Other crazy sexy lung cancer cowgirls and cowboys?

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Permalink Reply by Ann-Marie on March 4, 2008 at 2:50pm

Hi Chris,

I do not have lung cancer but I have something in a similar place! Its called Thymoma (cancer of the thymus) and it is hanging out in the "fisher" of my left lung as well as behind my heart. Sorry I cannot be of more help but know that you are not alone!

Ann-Marie

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Permalink Reply by Maria on March 4, 2008 at 10:08pm

Hi, Chris and Ann-Marie,
I also live with lung canser, still young (46), married, on disability and not so active in the last few weeks because the cortisone made my muscles very weak. But I think that my strengh is coming back, so I can continue being very active, like I used to be. After all, I just came back from a fishing trip with my husband, so I can't really complain. I caught a big bass and I almost ended in the water! My husband got the control because my legs wouldn't support me. I laughed so hard that I had tears in my eyes!
Tell me more about you...

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Permalink Reply by Chris in Wyoming on March 5, 2008 at 11:37am

Good morning! I love your fishing story! Hooray! I have been looking to find others who are dealing with lung canser. I am sorry that you have it, but happy to meet you! I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and just finished my 47th chemo treatment. I am on my second protocol, Alimta, and it has kept the little buggers in check. I have been so lucky-I can still work full-time and travel. I just have the icky week after chemo and then 2 weeks to rock and roll!

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Permalink Reply by Maria on March 5, 2008 at 4:56pm

Hi, Chris,
WOW! Congratulations for your successful fight. I am also on Alimta but with Carboplatin, and soon I'll add Avastin (had to be cancelled because of surgery for an impacted wisdon tooth). I just finished 13 sessions of whole brain radiation, and tampering down the cortisone. OH! All these sound horrible! ... But I don't feel that way.... I'm not in pain... I can move around, a little weak but still can do many things... I think that the discovery of mets in my brain was such a scary event that I decided to make changes in my way of thinking: LIVE IN THE MOMENT, LET IT ALL OUT, TALK AND WRITE ABOUT IT, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY (EAT WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY, DRINK WHEN YOU ARE THIRSTY, REST WHEN YOU ARE TIRED), PLAY, LOOK AT THE FUNNY SIDE OF THINGS...
I will have next scans in about a month or so, but that is too far in the future to give it a tought.
I prefer to read stories like yours. What do you do for fun?

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Permalink Reply by Robin Silverman on March 5, 2008 at 5:02pm

Sounds good. I just had surgery for lung cancer. I am 55, a single mom and own a business. Sounds like we have some similarities.

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Permalink Reply by Chris in Wyoming on March 5, 2008 at 6:14pm

Hey there, Ann-Marie, Maria and Robin!

Thanks for checking in . Robin-I hope that you are doing ok after your surgery. Maria-yikes! Seems so rude that you also had to deal with an impacted tooth! How have you done with the Alimta? Is it a second line treatment for you?
Have you all found that there are support groups that meet your needs? I was talking to a counselor in Colorado and discussing the needs for single folks dealing with canser, as well as the lack of support for those with lung canser. We may be on to something here in our CSC village!

I have been really lucky, and have been able to continue to travel and work. This CSC village has inspired me to want to eat even more healthy, to try my hand at juicing. But, I have to admit, I do love yummy food, a glass of wine and gathering with friends to share it.

Chris in Wyoming

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Permalink Reply by Maria on March 5, 2008 at 7:21pm

Hi Robin, I hope surgery did it right for you and made it go away.
Chris, I can't tell you about Alimta, because there is so much more going on with me and so many side effects from different things that it is impossible to say. It is my 4th line of treatment. I will let you know when I'm finshed with the cortisona that brought me a puffy face and 40 extra lb (TOMORROW LAST DOSE) and I get my next scans.
Don't you feel lonely for being single. Sometimes it is better to be alone than whith a bad company. And anything can happen any moment, keep an eye open for good candidates. Now with this crazy sexy life style...
About the diet, I think I am not ready for a change yet. I don't want to force my body to any change while it going through so much. I did learn how to listen to my own needs. I never had eating desorders or emotional eating kind of thing, so if I start craving sweets, I eat sweets, sometimes it is a veggy soup or a lentils soup, nuts.... I am confidnt that when my body is ready for a raw veg diet, I will know it.

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Permalink Reply by Phil on March 5, 2008 at 8:29pm

Hi Maria

I used to think the same as you regarding the diet, but a friend convinced me to at least cut out sugars. Cancer sucks up sugar, alcohol and other carbs that metabolize fast, so to not feed your cancer, you really should cut out, or cut way down on, your sugar intake. That said, you can still eat whole fruit since much of the sugars are bound up in the pulp and not readily available. Also, if you like Sweet Potatoes, they're packed in all kinds of vitamins AND they're sweet!. Same with hard squash like Acorn and Butternut.

After I cut out sugars and carbs, my cancer got itself under better control and the chemo seemed to start working better. I just started eating more raw foods now and will start juicing soon.

Another thing that I should suggest that shows great promise is Flaxseed (freshly ground) and Flaxseed Oil. It works in two ways... it prevents cancer cells from dividing and it cuts off the blood flow to tumors. I'm taking the equivalent of 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds per day. Some I'm getting as ground flaxseed on my steel-cut oats for breakfast. The rest I get as a spread (1 part flaxseed oil to 2 parts cottage cheese blended until smooth and no oil is floating on top) on toast (made using Ezekial bread). Both are quite tasty and make great alternatives to your run of the mill toppings and spreads.

Good luck recovering from your cortisone... I know how that is... my feet swelled up beyond belief and I gained back almost all the weight I'd lost at the onset of this disease.

One last thing... think of this as a Chronic disease. It isn't terminal! We can live with it if we want to for as long as we want... we can even cure it if we really put our minds to it. I am looking forward to the day that my scans come back clean!

--Phil
"Never give up! Never surrender!"

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Permalink Reply by Maria on March 5, 2008 at 8:54pm

Thank you Phil!
The sugar is no longer a problem. That happened during the whole brain radiation, when I was most of the time half-sleep, just a cookie would give an energy boost, so I was able to play with my dogs, talk with hubby or just read. The treatment is over and so are the cravings.
I appreciate the info about the Flaxseed, which I'll try.
And you are right, this is more like a chronic disease. My oncologist told me in my first visit that I wasn't strong enough for any treatment. That was already 3 years ago...

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Permalink Reply by Chris in Wyoming on March 6, 2008 at 4:35pm

Love hearing from you! Thank you for sharing. I am so happy to read that you are doing very well and have travel plans. That is what gets me through some days-that I have places to go and people to see! Can I ask what treatment you were on ?
Chris in Wyoming

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Permalink Reply by Chris in Wyoming on March 7, 2008 at 10:27am

I just so hate that insurance dictated what you did for you...argh!
I have been doing chemo for over 3 years now. Did the carbo and taxol for 6 rounds. Did not do much at all. Then radiation on the tumor taking up real estate that my airway needs! Not much success there, either. I have now been on Alimta since October 2005-every 21 days. I have not had a break from it, but luckily I have tolerated it well and have continued to work full time. Some days I get a bit weary of it, but happy I have it!
Chris in Wyoming

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Permalink Reply by Phil on March 7, 2008 at 10:40am

Chris,
I'm also on Alimta. Have been since November 2007. I tolerate it pretty well. There are a couple days just after getting it that I feel an odd combination of hungry, nausous and like a have a mild heart burn all at the same time.

I am able to continue working full time, also, which is a really good thing. The first 4 months I wasn't able to work much at all and that wasn't good. I run my own company and it was really hurting during that period. It has recovered nicely, now that I'm back at it full time. It's amazing what they can do with these med's these days. I'm greatful for them!

--Phil
"Never give up! Never surrender!"

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