CancerCompass message board discussion started by Mediator on 3/5/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21679,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello Cyber Friends of the Head and Neck world......My husband finished his last day of radiation today for NPC stage 4.  Whoo Hoo!  Yahoo!  Yippeeeee!  He is glad to be done but reminds me of Rick's comments on "what now?"  I gave him a little lunchtime pep talk.  --- Now it is time to live.  We've been so busying fighting that we've barely lived.  I'm ready to move forward.  He still has the two adjuvant chemo sessions and a PET to clear him, but I don't want to think about that now.  I just want to celebrate and BREATHE......And..... thank you, thank you, thank you for all your advice along the journey.  You guys are the best.Kara   Mediator Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT WAY TO GO!! Congrats on the accomplishment. Just stay positive and upbeat as much as you can. Most importantly, start doing things. Little by little it'll all get better. I even made it back to gym today for the 2nd day this week. Wow have I gotten weak. Those stupid weight machines start out at 10lbs. I was tired just from removing the adjustment pin for the seat! rick51 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks Rick and will do.My husband lost ALL muscle and is looking forward to lifting too.  He was the buffest guy prior and I know it makes him crazy.Good luck and keep at it.Kara  Mediator Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations! Hopefully, the milestones will keep getting better and better. micromisterphone Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, Kara,I can tell from your message that your husband islucky to have you...and I'm sure he knows it. I can't begin to tell youhow fortunate I feel to have a wife who, like you, is a constant sourceof energy and support, as well as the absolute best friend I have onthe entire planet. Keep it up...we all need it!Lee CrawfordSan Diego  Prostate Pete Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations!!!  I have 12 treatments left and just hearing someone who has completed theirs makes me smile!!  Mike1sc Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hang in there Mike. I'm almost 2 weeks out of it and I can really feel the difference already. The first 4 or 5 days sucked big time. I hurt like hell, then all of a sudden. Boom! I started feeling better and better every day.Even went out for a steak dinner last night. Of course I couldn't taste anything. Steak was cardboard, potatoes were newspaper. But just to show you God has a sense of humor, I could taste the spinach. I hate spinach!!Hang in there.Rick rick51 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Congrats Kara! I know you must be relieved to put this treatment behind you. It will be all downhill from here :) Julie Julie21 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you one and all.  He went to the office today.  Although tough, he is managing and getting out of the house is good.Thank you!Kara   Mediator Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hey guys...it's been a while since I was on and looked and it brought a smile reading some of your responses.  I have been out of treatment for almost three months...I still am dealing with the mucus and a tickling cough that turns into a roar, then eyes water, nose runs, I get the toilet paper, blow, wipe, and wait for the next cough, which seems to be getting farther apart...which is a good thing.Sometimes you wonder why certain things happen.  I smoked but cancer was always going to hit the next door neighbor...not me.  I just loved drinking a beer or two.  So I go to the Oncologist and he tells me in front of my wife that my cancer, 86% of the time is caused by smoking and drinking.  The smoking part didn't bother me...I had been quitting tomorrow for the past 15 years.  The drinking....come on, I really did enjoy my beer and my buddies and the pool parties and picnics and well.....So that part I'm being aggressive about...and I don't need to be but I just am.  My voice hasn't returned....I've got that froggy noise that comes out and over time I have manipulated it into sounding like talking...my family can understand me but strangers kind of scratch their heads.  My wife and I were at a car dealer and walking in the showroom and I was talking to her and a young boy stopped us and asked me if I was trying to act like a pirate, and we laughed.  I guess we all need to laugh at times.  I'm just rambling on and not really saying anything but there is one last thing to say and its the most important.  I received so much comfort and understanding from all the other patients that I was going thru treatment with, and I get that same feeling here when I'm reading and writing.  We all need to remember the nervousness, being scared, and not knowing procedures when we all started this mess, so its so important to reach out when someone new writes here.  I'm very indebted to a number of people.  Take care.      Mike Smith (aka the pirate) Mike1sc Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/29/2008 Mike1sc wrote:Hey guys...it's been a while since I was on and looked and it brought a smile reading some of your responses.  I have been out of treatment for almost three months...I still am dealing with the mucus and a tickling cough that turns into a roar, then eyes water, nose runs, I get the toilet paper, blow, wipe, and wait for the next cough, which seems to be getting farther apart...which is a good thing.Sometimes you wonder why certain things happen.  I smoked but cancer was always going to hit the next door neighbor...not me.  I just loved drinking a beer or two.  So I go to the Oncologist and he tells me in front of my wife that my cancer, 86% of the time is caused by smoking and drinking.  The smoking part didn't bother me...I had been quitting tomorrow for the past 15 years.  The drinking....come on, I really did enjoy my beer and my buddies and the pool parties and picnics and well.....So that part I'm being aggressive about...and I don't need to be but I just am.  My voice hasn't returned....I've got that froggy noise that comes out and over time I have manipulated it into sounding like talking...my family can understand me but strangers kind of scratch their heads.  My wife and I were at a car dealer and walking in the showroom and I was talking to her and a young boy stopped us and asked me if I was trying to act like a pirate, and we laughed.  I guess we all need to laugh at times.  I'm just rambling on and not really saying anything but there is one last thing to say and its the most important.  I received so much comfort and understanding from all the other patients that I was going thru treatment with, and I get that same feeling here when I'm reading and writing.  We all need to remember the nervousness, being scared, and not knowing procedures when we all started this mess, so its so important to reach out when someone new writes here.  I'm very indebted to a number of people.  Take care.      Mike Smith (aka the pirate)How can I make my husband to stop smoking???? He has kidney cancer.We found out 06.From 2 packs a day to half a pack a day.He smokes outside.He said he is trying.Am tired of figthing about his smoking.The Dr. told him{its sad you migth beat cancer,but die of lung cancer}.Should I stop nagging? Did you stop smoking? My husband also liked his beer after work,now that he stop rigth away,BUT NOT SMOKING!!!! HELP! Mick is 50 rally53 Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT A co-worker and I have been quitting smoking for a couple of years, after smoking all of our adult lives.  In December when I was diagnosed with throat cancer, I immediately went on Chantix, took it for about 30 days, twice a day, and six months later I haven't had any desire to pick one up.  This is coming from someone who tried every scheme and remedy on the market for years and could always quit but was back closet smoking within weeks.  My co-worker was diagnosed with kidney cancer in february...he also went on Chantix and has not smoked since then.   You can't quit for him.  He has to do that himself.  The only thing I hated worse than the cancer was remembering the nagging and the moaning and groaning about me smoking...all of which is valid as everything but as a smoker I just didn't want to hear it.  Don't offensive word removed and moan...instead encourage him to quit because you want him around in the future, and whether he wants to admit it or not, smoking increases the chances for all the bad things.  In order to get Chantix, my insurance provider required me to go to a smoking cessation program and complete it.  I did and became the poster child because I was the one with cancer from smoking and everyone could hear and see me.  The girl that runs the group on Tuesday nights has called and chatted several times to encourage me and has asked me to come speak to her current group.  I feel I've helped a few others quit just by going and talking about my treatments and the pain and the cost and them hearing my voice (or lack of it).  I think going kind of made me feel good too and reassured me in not picking one up.  Look, I quit and if I can quit anyone can, and it feels so good to not have to get up every 20 mintes or so and go outside in whatever weather and smoke.  No more stigma at work from the non smokers.  No more stinky breath (well, maybe a bit), and especially no more smelly clothes.  I'm so soon from my treatment I haven't received the good stuff that ex-smokers do, such as smell and taste and appetite.  I hope that comes at some point.  But right now, I am a non-smoker with no urge.  And get a little help from your doctor.  talk to him first, ask him to prescribe Chantix to him, if you can get him to take it, he'll have a high probability of quitting, and at some point he'll thank you for it.  But remember, ultimately, its his choice...just encourage...its a no nag zone! Take care and God bless. Mike Smith Mike1sc Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT