IVE BEEN READING EVERYONES STORIES ALL MORNING IM STILL SO AMAZED BY ALL OF YOU AND YOUR STRENGTH AND COURAGE.MY QUESTION IS FOR SOMEONE WHOS BEEN THROUGH BOTH THE SURGERY AND THE CHEMO OR RADIATION.WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PHSICALLY FOR YOU PERSONALLY?SO FAR I FOUND THE SURGERY PRETTY BRUTAL SO ID LIKE YOUR OPINIONS ON THE TREATMENTS VS THE SURGERY.THANX FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP.SINCERELY,KANDY
Kandy,
IMO, none of it's a picnic! I did all three of the treatments. But I will say it's ALL very DOABLE! And as much as your going to hate this, everyone reacts differently to treatments. I went through my treatments with very FEW side effects and I know MANY MANY that did the same as me. Then I know of MANY MANY that WEREN'T as lucky as me. But, don't waste your time worring abuot it, IT REALLY WILL BE WHAT IT WILL BE!!!!!!
You'll be FINE!! HONEST!!! We learn not to fret the SMALL STUFF. Living cancer free is what our goals are! And you will be one of us.
Hugs,
Connie
Kandy, It all sucks. Big time. You WILL make it through this, though. If I did, anyone can. ;) I started chemo 7 weeks after my surgery. I was on Cisplatin and Etoposide. Have they told you yet what they'll do? Do they think they got all the cancer with the surgery? They did chemo on me to kill any loose cancer cells out there, and I'm so glad they did.
Hugs, girl. You can do this. We're right here with you. Feel free to vent to me at any time!!
Hugs!
Lorie
Hey Kandy,
My husband had the surgery (not VATs) and handled it amazingly well. However the chemo was quite difficult for him. Like everyone else said, it all sucks. Our experience was the chemo was way worse than the surgery. But now that we are several months away from the chemo and he is feeling so much better I would have to say it was worth it.
Just think of it as something you have to go through. There will be another side to it and you will be fine.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Khari
Hey guys!!! thanx for the input.I think they feel like all of the cancer is out but when they removed my 2 lobes they also took some nodes and one came back positive so they decided to chemo me.Thats all I was told.I will meet with my oncologist sept 5 to discuss treatment.I did not have the VATS surgery and still I am having a rough time healing ughhhhh.The surgery was done Aug 18.Thanx again guys!!! God bless you all!!! Sincerely,Kandy
kandy - first - give yourself some time to heal from your surgery - jeez - secondly - I can only speak from my own experience - but I thought the surgery was much easier - the chemo bothered me more - but it is still NOT as bad as you imagine - and you have no option - just do it - get it done with and get back to your life!
Karen xx
Be patient and be kind to yourself to give your body time to heal. It took a good two years before I started to feel close to normal. I had chemo, radiation, surgery and adjuvant chemo. It is doable!
Take care,
Carol
From my understanding, it all affects everyone differently. The surgery's are different, as is the types and amounts of chemo/radiation. Also, some people have stronger tolerance levels. It's very understandable that you would be asking this question, Kandy, but what you hear might turn out differently for you.
Are you still off the cigarettes?
XO-Frank
Yes cigarettes are long gone frankie!!! hows the quitting working for you? Im terrified of this chemo crap but know its just gotta be done.My late aunt who died of lung cancer told me 14 years ago when I had my first child and I was crying in the hospital that "motherhood is not for wimps"so now to my dear aunt I have also learned that cancer is not for wimps eiether lol.Sincerely,Kandy
Hi Kandy:
I had chemo before surgery to shrink a tumor. After everything I heard, I thought it was going to be a nightmare, but to my surprise, it was not nearly as bad as I expected. I never got sick to my stomach, but my Onc gave me an RX in case I had nausea. Never had to use it.
My biggest symptom was 24 to 36 hours after chemo, you start to get super tired, and I was just knocked on my butt until about day 10, then I was back to normal. I did not stay in bed all that time, but I slept a lot.
It's definitely doable after you have been through surgery and frankly, I think it's a good idea, just in case there are any other cells floating around. You will do fine.
*Hugs*
Marylou
Hi Kandy - you are definitely not a wimp!!! You can fight and finish strong. My comment on the chemo is that Dad tolerated it much better than we expected (carboplatin/etop). He breezed through with not many physical side effects maybe slight hearing loss and a few blood issues - chemo induced and are resolving themselves. Take care.
Maria
Kandy, I didn't have VATS either. Give yourself time to get over it. You are only what 2 weeks out? 3 weeks out? By 6 weeks out, you'll be doing a LOT better. It's amazing how much better I felt during that 3 weeks. :)
Feel free to read my blog about my experience: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loriemitchell. I chronicled it all...the good, the bad and the ugly. I started my blog before my surgery and before we even knew for sure it was cancer.
Hang in there. Try not to worry about it until you are doing it. Everyone handles chemo differently, and all the drugs are different. To me the worst part was the tiredness. I wish I'd know about ritalin to help with that!! ; ) See what all you've learned just from this board?!
Hugs, girlfriend!
Lorie
Kandy- interesting question. my husband had VATS surgery, about 12 rounds of chemo and 29 radiation treatments with etoposide. it was by far the effects of the radiation and etoposide that took him out. he was hospitalized with a non-existent blood count and fever from that. he couldn't swallow for about 2 weeks and had severe pain in the throat. the surgery and chemo were both not bad at all for him. it really is different for everyone. hopefully, yours will be quite tolerable. good luck. arlene
Kandy Kane,
It wouldn't seem that you would need a lot, seeing as they went and got most of it out. That could also make the difference.
Good for you on the cigarettes. I've gone and had one here, one there, but I'm on my way to being free from them once and for all.
You're grandmother's wisdom is with you. You can do it, and we all on here have your back!
Talk soon, my friend.
Frank
I did my chemo one month before the surgery.. and did fine.. just do it.. get a wig and or a scarf.. I make them with hair in them and would be willing to make you a few.. and you will be fine.. you get tired.. tell your doctor you want the pills amend.. they work wonder keeping you from getting sick.. a few days you will feel tired.. maybe and then 2-3 weeks to recover and then another dose.. take the chemo its a cure.. you will be fine.. God Bless you Kandy..
Lisa
I'm two weeks out from surgery and have an Onc appointment on the 18th of Sept. I am not looking forward to it but it's just the next step in my program so I'll be there.
hi kandy!
i havent had the surgery yet, and frankly, im scared to death. i did the chemo and the radiation, and survived it, so if i can, and im an old, out of shape fart, you can! if you have the strength and courage to do the surgery, the chemo and radiation will be a cake walk. if you ask me, the radiation was the worst. there are lots of meds out there to help with any side effects you might have with the chemo, so dont be afraid to let your doc know if there is something that is bothering you. they CAN make it better, and are more than willing to if you let em know. right now. your oncologist is your best friend. dont be afraid to talk to him!
btw...i really admire your courage with the surgery. i hope i can be as brave and come out of it as well as you have!
deb
Awwww Deb your so sweet!!! I look at you like wow shes such an inspiration she went through the chemo and radiation and has the best scence of humor and made it out with such grace and courage!!! See how we all look up to eachother for things we are afraid of its so cool isnt it?What is your biggest fear regarding surgery?Do you have any questions for me about the surgery?Please think about your biggest fears and we will face them one by one so we can kill earl once and for all damn it!! hugs!!! love,Kandy
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