<p>LTS, I don’t post much but I check here regularly to see how you’re doing. The new doctor sounds like just who you’ve been looking for. Hallelujah. I am so impressed with the way you are handling things and so moved by the support of our CC community. Sending good healing thoughts your way every day.</p>
<p>This new doctor sounds very promising, LTS, and I agree that meeting the long-term survivor was a good sign. Yay!</p>
<p>Just thought I’d mention that I took down the Christmas tree (and yours, vicariously) and leaned it on the back porch, under cover, awaiting transport to recycling (yeah, someday when there’s time…). Today, I noticed that some birds are building a nest in it! I kid you not. Pretty neat.</p>
<p>The new doctor sounds great - a worthy partner in your fight! And I’m so glad you met the long-term survivor and she reached out to you. Would saying “good karma” be too 70’s???</p>
<p>I feel so much better knowing that you are in good hands - the new doctor’s as well as your own!</p>
<p>neumes, A friend of mine left her Christmas wreath up a little too long. They never use their front door. At one point they noticed a perfect little nest in its curve, with several perfect little blue eggs. Of course, at that point, no one would think of disturbing it. So we would peek down at it from the inside, through the window.</p>
<p>Yes!!!</p>
<p>^^^^Yes, Yes, Yes…tears of happiness for you LTS…!</p>
<p>I applaud you’re decision to keep looking for the right doctor. I have disagreed with doctors before and every time it has worked in my favor. </p>
<p>I do object to the notion that lifelong smokers do not deserve as much research or care as nonsmokers when it comes to disease. Should ice cream addicts not be allowed to have statins for the heart disease resulting from fatty diets? Should emergency departments not treat folks who were drinking and driving? You get my point.</p>
<p>I have always been in awe of Susan B Koman’s sister’s dedication to her pledge to help find a cure for breast cancer. She has successfully raised awareness about breast cancer and now you can buy just about anything with a pink ribbon on it. I forsee a Late To School Foundation for the raising of funds to find a cure for lung cancer with you and your daughter as joint CEOs. I’m ready with my checkbook to donate.</p>
<p>LTS: We’ve not “spoken” before but I have been checking in on you too. I am so glad to hear that you have found a doctor who seems to fit your bill to a “T.” </p>
<p>We have you and your D on our prayer chain here. </p>
<p>Hugs!</p>
<p>I am so happy for you, LTS, that you have found a doctor you can believe in and one who believes in you. Sounds like a good match at the right time. Think positively. Nice karma about meeting the long term survivor on this visit as well. Best wishes.</p>
<p>LTS:</p>
<p>Your post brought tears to my eyes. This new doctor sounds so awesome! Just the person you need by your side as you fight cancer.</p>
<p>LTS,
I hope that your positive first impression of this new doctor means that he is the real deal for you. Certainly sounds so. I feel guilty as I now always come to this thread first hoping that you will post an update. It’s not fair to expect this of you, but I want you to know how much I (and I’m sure MANY others) do appreciate that you will take time away from your life to post here.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for your posts and thoughts. I am so surprised and disappointed at the first (replacement) oncologist. He came so highly recommended and had such incredible credentials. The first office visit with him was over $500. That’s not counting the bloodwork, etc. - that was just the consult. I have no idea how much it cost me to hear him tell me I was dead yesterday. Probably another $500. But also the colleague of the original referring physician - who is the director of a large lung cancer center - did not call back at all today. Very surprising, considering our discussion yesterday afternoon. I am not focusing on the negative but if it helps anyone else who may have a family member in a similar situation in the future…</p>
<p>Today’s oncologist also asked about several issues specific to protecting my health that my Miami oncologist and the original new oncologist didn’t even bother to bring up. Also, he raised the issue that the item of such controversy - and the thing that had the other doctor scheduling my funeral - the issue of progression - is on the basis of a PET with no CT for comparison. He said asked about possible infections, and, I said yes, was on antibiotics for a cough - no idea what or why, just had them called in. Bottom line this PET doesn’t really tell anyone anything and is not necessarily evidence of the assumed progression, translation death warrant.</p>
<p>I don’t know if his speculations are any more meritorious than the other oncologist’s fatalistic view (maybe the truth is split down the middle?), but, at least he cared enough to actually have thoughts on the matter. And, he has requested my medical records, something else the other doctor didn’t even ask for or seem interested in.</p>
<p>I am worried that I am signing on with a doctor just because he is saying things that I want to hear… </p>
<p>In any case I really appreciate everyone’s kind thoughts and prayers. This is so very, very difficult. The thing is , if I have to deal with an aggressive cancer, fine, bring it. So be it. I can and WILL deal. But I don’t want to have to be the doctor, too. I am tired of reading the Journal of Oncology and ASCO reports and all sorts of other horrible stuff that doesn’t interest me. I am sick to death of double and triple checking everything from scan reports to blood counts to dosage levels etc. I just want a doctor that I can trust to take care of me, and who will not write me off prematurely, and I want to live my life with whatever time I have left, regardless of if it’s six days or six months or many many years. I want to do my work, interact with my clients, play with and hug my daughter, enjoy my friends, read books, and all the other things that I used to do only four short months ago. I want to respond to the email that the Washington D.C. policeman sent me last week, inviting me horseback riding. Cancer can be around but it needs to stay in the cancer space. </p>
<p>The rest of my life is mine, and I want it back.</p>
<p>Goosebumps.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You go, girl. Get on that horse and RIDE!!!</p>
<p>If the cancer is not progressing, I will claim prescience:</p>
<p>From my post 1094: “The Miami oncologist wanted to get MR scans to confirm that the new areas of uptake are, indeed, cancer, right? As far as I know, the PET scan is not specific for cancer; regions of uptake reflect metabolic activity. The most likely explanation in your case is cancer, but I think it could also be infection or something else. You have abandoned the first-line chemo, assuming that although it wiped out the original cancer, the cells have become resistant and started new tumors in another area of your lung. I’m wondering whether it would make sense to confirm (by CT or MR or biopsy) that the new areas of uptake are cancer before switching to the second-line treatment. I know you are supposed to start on Monday, but if the new uptake areas are not cancer, would this make sense?”</p>
<p>You are not choosing a doctor who tells you what you want to hear, LTS. You have very good reasons for feeling that the new doctor is right for you. He is investigating your situation thoroughly (MRI scan of brain, review of medical records, etc.), he is up to date in his field (e.g., knows about the oral form of that drug), he has a positive attitude, he has a plan that gives you a second line treatment with reasonable hope of success, with trials held in reserve for later, should they be necessary. Do not doubt yourself.</p>
<p>I can’t believe that you may have been charged $500 for that doctor to tell you that his goal was palliation, and that he didn’t have time to discuss your case with you again! </p>
<p>I agree that it is awful that you have to manage your own medical care, besides dealing with being the patient. But the fact that you are doing so is increasing your chances greatly.</p>
<p>LTS, I am hoping so much that the new doctor is the one for you. Life is so much easier when you can trust the guy that’s managing the medical side. </p>
<p>Also, it is wonderful to hear your voice in your postings. Thanks for sharing.
I also check daily, (several times) to see how you are doing…</p>
<p>Have a great day!</p>
<p>I’m another cyber friend here who has never posted on this thread before but who is routing for you! I check for updates often and am so impressed by your ability to be your own best advocate in the face of such an out of the blue diagnosis. It seems like you have found a doctor who is on the same page as you, and who will fight for your life as strongly as you are doing yourself. Hopefully this doctor will truly be the one, and you can “relax” (relatively speaking) and trust him/her to take control of your treatment, so that you have some down time; time to do all the things you loved to do pre-cancer. I think of you and your daughter often. Hopefully the collective prayers and energy of all of your CC friends help propel you on the road to a full recovery. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be the one to beat the odds.</p>
<p>When my husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer over 20 years ago, the odds were stacked against him. He had the most aggressive type (same as Lance Armstrong), and there was an 80 percent chance that the cancer would have metasticized at the time of diagnosis. Well, he was in the 20 percent group! I know that sclc is much more serious, but if anyone can survive, you can. You’ve learned more than you ever wanted to know about your illness, and you’re taking charge of your treatment. It seems that you have finally located a doctor who thinks the same way that you think, and who you can trust. You inspire us all, LTS.</p>
<p>Much love,
Martha</p>
<p>"I am worried that I am signing on with a doctor just because he is saying things that I want to hear… "</p>
<p>i don’t believe that is the case. The doctor gave you his stats, not just platitudes. He gave you real information. You might feel better though if you call the woman whom you met in his office and ask her about her experience and her opinion of him. I imagine that along the way she has compared notes with a lot of patients in the waiting room. It’s always good to know someone who is further along in this kind of journey than you are. My hope for you is that he is “the one” and that you will be able to trust him so that you are freed up to get back to the things that you enjoy.</p>