Please Help

• By Gretchen
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 9:41 am
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Chemo certainly reminds me daily that I have cancer. The good news for me is that tests show that it is working. I hope for the same for you, and I also hope that you can find support here and in person.
Gretchen

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• By MarciaGreer
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 10:21 am
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The chemo can turn your life upside down. My experience has been that the chemo has caused me much more sickness and debilitation than the cancer so far; so I can really relate to what you are saying.
You don't say if you have a lot of side effects - if you are don't let them go unaddressed is there are things they can do for many of them.

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• By hapmcc
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 11:07 am
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Thank you so very much, at last I feel I have a voice and someone can hear me. Yes , I have had horrible side effects from the chem and sometimes the medications made it worst. But today I've made it this far. In a week I'm going for my first post chemo PET and CAT scan and the unknown is scarry. I'm so happy to feel connected to others like me, I live alone and this has been a haed time but maybe I can start the healing process and put this behind me, but I do wonder if every day I live if I can acutaly live to the best of my abality or will I be crippled by if this is the day it will return. Does this make any sense to you? This just where I am for today, thanks again

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• By MarciaGreer
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 12:16 pm
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Your concern about living each day and not being held back by thoughts of the return of the disease are very normal. Most people find that passage of time helps them cope. I am 2 1/2 years from dx and find that the scans are less stressful for me than at the beginning. The Atavan I take in the days before I get my results helps take the edge off my apprehension. But time does help.

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• By lorbethm
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 3:15 pm
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I'm not even six months out from my chemo, and I still have a lot of anxiety when it comes to the scans or meeting with the doctors. The chemo definitely can turn your life upside down. I went from not having any illness or symptoms even with the cancer in me, to being very sick from the post-surgery recuperation and then the chemo. I think the chemo was harder on me than the surgery. I can really relate to everything you have posted. I wasn't angry at the cancer, but angry at how the treatments sucked away my life for four months. It was the hardest thing I've ever gone through, and I pray I don't have to do it again EVER.

Just know that many of us have been in your shoes and we're always here for you. :)

Hugs and prayers!

Lorie

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• By cath1123
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 3:38 pm
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I had surgery and then was put on Tarceva rather than regular chemo, but with a lot of side effects. I found lots of support for my specific cancer- BAC- broncholoalveolar Lung cancer through the accor lung cancer list- there are groups listed for specific cancers and the one I am on -BAC lung is amazing. I dont know what I would have done to help cope with the fear and anger and all that goes with it. I also spoke with my medical team and they helped point me in some directions. I also began to educate myself online and found onctalk which is now part of Grace.org. The oncologists there help to sort good from bad information and Dr West himself is so willing to share his expertise. I have learned not to be so afraid, and what to expect with certain types of treatments as well as to talk with others who go through what I go through. There are books too that give great information like the Wellness Center (that fights cancer and gives information) and on and on. Don't give up, Don't think you are alone, Don't think that what you are feeling is abnormal. There are a lot of resources and support out there for you.

Peace, health, hope
Cath

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• By jerseydebbie
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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We can relate also. Just the diagnosis of having a cancer is a life altering experience. Then everything you knew and loved is put on hold while you meet appointments, testing, chemo/radiation treatments, side effects, and recovery from surgery.

Not sure which was more taxing; chemo, radiation, or surgery. I found that open communication with the oncologist took care of many of the side effects my husband was experiencing. Being put on Emend and Aloxi during each treatment really was the ticket in tackling the nausea/sea sickness factor.

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and fear and anxiety is part of being human. We will always get anxious during followup scan time, but as the months go by and we remain NED, the fear will lessen.

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• By Khari
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 6:48 pm
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Yes I can relate. The patient here is my husband not myself, but watching him deal with the chemo was really hard. He's been done with it for four weeks now and slowly slowly he's feeling better, but its not easy. I absolutely know the surgery was a cake walk compared to the chemo.

He's up for the follow-up pet scan next week and he is definately turning to Ativan for help calming his nerves.

All this stuff is so very scary and he was like Lorie well one day and sick the next.

Hang in there we are all here for you.

Khari

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• By janiegirl
• Posted July 12, 2008 at 9:53 pm
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I understand how you are feeling. I had chemo and radiation together, no surgery. I went from being a healthy person, or so I thought, to being a "recliner potato" and it has been very hard to adjust to a different level of being. I was sick with something almost the whole time and had to rely on my husband to do everything, plus he was working all day. I know it must be hard to be alone but you are not alone here. Someone is always here to offer a listening ear and an encouraging word. That, along with strong faith in God has kept me going. My family is tremendously supportive but none of them has gone through cancer treatment and they can sympathize but not empathize. Keep the faith, it will get better from the chemo. Jane

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• By dsnwhittredge
• Posted July 24, 2008 at 7:34 am
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I just finished my chemo and was feeling pretty good until i got pains in my right side... told the doctor, they did a pet scan and bone scan and today i go to radiologists to hear the results. I am mad as well as I want my life back, i have very good friends that have helped me as well as journaling...that helps. I just tell myself it will get better and i can beat it.. oh yes, and my hair is coming back and that is a tremendous help as i was really devastated losing my hair. Pray and think positive that should help. god bless, diane

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• By hapmcc
• Posted August 19, 2008 at 8:01 pm
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I hope this might be able to help someone and make sense. I went for my PET and CAT scan the results were good and at last I can say I survied Chemo for today and no cancer today. For me as long as I keep it in today I think I'm ok. I am not ready to say cancer free but I can say today no cancer. It took me a while to reach this point of acceptance and to be a peace w/ life on life trerms. I am begining to live and let go of the anger and fear that I vented towards Chemo. I've been serious far to long and now today I'm at the point of just having fun. At 51 I'm learning to speak Klingon and running around the Mall as if I'm 16 and just being happy. For me I needed this release to accept the gift of hope. The reality will always be w/ me and I am a member of this elite club but for today I can live. I do have one question my hair has started to grow back and prior to Chemo I had no grey hair and now it"s pure white has this happened to anyone else and dose it stay this way . I must close now before I start to ramble. Thanks to everyone for being there for me I hope that maybe I can be there for another Peace

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• By peyz33
• Posted August 19, 2008 at 8:24 pm
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you feel the same way ALL of us have felt at one time or another - just let it roll - once you start getting your PET/CT scans "NED" - you will begin - (or I hope so) to relax - I've only had one clean scan so far - so nervous about the next one in 2 weeks - chemo has a way of stripping all your strength and hope - you feel isolated and helpless - but it's just a temporary feeling - you were stage 2 - like me - they say it can be a "cure" - so hold onto hope - and all of us here - i didn't lose any hair so can't comment on the white hair - but I bet it looks kool.....
Karen

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• By hapmcc
• Posted August 21, 2008 at 9:02 pm
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Thank you so very much for just listening and allowing me to hear another voice say they understand. This aspect is still new to me ( I never thought I would be called a nubbie,smile). Today I am able to have hope w/out fear and what will be will be. It has been so long since I have laughed and looked at the bright side of life I am like a kid some of my friends don't understand but that not inportant It is important that I understand. After the last months I can take nothing for granted everything is a gift. Thanks again

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