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Moderator

Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Mar 2, 2017

Welcome to the Lung Cancer group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with lung cancer or caring for someone with lung cancer. Let's learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I'm Colleen, and I'm the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you'll to be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @scoop2365 "Hello Everyone. I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect..." + (show)
@scoop2365

Hello Everyone.
I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect to my wife and her terrible scare.( I am sworn to secrecy) About a week ago she had a chest x-ray and we were notified by the Dr's office that they wanted to talk to her ASAP as they had seen something that was of worry. It appeared that they discovered two growths or nodules on her right lung. One being 1.7 cm and the other 3 cm. They immediately booked her in for a CT scan within a week and that was on a Sunday. It is now Tues and the had pre booked us for an appointment for what I believe is to discuss what the CT scans reveled . My wife is the love of my life for over 28 years and I am so scared as she is as well. Does anyone have any encouraging words or advise as I don't know what to do.
HELP!

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Good morning @scoop2365, welcome to Connect. I have no medical trading. I have been and still am a caregiver for a cancer patient and I can share experiences that may have value for you. You are expressing so much love and compassion for your wife. I recall when my life partner first got the results of the scan and biopsy. He turned to me and said, “now Chris, we don’t have to share this with anyone”.

He also did not want to read test reports on the patient portal at Mayo. When we were in with the surgeon, he actually said, “Well, I can’t do this until after my fishing trip”. I finally got through to him and realized this was denial. Then came the anger about the interference with his life, his projects.

Finally he agreed to see a therapist and things got better. That might be helpful for you two. His outlook was dreary because both his father and grandfather had the same affliction.

So what did I do? I practiced active listening when he chose to talk. I gathered information from Connect and other sources to share with him. At first he refused to listen, still in denial. He said that if he didn’t know then he wouldn’t be scared. Slowly I convinced him that knowledge is power.

That’s chapter one. Post surgery is another chapter. Hold on to your hat.

May you both be free of suffering. I know that other members may be in touch. They bring knowledge and understanding. What is your greatest need right now? Chris

REPLY
1 reply
scoop2365 | @scoop2365 | Dec 3, 2019

Hello Everyone.
I have found this group as I have nobody to talk to in respect to my wife and her terrible scare.( I am sworn to secrecy) About a week ago she had a chest x-ray and we were notified by the Dr's office that they wanted to talk to her ASAP as they had seen something that was of worry. It appeared that they discovered two growths or nodules on her right lung. One being 1.7 cm and the other 3 cm. They immediately booked her in for a CT scan within a week and that was on a Sunday. It is now Tues and the had pre booked us for an appointment for what I believe is to discuss what the CT scans reveled . My wife is the love of my life for over 28 years and I am so scared as she is as well. Does anyone have any encouraging words or advise as I don't know what to do.
HELP!

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 15, 2019

@lady1lake- Hello. It's been quite a while since I have heard from you about your cancer status. The last the I read was about your successful lens replacements. I love mine. How are you doing?

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 9, 2019
In reply to @alamogal635 "@merpreb I mean what I wrote. Hope you have a wonderful weekend." + (show)
@alamogal635

@merpreb I mean what I wrote. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Jump to this post

@alamogal635- I know that you do.

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hgregory | @hgregory | Nov 9, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@hgregory- Good morning Greg. I must warn you that stem cell treatments for COPD is very..." + (show)
@merpreb

@hgregory- Good morning Greg. I must warn you that stem cell treatments for COPD is very new and that there really only trials being offered. It's important to find legitimate information about the trials and those that are just scams. There are a lot of bogus clinics offering all sorts of promises that are just not science based.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/features/copd-new-treatments#2 - This will give you some understanding of your interest.
I would recommend looking into this: https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care

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I'll check out your site recommendations thanks for the input.

REPLY
alamogal635 | @alamogal635 | Nov 9, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@alamogal635- Awww. You are such a sweetie. Thank you." + (show)
@merpreb

@alamogal635- Awww. You are such a sweetie. Thank you.

Jump to this post

@merpreb I mean what I wrote. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 9, 2019
In reply to @alamogal635 "@merpreb Am like you--I keep the "what ifs" to myself. Have found that most people are..." + (show)
@alamogal635

@merpreb Am like you--I keep the "what ifs" to myself. Have found that most people are uncomfortable talking about such things. That is why here we CAN discuss such fears. Moreover, I truly have no family left with whom to talk. I do a lot of living in my mind. I think none of us wants to die, even though we can rationalize it as something that will happen one way, or another. We just can't comprehend the idea., i think. We all have our own way of facing our ultimate demise and if we go kicking and screaming, or quietly that is our own choice. I love life and will fight for living it to the fullest until that time comes. I have my piano and my four dogs. Don't know what I'd do without them. Don't know what I'd do without this site where we can truly be honest about things. I"m so glad to have found you. You are such an inspiration to us here.

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@alamogal635- Awww. You are such a sweetie. Thank you.

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1 reply
alamogal635 | @alamogal635 | Nov 9, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@alamogal635- Good morning. "What if" is one of the new you thingies that happens with cancer...." + (show)
@merpreb

@alamogal635- Good morning. "What if" is one of the new you thingies that happens with cancer. I don't "what if" out loud to myself I just fill up with dread and inertia takes me over. Of course it is all about lamenting our own lives. How can it not? I might be better off "what iffing" because then I might come up with some alternatives. I am not a person who has just accepted their own death with ease at all. I fear I might go kicking and screaming all the way. I do know that it is inevitable but I am so not prepared for it at all.

Jump to this post

@merpreb Am like you--I keep the "what ifs" to myself. Have found that most people are uncomfortable talking about such things. That is why here we CAN discuss such fears. Moreover, I truly have no family left with whom to talk. I do a lot of living in my mind. I think none of us wants to die, even though we can rationalize it as something that will happen one way, or another. We just can't comprehend the idea., i think. We all have our own way of facing our ultimate demise and if we go kicking and screaming, or quietly that is our own choice. I love life and will fight for living it to the fullest until that time comes. I have my piano and my four dogs. Don't know what I'd do without them. Don't know what I'd do without this site where we can truly be honest about things. I"m so glad to have found you. You are such an inspiration to us here.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 8, 2019
In reply to @hgregory "Thanks for the welcome. My wife suggested the clinic. I suffer wit emphysema and COPD. I..." + (show)
@hgregory

Thanks for the welcome. My wife suggested the clinic. I suffer wit emphysema and COPD. I inquired about stem cell treatment and does it really work. No answers yet but I will Share if I do. Greg Edwards

Jump to this post

@hgregory- Good morning Greg. I must warn you that stem cell treatments for COPD is very new and that there really only trials being offered. It's important to find legitimate information about the trials and those that are just scams. There are a lot of bogus clinics offering all sorts of promises that are just not science based.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/features/copd-new-treatments#2 - This will give you some understanding of your interest.
I would recommend looking into this: https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care

REPLY
1 reply
hgregory | @hgregory | Nov 8, 2019

Thanks for the welcome. My wife suggested the clinic. I suffer wit emphysema and COPD. I inquired about stem cell treatment and does it really work. No answers yet but I will Share if I do. Greg Edwards

REPLY
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