab these books:

How To Prevent and Treat Cancer With Natural Medicine http://www.amazon.com/Prevent-Treat-Cancer-Natural-Medicine/dp/1573223433/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289582420&sr=8-1

the cancer fighting kitchen, http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Fighting-Kitchen-Nourishing-Big-Flavor-Treatment/dp/1587613441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289582506&sr=8-1 which has a great index of ingredients that counter inflammation and a million tips on how to adjust flavors and textures to support cancer patients through treatments.

Be in touch!

I beg to differ on the sugar thing
As I understand it, Phelangelica, sugar is not quite the ogre it's popularly held to be. Moderation is the key (not that I follow that - I eat whatever the heck I want to eat :-)). Too much sugar and you make too much insulin, which can cause cell growth. Take away all sugar and you won't produce enough insulin for your body. Don't give up your desserts so fast!
Happily munching,
Stayingcalm

DEBBIEWPB said:

dear piums
this is the first
dear piums

this is the first time i have posted a comment but felt I had to. I had stage 4 lung cancer. The tumor was so big they couldn't operate so they started me on chemo - actually they put me in the hospital for 3 days to have a "strong chemo drip". I was told I would not have any hair on my entire body. . .that wasnt totally true but yes I lost the hair on my head! remember, it does grow back and looking forward, getting a haircut in the future is no big deal when the stylist cuts shorter than you asked for. . .you have been bald and beautiful!

back to important stuff. . .I was 45 when the doctor told me the reasons I was having back pains was because I had a tumor ...the tumors fingers were hitting the back wall of my lungs and that was causing my pain. Then it all begain. . . I forgot to mention I had smoked for over 25 years.

I decided I was going to see my grandson grow up and nothing and no body was going to stop me! Attitude for me - - my faith - - my daughter - by boyfriend (now husband) and family and friends ALL helped me get through this! After my chemo, then I had the radiation and then all felt like the tumor was small enough that I could have the upper right portion of my right lung removed...if I wanted it removed. I said schedule the surgery!

Most important - I have been cancer free for 13 years this week! You can do this! There is life and happiness after the chemo, radiation and surgery . . .I have so much to be Thankful for and so do all survivors!

Peace be with you. . . .have a positive attitude!

@DEBBIEWPB
I'm glad you felt the need to post - 13 years, wow! That gives a lot of us more hope, thanks!