Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

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.

She doesn't have problem with breathing...we checked her hemoglobin too it's 11.1

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That's a bit low- What is her diet like? Is her appetite down because of all the pain? She needs maybe more iron?

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Oats,leafy vegetables,nuts fruits

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@samanthaezu

Oats,leafy vegetables,nuts fruits

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Sounds healthy-so she is eating? That's great. Have a geat day.

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We all have things we're waiting on: waiting on a dream to come on pass, waiting for our health to improve,waiting to meet the right person, we know God put the promise in our heart,but we wonder why it's taking so long. When is it ever going to happen? The scripture says, 'there is an appointed time for the promise to be fullfilled. If there's a right time that means any other time is the wrong time, if u dnt undrstnd that God will alwys be right on time, then the delays, the detours, the waiting period will cause u to be fustrated, It's not enough to just trust God? U have to trust in his timing

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Waiting for the inevitable can be extremely difficult and anxiety provoking. Do you have help caring for your mom or are you alone in this? You need to be selfish at times at care for yourself too.

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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.

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@merpreb

Waiting for the inevitable can be extremely difficult and anxiety provoking. Do you have help caring for your mom or are you alone in this? You need to be selfish at times at care for yourself too.

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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,

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@bluelagoon

Sorry to jump in so late but I had seen your question earlier when I didn't have time to respond. I wanted to pass along something in response to your question on diet. In March I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma that was able to be removed surgically, but since it involved one lymph node they also recommended and I opted for 4 rounds of follow-up chemo. Before everything was lined up I pulled up info on Amish Healer Solomon Wickey and his Healing Plan diet that my fiance remembered from when his father had cancer 20 years ago. It was quite well known at the time in our area since he lived in our State and many people around personally knew people who were helped. I went as far as making sure my oncologist didn't see any red flags with the plan and bought the ingredients but only followed it for 2 days. Once I knew I was scheduled for surgery I fell back on comfort food during the days before surgery, to be honest. But, since it sounded like the type of info you were seeking I wanted you to know that if you Google him you should be able to see what you think. I just checked and found what I think was the most helpful site I had found in the Spring- lovehomeandhealth.com. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.

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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?

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@merpreb

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?

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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!)

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