I didn't catch that. You just dropped a single letter there. What's the deal? If you're trying to start a conversation or ask something, you gotta actually say it. I'm sitting here ready to go, but I can't exactly read your mind. Just hit me with the full thought next time.Hey everyone, I know this might be totally out of line for this thread, but I gotta get this off my chest anyway... Roses? Seriously, you and your husband might as well be working for the cancer research labs or something. 🙂🙂 .........🙂🙂🙂 You cancer-ridden losers don't stand a chance in this family...
Lisa White54, you seriously just made my whole day. Good luck with whatever you think you're doing.
Hey everyone... Guess who’s back with some killer news! I finally got the surgery out of the way! And get this—the doctor told me that, from everything they saw, it wasn't even cancer.. 🙂 I'm just waiting on the official pathology report from the lab to be 100% sure though..
I gave them a ring this morning, and my sister told me they still haven't set any dates for the surgery. She said once they have something, they'll call me, so there's no point in me calling them... I actually played nice today—believe it or not!—so I didn't call again, even though nobody bothered to reach out to me either. But tomorrow? Tomorrow I'm calling. Let them tell me I'm being rude or annoying; I don't give a damn. At least if they give me a date, I'll have something to hold onto. If I wasn't stuck waiting on this surgery that hasn't even 😢 started yet, I'd be heading off to get my lungs imaged at some hospital, maybe somewhere like Des Moines or New Gradiska, because this lung metastasis is absolutely killing me. Instead, I'm just sitting here waiting for the Mayo Clinic to get their act together, and while I wait, my mind goes everywhere. I just hope I actually make it to the finish line..!
Hey there... Finally showing up here. I haven't posted anything yet because I was trying—as hard as I could!—to just be patient and wait for the call from the hospital. Still nothing. Honestly, my nerves are shot at this point.. I went through everything at the Institute—the breast MRI, the ultrasound, even the biopsy under ultrasound. They kept all the results there; they're sending them over to the surgical department.. I signed up for the surgery two weeks ago, and the nurse told me I should expect a call within five to ten days.. Well, here we are. Every single day I'm jumping out of my skin every time the phone rings, but it's always nothing.. Tomorrow, I'm calling them myself to see if they’ve actually put me on the schedule for the surgery soon.. I just want this whole thing to get moving already. I want the surgery done so I finally know exactly what I'm fighting against.. I'm just so on edge, I don't even know what to tell you.. Everything is dragging on forever.. And obviously, this isn't exactly something I can just shrug off.
Here I am... again! Tomorrow I’ve got an MRI scheduled, and then on Monday, it’s a lumbar puncture over at the NIH. I'll let you guys know how it goes. I keep holding out hope that they just messed up the diagnosis... we'll see!
Angela Wright said:Just show that image to the radiologist over at Jordanovac so they can read it themselves. It doesn't necessarily have to be Hepatitis. You'll see once that MRI comes back. Double-check everything. Just tune out all the noise from people around you who are trying to "comfort" you. Honestly, if they can't actually help, let them deal with their own drama. I'm positive things will turn out okay with you. I've got my own theories about how life works pragmatically. My own Mom had to get sick just so I could end up meeting my husband. I kind of feel like your husband getting sick happened so you'd find the strength to handle this mess now. Hang in there, you're gonna be fine—you're still just riding that initial wave of shock.
Angela, honey... I honestly think it’s all impossible... I mean, I don't think it's cancer. Or at least, I hope I'm right. And you're 100% spot on when you say I'm still reeling from the shock. I can't just snap out of it that easily; it's just not how I work. I believe everything happens for a reason, truly, but I just don't get why I can never seem to escape these problems! 🙂
Yesterday was a total waste of time... just a complete bust. I went in to pick up my mammogram results—they were supposed to be ready since Friday—but they weren't even in the system! I had an MRI scheduled for 6:30 PM, so I actually showed up early, before 6, only for the receptionist to tell me I missed the window for the mammogram results because they stop processing those at 2 PM. Like, seriously? What am I supposed to do with that?! So, I call the MRI department... a nurse comes out, brings me back, and then drops the bomb: they don't have the contrast dye for the scan. They can't do the MRI and they’ll just reschedule me for next month. I almost passed out right there. I basically traveled all this way 75 miles for absolutely nothing. But hey, I guess I can't blame anyone else; I should've called ahead to double-check instead of just assuming everything would go smoothly. So now, I have no clue when I'll get these last two tests done—the MRI and the ultrasound-guided biopsy. Once those are cleared, I can finally wrap everything up, see the anesthesiologist, and head into surgery. I don't even need to tell you how I'm feeling... and I definitely won't say that I had no idea how much of a mess the American healthcare system can be, or that I shouldn't be this worked up, but honestly, every single time, it catches me off guard. Honestly, the absolute worst part is this limbo—not knowing what's actually going on, whether it's something serious or nothing at all. It's like walking on thin ice. And while I wait to find out... it's obviously going to take a while. I just hope that if it turns out to be the worst-case scenario, it won't be too late for me.
Hey there... So, I'm currently running through all the pre-op tests. Tomorrow I’m heading over to the NIH for an MRI, and I already did a mammogram—I'll pick up those results tomorrow, though who knows what they'll say. But, get this: I had a chest X-ray, and it was another total gut punch. They found a 15 mm metastasis in my right lung. That's all I know for now. It's funny how you can learn so much theory about all this stuff, but the second you actually have to apply it to your own life, everything just breaks. I'm completely blocked, totally frozen up. On top of that, I feel like I have to be the one comforting everyone else, acting brave and convincing them that everything is going to be fine with me. Honestly, I feel like garbage. Hopefully, I can somehow snap out of this dead end eventually.
Hey everyone.. Well, it's me again. This time I won't be talking about my husband—and thank God for that, he's doing fine, so I don't have anything to vent about regarding him.. This time, I'm writing about myself. I have cancer. Breast cancer. They're going to operate. I don't even know how to put into words how shocked I am; I'm still reeling from it all. I just found out yesterday. So, here we go, back in the fight, but this time it's for myself. All these years, almost nine years now, I've been telling people there’s no such thing as an unbeatable disease and that everything was going to be okay. Man, I really wish someone would say that to me for once.
wiredotter75 said:Congrats, Lisa White54! Keep crushing it. Sending nothing but the best vibes to you and your husband..
My husband was basically written off by doctors... but look, in medicine, two plus two doesn't always equal four. I'm rooting for you to pull through, and for all the other fighters out there too. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
Hey everyone. It’s been a minute since I last posted, but I’ve been lurking here on the Forum regularly. My husband is doing well. Based on his latest CT from the hospital in Dubrava, there’s no sign of cancer. Is he cured? I truly believe he is. Back when we first got the news eight and a half years ago, the prognosis was absolutely brutal. They basically gave him a few months to live. The radiation therapy definitely took its toll—it left some damaged blood vessels in its wake—but his heart is holding up fine. He had surgery back in December at the Dubrava facility to get three bypasses done, and he's actually in pretty solid shape now. We haven't stepped foot in Jordanovac since March 2012. After his "old" doctor fell ill, he was handed over to a new physician whose approach was just catastrophically bad. Honestly, I don't even know if we’ll ever go back there for follow-ups. It’s not like we’re dying to visit, and she wasn't exactly making things easy for us either... it just turned out that way. It was ugly and honestly pretty sad. The CT they did at Dubrava came back clean. But as for where we go next to monitor his lungs? I have no clue. We felt practically kicked out of Jordanovac, both by the nurse in the clinic and that doctor I mentioned. And then he only gets called in for a routine checkup after six months? I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Anyway, that's beside the point. I’m just hoping nothing new starts brewing. Things seem good right now. I just pray it doesn't take a turn for the worse. Sending love to you all, hang in there.
He finally made it home. Now we just pray this whole ordeal passes without leaving any lasting damage... If he could just stop coughing—and man, that cough is brutal and constant—things would be a hell of a lot easier. My biggest fear is that all this sickness turns into something more serious. We’re fighting through it, though. Not backing down. Just taking it one day at a time, looking toward tomorrow.
Hey everyone.. Haven't posted in a while because things were actually holding steady for once..But tomorrow marks exactly eight years since my husband was first diagnosed with lung cancer..Eight years today.. Back when this all started eight years ago, I was driving him to the hospital on New Year's Eve..And now, here we go again—tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I’ll be driving him home from the hospital.. He's at Oakwood this time..About two months ago, they had to put in two stents because his arteries were basically blocked (99.9%!), but then everything just went south about a month later. He ended up having surgery ten days ago to get three bypasses done..And that's where the nightmare starts. They had to crack his chest open, which is a total disaster because he can't stop coughing. It's constant, honestly worse than before..I'm thinking maybe they irritated his airways during intubation or something. He's in absolute agony. My biggest fear right now is that the cancer, which has been lying dormant this whole time, decides to go rogue because of the trauma from the surgery, the chest opening, and the intubation..They’re discharging him tomorrow, ten days after the operation..I'm scared.
It’s been a minute since I last checked in here, so here I am... Just wanted to drop a note to encourage everyone out there fighting this battle, including all the family members holding things down. My husband is doing okay; we’re heading over to Jordanovac for a checkup this month, but honestly, I have a good feeling about the results. It’s been eight years since we started dealing with his lung and trachea cancer—non-small cell, late stage, no surgery performed. They told us back then he didn't have more than three months left in him.. So yeah, there’s no rulebook for this stuff. I’m wishing you all a ton of patience and plenty of grit while you navigate this mess.
feralridge3 said:Hey everyone! I don't usually hang out in threads like this because, honestly, heavy stuff just hits me hard, but with all the bad news floating around lately, I figured I’d drop in with some good vibes. 🙂 After being out on medical leave for 3 years, 7 months, and 6 days, I'm finally back at work with an NG tube (for those who don't remember my story: a nasty brain tumor, one relapse, and a second one caught right at the start). I’ll be the first to admit I'm not quite the same person I used to be—my optic nerve took a hit and I've lost some hearing—but I'm not throwing in the towel yet. I'm just taking it one day at a time, seeing how far I can push. 🙂 The specialists told me that, all things considered, I actually did pretty well. ☕ The main thing for me is just being able to work and not having to lean on anyone else, whether that's physically or financially. 🙂 Sending you all—or your loved ones—nothing but strength in the fight against the bad stuff.🙂
I am seriously so happy for you... You actually pulled it off!! Way to go!!
Finding out you’re sick? Yeah, the shock, the panic, the stress... it's all totally understandable. You're gonna feel pain, sadness, anger, bitterness—all of it. But honestly, there has to be a line you don't cross. Being sick isn't a free pass to abuse your family; it just shouldn't be done. I actually tried being brave enough to reach out for help once... and let me tell you, one thing is for sure: never again! I've always tried to put myself in someone else's shoes. Like, how would I want to be treated if I were the one dealing with a serious illness? That's basically how I've always treated my husband. It's the same deal with people I know who are sick and their families too. Not everyone reacts the same way... it really just comes down to who they are as a person. Sure, I get that meds and stuff can mess with your head and make things worse, but that's no excuse to act out. Just look out for yourself, protect your peace, and take care of your baby. Your kid is the most important thing you've got!
casualraven43 said:You’re totally right, Ivana. I really need to focus more on my little angel. The kid didn't do anything wrong and deserves to be born healthy and normal, no matter what happens... I read that your baby is home now, safe with mom, and honestly, I am just beyond happy for you. 🙂🙂🙂 Today was the first time I actually noticed Dad’s hair starting to thin out big time. Even Mom mentioned it to me... It kind of hit me hard, you know? I feel terrible. It’s tough. I mean, he’s through eight rounds of chemo, but seeing him look so helpless and a little bit scared... it just breaks me. How did your loved ones handle the hair loss or going bald? How did they deal with the mental side of it? Did they wear hats or anything? And did it grow back? Sorry for throwing a million questions at you, it's just my first time dealing with this whole thing and I don't really have anyone else to ask or even talk to about it. 😢
Honey, I get it. I really do. I sacrificed myself—which was my choice, sure—but I also sacrificed my kids, which wasn't my right to do... and I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that. My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer seven years ago, and he's still here today. But the things he put us through... it's horrific. It's too heavy. No one would understand because I can't even bring myself to tell anyone. Only my two kids and I know the truth. I wanted the best for him; I fought for him with every breath and every ounce of strength I had, but him? What he did to us... there's no excuse for it. There isn't a disease in the world that justifies that behavior. It's just tragic. My daughter ended up with anxiety and depression because of it. I think I managed to pull her through, though she's still on 2mg of Normabel, and she's only 19. Then there's my son... I pulled him through as much as I could, too. He's got his own life now, but he struggles so much with empathy. And where does that leave me in all this? Just Xanax and 10mg of Normabel for now. We aren't to blame for the sickness that hit him—I know how hard that's been on him—but the three of us are victims. If I had made different choices earlier (though maybe it's never too late?), I might have been able to save my children. This is just... it's sad, and it makes zero sense to anyone who hasn't lived it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.