Hi
Finally feel strong enough to tackle the kitchen remodel . Hoping that goes well lol
Went to main dr and all is well at least in his opinion.
No conflicting diagnoses HOORAY!!
SIL Has taken a turn for the worse. Not only confirmed liver cancer but has a new mass on the opposite lung.
Obviously even more treatment will be necessary.
Has been suffering with very serious side effects from the chemo. have no idea as to what they'll do now.can't get a marker on the lung mass due to water in both lungs.
May have to remove one lung!!! I seem to be VERY VERY lucky?? gary

Yeppie!! I'm so glad you feeling better and all is well Gary. Sorry about your SIL, that doesn't sound so good. I have a friend in his 50's that is going thrue cancer in his mouth, he had chemo and radiation plus surgery and it has gone down into another place. He is going over to Tampa for treatment again. We're hoping he can get another year or two more. Very sad.
Good luck on your remodel!

Hi
Thought I'd update a bit as I had another PET scan.
The original tumor is gone but some growth in scarring tissue but to be expected they tell me lol. No new tumors or suspect growth ANYWHERE HOORAY!! They did note a small tumor on the adrenal gland and the gall stones are growing
but feel no symtoms as yet no treatment at this time.
Insurance co. is changing the rules yet again Boggles the mind how expensive this has been and still have 4 more years to go before considered "cured" lol
At least the visits to the specialists has declimed to every 4 months and no new treatments are required so the costs should drop considerably. Thank the LORD for MEDICARE!!!! lol gary

I love hearing the good news Gary. I'm very forunate to have the VA and Medicare. I kept the medicare just in case something happens here I can go right to the hospital.
Keep on with the good health!!

Great News Gary!!!!!!

Wow... I have been gone from this forum way, way too long.

Gary, I'm sorry I missed all of this. I'm just reading it today and I'm so impressed with your humor and patience through the whole ordeal. I'm also thrilled that you've had good news to report. Big, big hugs to you!

Kate

Hi
Thanks everyone for the good wishes!!!. Insurance co has canceled my main dr . So it's either change drs. or insurance co .lol
kate You mean there's a choice?? I'd much prefer to ignore the whole thing. Still waiting on developing a working attitude on "WAITING" lol. My last visit was 3 hours behind schedule but at least I didn't get any bad news. Thanks again gary

Glad to hear the good news! I could write a book about what I've gone through with insurance companies. It's bad enough you don't feel well, but then you have to put up with all their crap.

I never go to a doctor's appt. without a book. It's a good time to catch up on reading.

Julie

Julie
I take an electronic game but find it's a good time to look around. There are a LOT of people in far worse shape than me!! lol In the last case Dr B was scheduled 2 hours after Dr A. Got out of A two hours late so was two hours late before I even got to B. I did get to see both in one day though,figured they would reschedule then I could spend yet another day waiting lol Next appointments have
3 drs' on the same day that should be a real adventure lol. At least the appts are 3 months in the future and I'm down to 3 drs rather than 5 lol
I have a dream that on one occasion during this treatment I'll actually get in and out on time??? Why is that in the realm of science fiction?? lol
gary

Gary, I missed all of this. I'm glad it isn't as bad as expected, and hope all is going well.

Hi
well, the treatments are going well Insuances not so well. They cancelled my main dr.lol I certainly don't want to change drs. during the treatments so I'm switching insurance co. What a hassle that is !!!. My next tests are schedules for sept so i do have some time to straighten things out . Dr has agreed to accept whatever he can get lol Thank the lord i don't have any treatments ongoing now. Mind boggling how expensive this has been and still 4 more years to go!! Thanks for the good wishes!!!
gary

Hi
Have had two more scans which Dr. 1 say look fine but Dr 2 say shows a"suspicious area " Another round of tests
scheduled for the 19th just when I was thinking I might go a whole month WITHOUT a test.,lol Guess i have to do what i'm told At least I don't have to see Dr.1 until Jan of next year gary

Hi
Visited my main doctor yesterday and the analysis of the last P scan shows three suspicious nodules. in the left lung. Dr. wants to start immediate chemotherepy but I'm opposed to that!!!. There are some alternatives that i'm going to check into as well as get another opinion. It is possible but not likely that the nodes are scarring from the tumor but since a biopsy is not possible the risk is high for delaying Going to be a REALLY tough decision lol. Ironicly i feel better now than at any time since my treatment.!! lol gary

Gary, how are you doing?

I'm really sorry I have not spent more time over here.

Tom

Hi
Not as good as I'd hoped lol. Both Drs want to give me Chemo but I think I'm going to refuse . Don't want to sprend the rest of my life sick and I feel better right now than I have in months. The cyberknife worked well for the tumor(completely gone) but the nodules are undoubtedly
cancer BUT might be pneumonia scars Am I an optomist or what?? lol
Has been the toughest decision of my life for sure!!!
gary

Hey Gary! Haven't been to this side of the forum for a while. I hope you are continuing to feel good and are able to enjoy the holidays. You have been through some rough times this year but have always had an optimistic view. Raising my glass of egg nog to you, my friend...Cheers!

I'm raising my glass of eggnog, right along with Coffeemom's!
I've been thinking about you, Gary, and stopped by the forum today just to wish you a Merry Christmas and the healthiest, happiest new year possible!

Kate

I know some people that have had chemo and it has healed them. I don't think I want to go through that pain. No pain pill has worked for me since I suffered a mild concussion in 2004. I know most folks would think I'm strange to not want chemo.I feel that it is almost inevitable for me to get. I smoked for 26 years and I have 3 relatives that died from it. I had a friend that tried alot of different alternative things for her husband's cancer. I can't say it helped any, except for peace of mind. I know it has got to be an incredibly hard decision for you. Please pray about it. That usually helps me make the right decision. You are in my prayers.

zackey
Seems that "no treatments" is the most difficult of all!! have been exploring that option but is full of problems. Give you the lecture an Oncologist gave me.
" While chenotherepy is only 40 percent effective and is fraught with many side effects in 90 percent of all cases it does expand the survivability often into several years.
as well as greatly expand the quality of life . As to the side effects there is no way to predict except in general terms BUT the greatest advances of the last ten years are methods for handling them ." No treatment usually results in the very rapid advance of the problem which has a few "Side effects of its own"
I lost both brothers and mother and father to cancer. I particularly felt in my mothers case that the chemo was more of a problem than the disease. Seemed futile effort that only prolonged the agony. Hoping that I am wrong about that. Though reluctant I see no other course.
If interested there are several on line groups that I have found invaluable in sorting it out. "Lung cancer alliance" is great for general info as well as the support group . Talking with other people with the same problems helps a lot. Another is "Web M.D." giving you info on the various treatments as well as the drugs used.
Hope the New year improves your situation. I certainly would seek help if for no other reason than to ease the transition .?? Thanks to everyone for the good wishes
Happy holidays to everybody!!! gary

I'm a little late for Christmas blessings so will wish you a very healthy and Happy New Year Gary.

Gary, I'm also praying that all will be well. Doctors are overly cautious. I had a doctor tell me that if I didn't have chemo for a breast tumor that I would die in six months. I thought that odd, since it hadn't spread, so I went to another doctor. He hit me with a few rounds of radiation to shrink it, intending to cut it out, and it disappeared entirely. He told me that the other Dr. owned part of the chemo center and had several law suits against her where she had people get unneeded chemo that almost killed them.

Have you looked into alternative treatments? I have studied herbal and natural medicine for a long time, and I'd be happy to send you what I know. You can email me at dsa2591 at gmail.

Hi
Thanks for the very kind offer. I asked about alternatives from the "lung cancer alliance" that I mentioned above. The reply "While there are several alternative methods that hold promise statisyicly the results are disappointing. Less than 10 percent. The statistics are somewhat flawed so are usually based on 5 year survivability. Chemotherapy is 40 percent. this is also true of several drug treatments. the highest being 15 percent." A good course of treatment would be an appropriate mix of several treatments and most important of all constant monitoring as lung cancer is notorious at spreading to other organs as well as reappearing. It is VERY rare for it to not go into remission at some point and also very rare for it not to return ."
We would certainly follow your oncologist directions .
Sounds like good advice to me?? lol
In my case I seem to be following the average prognosis .
While the Cyberknife treatment completely shrank the original tumor it seems to have reappeared in the other lung. 3 very small "nodules" seem to have come up. Since I can't have surgery the only reliable treatment is chemo.
Can't have Cyberknife again for several reasons. Another PET scan was done on the 30th to measure the growth of the nodules. Have not heard the results of this until the 13th . Have not heard the opinion of the second oncologist but the first would only recommend aggresive chemo but only IF the nodules are growing and active.
Anyway I thank you for your offer but I feel that I'm doing all that is possible in a holistic way.
I guess it's time to pay for all the abuse I heaped on my body during my youth ??!!lol gary

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I'll say a prayer for you. Whatever you decide is the right decision for you. You are obviously an intelligent guy and surely want the best for yourself. You don't have a crystal ball to help you know what to do. It's a lot easier to stand outside a situation and tell someone what to do than to actually make those decisions yourself. God bless.

Hi
Got some GOOD news yesterday as my latest PET scan showed that two of the three nodules have declined in size while the third has moved which means it can'r be a tumor.
This means chemo won't be necessary!!! Also means I can go 3 months without being scanned ,stuck or probed lol
Only down side is that I'll get even older ?? I guess that's the tradeoff lol gary

That is awesome! Older is better!

I'd say that's great news Gary! Heres to a peaceful 3 months!

Hi
Visited my chief onc. 15th and since I passed my blood tests and no new symtoms will delay another PET scan until Sept . though waiting for expected approval from 2nd onc.I'm actually feeling better than at any time since this began but obviously would feel better with another negative scan!! lol
thanks to some inhalers I'm able to do a bit of yard work
Sister in law has completed 5th round of chemo which will be the last but she has developed atumor on the liver which tested positive . She is too weak for surgery and radiation has been ineffective at best.
Wish i knew sometrhing that would help. I feel SOOOO lucky!!! though i think the cyberknife is a MUCH better treatment?? gary

Great News, Gary! I'm glad you're feeling good enough to play in the yard.Hope it's fun stuff and not weeding.

Sorry to hear about your sister in law, though. That stinks.

Thinking about you, Gary, and wishing you continued good news!

Kate

Hi
Second dr .ordered a PET scan but not until Aug. So will have to believe it's under control I have always been on the edge of being a "hoarder" mostly plants but animals also. Have done considerable downsizing but finding it very difficult to give up anything lol
I have been able to catch up on most of the pruning except for a "pet " tree that I have no idea how to prune

i feel particularly bad about the orchids ,have downsized two thirds the remaining I'm "repurposing' to test some grow theories. They are my favorite plants
Anyway thanks for the good wishes So far I've been VERY lucky but sure would be nice to have a negative report gary

Hi
Well, my sister inlaw passed away the morning of the 26th.Apparently from lung failure but she had developed several other problems. I felt a rather close kinship with her as we were both diagnosed within a month.
At least the struggle is over for her, the last couple of months were pure hell . gary

I'm so sorry to hear your sister in law passed. Sometimes it's for the best even though I'm sure you will miss her.
Good luck this month on your pet scan.

Hi
Well good news all the way around!! Lungs were clear Nothing suspicious in colon ,prostrate ,brain , throat.
Emphezema is advancing but slowly sure notice a decline in physical activity. Failed tredmill test completely so have no results on heart damage . OH GOODY that means even more tests!! lol
As I mentioned SIL passed away, apparently from liver rather than lung failure neighbor passed away last week from inoperable brain cancer. She had a hundred times the symtoms that I've experienced. She was being considered as a patient for the new Hadron center in Miami!!
Anyway thought I'd write this down will have another series of tests in Jan gary

Hi
While visiting chief oncologist met a fellow patient
that was celebrating 104 years Born in 1908!!
She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in in 1980
guess surviving is certainly posssible!!!?? gary

Hi
have not updated this because I have almost nothing to report. Will have a complete PET scan in late May Will have completed 3 years since diagnosis. Only two more years to go lol gary

Hi Gary,
Its been a looong time! (since the last swap I believe)
It's great to hear that you are going well.
how is everything else going?

-sb

Hi
Well have considerably downsized my grow area though decided to revamp the water and marsh gardens G oing to add an area for a fern garden as the canaopy has returned after the hurricanes.. Given up all my birds except one parakeet.Living in the remains of my large aviary.
. have moved many of the orchids out into the yard just to see if it will work lol hate giving up all my stuff but what ya gonna do ?? lol gary

Hi
had my complete PET/scan and appears to be no activity anywhere!! Even the original tumor scar has disappeared!!. Will now be an entire year before the next set of tests HOORAY!!! gary

3 cheers for Gary!!! So glad your scan is clear!

hi
Thanks for the encouragement!! Feel fairly confident as
it was a very complete PET scan plus Xrays.
just had a BIL pass away who went from diagnosis to death in less than 4 weeks!! he had inoperable pancreatic cancer though which had already advanced to the lymph glands . I feel VERY VERY lucky!!! thanks again gary

Gary, thanks for sharing the good news! Yea!!!
This is the only posting on the garden forum I still subscribe to; I always want to hear how you are doing!

Great news, Gary! Whoop it up this year! :)

Hi
thought I'd update this a bit since they canceled my scan in Dec. . reason being that all my blood tests were negative as well as X rays,!! so will wait until May.
Don't know why I've been so fortunate but am certainly grateful!!! apparently I caught it at the right time and had the correct treatment??? Still got two more years before I'm "cured" lol Obviously won't have any more info until May so going to believe everything is fine?? lol gary

Hi
Well lung dr ordered cat scan had" suspicious shadows"
had PET scan. Results "shadows were caused by mucus
there is no cancerous activity at this time " Will see oncologist in May another PET scan will be done in June.
looks like I might live for a while longer in spite of their best efforts?? lol gary

Hi
Well have had two more scans . "no cancerous activity though original tumor has changed shape and location"
These test were ordered by regular dr. See oncologist in May as scheduled . Was just reading through the posts ,coming up on 4 years . Original ?? Medical costs ?? Mind boggling . Whatever you imagine triple it !!! gary

Hi
Had another PET scan 6/25"Two nodules and original tumor is active" had Colonoscopy ,removed two polyps
awaiting biopsy but dr thinks they are cancerous but are removed so no further treatment at this time Other areas including prostrate okay . getting closer to that dreaded chemo ?? gary

Gary, I am so sorry to learn about your problems. I am lifting you up to God every night. I would go to cancer centers of America. I believe there is one in Atlanta. I am the pro on hospitals and I had a very aggressive cancer but prayers were answered. I believe in prayer and I sincerely will be praying for you.

Hi
At this time i am cancer free ,at least according to my last tests lol Ofcourse will have to keep up tests for the rest of my life but hopefully MUCH longer between them??
Have some "suspicious " areas but not receiving any treatments at this time . i had a series of treatments called "Cyberknife" which have proven to be very effective . This was done locally and I feel I got excellent treatment. Results seem to indicate that .
This involves very high radiation rather than surgery
which means I can't have more of this type and will not have chemo though so far there has been no need .
Both of my brothers and both parents died of cancer
so i seem to be very lucky?? lol
Thanks for the good wishes !!! gary

Hi
had another cat scan and wouldn't you know it ,not good enough lol "Suspicious dark mass in left with apparent nodules in right ." Wouldn't you think by now they'd skip the cat and just do the pet in the first place?? I think the main problem is money. Around 2,000 for cat around 6,000 for a pet. How are they saving money if they repeatedly do both anyway?? This time they lost the schedule so it ended up taking over 3 hours and will have to have the pet on the 5th which normally takes about 3 hours to start!!! Spending my life in test fascilities !!! gary

Hi
Pet scan was inconclusive though no "Hyper activity" and one new node. very small and obscure. due to mucus.
Prostrate has enlarged BUT considered normal
Both prostrate and gall bladder have no symtoms so escaped treatment once again!!!!! New tests scheduled for Feb , unless blood tests are positive. gary