<p>and another</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Cancer</a> survivors, cance stories of hope, inspirational cancer stories : Cancer survivor from lung cancer: Cindy Bass](<a href=“http://www.why-cancer.com/2006/07/cancer-survivor-from-lung-cancer-cindy.html]Cancer”>http://www.why-cancer.com/2006/07/cancer-survivor-from-lung-cancer-cindy.html)</p>
<p>80%! 80%! 80%!</p>
<p>I am sending good thoughts your way.</p>
<p>Thank you all again so much; it helps more than I can ever express to come back here and read these posts. I too am happy that my primary oncologist is a fighter - we had three phone calls last night between 8:30 - 10:30 on various matters, plus he was present on site this morning for my chemo; a lot of personal attention and support.</p>
<p>Even this morning he still has plans to get me into remission - even after I progressed on three prior chemos. But even if he did not have this belief, I would still have mine. Still it’s nice to be on the same page. </p>
<p>I was in treatment from 8:30 until 6:00 p.m. today. That is how long it takes to get all of the premeds, fluids, and two chemotherapy drugs on board. No scary reaction to the benedryl this time thankfully. </p>
<p>Tomorrow and Sunday, I go back for two more drugs, then, more next Friday, and we continue this for nine weeks, then re-evaluate. </p>
<p>It has also been suggested that I get a blood transfusion; I do not need one yet but my primary oncologist wants to head off a potential free fall of counts??? Any thoughts on this from anyone? I would like to make a decision very soon. Oh, and I also will begin getting daily shots of Neupogen. I am extremely short of breath; even climbing as few as ten stairs has me short of breath and it would be useful for me to be able to get back to a reasonable level of functionality. Tonight I went for a walk and climbed a hill and was gasping at the top of it. </p>
<p>A friend was with me all day; because of where they placed the IV to run the drugs, I couldn’t use my left hand, and so she had to go to the bathroom with me and help me pull my jeans down and up again, and get them zipped and buttoned again. As much fluid as I drink you can imagine how often we had to do this over this 10 hour day. We sort of laughed; never, ever in our wildest did we imagine that we would be doing this sort of thing - her helping me out in the bathroom. Oh well, we are both very active in sports (or at least I was, prior to diagnosis - she still is a very avid cyclist and marathon competitor) and very accustomed to locker room environments so at least it wasn’t too terribly strange. She is a very, very good friend. I am grateful to have such people in my world. </p>
<p>My daughter is much better today, for which I am so grateful and happy. She called me twice; I gave her the news. At first she was a little upset but I reminded her that the scans were a bit flaky (not even any numbers reported and they didn’t even mention the kidney stent); also, this is a very, very aggressive treatment, most people in my condition cannot even have such treatment as they are in bed with no ability to care for themselves and typically are not fully awake. </p>
<p>I said in the very first post that if there is a person who can beat this cowardly disease, I am that person. I am still here and I have not changed, except that I am not afraid of this stupid disease any more. (And it is truly a very stupid disease - all it does is inanely multiply itself.)</p>
<p>ADad, you’re so, so right - there are truly only two options. Either go ahead and give up and die, or, fight with everything you have. And if one decides to fight, there can be no ambiguity, no half-hearted attempt, no passive sitting back and letting the doctor do it all, etc. It’s 100% or nothing.</p>
<p>Sax, I love your post, the visual of cyber soldiers who are also praying soldiers. Never would I underestimate prayer. This is truly, ultimately in God’s hands and He is still in the healing business.</p>
<p>Faline, I am relieved your son is o.k. - what a frightening event, no wonder you sounded scared!</p>
<p>Soozievt, thank you for your post; for this treatment plan I have decided to change strategy, and give my body lots and lots of rest, instead of trying to push the envelope and work, travel and exercise hard. I am going to refine my activities to just work, and minimize the heroic schedule, and not travel for a while, unless there is some emergency. I am still going to walk a lot because I believe that is important to trying to get to remission, but, I am not going to “force” my body beyond comfortable limits.</p>
<p>LTS: I love your characterization of the disease as “stupid”. Yes, it really is a stupd thing. It is never going to win. Never.</p>
<p>latetoschool : I am new here and I am rooting for you ! Your courage and grace is an inspiration. </p>
<p>I don’t know if that was ever mentioned here before, do you believe in alternative treatment ? I just visited Singapore and apparently doctors there use combinations of Western and Chinese medicine as treatment. My college roommate’s dad, who had lung cancer, took some Chinese herbs to ameliorate the effects of chemo and my friend thought it worked well. Her dad never had any discomfort. Her sister is currently fighting some type of cancer of the membrane in the abdomen, and has started practicing Chi Qong - some form of exercise. My friend said her sister feel stronger and just had a good check up. </p>
<p>Not saying these things will cure the disease but maybe it will help a little ?</p>
<p>Munchkin, thank you, I am always looking for and reorganizing my plan B, C, and D; I have been studying Low Dose Naltrexone as a possible alternative treatment, also, have been looking into FDA’s requirements for compassionate use or off-label drugs, such as Thalidomide (sp?). The professor at UCSD who has a glioma used that in addition to other therapies. </p>
<p>I am leary though of opportunistic vendors who prey on the desperate (Quakcwatch is a good balancer for this). I do know that Asia is very aggressive and forward-thinking with lung cancer treatments, to the point of prescribing the PSK mushroom etc., but, their populations have very different genetics than westerners, and in clinical trials western oncologists have not been able to produce the same results as Asian oncologists, so…I have to consider that. </p>
<p>One thing is certain, I won’t do anything without securing enthusiastic support from my primary oncologist. He and the others on the team are working very hard to save my life, and I am not about to do anything to undermine their efforts. He did say that I could take supplements if I wanted to, but, so far I haven’t; I have studied several, and have concluded that each person’s body is its own unique chemical soup, and so it is very possible to load up one’s body with all sorts of stuff, and either have no results, or worse, interfere with the existing treatment. </p>
<p>After that, clearly, if traditional medicine gets me to no more options, I will have an alternative plan in place and a back-up being that. I am not going to simply sit here and do nothing.</p>
<p>Battle on, LTS.</p>
<p>I am so relieved you have such a great friend to stand by you. I was afraid you were alone today and that thought bothered me very, very much. Go to sleep :)</p>
<p>Oh,yes, quacks abound in the alternative medicine field so one has to be very careful. </p>
<p>I have a chronic medical condition that responded very well to Chinese herbs, so I have some experience dealing with Chinese medicine. Because of my Chinese heritage, I can find good authentic Chinese doctors relatively easily through word of mouth. I was lucky enough to find a Chinese doctor that was an expert with m type of problems. His clients included the Chiangs of Taiwan, and various other VIPs. Despite his stature and reputation, I used to only pay $20 per visit. Then spend another $5-6 per day on herbs which I buy separately from a different place. I guess I am saying authentic Chinese doctors don’t charge a lot of money nor should the treatment cost a lot. </p>
<p>My western doctor was also very open minded and never discouraged me, though she does not have the expertise to combine her western treatment with my Chinese. The Chinese herbs working in conjunction with my western medications enabled me to take much lighter dozes and milder drugs with less side effects. </p>
<p>Chi-Qong is supposedly meditative and enable one of be very aware of one’s own body. If one can find an authentic and good teacher it is supposedly very good for one’s health. I don’t know much about it but I am thinking of learning it if I can find a good teacher. </p>
<p>I will be keeping you in my thoughts and sending you well wishes.</p>
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<p>–Dwight D. Eisenhower</p>
<p>latetoschool: I think the rest will be wonderful. Lovely weather is coming. I am so pleased your oncologist is still looking for remission. So are all of us here. You will not have to spend your energy dealing with your doctor’s resistance. Very important. </p>
<p>I am so relieved that your daughter is doing better. My love and support to her and you. We make our way along this rocky landscape.</p>
<p>I just picked my daughter up from the airport and initially went to the wrong terminal. I had to walk up quite a hill to get to the right one. I was gasping too, so I know what you’re dealing with. </p>
<p>Keep strong. Keep brave. Rest. Have joy. Work. I know you will.</p>
<p>All my love.</p>
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</p>
<p>[Raising</a> cancer awareness at Kites for a Cure 2008 – – Newsday.com](<a href=“http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-likite215698489may23,0,3293081.story]Raising”>Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source - Newsday)</p>
<p>I know you are a really foxy dresser, but maybe next chemo you might be lazy like some of the rest of us (ahem) and opt for elastic waist pants when you have a day of chemo. I can say, from experience, you probably can handle these one-handed with ease.</p>
<p>Also, the two times I had blood transfusions it was like a miracle. Is it creepy? Sure. Really creepy if you think about it. Does it work. You bet. Keep your eye on the prize - sometimes you gotta overlook the creepy factor.</p>
<p>Rest well. You have a great team on your side. (Including us in cyberspace).</p>
<p>LTS, if you need a blood transfusion, go for it. Look at it as one of the few ways those of us who are healthy and long to do something to help you directly, can do so. If you get one, I will go and donate to our local red cross (I should do so soon anyway…it’s been a while!). I bet many more of your “soldiers” here will gladly do so as well. I know you most likely won’t directly receive what we donate, but some other person will…</p>
<p>I kind of like that we can do something to help you and others in need!</p>
<p>Latetoschool,</p>
<p>Having been away from this forum for some time, I was taken aback.
You seem to have a good bit of support here.
I wish you all the best.</p>
<p>Nothing to add, just general cheers for continuing to jazz this cancer crud.</p>
<p>LTS:</p>
<p>I now have someone else’s blood flowing in my veins. Go for it. My S had just returned to college the day before 9/11. His way of coping was to donate blood and help with the blood drive. He’s been faithfully giving blood ever since.
Have a good night’s sleep. Take care of yourself, let the sunshine lift your spirits.</p>
<p>another fighter</p>
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<p>[digtriad.com</a> | Non-Smoker Diagnosed With Lung Cancer At 34](<a href=“404 Not Found | wfmynews2.com”>404 Not Found | wfmynews2.com)</p>
<p>Glad to hear your daughter is better. Glad to hear you were able to tolerate the chemo. </p>
<p>A light dress might be easier to manage than jeans or sweatpants.</p>
<p>LTS, wishing you all the best. I’ve heard from several acquaintances who like a NYC oncologist Raymond Chang (was with Sloan Kettering). He now has a group practice (Meridian) combining conventional and alternative therapies. Web site looks interesting but I have no real specifics. My 20 year old has IBS and we might encourage consultation with this group.</p>