<p>She is on her third course of it though and getting worse…I cannot even make a decision to fly to Miami until my doctor calls tonight, ugh, there must be some divine reason for this, we had the flood, guess I should gear up for the locusts…</p>
<p>Hugs to LTS as you are in this waiting time of uncertainty and worry. I hope your doctor can see a clear course of effective treatment for you.</p>
<p>Was your daughter exposed to the (most likely) mold in your apartment? Maybe the uncanny coincidence is actually related. Is her BF in Miami also? Maybe this is the chance for him to show how well he will do “in sickness”. Finally, of course, you are worried about your recent scans. You’d be peeling me off the ceiling at this point, even though I know, I know, there is not much to be gained by worrying. Go ahead and worry if it works for you, we’ll listen.</p>
<p>Sending extra strength and prayers your way tonight LTS.</p>
<p>Have you talked to her doctors? You might want to get her to sign a release. With your savvy of the medical system, you might want to be able to talk to medical personnel or figure out where she should go and it might make you feel like you are doing something besides worrying. I know that when my DD was sick across the country that finding the specialist she needed gave me a sense of purpose and usefulness and, ultimately, benefitted her. Also, it would be good for you to talk to her doctor and hear any instructions she might need to follow as a second set of ears is always very important. If you can, let us know what happens after you talk to your doctor – whether you will fly down or not, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks, the good news from my daughter is that she is back from the ER, and she was given a lot of fluids, more antibiotics, steroids for the swelling so that she can swallow again, etc. Tests were negative for bad stuff. She is feeling better and has been told not to work for three or four days. </p>
<p>My doctor called and is calling back within 30 minutes with a new treatment option. Scans show progression through the third line. I believe that there are only one or two options of traditional medicine left.</p>
<p>Ah. LTS. Not what you needed to hear. What can we do, what can we do.</p>
<p>All send thoughts, prayers.</p>
<p>He just called to say that we are moving to a four-drug chemotherapy regime, beginning tomorrow morning. He said that we do not have time for the first of the two remaining options, which is a single-drug chemotherapy. </p>
<p>So we start this tomorrow, and he is also checking to see if there may be a radiation option here anywhere…</p>
<p>Looking for the positive, at least there is an option left to play, and, beyond that, there may be experimental things, alternative therapies, etc.</p>
<p>LTS, sorry about this latest setback. At least your doc is aggressive and called right away.</p>
<p>LTS…I just want to let you now that I am thinking of you. It is very stressful and challenging in every way possible for you to deal with this fight. You’ll just have to take each step as it comes. Your doctor is on top of things and is doing everything he can to change course as needed. Please take care of yourself and if you can’t do everything you are accustomed to handling, you can’t. Stay as active as you like to be but also take good care to pamper as you can as you go through the stressful days. </p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear that on top of everything, that your D got so sick as that is enough worry alone for a mom. My feeling is that she is going to mend and you wish it would be quicker and that she wouldn’t have gotten so sick. I’m glad that already she is doing better and she does have an attentive beau to look after her and is not alone. She is going to be all right. </p>
<p>I wish so much that you were not faced with these challenges. I know you are up to the challenge more than most. I will send positive vibes as you start on this new treatment tomorrow. Keep the faith. Hang in there. Lots of people are pulling for you. Take care of yourself. You deserve to do something positive for yourself in the coming days.</p>
<p>Cyber hugs and prayers. Kick butt with the four-drug chemo!</p>
<p>Sending my best wishes, lts, to you and your dear daughter. Getting IV fluids and antibiotics is what needs to happen for her right now. The IV drugs find the tricky infections best–sometimes pills just don’t cut it. She needs to make sure she’s the squeeky wheel until the infections are gone. And you need to move to your next tratment option. You have read enough scenarios to know that people often go to the brink many times and still survive. We hold out that hope for you and it’s a real hope. Though I don’t post often, I am always here and, like so many, I care about you very much. Sleep well and may there be healing in the morning.</p>
<p>bethie said what I feel better than I could. I am still here, too, LTS, and thinking of you daily.</p>
<p>LTS, I am so sorry to hear the latest news. I’m glad the new treatment will start right away. Please do everything you can to take care of yourself as you undergo yet another course of treatment. This is the time to call in your friends to help with practical matters so that you can reserve your energies for carrying on with the fight.</p>
<p>I’m so glad to hear that your daughter is on the mend. Knowing you, her situation has been uppermost in your mind.</p>
<p>Like all of us, I am thinking of you, and check this thread every day that I can to see how you are doing. We’re all pulling for you.</p>
<p>I get knocked down and I get up again…epistrophy’s motto and very much yours…no doubt the mindset of most successful people. I and hundreds of others I am sure check into your thread constantly every day. Your journey and your way of dealing with it has taught us lurkers much. Please don’t give up.</p>
<p>another haiku by Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)</p>
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<p>[Issa</a> Archive Search Results](<a href=“http://haikuguy.com/issa/haiku.php?%20code=086.16b]Issa”>http://haikuguy.com/issa/haiku.php?%20code=086.16b)</p>
<p>LTS, I’m so sorry to read this news. It sounds like your doctor is on top of things and knows what he’s doing. You know you have tons of support here. I’m glad your daughter is doing better and that the bad things were ruled out.</p>
<p>Lance Armstrong, testifying before Congress earlier this month:</p>
<p>“This is a major fight.” This is a major war. And this is something, as I said, it doesn’t care if you’re Republican or you’re Democrat, if you’re young or you’re old, if you’re black or you’re white, Native American, you’re rich or you’re poor. It comes and it comes hard. And it is ruthless and it is relentless. And for us to win, we also have to be ruthless and relentless. And so I encourage all of us to do that. Renew the war on cancer, renew a comprehensive war on cancer, and ultimately make sure that our kids and our grandkids don’t have to face this." </p>
<p>Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson:</p>
<p>“Senator Edward Kennedy and I are heading a bipartisan effort to reinvigorate this fight. We will introduce legislation to begin removing barriers to research and treatment. Joining us in this effort are the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and many others from across the cancer community. Most importantly, we must support those on the front lines of the War on Cancer – the men, women, and children bravely waging their own personal battles against this ruthless and relentless disease.” </p>
<p>This legislation is going to be introduced soon. We should all call our representatives to urge them to pass it.</p>
<p>No worries - no way I am giving up. Not now, not ever. I did ask my doctor why he would expect this to work when the other lines have failed, and he said that the studies show an 80% response rate on patients who have failed prior lines. So we will see. But it’s an aggressive treatment situation, sounds like I will be in his office every single day.</p>
<p>Not telling my daughter, not until she is reasonably back to normal…I am so thankful that she is going to be o.k.</p>
<p>“Not telling my daughter, not until she is reasonably back to normal.”</p>
<p>I think that’s best.</p>