Linking you to resources and support in the lung cancer community!
The big question?
The big question is where do or what do you do to avoid the constant assault from cancer? Not just lung cancer but from all cancer. It seems that it is all I hear lately. A good friend has been battling Colon cancer and has been for over 2 years the last one NED. Well the other shoe dropped and now they found a spot on her liver. Her mother just found out last week she has colon cancer which has spread to her lungs. These are the latest ones. I mean some times it just seems so big and awful. My resolve is being tested but the Beast can't get me! Thanks for listening, I have my answer and that is to keep trying to kick cancers butt and hard! I knew I come here for support and now I receive it telepathically. Pretty cool, yeah, pretty cool. God bless and Thank you God for the answer for me, John
Views: 11
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on -
Well, I can't avoid it because I work in it! :-)
But actually, I think that it's a way a lot of people cope with the ongoing cancer assault is to get involved in some way with a cancer organization. Cancer is hard for everyone, but I think it must be particularly hard for those who have gone through it themselves because it hits home so much more acutely. It may be that as a survivor you (understandably) try to put it out of your mind and move on with life, when *bang*, a friend or neighbor is diagnosed and there it is again.
So maybe the trick is not avoiding it, but staring it in the eye and saying "you may be here, but you're not gonna drag me down." If you don't give it power, it won't hurt you.
I know, easier said than done. I think what it comes down to is, it's impossible to ignore it. It's like an annoying neighbor. The neighbor isn't going to move, but may do something really awful from time to time, which forces you to have to deal with him/her. Sometimes that means you have to distract yourself, sometimes you have to confront the neighbor, sometimes that means compromise, sometimes it's building support in your community to back you up against the neighbor. But if you really love where you live, moving away to avoid the neighbor isn't an option.
Hang in there John. Along with the bad things in life, there are an awful lot of good things!
Amy
-
Permalink Reply by John H MOD on -
Well, I never looked at things in this way. Oh I have used this very same sentiment but in a state of despair or depression everything is so dark it is hard to see the light. I mean with all thats going on in my life at this moment in time, happy things. I get punched in the stomach with this news of my friends cancers. I have become overwhelmed good, bad , a whole lot of everything all at once. It is some of the same things and feelings I had when I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. You just can't escape it by yourself. If you recieved some support from someone. A note, a handshake, a hug, a moment to say hi is usually enough to pull me out of the shade. I don't want to sound to much like a light one candle and curse the darkness kind of guy but hey if it works I'll try it. But only if someone comes with me. I guess Amy you gave me the guidance I trully needed. I'm fine once again. I needed a little push is all. Prayers for all, God bless, John
PS Thanks Amy! you are a good friend.
-
Permalink Reply by Sofia on -
Hello everyone,
I´ve been away for awhile. My Mom had a lobectomy on the 6th of September, in Madrid. Apparently all went well and the area was clear of tumor. They removed 41 lymph nodes and only one that was close to the tumor was affected. During these three months she has gone well, but for two weeks or more has had a bad cough.
After the surgery she did not received chemotherapy or radio because the oncologist decided it was more negative than positive at that time. Yesterday she had the first scanner and there is something rare, a spot on the lung area close to where the tumor was and does not look good but still they do not know for sure. I'm scared, just three months after operation seems that a recurrence is to fast. Tomorrow she´s having a Pet. Doctors say they want to make sure that maybe can be an inflammation that is still after the operation but unfortunately I'm terrified. Please...can anyone give me some positivity...In my thoughts I was always thinking that everything was going too good to be true.
Escuchar
Leer fonéticamente
Diccionario - Ver diccionario detallado
-
Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on
-
Hi Sofia,
It's hard dealing with the uncertainty of cancer. It is even harder when it comes back. This happened with my mom too, although more time had passed. My mom had a lobectomy with no chemotherapy, and then about a year later, they found a spot on her back. So then she went through chemotherapy and radiation.
If this the return of the cancer, she will probably go through chemotherapy and maybe radiation. And she may respond well to treatment. There are many people who do.
If you post to this forum, more people will see your note: http://www.lunglovelink.org/forum/categories/nonsmall-cell-lung-can...
Or here: http://www.lunglovelink.org/forum/categories/caregiver-corner/listF...
Hope this helps. Let us know what happens tomorrow with the PET scan.
Amy
-
Permalink Reply by John H MOD on
-
Sophie, I hope your mom is doing ok and
I hope you are too. Please let us know when you feel that you can. Just wanted to say we were thinking of you both.
God bless, John
-
Permalink Reply by John H MOD on
-
Sophie, I hope your mom is doing ok and
I hope you are too. Please let us know when you feel that you can. Just wanted to say we were thinking of you both.
God bless, John
-
Permalink Reply by Sofia on
-
Hello John,
Thank you for your suppport, every day I sign in just to read all your experiences because it makes me feel a little better. My mom had the pet scan thursday but obviously we still don´t know anything. Infact tomorrow and wednesday are national holidays in Spain so my uncertity is going to remain until next thursday. You know, all this months since she was diagnosed I tried to keep the faith and I managed to go through this nightmare. Can´t believe this is happening, I´m even scared to think that it could be just an inflamation because if is not I don´t know what I´m going to do, it´s so unfair, not even three months after the surgery.. is not normal...
Sorry John, I needed to share my feelings with someone that trully would understand me. I will keep trying to keep the faith and pray pray pray. She´s doing ok, as a matter of fact she has recovered very well and doing normal life so that´s why I´m even more surprised.
Let´s be positive. Miracles happen.
I will inform about results of pet-scan as soon as I have them. Please pray for us.
Big hug for you all
Sofia
-
Permalink Reply by John H MOD on
-
Sophia, prayers are being sent.
-
Permalink Reply by Connie on
-
Dear Sophie, You and your mother will be in my prayers! You never know what can happen. I went thru a lobectomy 07/31/2009 then 4 rounds of chemo of Taxol and Carboplatin, and had the rug pulled out from underneath me when my lung CT scan showed a shadow in 01/2010. I too thought that was really bad to have it come back so soon.... I then had to have a PET scan and ends up I have scarring in my lung. Try not to be too negative, you have to prepare for the worst, but hope and pray for the best. Miracles do happen, I am living proof of that! I was 46 when diagnosed with lung cancer-adenocarcinoma. They intially thought it had spread, but thru a miracle, it had not spread....the surgeon said I had divine intervention, and that is fine with me! I still have my moments, but so far so good!
-
Permalink Reply by Sofia on
-
Hello Connie,
Thanks for your support, your own experience gives me hope and it throws a ray of light into this nightmare. Ever since all this started every step we went through has been a bit better, she was tolerating the chemo pretty well, and surgery was succesful. So that´s why I´m so scared now, but we don´t give up on hope or anything that bring us positivity. I´m so glad I found this site, and I´m glad I speak english so I can comunicate with you guys. I tried to look for other sites in spanish but there is nothing like this one. It always conforts me. I´m so happy you are doing better and I´m sure you will keep being great. I will keep in touch and will let you know results of PET SCAN.
I send you a big hug,
Sofia
-
Permalink Reply by Art on -
Hi Everyone,
It appears as if I'm ressurecting an old discussion from the archives, but I too have a "Big Question". Yesterday I met with my Rad/Onc, and after many meetings of expressing his doubts of how successful we are up to this point of destroying my cancer, he finally offered a "Ray of Hope" and optimisim with his plan of treatments. It was, to say the least, very encouraging to hear what he was saying. Afterwards, I found myself once again, mentally making plans for the future, asking myself things like, "will I be able to once again return to classes or work?"...."will I be able to travel some this coming spring and summer?"...."If I become NED, will it really be NED or for how long will it last?" or when I hear comments such as "unlikely to improve" will I become another victim of the cancer spreading from one part of my body to another? I know it all varies from patient to patient, but are there any statistics that you are aware of that support or answer these questions?
Still choosing to remain positive and optimistic! God Bless you all.
Art
-
Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on
-
Hey Art - You might want to post this as a separate question instead of adding it to John's. Seems like an important enough issue that it deserves it's own post!
If you want to do that, I can respond with my thoughts on your question, and I am sure others will as well.
Amy
© 2012 Created by AmyLCA.
