Support for LateToSchool

astrophysicsmom · April 14, 2008, 6:53pm

We’re all thinking of you this week, LTS, and can’t wait to hear how things went at your conference!

NYMomof2 · April 14, 2008, 7:04pm

Yes, LTS, we’re all thinking of you, rooting for you, and looking forward to a report on your trip.

jym626 · April 14, 2008, 7:05pm

LTS-
If you are reading this, I don’t know if this is the snafoo you are running into, but I’ve found that when you reset your CC password you have to also check the “remember me” box (it may not say that exactly, but it is something close) when you type in your screenname and password or it won’t work. Give it a try, and hope to see that it works!If not, thats about the limit of my computer expertise!

soozievt · April 14, 2008, 7:08pm

LTS…you get a reprieve from posting. So, sit back, kick up your feet, and feel the love.

GROUP HUG from your CC pals.

epistrophy · April 14, 2008, 8:44pm

[A</a> troubling dose of reality on TV : Booster Shots : Los Angeles Times](<a href=“Archive blogs”>A troubling dose of reality on TV)

epistrophy · April 14, 2008, 8:52pm

“Lung cancer survivor tale of hope”

A lung cancer patient given just three months to live after diagnosis eight years ago is spearheading a campaign to double the rate of survival.

Donald Sutherland, 51, from Cardiff, will address MPs in Parliament at the launch of the UK Lung Cancer Coalition.

The group says early diagnosis and improved standards of care could double survival rates within ten years.

He wants more awareness and research. “Above all, I want to give people with lung cancer hope,” he said.

Mr Sutherland was originally diagnosed with a trapped nerve before finding a tumour on his lung was the cause of it.

He said: “I am in a tiny minority. Most people with lung cancer don’t live beyond six months.”

I had two choices: lay down and die, or just get on with it. I didn’t fancy the first option.

He was suffering shooting pains in his left arm and went to see his GP twice in six months, on both occasions getting physiotherapy for a trapped nerve.

"It was a correct diagnosis on the face of it. But the nerve was actually trapped by a huge tumour on the outside of my left lung.

“The physio was all rather pointless,” he said.

"Once I was finally diagnosed, I was told my condition was terminal and inoperable and was given three months to live.

“I had two choices: lay down and die, or just get on with it. I didn’t fancy the first option.”

Mr Sutherland has received treatment for tumours on both lungs and surgery to remove secondary tumours from his brain since his initial diagnosis.

Return to normality

He has made every effort not to let it interfere with his life.

He said: “I was determined after the initial shock that my life should be as normal as possible. My wife and I decided that the best way for me to return to normality was to get straight back to work.”

Dr Mick Peake, chair of the UK Lung Cancer Coalition, said: "We know if we apply the best standards of care already being demonstrated in some parts of the country, and if we diagnose people early, we can double one-year and five-year lung cancer survival rates by 2015.

“We estimate around 13,000 lives could be saved as a result.”

At present, half of all people with lung cancer die within six months of diagnosis.

Professor Stephen Spiro, head of respiratory medicine at University College Hospital, London, said: "For some reason, lung cancer has not received the attention afforded to other major cancers.

“Lung cancer can be cured if we just catch it early enough.”

epistrophy · April 14, 2008, 11:12pm

and four more

Subject: There is hope for lung cancer survivors!
Date: 01/22/2007

I’ve been reading the message boards, and those of us with lung cancer and/or loved ones with it, don’t hear alot of hopeful news. I was Dx with Stage V NSCAdenocarcinoma in March, 2005. At that time I was told that I had somewhere from 4 months to 1 1/2 years ( if I was lucky ). Since then I have had several chemo treatments ( don’t remember which drugs ); had radiation for the brain mets & chemo embolization for the liver mets. I’ve been on Tarceva for about 5 months ( with all of the side effects ) and I’m now stable. I feel great, play golf, hike, exercise and just generally have a good life. 

Back in the beginning someone told me that I would not live one second longer, or die one second sooner than God intended, so all I had to do was focus on healing. And so far it seems to be that just not stressing about what may happen tommorrow is really contributing to my quality of life.

Best of everything to everyone.

Laura

<hr>

I am so glad to hear the wonderful success stories! Yes we have reason to have hope! My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc in January 06, and started on 150 mg of Tarceva in May after 4 rounds of chemo. As of his PET scan in November, he has no active cancer in his body!! PTL! 

Last January he had a 7x 3 cm in his right lung, 2 tumors in his left, mets in the spine and on the shoulder blade… he was told 10 months average life expectancy… so instead of sad news in November, we were estactic to hear he was in remission!! Tarceva did the trick because the cancer in the shoulder blade was still active in August bone scan and gone in November! 

We give thanks daily for companies like Genentech and our family and friends who lefted us up in prayer. We got wonderful information from an archived tele-conference at Educational, Cancer, Workshops. I just checked and they have another one this Friday , Jan 26, 07… it was very helpful! Check it out, it had great info and it doesn’t cost anything! It is a struggle but dont’ give up!

<hr>

I was diagnosed with stage IV nsclc in March of 2004 with mets to the bones,liver, lymph nodes and brain. I am apparently one of the fortunate few whose doctor does not predict how long I might live - as he said, it all depends on how the treatment works. And it has been working quite well! After the chemo in 2004 was complete, I took Iressa daily which worked quite well until last May. Small spot on the liver, 2 more rounds of chemo and now I’m clear again with Tarceva (150). I use make-up remover cleansing sheets to clean without H2O because my skin is so dry. In the shower, I use an aloe vera wash and make sure all the dry skin is removed. When the skin erupts, I use clindamycin gel and it brings it the ‘rash’ right back under control. 

The other thing my doc was quite clear about is that this is a chronic disease and is treated as such. We are always on guard with regular PET scans, and blood tests. And, being an other-wise healthy 50 year old non-smoker female, he told me to ignore the statistics on the web. Look at the populations of the studies, almost all older patients who probably have other age-related health issues.

Best wishes to you all - a great doctor, a positive attitude and a wonderful support group are the best things I have to keep me moving. 

<hr>

I was stage IV with a pleural effusion. I have been on Tarceva since August 2005. I have had no side effects. I have been cancer free since November 2005. I just ran a half marathon. The only statistic I believe is that God can heal 100% . You just have to believe that He will heal you. My story is posted Lung Cancer Support Community along with a lot of the things I did and still do Put LCHELP.ORG in your browser. This will take you to the web site, then click on Message Board, click on MY Story, Then click on Ernies story stage IV. After you read my story you will be able to contact me through that web site. 

Stay positive,

Ernie

[All</a> There Is Hope For Lung Cancer Survivors! messages](<a href=“http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,9016,0.htm]All”>http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,9016,0.htm)

ADad · April 14, 2008, 11:42pm

. .

epistrophy · April 15, 2008, 8:26am

and another (small cell) lung cancer “survivor”

[Being</a> a Cancer Survivor - Cancer](<a href=“http://www.wikicancer.org/page/Being+a+Cancer+Survivor?t=anon]Being”>Texas Vacation Homes - Austin Area Real Estate)

SouthJerseyChessMom · April 15, 2008, 9:45am

LTS- stay strong----and, CCers----lung cancer patient now has 30,000 votes
Just a reminder to visit the Golf Digest U.S. Open Contest <a href=“https://condenast.eprize.net/golfdigestopen3/index.tbapp?method=loginbefore[/url]”>https://condenast.eprize.net/golfdigestopen3/index.tbapp?method=loginbefore</a> April 30th and consider voting for John Atkinson

mafool · April 15, 2008, 10:54am

Thinking of you, LTS.

I was quite taken with this snippet from epistrophy’s post 2409 (epistrophy, you rock!):

I thought it wouldn’t hurt to repeat that! (The bold is mine.)

momof3sons · April 15, 2008, 11:33am

Hey, someone knock on Anthony G’s virtual door in the Community Forum section and get him to help! He’s the whiz with all things CC involving communication. Meanwhile, LTS, have a productive conference. And talk nicely to that laptop and maybe she’ll come around!
Edit: OK, I posted asking for AnthonyG to weigh in on this.

Faline2 · April 15, 2008, 6:54pm

jym626 is correct! I always have to check the “Remember Me” box or I am not admitted to CC either…try it LTS!

maineparent · April 15, 2008, 7:23pm

For what it is worth, I have found that I have to log in manually now every time I come to CC…I have not had this issue unless I cleared out my cookies… but, this is a recent change perhaps to CC’s web? checking the Remember Me box does not work… at least not for me…I just logged in and left and had to log in again in order to post…

ADad · April 15, 2008, 8:02pm

. .

epistrophy · April 15, 2008, 8:16pm

and another

In reading some of the posts I realized that I’ve never really put down what our journey has been like on this roller coaster of a ride that we call lung cancer. I dish out a lot of info, but the following is why I have so much info. My wish is that readers will find inspiration and hope in my husband’s story.

Began with shortness of breath (SOB), tight cough with bloody sputum, 18 lb. weight loss, and night sweats. Quit smoking 23 years before. Treated for bronchial infection. Follow-up with GP and an x-ray revealed something terribly wrong with the lungs. Pulmonologist ran TB test, CT scan, bronchoscopy, breathing tests and his lung capacity was 50%. Next stop was PET scan-land and it lit up in both lungs, mediastinum, & supraclavicular nodes. We wanted so much to believe it was sarcoid, but a VAT’s wedge-section biopsy in late March 2005 confirmed our worst fear - Stage IV nsclc Adenocarcinoma with poorly differentiated cells. Extremely heavy tumor burden. Upon waking from surgery and hearing the diagnosis, my husband simply said, “Now we fight!”. The time frame from first doctor’s visit to surgery was 3-4 weeks.

<hr>

We have a huge support network of family, neighbors, friends, and cyber-friends who pray for him constantly. God holds us up always. We remain positive as attitude is key to the fight and we’ve developed a wicked sense of humor. Laughter is so good for the soul. We always remember where there is life there is hope.

He has never been cancer free since diagnosis. Our oncologist, on his first visit at the hospital following surgery, told us he is incurable, but treatable. We are grateful for a team of doctor’s who don’t give up and don’t toss out meaningless statistics! My darling husband has beaten tremendous odds and keeps ticking like a Timex, albeit a little slower these days, but he’s taken quite a lickin’! As for me, well I’m on a mission to keep my husband with me for a lot longer and you don’t mess with a “woman on a mission!”

[Cancer</a> Forums - Lung Cancer Forum - My husband’s stage IV journey](<a href=“HealthBoards Message Boards”>HealthBoards Message Boards)

jym626 · April 15, 2008, 9:15pm

Thanks, faline2 for validating my limited computer knowledge!
Maineparent, it sounds like your issue may be something else. I don’t know what web browser you are useing. Sometimes I have challenges with (no one laugh please) aol, but have no problem with IE or Firefox. Did your computer upgrade some spyware protection or something? Try rebooting. That might clear out whatever glitch you are running into . This is my only other computer solution-- turn it off, and turn it on.

epistrophy · April 16, 2008, 7:48am

and another (this one in Scotland)

“Relay for Life comes to Bladnoch Park”

THIS weekend the first ever 24-hour long ‘Relay for Life’ takes place in Galloway.

From 11 o’ clock on Saturday morning, over 350 participants will walk in stages around the field at Bladnoch Park, near Wigtown, to help raise money for Cancer Research. The ‘Relay’, organised by Wigtown woman Anne Barclay, is the culmination of months of planning and pre-event fundraising. The charity walk will feature local teams with such descriptive monikers as ‘The Ticklish Allsorts’; ‘The Bladnoch Broads’, ‘The Pink Ladies’ and even ‘The Zippy Zimmers’. All the teams have pledged to walk continuously for 24 hours, taking it in turns to walk both night and day, until the finish time of 11am on Sunday morning is reached.

Anne Barclay says the event is very much about “community” and aims to celebrate those who have survived cancer and pay tribute to those whose lives have been touched by cancer in any way.

She told The Galloway Gazette: “The first lap will be led by cancer survivors and their friends and carers. Also on that lap will be people who have lost someone to cancer and have come through their grief. All 25 teams will then do a lap of honour and then they will get into relay mode”. Anyone can come along on the day, at any time, to support the walkers and throughout the event there will be non-stop entertainment to keep everyone amused including team stalls, a bouncy castle, a climbing wall and troops of talented local dancers and singers. Catering will also be available throughout the entire 24 hours.

The walkers will not go short on stimulation either as they will be taking part in the Limbo Lap, the Pyjama Party Lap and even the Best Decorated Thong Lap. The last one takes place at two in the morning for anyone who wants to view the entries.

One of the most moving parts of a day high on emotion anyway, will be the Candle of Hope Ceremony. At 8.45pm hundreds of candles will be lit in celebration of a cancer survivor or in memory of a lost loved one, followed by a minute’s silence and a silent lap. As the walkers continue into the night their way will be lit by the light of the flickering candles. Candles of Hope can be purchased at the event, for a suggested donation of £5, and the bag that holds the candle can be decorated with names or pictures of the person it represents.

Anne said: “The Candle of Hope bags can be decorated with a message of hope, perhaps in celebration, or in memory - whatever they want.” She added that the day was not just about raising money, but raising awareness about the disease.

The run up to the Galloway event has confirmed the Machars area as one of the most generous in the country. The original target of £15,000 raised for Cancer Research was passed long before the big day dawned, thanks to all the fundraising coffee mornings, lunch parties and bridge afternoons undertaken by the competing teams. Anne has been amazed at the effort everyone has made.

She said: “I just want to say an enormous thank you to everyone for their support. The energy and enthusiasm that has been shown has meant that the astonishing total of £18,000 has been reached to date.”

As the clock ticks down to one of the biggest charity events ever held in Wigtownshire, chief organiser Anne says she can’t wait for the event to get underway. She admitted: “Normally I am quite nervous if I have organised an event, but this time I am really calm and relaxed and really looking forward to it”.

The Relay for Life will by starred by Wigtown’s own BAFTA winning firm director Adrian McDowall at 11am tomorrow and the closing ceremony will be conducted by Howden Skimming at 11am on Sunday.

The ‘Relay for Life’ was started in the USA in 1985 by one doctor who though it would be a good way to raise funds for cancer research. The following year he invited some friends to join him on his walk and the idea has just snowballed around the world since then. ‘Relays for Life’ now take place in 20 countries and this year more than 90 will be held in the UK alone.

**A cancer survivor’s tale…

STRANRAER granny Patsy Drysdale became famous all over the country last month after she won the Grandparent of the Year title. Seventy year old Patsy undertook an all expenses paid trip to London to collect the award with two of her grandchildren and she even made an appearance on GMTV the next morning before coming back home in triumph.

But few knew that her joy of winning the title came after she had looked death in the face a few months before - after she was diagnosed with [lung]cancer.

Now fully recovered, tomorrow will see Patsy at Bladnoch Park to take part in the Relay for Life charity walk to raise money for Cancer Research. She will be one of the proud cancer survivors who will walk an emotional lap of the track at the start of the event.**

Big hearted Patsy, who took in her three grandchildren after the death of their mother five years ago, spoke to The Galloway Gazette earlier this week about her battle with the disease and her determination to survive for to keep the family together.

She said: “I was diagnosed with lung cancer in July last year and had to have my right lung and my lymph nodes removed at Glasgow Royal Infirmary”. Thankfully after she had recovered from the surgery, Patsy did not need any further treatments, apart from a daily cocktail of drugs. Recalled the diagnosis, she said that she was initially concerned about her health after she found it difficult to climb the stairs without becoming breathless.

She continued: “I realised after it was all over I had been more than lucky. I was initially prescribed antibiotics, but when I didn’t feel better I went back to the doctor, that’s when the cancer was discovered.”

Throughout the whole traumatic time, Patsy said her inspiration for getting back home was her grandchildren, particularly the youngest, Gina, who nominated her for the award, caling her gran “the most special person I know”.

Patsy, who has faced very difficult times throughout her life, said : “I had to fight cancer for Gina’s sake. She had enough changes in her life to deal with without having to go through another one”.

Patsy says she is in good health now but is limited as to how much she can do. She advising anyone who may not feel quite right to go to their doctor. She added: “I never ever needed to go to the doctor so it was not a place I would normally be, but I’m so glad I went”.

The best known cancer survivor in Wigtownshire says she is very much looking forward to her involvement in the Relay for Life tomorrow, “although I won’t be able to walk very far!”, she laughed.

After her star turn, Patsy will be content to return to her neat home in Belmont Crescent and get back into her beloved garden. That, after all, is what life is all about.

[Relay</a> for Life comes to Bladnoch Park - Galloway Today](<a href=“gallowaygazette.co.uk”>gallowaygazette.co.uk)

epistrophy · April 16, 2008, 7:19pm

and another

When Bob Podvorec found out he had cancer, it wasn’t a big surprise – the disease runs in his family.

“It wasn’t totally unexpected,” he said.

But what did surprise Podvorec was where the cancer was found.

Podvorec, a retired state trooper and Manor Township resident, was 49 and in good health, but still he knew something was wrong one day in October 2006 when he was leaving work.

As Podvorec hit the chilly fall air, he began to cough, he said. A small amount of blood came up then and again the next morning while he was brushing his teeth.

He knew something wasn’t right.

“That summer I didn’t feel 100 percent,” he recalled.

Podvorec was eventually diagnosed with lung cancer. Tests showed a cloudy spot on his right lung, he said.

“I never smoked cigarettes,” he said. “It can happen to anybody.”

Throughout his ensuing chemotherapy and radiation treatments at ACMH Hospital for the inoperable tumor, Podvorec said he never looked or got sick. He attributed that to the medication available for cancer patients to combat nausea and other ailments.

The new advances that have been made are a result of the money raised for cancer research at events like the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, he said.

Since its inception in 1993, Ford City’s annual relay has raised more than $3.5 million.

For the past few years, the Ford City relay has raised the most money per capita compared to communities of its size nationwide, said hospital oncology case manager Judy Walter. Last year, Armstrong County teams raised $10.11 per person living in the county, she said.

She would like to keep it that way.

So far, 41 teams are participating in June’s relay and the society would like to see more sign up to reach this year’s $600,000 goal, she said. Some of last year’s 52 teams haven’t made the committment again, she said.

Walter said she would like to see more new teams participate, because “a lot of families have been touched by cancer” and it’s a healthy way to cope or celebrate survivors.

“Anybody that’s been treated for any type of cancer is a survivor,” she said.

Medication also helped Janet Cowan of Ford Cliff who had a mastectomy in 2005. She didn’t have any side effects from treatment after she was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 7, 2005.

After treatment, the tumor shrunk and surgery was performed, she said.

“God got me to it. God will get me through it,” she recalled.

Now, Cowan volunteers five days a week at the American Cancer Society office in the hospital.

“I’ve always been a people-person,” she said.

Cowan is a retired teacher from Armstrong School District. She does paperwork in the office and is a co-chair of this year’s relay with Podvorec, Walter and a fourth woman.

“The pay isn’t much but the rewards are super,” she said.

Podvorec is glad he is around to help for the first time – when he was diagnosed with lung cancer, he expected to be dead in a year.

Despite those thoughts, Podvorec consulted with doctors at two Pittsburgh hospitals and the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Illinois. They told him the same thing – chemo and radiation were his best bet, he said.

“In the meantime, I started praying a lot,” he said.

Throughout his life, Podvorec said he prayed for others, but never himself. A family member battled cancer for two years before succumbing to the disease, he said.

“I thought that was my fate,” he said, so Podvorec prayed to be taken quickly without suffering.

“My prayers were answered but in a way I didn’t expect,” he said.

The tumor shrank and the cancer didn’t spread, he said. He has been cancer-free since November.

Podvorec received support from his wife and the nurses he saw daily for treatment, he said. He felt a little guilty that he was doing well during treatments, while other patients weren’t so lucky, he said.

He retired from the state police with 25 years of service after being diagnosed, he said, something he had been contemplating beforehand.

He participated in the survivor walk last year at Ford City’s relay, he said, and was taken aback by how much participants care. Volunteering for the relay and society is important to him as a survivor.

“Without relaying and raising money, I could very well be dead,” he said. “You never know which dollar raised found the treatment that helped me.”

[Cancer</a> survivors to take part in Relay for Life - PittsburghLIVE.com](<a href=“http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_562668.html]Cancer”>http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_562668.html)

ADad · April 16, 2008, 7:55pm

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