Happy 4th of July

I have been reading all the posts for several months now and it has been very good for me. Thanks to all of you. This is my first time writing, mostly because things have happened so fast , I haven't been sure what to write. I was dx with stage IIIA NSCLC in February of this year. I underwent a RUL resection and the pleura around my right lung was removed and replaced with Gortex. Just prior to starting my chemo a brain MRI revealed 2 lesions to the brain and a stage IV diagnosois. As I did not see WBR as an option for me at this time due to the side effects, I had Gamma Knife surgery. I then began my chemo of Carbo/ taxatere. This past Friday I had my 4th and final round of chemo and will have my new scans on the 21st of this month. I have been blessed with Doctors and nurses who I have felt very comfortable putting my trust into. As I said, this has happened so fast and each Dr. has reacted so quickly and positively it has kept me as positive as I can be. I do admit that when I heard about the brain mets, I was pretty devastated, and wondered how long I would have especially after reading statisitcs. Fortunately, my doctors would not have any of that for me. They said we are all unique and that I am only 51 and otherwise very fit and healthy so the statisitcs were not for me to be concerned about. I have been able to lead my life as normal as possible through all of this with minimal recuperation time and a few bad days of chemo side effects. I think we can all surprise ourselves, because I would never have imagined myself dealing with this situation the way I have. I wake up each day, say my prayers and remind myself this is what it is and I just keep having faith in my doctors, do what they say, read what all of you have to say and trust in God. Most days it seems that this disease is harder on my family and friends who love me than it is on me. I guess it is hard for me to think that I won't be here any time soon. And it seems that it is easier for me to have sympathy for others than for myself. This is Independence day weekend and I am heading out of town to meet my 4 month old twin nieces for the first but not the last time. I wish each of you a safe and healthy holiday and thank you for letting me share and more importantly I thank you for all that you have shared with me.

God Bless

Joe