My Dad had this cancer one year after I was diagnosied with adenocarcinoma of the reproductive track, we both travelled from our small towns in TX., to Johns Hopkins, neither of us had lymph node involvement, I had my 5 yr. ck. in May, all is well. My Dad hasn't wanted to travel to Hopkins, but has had a CAT scan, blood tests, and consult with an oncologist every 3-6 months, in our nearest largest town. He was completely clear 6 mos. ago, he is 82, but looks, acts and plays like a 60 yr. old. Rph, still works 3 dys a week, plays golf 3 dys a wk., I have trouble keeping up with him! They did a ressection of his lung at Hopkins, and he's been fine since. Went in for the 5yr CAT scan, they say there's evidence of susipious "eruptions" on his liver, and maybe a "tail" of it in the pancreatic duct....????? After clear sailing for nearly 5 yrs., and 6 mos. ago, all clear, how is this possible? They say blood work is clear, bone is clear...doing a biopsy and PET scan Thurs., results Fri., and I've demanded the TX docs send path back to Hopkins....he is devastated, and already not working and golfing, and not eating well, and sleeping all the time....can this be possible, and be so bleak already?
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Dad had adenocarcinoma stage 1b
- By mydadischuck
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 1:53 am · 11 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage I
- Shared with the public
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Exercise Cancer Surgery Hysterectomy Depression Folic acid Breast cancer
11 replies
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- By cards7up
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 6:24 am
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Did you both have the same type cancer and stage? Unfortunately, once you have cancer the cells are still there. Just don't know if they'll rear their ugly heads again. Wait and see what's going on. Dont' borrow trouble! Have your father start taking folic acid,he can get a prescription from his doctor. Ask him to get up and fight and not give up yet, you don't know what's going on and it could be something else altogether. There is a lab in CA that can do an assay on that biopsy that can tell what tx would work best if it is cancer. I will put the link at the bottom, call them if you're interested and find out if his insurance covers it or how much it would cost. I will pray that all goes well and the cancer has not returned. Take care, JC
http://www.rationaltherapeutics.com/default.aspx
- By snowflower
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:27 am
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Cards.....Folic Acid.....I am fairly new to all of this. Should I take Folic Acid and also, I have read that people are taking Celebrex......Viki
- By kkwv
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:43 am
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Your dad might benefit from an anti-depressant medication as well
- By LARTI
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 10:31 am
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http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-folate11-2009may11,0,4656570.s tory
I thought I would share this interesting article on Folic Acid. I know Folic Acid and B12 shots are considered part of certain chemo regiments but not all chemo drugs require the use of them.
- By Bette_Tx
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 10:54 am
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Sadly it's possible. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with nsclc adenocarcinoma stage 1b. I was given 50-60% chance of making it 5 years. I'm currently in cancer remission. So I feel like I'm fortunate if I make it 5 years but I will always have the fear of it returning. I have had many breast cancer friends who were in remission for up to 5 years, then have it show up at the end of their 5th year. Doesn't seem fair, does it?
I'm wishing the best for your dad. Maybe the tests were wrong.
Bette
- By drawing3d
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 11:17 am
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It sounds like your dad is exhausted... in his spirit mainly.
I know it is HARD to feel like you have done everything right and then get broad-sided. It must feel like a balloon that has had all the air leaked out. Sounds like your dad needs hope instilled in him again. A reason to fight, a reason to exercise, a reason to eat healthy...
Perhaps you can remind him that none of us are "getting out of here alive" and it may just be that he needs to fight his battles every 5 years. Add up enough 5 year intervals and it can stretch quite far.
If your dad is a christian man who believes in God, there is a terrific book (very small) named "The Red Sea Rules", by Robert Morgan. The theme is that God is the "same God who lead us in and will so lead us out again". Very uplifting and helps keep our little lives in the perspective God intends.
JC, I know you mean so well with the advice about Folic Acid and B12 shots but PLEASE, do not tell everybody to go out and get it. Not everybody needs it just because one person feels they might, or one doctor said so, or one study shouts it from the rooftops. Everybody is different. What they need is bloodwork to determine their nutritional status and any doctor who does NOT do that is behaving badly.
Folic Acid is synthetic. Whenever you see "folic acid" on food labels, vitamins, etc., it is synthetic. FOLATE is natural and that is what you get in food sources.
1/2 cup of cooked lentils, 1 medium orange, 1/2 cup of spinach (cooked) contains 100% of your daily requirements of natural folate.
If you really want to bump up your folate, eat a diet heavy in dark leafy greens. And for B12, eating just one serving (fist sized) of wonderful WILD salmion (never, ever farmed salmon) contains almost 100% of your DV requirement... including heart healthy, brain healthy, cancer fighting Omega3 fish oils.
God bless,
Ellen
- By hermanade
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 11:22 am
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I am sorry that you and your father are dealing with cancer, again, and I am sure that his and your care at Hopkins informed how long you both have lived without a recurrence.
As well, has it been confirmed that this is a metastesis?? Could it be another primary--inotherwords, a completely separate cancer occurence.
Also, you didn't say whether or not your father's "cure" was by excision, alone, or whether he did a regimen of chemo. I would be curious, since there is much controversy about the need for chemo with the Stage 1 cancers.
Thinking of and praying for you.
Danna
P.S. Everyone should have their Vitamin D levels checked, since most people are low, and those with cancer seem always seem to have depressed Vitamin D levels.
- By cuddles53
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 11:27 am
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Great info from Ellen, her words just you can't beat them. so I am listening to you too Ellen.
One thing that comes to mind, is the effect this has had on your dad in spirit. I think he may be just so down from the words of his doctor. It can make it look as if it is cancer doing this to they body, where in essence, It may be more than likely just a deep sadness, and also depression with hopelessness.. Give him time, talk to him ,and let him know again you willl be with him, and again he wil beat this. Hope is what is needed here also.
God bless Sandy
- By mydadischuck
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm
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Thanks to everyone who replied! We both had adenocarcinoma, neither of us ever smoked, mine was reproductive cancer, had radical hysterectomy, and no lymph node involvement, doc says at 5 yrs, its highly unlikely to come back, naturally, I have faith, and trust that it won't, but those of us with cancer, always worry I'm sure! He had surgical excision only, Hopkins doc said chemo really wouldn't make the % of it not coming back, that much less, he had no lymph node involvement either. We'll just have to wait til Friday to see for certain. We are Christians, and are praying! I've been a crazy, trying to be healthy person ever since surgery, eating organic and exercising, taking lots of supplements, esp. tumeric, which we dispense to some folks in a trial at MD Anderson's...I should mention my husband and I own a pharmacy, and do lots of compounding, and hubby and Dad are Rph's, so we stay up on all the trials, etc. I'd highly recommend everyone with the exceptions of those on chemo., to take a good pharmaceutical grade tumeric (curcumin), it literally can cut off the blood supply of the tumor. You can google tumeric and MD Anderson, and several things will appear! I'll let you all know on Fri! Please pray, as we will be praying for all of you here!
- By HighlandGuy
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 4:38 pm
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Hi,
I too had adenocarcinoma, Stage 1B, with a lobectomy URL, along with ,assive resections for two other primary cancers in 2000.
I too had no lymph involvement, no chemo. Guess what: last week's annual CT scan (after NED nine years) shows new nodules on both lungs.
I am seeing my Oncologists next week, but pla for now invovles waiting for three month scan to determine if nodules are growing. If they are CA, we'll just take it from there again. Just another bump in the road. In the meanwhile I've got a lot keeping me busy!
Oh Yes, I am 85 years old with a lot of other problems, kidney, heart, advanced COPD, blind from macular degeneration, etc.. Still going strong. I'd love to chat with your dad!
HighlandGuy
- By mydadischuck
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 4:45 pm
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Wow, you have really had your share! I will get the 2 of you together soon. Right now, I'm in CO at our vacation home, and they are in TX., we'll know what is what by Friday afternoon, he's going to have to find his spunk, and get an attitude like yours! Please let us know how it goes for you also!!!! I'm hoping if it is a cancerous deal, that its operable, he refuses to do radiation or chemo!
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