carol58
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Jeff, I hope things go well with the Tarceva. That might be something down the road for Charlie too. You have really been through it. I don’t know what the jerking is – wonder if a neurologist would be of any help?? You and Val keep holding on and sharing your love. That’s what keeps me and Charlie going! Get some rest – no more Lowe’s trips and home projects – just for a little while, okay?
Lots of love,
CarolJeff, so glad you got the fluid drained and have some relief. We hope you have a good week.
Carol and Charlie
Heather, go right ahead and vent all you want! I admire you for saying it out loud and getting it off your chest. When Charlie was diagnosed in May of 07, he was depressed, angry, and frustrated for the first 4 or 5 months. Your post brought back some not so good memories. It’s so hard being the one that loves them the most and then getting all that misplaced anger thrown at us too. I really didn’t express it at the time. If I started to say something, I got the feeling the person I was talking to was thinking something like “How can she feel this way? He’s the one dying”. Just because they are the ones that got cancer does not automatically turn them into saints and doesn’t give them an excuse to lash out or be hurtful. You know, I put up with it for a while because I knew he wasn’t really truly angry with me. It’s their circumstances they’re angry about. But finally, I told him that was enough and we’re all in this together and to get a grip. Not saying that he and I don’t have our up and down days, that’s just life, but the anger wasn’t good for anybody! Maybe it’s like the stages of grief that people go through. Sort of a stage of accepting the fact that you have cancer? I don’t know. I pray that things settle down for you, Lee and Emilee soon. Hugs and strength coming your way.
Carol
Dear Joyce, what a fighter Butch was! I’m so very sorry. How wonderful you were able to take him for a ride to see the beautiful fall leaves last week. Hold on to those and many more great memories of your lives together. May they comfort you in the days ahead. Take care of yourself.
Carol
Dear Rachel, I’m so sorry. You and your Mom hold on to each other and you’ll feel your Dad’s love. I pray for strength and comfort for you both.
Carol
Hi Suzanne, Charlie’s was in the 1000’s one time last year I think, then it went way down. But now at Wake Forest Medical Center, his oncologist doesn’t even use that or if he does, he sure won’t tell me so we’ve decided that’s fine with us. Just like Jeff said, it’s just one of the tools. We’re paying more attention to how Charlie feels, looks, is eating, regular or not and of course the scans are the main indicator of what’s going on inside. I wonder if there’s no clear answers on it because the medical community doesn’t have clear answers on whether it really gives good information or not?? I sure don’t know. I wish you all the best and let us know if you find out anymore about it.
Carol
That is fantastic Kris! Enjoy your family time and the change of seasons in S.C. You deserve it!!
Carol
Jeff, I’m so glad the radiation treatments are going well for you. I hope you get your pain better controlled soon! Keep us updated on what the tumor board comes up with. Have a great weekend!
Carol
Sue, my husband Charlie was on Gemcitabine last year for several months. He didn’t have any jaundice with it. Everyone reacts so differently to different drugs, it’s hard to know for sure. Hope you find something out soon.
Carol
Dear Colleen, I am so sorry. I have followed your story from the beginning. Your husband was diagnosed a couple of months before mine. He went through a battle with you and your daughters right there beside him. He was so brave to undergo so many treatments. Fred was way too young – 38 I think? It’s very natural for you and your girls to be in disbelief. I don’t know the right words to say…just I’m sad and I’m sorry. Hugs and prayers for you and your girls.
Carol
Dear Belle, please accept my sincere sympathy to you and your family. May the Lord give you all strength to get through this time and comfort and bless you.
Carol
Hi, my husband was diagnosed 5/07 and was on Gemzar all last summer. In his case, it did make him feel better at first, but then after many weeks, he began to feel worse. He is one that didn’t have any shrinkage of the tumors from Gemzar. Some people have very good results with it. I also noticed mention of so many other drugs and procedures, I began researching. Charlie was also given the 3 to 6 months speech and he’s still here 14 months later. I personally feel that only God knows the time and we should not listen to the doctors on that one. We went for 2nd and 3rd opinions and chose what we thought was the best of those and never looked back. Since then, he’s had chemo, chemo and more chemo, radiation, chemoembolization, radio frequency ablation and over half his liver removed in 11/07. Unfortunately, tumors have recurred in his liver. This is just our personal situation, but we’ve never regretted any of it and we keep battling this awful cancer and moving on. A good positive attitude and a sense of humor also help tremendously. Charlie’s opinion is that he would not be alive today if he would have stayed on just the Gemzar indefinitely. Now, we’re starting to discuss the issue of how much more drugs and treatments can he have and not compromise his quality of life? I don’t mean to scare you in any way, just sharing what we’ve experienced. Everyone reacts so differently to all the treatments. I wish you the best!
Carol
