Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Good morning. My name is sakota and am dealing with multifocal andecarcinoma since 2011 and copd

You are so right on. What do those people do with out hope and faith in our Lord and Savior. I can't even imagine. Thank you for reminding us all, there is a greater, more perfect plan for us. Blessings, Mary Lou

@bluelagoon- This is such a success story! I will be going back to my hospital's follow-up rehab program. I had a very serious infection that I have finally recovered from, not connected with cancer. Once a week for $30.00/month I have a private trainer and I can use the gym as often as I want. The trainer takes my vital signs throughout the exercise time and oxygen is available if need be for anyone. My trainer also had cancer so he's attuned to my moods and limitations. He was also my first trainer when I first started!

Merry, Good question! First, and the most interesting thing I learned, was what I learned about the exercises I received to do post- surgery. I found myself forgetting to do them because they were more basic than what I did before surgery but naturally I couldn't return to those classes for several weeks. Well, I love my local Y and reached out to one of my instructors to ask if another class like the cancer survivors class that was on their program would be suitable and she suggested I check out a Silver Sneakers class, which is attended by mostly Medicare age folks several years older than me. But, she said it got a range of age and levels. Well, the classes I attended were so close to the post-surgery PT instructions I received it was amazing and kept me on track until I could start to go back to my old classes. (And, that instructor happened to attend the same classes I went back to and made sure I didn't "push it" when I returned!) As to while I had chemo- since I was very fortunate to not have more than a day or 2 of real side effects I tried to get outside and walk the dog or garden the first few days after each treatment just to move around because I learned rather accidentally when we got back from the first round and had left new plants that had to get in the ground or die that it really helped, even when I didn't think I had the mojo. Then, after the first week I would get back to classes. I did get in the habit of sleeping later from the recuperation weeks so I have adjusted my schedule and found classes I'd never imagined attending, like a "hip-hop" class. So, that's been my silver lining!

colleen is certainly the expert, and I also urge you to get a second opinion. Being a lung caner survivor I know many people who had received help with stage 3 and stage 4 lung cancers because of the many drugs available that can target lung cancer. However most everyone gets their treatments at a
major research university or medical center. Morphine, in my case did not help but created a breathing issue. Accupunture really helped my pain.
I hope this helps. All my best,

You are more than welcome bluelagoon. If you are taking cardio classes you are breathing well, I'm guessing. lol. Wow- good for you. Can you continue classes while on chemo? I was so very tired I could barley do anything, never mind get in a class and jump around.

Merry, Good point on the "miracle". I just wanted to share it since it sounded like it might be along the same school of natural as @samanthaezu was exploring. Thanks for asking about me! The surgery went well but with one twist- when the tests came back it showed that one of the lymph nodes was affected, which had not looked to be the case. So, 4 rounds of chemo followed. But, I was blessed with very few side effects. I've been able to focus more than before on cardio exercise classes, hoping to help my lungs, and just had my first 3 months check with a "good report card" a few weeks ago! (Lol on the cocktail- mine is derived from my love of water!)

Hello bluelagoon. I love this name! I once drank a cocktail with this name, lol. You left us with a cliffhanger. How was your surgery? I think that comfort foods are definitely in order after your have been told that you have cancer and in need of an operation! When I had chemo ( for my second cancer) I ate anything that I could keep down. I also made sure that I drank 8 glasses of water a day. But I have to tell you that I become very cautious when I read or hear the word miracle. It reminds me of the meme about selling a bridge. A balanced meal, whether vegetarian or eating meat should be a priority, of course. But I don't know of any miracles that have happened because of a diet. I think that we have to be very careful with promises that miracles conjure up. As cancer people, we have a lot on our plate and a hint of a miracle can suggest the wrong thing as Solomon Wickey's diet promises. Also when we restrict diets during very tense times it can exasperate anxiety flare ups. I don't know what I would have done with out my comfort foods during my four active cancers. How are you?

Kanaaz:

The information within this reply to samanthaezu is the best information I have yet to
have the pleasure of reading about anywhere! Thank you for taking time to do all of
the amazing work you do.
With gratefulness,

Hi @samanthaezu,

When I read that you live in Nagaland, I just had to jump in and say WOW!! Isn’t it famously known as the "Switzerland of the East?” I’m from India as well, but nowhere near as beautiful – I’m from Bombay.

I was also following this conversation, and thought I’d mention a few things. Like many of us from India, I’ve grown up using Ayurveda and Homeopathy at some point or another – but never as a cure; rather, we’d take it for “healthy living.” In fact, as a journalist with TOI – Times of India (a very long time ago), whenever such therapies were marketed as cures, or had some miracle story attached, one of our dreaded assignments was to “expose the sham” and “reveal the truth” as my editor would say!

So here’s a recent article published in TOI, "Can Ayurveda treat cancer? AIIMS to study” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/can-ayurveda-treat-cancer-aiims-to-study/articleshow/57889845.cms

I’ve copied a few important notes from the article:
– The project follows pilot studies that showed better recovery on the administration of coded ayurvedic drugs, in addition to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients. However, it did not have any role in curing the disease.
– Most practitioners do not share the ingredients they use.
– Different practitioners give away the herbomineral in different quantities, sometimes leading to deterioration in kidney function.

Here’s another study that might interest you:
https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/traditional-ayurvedic-medicines-pathway-to-develop-anticancer-drugs-2329-9053-1000130.php?aid=66281
Although this study encourages more research into Ayurveda, it also discusses the risks of relying on it as a cure:
– It breaks down the ingredients in Oncotame, and you'll see that some ingredients are just plain old ginger, turmeric, aloe, ginseng.
– The Ayurvedic preparations are formulated by a combination of medicinal plants, animal products and minerals and metals including gold, copper, lead, mercury, iron and zinc. These metals are added to herbal products as ashes, with a belief that they act as catalyst and improves the preparation. According to Centre for Disease Control, during the years between 2000 – 2003, 12 cases were reported with lead toxication after consumption of Ayurvedic products.
– Many herbal supplements that are available in the market are not strictly regulated. Investigations suggest that over 60 % herbal products available in the market are adulterated. People consume these herbal products without proper knowledge are often affected by toxic effects.

@samanthaezu, I’m so glad your mum is feeling better...sincerely. I can see that you are doing your best for her. But I have to agree with @merpreb and @colleenyoung with regard to Oncotame: so far, there has been no proof that it can cure any condition. Instead, would you give this some thought..consider that the morphine may have made her feel better?
As @merpreb mentioned, the lesions are growing, and if your mother experiences pain again along with other Connect members, I want to support you so that you can help her in the best possible way. I’d really like to hear back from you, and wish you and your mother all success.