Newly diagnosed : 57 years old newly... - Lung Cancer Support

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Sadregrets profile image
80 Replies

57 years old newly diagnosed pain in chest and back and coughing some blood sometimes. Dry heaves and nausea. Scared and confused. Crying. Now what??

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Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets
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80 Replies
Gmayer profile image
Gmayer

What was your diagnosis? Have the doctors come up with a plan? I know about the crying and I assume most of us on here have done plenty of that. But after reading some these posts you realize that many have dealt with awful diagnosis and are still around, they offer hope that it's not over. God Bless and remember, one day at a time!

Gisela

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to Gmayer

No plan yet. Terrified and feeling major guilt and anxiety. Pain has come on so suddenly. Can't eat.

Gmayer profile image
Gmayer in reply to Sadregrets

I hope you hear what the doctors are planning to attack this. Why guilt? I too had pain in my back and still have a bad cough and I'm not eating much either. But again, read about those that have gotten really tough news but are still living.

God Bless!

Gisela

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

Because I brought this upon myself and will be leaving my adult daughter without a parent as I'm all she has

annkezar profile image
annkezar in reply to Sadregrets

Nobody deserves lung cancer, regardless of any risk factors they might have experienced. Please, turn any anger/guilt you may be feeling at yourself toward the true enemy- the cancer- and use that energy to fight it!

Long distance hugs and healing thoughts,

Ann

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Sadregrets

I felt the same way you are feeling but I talked to my daughter about the fact I could die and she said although needs me, she gave me her word she would be fine. It is our job to make them responsible independent adults. If you have accomplished this (and you need to talk to your daughter) you will find peace and forgive your self for something out of our control. I quit smking 25 years ago and like you I felt so guilty and angry! I am also 57 years old and I have stage 4 NSCLC. If I can be of any help message me anytime.

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to Enjoyabull

When were you diagnosed and at what stage? What are they doing for you. I am in pain

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Sadregrets

I was diagnosed January 2016. I am stage 4 and I also had a lot of pain. I am on 20 mg Oxycontin slow release every 12 hours. I have 10 mg pills for break through pain mainly at night. I am currently in chemo, the immunotherapy didnt work for me. What about you? What stage and what kind of lung cancer do you have?

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

Enjoyabull - You are a carbon copy of me, or I am of you. I was diagnosed in Jan. 2016, Stage 4, and on the same pain meds and schedule as you and I am also currently in chemo. Glad I am not alone with this schedule. Now you will be in my daily thoughts each time I take a 10mg for the breakthrough. God Bless...

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

I have a hard time sleeping through the night, how about you?

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

I have always been a night owl, seems to run in my family, but I have not slept all night in probably the past 2 years. But I find myself not wanting to sleep either. Like tonight. I have been working on getting my Foundation web site hosting taken care of, and other things like that.

Just remember, no one ever said this would be easy, otherwise, everyone would be doing it. Right?

My lung cancer is HPV and not "actual" lung cancer. The HopDocs kept telling me that for some reason. So, ya know, I have just decided to not have a bad day, which sometimes means sleeping through most of it.

Do you have trouble staying awake during the day? I can take a power nap better than a cat.

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

I have no problem during the day. I also was a night person before I got sick but now I hate being awake at night and alone. Its crazy how I feel so vulnerable and scared at night. What is HPV lung cancer?

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

HPV Lung Cancer is simply HPV Cancer that is in my lungs. HPV-16 is the cancer I had in my throat back in 2014 that was successfully treated by the end of October 2014.

It was the same type of cancer Michael Douglas and Jamie Dimon the CEO of JP Morgan Chase had.

That HPV cancer spread to my lungs, and it's spread all over the place and not just as a mass, so it makes radiation and surgery out of the question.

But as far as being able to sleep or not, it would just be nice to be on a normal schedule. I have given in to whatever my body tells me it wants to do.

If I was able to get out of the house and do something, it might be different. I wish I could provide better insight, but right now, I can't. Although I would highly suggest to just roll with the punches, listen to your body, if it wants to sleep, so be it. If it wants to be up, be up. Just don't let it bother you when it wants to do what it wants to do.

And remember, you are never alone when there are sites like this to spend time on.

Mike

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

We really are similar. I wasnt a candidate for surgery or radiation either due to spreading. What kind of chemo are you on and have you needed oxygen?

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

Carboplatin, Cetuximab, Zometa, and Zoledronic Acid are what I am aware of. How often, and when, I really have left that up to my wife. The longer I go with this chemo, the more I rely on her to be my advocate.

Without my wife, I would simply have given up long ago.

I have been on oxygen since early June 2016 and I am on 2 liters. As long as I do not exert myself too much, I can normally sit still, watch TV and turn off the oxygen to give my nose a rest. The worst part of being on oxygen, is the damn tube that just barely fits up your nose. My nose is so damn sore most of the time. I just stuff it full of Vaseline and hope for the best to be honest.

But ya know, we are on a similar path in our treatment and experiences. I know what you are going through and I feel for you. Is this your first romance with the Beast?

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

Omg I had the worst nose bleed again today! Yes I am on 2 litters also. Vaseline is my noses best friend. I also bought those strips that stick on your nose at night to open nasal pasages since mine is so torn up the patches allow in oxygen through the stuffiness. I also wanted to ask you about your weight. I am so thin and still losing. I just can't eat. I am getting down 3 Enlive shakes a day and a bowl of soup. What about you? Yes this is my first experience with Cancer

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

Nose bleeds are the bane of my existence right now. Not to get graphic, but my nose feels like a blood colored cavern of sharp stalagmites and stalactites. I am blowing my nose a few times a day and I get what I call blood clots from time to time. Just long stringy blood boogers.

My docs tell me it's just part of the whole ordeal. So, I just deal with it the best way I can.

My weight is dropping. Short history story for you. This is my third cancer, and my second cancer was the first that came with radiation and chemo. It also gave me a lot of knowledge for the next dance with cancer I just knew was somewhere down the road.

Anyway, when I was diagnosed with HPV Throat Cancer, I was also given about a six week lead in time until my first treatment. I was trying to get into a few clinical trials, which helped delay the start of my treatment, but during those six weeks or so, I pounded down as many calories as I could each day. I was told if I lost 10% of my body weight, I would be given a feeding tube stuck in my side. I wanted to avoid that, so during those six weeks, I put on about 25 pounds.

I was eating ice cream like I had never had it before. I mean boxes of Ice Cream Cones and Good Humor Toasted Almond Bars (My all time favorite Ice Cream), and Ice Cream Sandwiches and everything else.

I ended up dropping about 65 pounds from Labor day 2014 through the week before Thanksgiving, or about a month. I had a feeding tube run in through my nose and I had already accidentally pulled it out twice, and on the last time I told my HopDocs I did not want another one, and I was done fighting. So they told my wife how long I would live without food, and the small amount of water I was able to drink and they wished me good luck.

I was able to eat that weekend for the first time in about a week, and I was able to drink more than a half a cup of water. I had probably had less than a cup of water the previous 3-4 days. But that weekend when I hammered down some Jimmy Dean Breakfast sandwich, I also hammered down 2 Gatorades and a few bottles of water.

So, that is my weight story. I am currently sitting at the weight I ended my last treatment at. But I still try to eat, but the radiation I had back in 2014 really messed up my taste buds. So, I eat what I can and that changes so much that I tend to just skip eating.

I know if I lose another 25-40 pounds, I will be getting into the danger zone, but I will be close to my playing weight from my High School Football Days.

I got that going for me right?

Mike

PS. Sorry for the long posts. I need to learn to write shorter posts. So please, forgive me.

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

No dont write shorter posts. They are interesting . Texting and messaging is my only form of communication with anyone since I lost my voice. Thank you for your friendship. It helps. My BF is my caretaker and he is wonderful like your wife he keeps me feeling like I can survive this. This is by far nothing that I could ever imagine.

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

I am slowly losing my voice. When it is a bad day, I can barely be heard and even on a good day, it is not what I remember my voice sounding like. Not to mention it at times trails off due to lack of air. But I have never been one to text a lot. I am to wedded to a full sized keyboard. Get me on my laptop, and I can text with the best of them.

We cancer patients are so easy to get to know, and befriend. Since we are all in the fight of our lives, and many like myself, know we will end up losing regardless of the fight, we still do it, and still need to reach out to others going through the same thing. We all might have different cancers, but the fight is at it's basic level, the same fight.

Think about all of your friends that have become someone that never had to deal with cancer at any level, all of a sudden becomes a friend that comes over all of the time, and is learning to share in the misery of being a caregiver that is bound to give them little to do other than to watch the days on the calendar flip, and flip and flip.

We are all lucky to have a wife, or husband, or BFF or family or someone that has stepped up, and taken on the horrible yet precious job as your caregiver. I can hardly understand what my wife is going through much like she can not fathom what I am going through. I try to make her days as comfortable as I can, while she does the same for me.

The hardest part of the process for me, is happening day by day. But for my wife, the hardest days are yet to come. They start when I stop being able to take care of myself, and sleep more than I am awake, and she will get some respite the day or night I finally pass away.

Once I have been removed from the house, and all things go quiet, the next morning starts the beginning of her hardest days. I'm lucky knowing I will not actually know my worst days, as I hope to be gleefully whacked out on pain killers as to not even be sure if I am alive, or am I just a houseplant with glasses. But my days come to a fast, screeching halt. Whereas her hardest days will last as long as she can not overcome them.

I think we cancer patients are so lucky for so many odd reasons that maybe someone should sit down one day and actually write the book about why being a cancer patient makes life much better in the end.

But anyway.... it's 4am and even for this late night owl, it's time.....

M

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

I actually got a good hour of sleep in ! Sleep well, talk to you tomorrow or actually today!

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

How are you doing today? Do you have a spacey removed feeling from the pain killers? I feel high all the time and its not pleasant to me.

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

I think I slept pretty well last night, and my wife let me sleep in until about 1:30 in the afternoon. I had a friend coming over for a visit.

As far as the spacey feeling from the pain killers, I tend to not get that spacey thing going, but I do get to the "Hey, let's fall asleep right here, right now!" Then I have to fight not to just shutdown and take a short 2 hour nap.

I have been working today on creating the membership ID cards for folks that are joining my Non-Profit. Which started as a paintball team, but is now how we raise most of our money to do the charitable stuff we do.

Our goal for this Christmas is to buy at least 200 bikes and ride-on toys for children 12 years and younger in our area. We have bought 300 over the past 4 years and this year, I just wanted to double what we did last year.

Sadly, I will most likely not live to see the end of the year, and be a part of getting the bikes and building them, and enjoying in the feeling that brings to everyone that takes part.

But I will do my best to see that what I leave behind, will do it's best to keep my dream alive. Days like today make it all worth while too. It at least gives me a good day mentally.

If you are having those spacey feelings, you might be taking just a bit too much of the pain killers. I just remembered being told you probably won't feel stoned unless you are taking just a bit more than needed. Which is hard to figure out to be honest.

How often do you take pain killers? When I take them, and the pain goes away, I can do a lot more work, like these membership ID things. But then I seem to pay for it later.

How much are you on again? You are taking the 10mgs IRs for breakthrough pain right?

Another long winded, disjointed post. I do apologize.

M

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

I am on extended release 12 hour 20 mg Oxycontin. Then at night I always end up taking 2-3 of the 10 mg to get through the night. So a total of 60 mgs in 24 hours. You are one to give a positive pep talk and you are talking not making it to the end of the year. You beat it before!!!!

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

As much as I pray I can beat this one, I have no false hopes of actually being able to pull this one off. I was told I was terminal a year ago, and I have slowly watched and felt myself decline. The treatment I am on is only about buying myself a little more time.

So, more time is good so I can put together my foundation to continue what I have been doing for the past 4 or 5 years.

Plus, as I go through my third and final cancer, I hope I can leave behind some insights, view points and ideas on how to live your life like there are no more tomorrows.

So yeah, I really do not think I will make it to my 53 birthday in August, but if I do not, I am okay with that as long as I go out smiling and not in pain.

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull in reply to Serrecko

You have a beautiful soul.

I pray you will make your Birthday and many more as you did before.

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer in reply to Enjoyabull

Thank you, I hope I do too. But if not, I want to leave more than a skid mark across the face of time.

Ruthie1950 profile image
Ruthie1950

I have stage 3 B NSCLC. There was a large mass in my left lung found in September 2015 but I didn't find out what stage until November 2016. There are so many tests they did before starting my treatments in December 2015. I too my last treatment in February 2016 and had been in remission until December 2016.

I met with a surgeon this past Friday to see if would be a candidate to have my lung removed. Now I have to go through more tests, see my heart doctor before I get an answer.

Because the cancer is many small cancers cells, radiation is not an option. My chemotherapist told me that because he had given me two of the strongest drugs, he would not recommend chemo this time.

My options at this point are surgery, which might not be an option, or do nothing and ride this disease out.

Even if I am a candidate for surgery, I don't know if I'm strong enough to continue this fight. When the surgeon spoke of the amount of pain following the surgery and that I would need a pain pump, I began to have doubts.

I wish if anyone else on here has had their whole lung removed, that they would give me the story of their recovery.

Helenmcq51 profile image
Helenmcq51 in reply to Ruthie1950

Hi ruthie. I was diagnosed with stage 2 nsclc march 3 2016. I hadn't thoratomy and bi-lobecetomy on march 25. It is painful but the Drshah know this and have a treatment plan in plac. My dr told me the best thing I could do was eat healthy and move as much as I could before and after surgery. Yeah it hurts but turn your angry towards that pain and don't let it get you down. I had to take chemo which was hard and I still have bone n joint pain and fatigue more easily than before but I'm get stronger all the time. You just need to pray for strength. Good luck

Cancerslayer26 profile image
Cancerslayer26 in reply to Helenmcq51

It's been year for you how are your symptoms now I had treatment like you this past year ? A lot symptoms still

Helenmcq51 profile image
Helenmcq51 in reply to Cancerslayer26

I'm a lot stronger but still have bone n joint pain but not as severe and shorter duration than a couple of months ago. I get winded easily and I assume that will improve some more with time. Yes it been 11 months since surgery but chemo ended mid July. Important thing is I see improvement weekly and I'm so much stronger than this time last year bc I had pneumonia for 2 months before my diagnosis. I'm very blessed that my pneumonia wouldn't go away until they found my cancer. How are you doing?

Cancerslayer26 profile image
Cancerslayer26 in reply to Helenmcq51

Wow our stories are almost identical mine was treated as pneumonia but I paid for mri and found my lung was dead and collapsed and a tumor.

Peyz33 profile image
Peyz33 in reply to Ruthie1950

I had my whole right lung removed with VATS surgery. Visually assisted thoracic surgery. Literally almost no pain. Very small incision for the camera and another for the sizor - then they open up thru the back and drop the lung into a bag. Literally. This was an easy surgery and I am fine 10 years later. If you are not confident in your team get a new one. Ask a lot of questions.

Helenmcq51 profile image
Helenmcq51

I forgot to tell m cancer free since surgery. YEAH. Thank you God

Helen

Ruthie1950 profile image
Ruthie1950 in reply to Helenmcq51

Helen, thank you so much for your information and encouragement.

I'm going to discuss this with my family and as I said before, unless I get a clearance from my heart doctor, I'm not sure suregery will be an option.

God bless and congratulations for beating cancer.

Cancerslayer26 profile image
Cancerslayer26 in reply to Helenmcq51

Your story is like mine I think was your tumor in your airway

Helenmcq51 profile image
Helenmcq51 in reply to Cancerslayer26

Yes

Sadregrets welcome my name is Jo. So sorry about what your going throug h. All of us have been where your at. Didn't they tell you what kind of cancer you have. Now you get up and stay strong. If you need to talk i'm here. There is an angel beside you we all have an angel she'll be there even though you can't see her. She is there to help you stay strong you can do it. were all here if you need us. Jo Taylor

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to

I so desperately needed to hear this. I hope there really is an angel

Jenniferroseolson profile image
Jenniferroseolson in reply to Sadregrets

Angels have to use us mere mortals to show you that you are not alone. For any question or circumstances you have, many in this community have been there done that. Pain is not ever something that cannot be managed... but sometimes you have to be your own strong advocate.Sweet sadregrets, do breast cancer patients feel guilty if they carry extra body fat? I doubt it..risk factors exist for every disease. If you quit smoking already, then you need to allow yourself to move forward. I am a never-smoker diagnosed age 45 stage 4. Risk factors or not, all we can do now is go forward and give ourselves and others the grace to make choices that give life and joy. Hang in there.

Jennifer

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to

I can't handle this, Jo.

Peyz33 profile image
Peyz33

First try to be calm. You need to find a good cancer center and see a Pulmonolgist first. They will get you a CT scan and then depending on the results refer you to a oncologist and if you need surgery a thoracic surgeon. I don't know where you live but I am sure there is a comprehensive cancer center near you. When you see Amy of the Dr' s take notes. - better yet bring someone with you who can take notes. It's overwhelming to hear bad news so you need to have someone with you that can actually hear what the dr is telling you. I was stage 2b/3a NSCLC and was treated at NYU cancer center in ny. You must not waste any time - there are several tests that need to be done before a Dx is made and if it is cancer - which it may not be - you need to know asap and get a treatment plan in place. This is possibly the worst part of the journey - once you know what you are dealing with you can focus on your treatment plan. Good luck. Stay strong

Jenniferroseolson profile image
Jenniferroseolson in reply to Peyz33

Great advice! And do not jump into a treatment until you have as much info as possible (and preferably a second opinion to concur).

Texas64 profile image
Texas64

I was diagnosed with stage 3B nscl in March 2016. I live close to Houston but could not get in.to md Anderson. My husband took me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. A fabulous place! There I had a team of doctors who worked together for me. I did 5 treatments of carboplatin and taxol. 30 treatments of radiation at the same time. I was given a immune booster named AHCC. I TOOK 6000 mg a day for 2 weeks and then 1000 mg everyday for the rest of my life. The doctors think this supplement made the tumors very vunerable to the chemo/ radiation. After 2.5 weeks of treatment my cancer had shrunk 75%! At 4 weeks the tumor was dead and all of my involved lymphnodes were normal. Drs said this was miraculous. I agreed, my faith and my attitude of" I'm killing this demon and sending it back to hell where it came from". Was very important my drs told me. I am disease free now. Doctors told me that they have every expectation I will be 1 of the 15% who beats this disease. I was deeply depressed and shook and cried a lot when I was first diagnosed. When the doctors developed a plan of attack for me and I started treatment was when my attitude changed. I was determined to fight with all I had. The main thing that gave me strength was all my friends praying with me and for me. Remember. "prayer carries the power of Heaven". Man, that is mindblowing for me. The power of Heaven is healing. My prayer is for all souls fighting this demon. God Bless

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to Texas64

Would you please please please pray for me?

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Sadregrets

Absolutely! I have already said a prayer of strength and healing for you. Just stay focused on Jesus. Read the scriptures in psalms. Everyday I went to radiation I told my techs ,"ok girls get in the room and lets kill some more CANCER! Attitude helps. I didn't believe it when people told me to have a positive attitude, thought it was silly. But I was very wrong. I took antidepressants and xanax during that time too. Ask your doctors for help

Jenniferroseolson profile image
Jenniferroseolson in reply to Sadregrets

I will.

Jenniferroseolson profile image
Jenniferroseolson in reply to Texas64

What a story! Amazing! Is AHCC a prescription or a supplement available over the counter? Prayer is zero co-pay 100 percent return (although we don't always recognize or "hear"the answer because we listen for our own voice instead of God's). God bless you!

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Jenniferroseolson

AHCC CAN BE PURCHASED AT AMAZON. TRY TO BUY THE 1000 mg bottle. It isn't cheap but this will be a life taking thing for me. You can also find it in health food stores. May God walk with you through this journey. Remember you can beat this demon

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

Did the treatments stop the pain? I can barely get up from a chair because my ribs hurt so badly. Coughing is excruciating. Did you take pain pills? I reach out to Jesus numerous times daily.

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Sadregrets

I never had any pain until I had chemo/radiation The pain was in my bones. I took delauded for the pain and that helped greatly. The treatments should stop the pain. My tumor was in my right lung in the middle. Also in my chest. I did not have coughing until treatment. Radiation will make you cough. Do your ribs hurt from the coughing? Why haven't your doctors given you pain Med's? I don't know if this is related to the coughing and pain but I am a never smoker. I live on the gulf coast near chemical plants and they could have been the cause. I don't know what the cause is but I just stay focused on staying well. Eat clean and exercise Do you have Christian friends and family?

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

Yes but they don't know about anything which is getting harder to hide. Don't know how to tell them.

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Sadregrets

You tell them what the doctors tell you. Then you tell them you need their support and prayers. Ask them to come pray with you and spend time with you. It will help if you share the burden. If they ask you what can they do for you tell them to clean your kitchen, bathroom, do laundry , you get what I am saying? You will need someone to take you to your appts.

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

They all live out of state.

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

They can't help me

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Sadregrets

Maybe when your loved ones find out some will come and help. Is it possible to go to your daughters while taking treatment?

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

I don't think that would be good for her. Wouldn't want her to see. Will visit my pastor and see if rides can be arranged. Please continue to pray for me. I thank you for that.

Texas64 profile image
Texas64 in reply to Sadregrets

I will put you on prayer list at bible study and church. I don't think it's possible to do this by yourself. You have to have support

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to Texas64

That would be so incredibly kind of you and very much appreciated. God bless you for that.

FtB_Peggy profile image
FtB_Peggy

Sadregrets,

I agree with everyone else - you should not waste your thoughts or time feeling guilty. You are human. And no one deserves cancer. I have lots of resources I would like to share with you if you would like to send me your email address - send it to pbezruki@freetobreathe.org. All of our resources are free. We have a Resource Guide that can help with transportation - you enter your zip code to see if there are volunteers in your area who will drive you to your appointments. I also have information on financial help, etc. Just let me know.

Please keep talking to us - nice to have you here.

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

I will send you my email. Is it normal to have so much pain so quickly? Like 50 on a ten scale. I wish I had the courage to end it

Jenniferroseolson profile image
Jenniferroseolson in reply to Sadregrets

You CAN end the pain without ending your life. Do not let the cancer win that easily. Please. I am staying awake to pray for you right now. Please God reach your hands out to hold this beautiful soul and bring Sadregrets into your wide open loving arms of comfort. Send medical pros to be the hands and feet of your son Christ Jesus to carry Sadregrets until the pain can subside and the treatment plan be presented and begin and take effect.! There are so many ways you can find pain relief. Demand it from your doctor. Pain is NOT a "given" that you must just deal with. Oxycodone or OxyContin. (I found out I am allergic to dilaudid that someone else recommends but that might work). Or a Fentynl patch for pain. Ativan can help with the "I can't breathe!!! Pain and anxiety. Oxygen can help your whole body feel so much better. Your doc can refer you to a Palliative Care doc who can help you manage all of it. Many cancer centers have therapists who are trained specifically for cancer patients. Anti anxiety and antidepressants are a must-have especially in the beginning. Or and ask for referral to a pain specialist (possibly someone in a spine center or department of the hospital who can do a nerve block or other intervention.) Yoga. Acupuncture.

My prayers continue

Jennifer

FtB_Peggy profile image
FtB_Peggy in reply to Jenniferroseolson

Sadregrets,

I am with Jennifer - do NOT give up. Call your medical team right now and let them know how you are feeling! They will help, you should NOT be in that amount of pain. Again, send me your email (pbezruki@freetobreathe.org) and I'll get you some resources, or go on our website - there is a form to fill out asking for what you need: freetobreathe.org/contactsupport.

Hugs,

Peggy

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

It is stage 4 and has gone to my liver. I don't want to fight. I want death with dignity.

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer

Sadregrets,

I have read and re-read this thread a few times and I feel like I might be able to help, or at least offer another point of view, or at least reinforce what others have already said.

First off, in the famous words of Bob Newhart, "Stop it".

There, you feel better right? I didn't think you would either, but you know, I wanted to start at the very beginning and simply saying "Stop it" seemed like the place to start.

Now, if that did not help, we need to think about other things that might help, or at least not hurt.

As per your pain, part of modern cancer protocols deal with not being in pain to the best of medical abilities to keep you pain free. If you are not pain free, the only people that can help you are the men and women that walk the halls of hospitals in white lab jackets and what appears to be pajama bottoms.

They are truly the only place to go to mitigate your pain issue.

But you MUST get your pain under control first. You can fight while being in pain, but you should not have to. Of course you may be in some pain you just have to live with, but at such a small level, you almost forget your are hurting.

The next thing I want to suggest is for you to stop letting the cancer run your mental life. I have been fighting one cancer after another since October 14, 2008. Which was five days after getting married, go figure that one. BUT, I never gave in to the beast. I have given up on myself a time or three, but I never have given in to cancer.

Remember, please, that this is YOUR life and you should live it to the best of your abilities, and never let an outside force of any nature, change what you want from YOUR life. Even if that outside force is a cancer, a flood, loud neighbors, a bad haircut or even a missing piece of cheese from your cheeseburger, don't ever let "it" control 'YOU'.

Your one and only job should be to find a way to keep living your life, and keep putting roadblocks in the way of cancer and it's never ending quest to have you give in to it, and give it control of you.

I truly wish I could offer you more, but I can't, or I would. I just know I have been dealt a crap hand, but I feel blessed to have live such a great, wonderful, adventure filled life (at least for me it has been an adventure) and I will be damned if I am gonna let something as cowardly as cancer sneak into my head and control my life.

Just get pain free from your docs, then fight the beast by living your life and getting on with things.

Mike "Serrecko" March

MikesWebSpot.com

Leader of The Skyline Gaggle of Noobs

A Fundraising Paintball Team

TheSkylineGaggle.com

Sadregrets' Please don't give up I care about you. Everyone here cares about you . We will all be here for you..Thereis alot of people with the same thing you have on here and they are fighting with everything in them. There not giving up. I want you to be strong and fight fight fight love Jo

FtBPeggy need some help her messages are getting kind of scary and replys.

FtB_Peggy profile image
FtB_Peggy

Jo, I hear you!

Sadregrets - please call your medical team, or a trusted loved one, now. They need to know how you are feeling and they will help. You need someone to get you past this difficult time.

We are all worrying about you, caring about you and walking with you - I hope you can feel that! Call your doctor's nurse navigator or the social worker, but call! You do not have to endure such terrible pain. And you do not have to be alone, seriously.If you do not feel you can call anyone else, then call 1-800-273-8255 - they are trained to walk people through times when they feel completely lost. Hang on! If you can't bear to talk to anyone, then call 911 and get emergency help. But please get help.

Loving hugs,

Peggy

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to FtB_Peggy

I am not going to hurt myself!!

FtBPeggy She is sending messages about doing something to herself please get back to me Jo

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets in reply to

No I didn't! I simply asked for prayers.

Sadregrets profile image
Sadregrets

I am not talking about doing something to myself. I just have a lot of despair. I'm a Christian who doesn't believe in taking ones life. Don't worry about that

Thanks Peggy it was scaring me I tried talking her out of it told her she wasn't alone nothing I said she seemed not to hear. She is following me. god I wish I could do something.

FtB_Peggy profile image
FtB_Peggy

Bless you. So glad to hear it. Thank you! How is the pain today?

FtB-Peggy thank you for the help I have not run into anyone I couldn't talk down. The pains alot better. I for got to ask travis if this job came with a cape i'm a super hero. It was nice talking to you. Jo

Serreko What you did was really great I would listen and stop it I hope that doesn't happen again. Thanks Jo

Enjoyabull profile image
Enjoyabull

I am so sorry to everyone I was posting when I should have messaged. I did not mean to hijack this thread. I honestly thought we were messaging each other.

Serrecko profile image
SerreckoVolunteer

I am also sorry for hijacking the thread with a conversation between Enjoyabull and myself. I hope, however, Sadregrets has been given some sage advice.

The last piece of advice I would like to offer is a name change to something a little more positive. One should never live their life with regrets and having sad regrets is thinking in the wrong direction.

Sadregrets has met a whole bunch of people on this site in the last few days that care about her enough to be worried about her. To me, that is a good step in the right direction. Simply to find a place that will wrap it's arms around your shoulders to help hold you up or comfort you is something worth rejoicing about.

I can only hope whatever I have posted, helps more than it hurts, cause I never mean to cause anyone pain. Ever.

Mike "Serrecko" March

FtB_Peggy profile image
FtB_Peggy

Please don't worry, everyone. Your messages fill a place too, helping us all understand how this unfolds. Obviously it is individual, personal and unique, but also universal. Your words are comforting and caring. Bless you.

FtB_Peggy thanks for the help appreciated. With love Jo

JeanE41 profile image
JeanE41

The best advice I got during this journey with lung cancer is to live in the now. It's very difficult to feel anxious when concentrating on what is happening in the present moment. Also, do you have any activities that you love doing? I found that she I had recovered enough to do some of those things I love, it helped immensely to do them. I am an avid knitter and once I was healed enough to participate, a friend introduced me to a group at her church that knits for various causes. A perfect fit. I felt useful doing something I love.

Hope this helps.

Jean

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