After You Die- What to Do with Cremains....

What do you do with the ashes once you kick it?

This article might help with some very different ideas.

Cremains

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Immunotherapy Anyone?

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Immunotherapy Anyone?: Immunotherapy- is anyone involved in any of the clinical trials now taking place. Would like some input on your experiences- here is min...

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: My Grandchildren as Caregivers-November 2, 2014

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: My Grandchildren as Caregivers-November 2, 2014: Yesterday, my grandsons came over to rake the lawn – there is much talk surrounds caregivers of cancer patients.   And, often there is di...

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: The First Day of Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: The First Day of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: I periodically participate in medical research surveys that focus on the type of lung cancer that has invaded me.   Last Tuesday I was invo...

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, ...

November- 30 Days of Lung Cancer Awareness Month: As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, ...: November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.    On this Halloween Day, I am haunted by lung cancer.  Two years ago on this day, I was taking my...

November 1st Begins Lung Cancer Awareness Month- We are Free to Breathe

#freetobreathe 

During the Month of November Free to Breathe is offering 25 window clings to help everyone make it easier to become aware of the devastation of lung cancer.

I am flying them around - the catch is that I have to take pictures of them and I am obviously not much of a photographer.

Maybe I'll ask my grandsons, Ty and Lew- they are both techies and know how to create the buzz!

Fun Times Fighting Cancer at the Gym

Yesterday, I had met up with some of my exercise buddies for a rousing stationary bike ride.   We were blabbing on and on about whatever came to mind.  Now, I want you to know that we are all cancer survivors and we didn’t once mention cancer- not an easy feat.  Anyway, as we were chirping and blabbing, the man at the farthest bike seemed to be getting agitated (he had ear plugs in and was listening to the TV).

Finally, he burst out and yelled at us, right in the middle of the gym!  “Will you pipe down, I can’t hear the television!” 

( he lost his ear plugs)

Frankly, my family of origin included a father who was a truck driver his whole life long- so my immediate reaction was to bop him over the head-but I I held my deep and dark feelings in and my co-horts and I exchanged aggravated glances. 

 

Later, one of the ladies who had heard the whole thing came over and said, “That man is so rude-he constantly is yelling at people!”   One of my co-horts said that she was sick of the complaining she always heard there.   I told her that maybe the man needed a suppository. 

Finally, the jerk got off his stationary bike and ambled away- lucky not to have gotten a swift kick in the butt!  

When another one of our co-horts came in we hurried to tell her about the exciting event that had taken place and how rude the jerk was!   Then an elderly lady came in and got on the same stationary bike he had been on- one of my co-horts told her the story and she shook her head back and forth.  She said she knew who he was and that he was always a rude person.

Later, our groups moved over to the weight resistance area and were doing our regimen.   My co-hort told one of the trainers about the event and she was shocked.  “What is wrong with him?”  “We are here to enjoy ourselves, after all!”  She shook her head in consternation.  

And with that, my exercise time at the gym came to an end.   I needed to hydrate.

Become a Respant- Lung Cancer Screening Begins with YOU!

The controversy that surrounds lung cancer screening rages on, but hope is on the horizon as organizations in every health care arena seen the wisdom in early detection of this deadliest of all cancers.

The Lung Cancer Alliance has compiled this list of organizations that have stepped forward to lend their support in the form of a letter to the Centers of Medicare and Medicare Services.   Read about this.   And, remember to become a respant!  What is a respant?   Here are some ideas-

“Unfortunately doctors and health professionals, in general, do not study success. We are far more likely to consider an unexpected recovery to be due to the treatment or a spontaneous remission. However, I have learned from my experience with patients and by asking them, “Why didn’t you die when you were supposed to?” that they always had a story to tell. I can recall, as an intern, realizing that the seniors, with hip fractures, who were noisy and demanding didn’t develop pneumonia and die while the submissive, quiet seniors who never raised their voice or caused a problem had a much higher mortality rate.   – Bernie Siegel, M.D.

 You are your own best advocate!

Chemo, Nausea, & Tacos

When I began chemo in early 2013, an X-ray technician at IU Simon took me aside and asked if I would soon be starting chemo.

I told her yes, and she said she had a tip for me!  Well, I am always open to tips, aren’t you?

She told me that many of the people who she talked to who had gone through chemo ate tacos to help them with their nausea, or general feeling of yuck!

I have to tell you that I was often at the point of that general feeling of yuck- and my son made many a trip to Taco B---

Now, I am not saying it is a cure all-just saying it worked for me and apparently for others.

I Am a Social Media Ambassador for Lungevity

As a social media ambassador for Lungevity I will be sending out news and other interesting facts about lung cancer to heighten awareness about the deadliest cancer.  

Watch for more information!  

What a Day for a Bronchoscopy!

Today, I got a nice little note from Facebook saying that 69 people who liked me on my page haven’t heard from me in a while and then I was ordered to write a post!

On August 6, I was rushed again into the hospital with another SVT episode.  I will be writing more about those later, and what I have learned about their relationship to lung cancer.   Anyway, after my SVT was controlled I was given a CT scan and the doctors up here thought it would be a good idea for my oncologist to see the results.  I had a sinking feeling, especially when the ER doctor waved his hands in the air and said, “Looks the same as it did 20 or so months ago!

To make a long story a little shorter, my oncologist looked at the scan and said he saw a slow progression.  So, I made the trip down to Indy in mid- August and was asked if I would like to try to see if I might be eligible for a program at IU Simon known as Precision Genomics.   This is targeted therapy and again an explanation about that is for another post. 

In order to find out if I am eligible I had to undergo a bronchoscopy yesterday.   This is a not fun procedure that is done to capture tissue from the lungs to see what cells will work for certain targeted therapies and which will not.  I am going to insert an illustration for my reader’s enjoyment.  AS you will see it is not a good time.  

The bronchoscopy procedure is used for several other reasons, but for me a good amount of tissue had to be extracted to be tested.   In  the needle biopsy that was done in 2012 to determine if I had cancer, not enough was extracted.    

More options are available to me now than there were then.    But, if the results of biopsy show I am not a fit then we will go on to chemo.    

"Don't Get Caught in the Financial Mess that is Cancer" - a Fellow Cancer Survivor

In the beginning I was told by a fellow cancer survivor to be careful with my finances as I went about the bureaucracy that is cancer, testing, treatment, insurance issues, and so much more.  Here are a few of the organizations that might be able to help.  If you know of more, let me know.

Financial Help

Co-Pay Relief- copays.org- 1-866-512-3861

Patient Advocate Foundation- patientadvocate.org- 1-800-532-5274

Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition-cancerfac.org

I really believe that having to worry about all of this during a time when you are fighting for your life is criminal.   I love the way certain individuals rant and rave that being self-sufficient is the only way to be a great American- these people have obviously either never been thrown into the sea without a life preserver or they are just so self-absorbed that compassion is not in their vocabulary.

The following excerpt from Social Work Today  highlights in concrete numbers the impact of financial stress on cancer fighters.

"According to the survey, 66% of patients with major financial challenges suffer depression or anxiety, 29% delay filling prescriptions due to financial pressures, and 22% skip doses of their medications. Sixty-three percent of oncology social workers surveyed said financial issues reduce patients’ compliance with their cancer treatment even though that treatment is key to their recovery. Additionally, 40% of patients reported depleting their savings, almost 30% reported dealing with bill collectors, and 54% of those handling a major/catastrophic financial burden said it had become more difficult in the past year to afford treatment.

Furthermore, 68% of cancer patients and caregivers surveyed reported that the patient is experiencing financial hardship due to medical bills, and 55% of all cancer patients surveyed said the stress of dealing with costs negatively affects their ability to focus on their recovery."

Beyond the hell of the disease of cancer- lies the beating heart of financial strain- reach in any direction you can to ward off the money beast.

I would love to hear any ideas that you or someone you know have used to work with financial difficulties during a cancer journey.  And, please, no part time job applicants need apply.  I would love to see one of them blend a chemo or radiation side effect with a job at Mickey Dees!

The Annie Appleseed Project - On Chemo Brain

http://annieappleseedproject.org/documents/chemobrainIDEAS.pdf

Back into Life

This morning I picked up my daughter, Rita,  to go to Kroger, here in Waynedale.   We just picked up a few things and then we were out.  When I first moved to Waynedale over 30 years ago, this store was named Rogers, then some years later, it became Scott's and now - well- you know.

When I was in my thirties and the kids were young, every Friday night we would hustle up to Rogers, and I would hand the cashier money for the food we would take home.  It was a struggle then- I never thought I would see the end of the tunnel.  At times, the stress of the financial load was almost unbearable.  I look back on those days now- and have a certain sadness for that young woman who was so burdened in her own mind that life had become a daily struggle just to survive.  

But, then, I think, it is the same for all parents, really.  We want the best for our kids.  We are willing to go to any lengths to get them to a place where they can be self-sufficient- and as a mother - a place where they are safe.

Too late we find out that there are no real safe places in life- just momentary respites.

Life is fragile- but fun!
Life is sad, at times- but can be glorious!
Life is often tedious and boring- but can offer a huge and wonderful surprise!

My Beautiful Grandson at Five 

Cancer Plan 4 Life-

Cancer Plan 4 Life    - Click and Watch the Video!



I was involved in the Beta testing for the Cancer Plan 4 Life program and it is second to none. As they say in the video there is nothing like it online. Cancer Plan 4 Life also motivated me to join the YMCA which led to my involvement in the first Livestrong Program at the Jorgensen YMCA

World Lung Cancer Day- August 1, 2014

Betsy Thompson of the Lung Cancer Survivors Foundation is the driving force behind the third annual World Lung Cancer Day that is being celebrated around the globe this Friday, August 1, 2014.   I first came to know about Betsy when I was about six months into my diagnosis.  Because I suffered from horrible insomnia during chemo, I often would do research and find sources of information and help for my condition or assistance for caregivers, or even information about clinical trials that showed promise. 

During one of these very late night excursion I found Lung Cancer Survivors Foundation on Facebook.  There is a good description of their mission at this link (http://startsomegood.com/Venture/lung_cancer_survivors_foundation)   OR you can join the Facebook group at (https://www.facebook.com/LCSurvivors)

Celebrate World Lung Cancer Day this August 1, 2014!

Northeast Indiana Cancer Services

Beginning Wednesday, September 10, 2014 from 9am to 11am NE Indiana Cancer Services will provide a Creative Workshop Series “The Artist’s Way”.  It is an 8-week series based upon the book by Julia Cameron.  Please call NE Indiana Cancer Services at 260-484-960.  The series will be held at Artworks Galleria at Jefferson Pointe, Behind Panera 4110 W. Jefferson Boulevard.   There is a 10 registration fee, but there is NO fee for the series.  Reservations must be made by September 5.

“You might have two-three years left…..” - said the Good News Doctor

Imagine my surprise!!??   It was sometime in late December 2012 and I was talking to the third oncologist I had sought an opinion from after being told in early November that nothing could be done for me- since I had advanced stage lung cancer and it was inoperable.

I hate to admit this (not really) but I was getting pissed!   The city I lived in had no lung cancer specialist, which was ridiculous since it is a city of more than a quarter of a million people and holds three hospitals.   So, my first stop after I had regained my senses was to hop on the computer.

One of the best sites I came across at that time was WhatsNext.com   I poured my heart out to the good people on that site and they came running with advice, support, and empathy.  

They directed me to IU Simon Cancer Care Center in Indianapolis.   It was a great thing.  The first doctor who had told me the  I had lung cancer and that he was not the “ Good News” doctor had directed me to get a B12 shot, had me get a prescription filled at the hospital for folic acid that I paid an exorbitant price for and set me up for treatment.   He spent a total of five minutes with me.  

I never heard from him again, or from anyone in that hospital, when I didn’t make my next scheduled appointment.   

This was me on Halloween Night 2012 - a little less than 2 weeks before I was diagnosed.  I thought I was out of breath and worn out because I had just run my grandsons and their friends around the neighborhoods trick or treating.  

Note:  WhatsNext.com is a community forum for those affected by cancer.  It is brought to cancer survivors and their caregivers by the American Cancer Society.  It has been a great help to me.  


Read 'Fighting Cancer: 2013" Today!

I Battle Cancer - My Mission

The Mission of I Battle Cancer

The mission of I Battle Cancer is to help those who are diagnosed with cancer, and their caregivers to move from diagnosis to treatment.    Many people I have talked to have told me that the time between their cancer diagnosis and the beginning of treatment was one of their toughest hurdles.  I know it was for me.  I would like your help in finding a way to spread the word about the many support systems that are available to cancer survivors today. 

I Battle Cancer - My Mission