Well some incredibly sad, (that is such an understatement) reality came to my world over the last few days. My wife had been experiencing some pains in her back. The other day she coughed up a little blood. That of course sent us right to the hospital. They found a mass in her right lung. We have testing over the next week to find out exactly what's going on.
I know that 99% of you don't even know me outside of these pages, but I'm looking for all the prayers I can find right now for her in hopes that it is nothing. That it can be taken care of!! My heart is as low as it can get right now.
Sorry to hear Steve... hopefully the tests come back with good results
Thinking about you guys!!
Prayers sent, hoping for a good outcome, to a scary situation...
Steve, I'm so sorry and pray all will be well for your wife. Stay strong my friend. Les
Prayers for you and your family
Prayers from Arkansas for your wife and family.We will be thinking of you.
Will up lift you all in PRAYER GOD IS IN CONTROL
Prayers for you and the family
Bill
So sorry to here this news Steve. You guys will be in our prayers for sure. Hang tough and keep your chin up, these things have a way testing our strength but turning out to be just a reality check in the end....Gary
Thinking of you both Steve....
Darin
Our prayers and thoughts are with you..Alan
Thank you all very much for your well wishes and prayers!! It has helped me more than you know to get through what has been the longest day of work I have ever had.
Thanks again and God bless!!
Prayers sent up for you both. Please keep us updated.
Brian
Prayers to you both and hope it all turns out well.
Yes please keep us updated!
Prayers to you and your wife from Bob and I in Maryland...
Prayers to your wife, you and family. Keep a positive attitude and try to help your wife keep a positive outlook.
Prayers for you and yours, Steve.
prayers from Canada Steve
Prayers sent for your family, hope all turns out well.
Les
Prayers sent from South Dakota...hope everything goes well
Praying for your wife and your family. Stay strong.
Prayers form the Wright family.
We will be praying for you and your wife Steve.
Hopefully all of us together will make it happen.
Steve, I know you and especially your "better half"; have a lot on your plates, right now... But, I ask that you take a moment occasionally; and keep us apprised of the situation and how things are progressing...
Prayers have helped with my heart condition and my cancer treatments and I do pray that these Prayers; have an impact on this medical situation that your Wife is going through at this time!....
Thanks Bob, and everyone for your concern and prayers!
Well, we got the news we of course didn't want to hear on Friday. It is cancer. They did a quick look at the specimens from the biopsy just enough to tell us that it is a form of lung cancer. We have another test on Tuesday and then a meeting on Thursday to find out all the details and how we are going to move forward.
I cannot even put into words what this does to your outlook on everyday life!! We spent our third wedding anniversary Monday night lying together in a hospital bed. It's unbelievable. I really have little to nothing to say. I don't even know what to say. It is just surreal right now.
Thanks again to everyone for the prayers and kind thoughts and words. Please pray that it hasn't spread anywhere else!!!! And that God is with us. This is a very lonely place.
Thanks and God bless!!
Steve
God be with you guys and so will our prayers. Stay focused Steve and strong for your wife who needs now more than ever. God bless you two.
Thoughts and Prayers to your Family
Damn, not the news anyone wants to hear or deal with...
Hopefully the Cancer; has been detected early enough that minimal surgery will have to be preformed. I also pray that it has been detected early enough; that a treatment regiment that will not be too aggressive to your Wife's overall health can be used!
So sorry to hear this Steve. Be assured you and yours are in many of our prayers.
So sorry to read about this Steve.
Prayers sent..
I dont know you personally Steve, but if you need anything at all, please speak up. I cannot imagine what you guys are going through right now. Stay strong and try your best to keep a positive attitude.
Thank you Ryan, and I can't say thank you enough to everyone!! At hospital for test right now. Its the worst feeling in the world knowing I can't do anything for her!! I'm doing my best to be encouraging and positive, we both are, and although you dont talk about it, in our heads, we both know that it all falls short as soon as the reality hits your mind. For those who have been here, you know what I mean. For those who haven't, I truly pray you never are.
Please keep the prayers coming!!!!
Steve
Steve-- My wife and I are very close, and there isn't a day goes by that I don't think about the two of you and pray for the best! I am sure that this has totally consumed the two of you and has become your life for the time being.
I hope that knowing we are all concerned about this situation, has given you a touch of relief. Knowing that a whole lot of people are praying for her, and are concerned about the outcome, can really help a lot. Sharing of life's burdens makes for a lighter load, and lord knows you have a major one you're dealing with right now!
I sure hope our prayers have helped in some small way, and remember, we may be scattered about the nation, but we're thinking about you daily. God Bless your wife, and I wish you both the best!
Kevin, as with everyone, your words and prayers certainly do bring a level of comfort. I've told my wife of this thread and all the comments, and it does bring a warm feeling to her. So I thank you all very much!!
Tomorrow we meet with the Dr. to get the whole story on what we're dealing with. If the news is bad, I fear there will be nothing left of her emotionally. Although she is fighting emotionally to stay on top of this, she is already so devastated. I'm just praying for God to be merciful!! The Bible says he wont give us more than we can handle. Well, we'll see.
I've always enjoyed and appreciated the Oldgas community, but at times like this it brings on a special meaning. So again, thank you all very much and God bless!!!
Steve
So sorry you are going thru this . Thinking of you both .
Sending your wife and you my most Positive thoughts and Wishes!!!!
I don't know either of you on a personal level but from our limited interactions on here over the past 3 or so years, I have observed that you and your wife have a fun and amazing relationship and that will be a great source of strength and relief for both of you during difficult times.
Steve I've only talked to you a couple times on here but read your posts all the time. I can tell you are a genuine person with always something positive to say.
I hope nothing but the best for your wife and you and I hope your positive perspective will help you both through this
Good morning all, and again, thank you all very much for your concerns and prayers!!!
I just thought I would let you all know how things were going.
There hasn't been a whole lot of change as mostly we're just waiting for our Dr. appointments. Medical Oncology (Chemo) & Radiology Oncology (Radiation). I'm actually up this morning, not for work, but because we have our first appointment at 9am with a Radiology Oncologist to see what type and path of radiation we are going to do. Med Oncology appointment is next Thursday.
Crazy little side note on the Med Oncologist. My dad died from cancer in 2001 after a 7 year fight and my mom has been dealing with a treatable form of bladder cancer for the last several years. When we met last Thursday with our main Pulmonary (lung) Dr. on this whole thing, and he set us up with the Oncologist, it ends up being the same Dr. who treated my dad and is currently treating my mom. Small world I guess!!
Anyway, they had done what is called a PET scan on Melissa last Tuesday. This is to see if things have spread at all. They did find one other small spot on the Adrenal gland. Which is part of the kidney. At first they were scheduling a needle biopsy of this spot to check it out. But then the Radiology people said it wasn't necessary. Or at least that's what the Pulmonary Dr. told us. So I guess they just assume it is a spreading of the original cancer. I'll ask about that this morning at our appointment. That is one thing we have learned. Ask questions!! So because of this one spot spreading, they call this stage 4 cancer. It is a little discomforting to hear that. It just seems strange that you could have 1 spot or 10 with additional tumors, and it's all still called stage 4. But it is what it is. It could have been much worse.
On the personal side of things, well that part is tough. We have been through the emotional ringer to say the least!! I can't even put that part into words!! It is literally hell!! The ups and mostly downs of course. Just trying to get through the day without falling off the emotional cliff. But we are starting to come out of it a little. We both at first were afraid to even look on line for any information but we are starting to check some things out. You have to! You have to educate yourself. But I'll tell you, it is completely overwhelming all the information that is out there!! But like I said, we are starting to pull out of the dive. I am doing all I can to keep things up beat and positive!! I know how important that is. And I've been starting to push as much as is reasonable for us to continue with normal life. I know she has a tough side to her that will show up here soon enough. She's just still freaking out on the inside so bad that it's tough for her to be positive on the outside. But it will come. It's going to be a tough road, no doubt!!! But we are going to beat this!! We are going to beat this!!!
Well that's the short of it. Please keep the thoughts and prayers flowing!!!!
With many thanks to all,
Steve
We appreciate your keeping us updated Steve. I know you probably get tired of answering everyone's questions and rehashing the situation but when someone you care about is hurting you just want to help and know what's going on with them. I am amazed every day at the number of people that you talk to that have had or are dealing with a cancer issue and are beating it to live a normal life. A few years ago it was rare when someone would get better but now they have made such drastic strides in cancer treatment that it is common for stage 4 patients to bounce back and beat the odds that used to be insurmountable. You just can't give up and a strong will gets you a long way in a personal fight like this. Hang tough my friend, and never underestimate the power of prayer and positive thinking!....Gary
I am doing all I can to keep things up beat and positive!! I know how important that is.
I know it is going to be hard to keep this attitude up, but you have to, no matter how hard it gets.
Steve, thank you for the update. I know it is not easy to go over and over what is a difficult situation. You guys stay strong and fight the fight and I know your wife will over come this huge challenge. We're thinking of the both of you and are in our prayer. Les
Stay strong and keep the faith. Lost my dad many years ago but since then my mom and sister have both been winners of the battle.
You both are in our prayers.
Thanks very much Gary!!!
We did get some good news with the Radiologist this morning! She said that it is possible that the spot on the Adrenal gland may be nothing, which would then mean a stage 3 diagnosis. Which went a VERY VERY long way in making Melissa feel better about things!!! But they do want to do a brain MRI just to make sure there is nothing there. Apparently it is common for spreading lung cancer to settle there. But the Dr. seemed quite optimistic!!
Well anyway, we're moving forward. Staying as positive as possible and getting the ball rolling. Chemo Dr. tomorrow.
Thanks again everyone who's written me or posted thoughts in the thread!! I show it all to Melissa and it means a lot to her!!!
Steve
Steve. Been praying for you and Melissa. I'm sending a prayer request to our church. God Bless you both.
Please keep us updated Steve. I am thinking about you guys alot.
Steve, that sounds very positive and we hope that everything goes in that direction.
Melissa and you are in our thoughts and prayers. Les
Yea! Fingers and toes crossed over here...
Hello all!!!
And thanks again for all the prayers!! The Lord seems to be hearing you all.
My last posting included some good news from the Radiation Oncologist, and yesterday we met with the MD Oncologist (the Chemo guy), and he too gave us some good news. He actually used the word "cured"!!! It blew us away!! But in the same sentence he warned/told us all about what the next 4 months of our life was going to look like, and it may not be pretty.
Bottom line, it is likely going to be very rough on Melissa!! There is always a chance that she will take the chemo & Radiation well and not be to sick. But we just don't know right now.
But again, he's talking cured!! That's all we needed to hear!! Of course, as he said, we will grow old knowing him. I don't think it ever really ends. But hey!! If that keeps us alive and together, I'm focusing on the good part!!
Well just thought I would give you all an update. You all have been so wonderful through all of this!! Thank you so very much!!
Keep the prayers coming and God bless the Oldgas community!! Whoda thunk it huh? All over a bunch of old gas pumps!! Crazy!!!
Steve
Glad to hear things are looking up!
Thoughts and prayers from the Big Sky country headed your way.
You just made my weekend Steve. Melissa needs to became a gladiator and you'll have to have her 6. Keep the good news coming. Les
Great news Steve and Melissa.
Certainly will keep you and yours in our prayers!
Hang tough!
Steve, I cannot believe I have missed all this going on and will for sure double up on our prayers going your way. Just make sure if your not getting the answers your looking for with your local medical center, make sure you check with the other Cancer centers around the States. I just lost a good friend to Cancer but the plus of it if there can be was that the Mayo Clinic extended his life when he made the decision to check with them on his diagnosis.
When I was dealing with the Loss of my Pituitary gland and all it controls and my doctor just kept throwing more drugs at it, I was told to get to the mayo and see a specialist by a fellow Old-Gas member. With My wife Joanne by my side we made the trip and were amazed all the tests that were done and within a month the specialist had put us onto a track of handling the disease. There is no cure but there is control and they all did such a good job helping us that we both look forward to my yearly visits.
The biggest thing we found out there (in between appointments) was how much information comes in everyday from around the world. The way that every disease, virus and form of Cancer though may seem the same, can be different in every single person and they use all that information to treat each person the best way they can.
Please keep us all updated and know that every day we all will be behind you with our thoughts and lots of Prayers My friend!
Good morning all!!
Just thought I would post up some good news!!!!
Yesterday we had an MRI of the brain and spine to look for any evidence of the cancer having spread, and I just got off the phone with the DR. and all results are NEGATIVE!!!!! Praise be to God!!!
So keep the prayers coming!!! You guys are amazing!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!
First radiation appointment this afternoon and first chemo tomorrow. The battle begins!!! And if God is with us, who (or what) can be against us!!!
Steve
Great news Steve! Keep it going.
Keep the faith, and encouragement to your wife. Positive attitude goes a long way.
Great news Steve! Keep it going.
Excellent Steve! Thank you for keeping us posted. Thoughts and prayers for the two of you are on my mind daily!
Fantastic News! Now this is the way to start a Monday!
Hello all!
First week of treatment under our belts. Right now typing on my phone sitting in last day of chemo for this cycle. Then 3 weeks off. But still radiation on week days. That goes on for 5 1/2 more weeks.
So far so good!! Side affects have been minimal. Easy for me to say. Melissa might feel a little differently. But over all things have been pretty good. But we're prepared for what's to come. Pretty sure its going to get worse.
Have met some great and brave people!! And some who are facing a very tough road. Very very sad!!!
But we're keeping our spirits up!!!
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers!! I always show this thread to Melissa, she gets a good feeling from it!!
Excellant Steve, nice to hear good news, keep it up Man & (Melissa) Gal!
It has been almost a month since the last update. How are things going? I think about you guys quite a bit..
Praying for you and your family. I have been in your shoes and know that feeling in your heart all too well. Just know that God promises to use ALL things for the good of those who love Him. Although it may be hard to see that right now, draw close to Him and He WILL help you through it. My sincere sympathy goes out to you and I will continue to pray.
Mike in Iowa
It has been almost a month since the last update. How are things going? I think about you guys quite a bit..
Yes please keep us up to speed and let her know we are thinking about her. Don
Hello all,
We hit a sort of milestone today (finished week 6 of radiatioin), that and a PM from a member, had me thinking to come and post an update.
Melissa is doing very well!! The Dr's are even amazed at how well she is taking to the treatments as they continue to remind us that they are hitting her very hard with both the radiation and Chemo. Now, having said that, things have not been all rosy as I'm sure you all would imagine. She has had some terrible side affects from the radiation burning her esophagus causing terrible heart burn type symptoms. I get heart burn quite regularly but not like this. Two days ago we got some new drugs, a drink, that is helping with that. She's also dealing with on again off again constipation and nausea. Drugs or no dugs and the nausea is every morning to some degree. Sometimes quite bad but she is yet to get sick. She can be pretty tough!!
So things have not been pretty, but from what we hear, it could be so very much worse.
We finished our 2nd of 4 chemo cycles this past Monday. And finished our 6th week of radiation just today. 1 more week and then radiation is over. We have a 4 week break from chemo due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Then we do our 3rd cycle of that which is 8 days (5 on, 2 off, 1 on). The we do that one more time in the end of December and that's it. Then they want to wait until about 1st of March to let everything settle and then we scan again to see where things are. Big prayers for that day!!
As for us and everyday life, other than going to treatments and dealing with side affects, we try not to live it all that much. I/we're riding on the Dr's words that she's going to be okay. They continue to talk cured. And until that turns in another direction, God willing it never does, I'm just riding it out until she is on the backside of all this. Overly optimistic? I don't want to think so! We're going to get through this and into our scan routine next year and we'll see from there.
So that's in in a nutshell. Oh, and waiting for all the bills to arrive!
Thanks to all who have written me privately with prayers and concerns!! Mean a whole lot believe me!!!
And thanks to all who have prayed and posted in this thread. I truly cannot thank you all enough!!!
Kevin Frith reminded me that there are people from coast to coast and in both American and Canada who have said prayers, I told this to Melissa one evening, it was an AMAZING thought for both of us to wrap our hearts around!! I can't thank you all enough!! This really is an amazing community!! To bad we don't all live in the same town.
On a side note. We meet with the Dr in one of the little exam rooms. There's a calendar hanging on the wall. Were is it from? From the local Sunoco station!!! Now that has to be a good sign!!!
Steve
Thanks for the update, Steve.
We'll keep praying that Melissa keeps making progress to good news in the scan next Spring. Hang in there!
Steve, great news. Been wondering how things were going but wanted to respect you and Melissa's space. Thank you for the update and know that you two our in thoughts daily. Stay the coarse you two, Gods speed to recovery. Les
Thank you Steve. Thoughts and Prayers.
Great news, Steve!
Personally, I believe that Prayers do have a positive effect (based on personal experience)... And with all the prayers that have been directed towards Melissa and you; half the battle has been breached.....
Prayers sent that the "back half of the treatments" are no worse than what Melissa has endured so far!
Very good news Steve. Glad to hear it. Prayer works wonders, never underestimate that....Gary
Steve , Just read this post today and Kelly and I will keep the prayers going .
Gene
Sending Prayers your way for all of your family ! Find your strength in God ,
and keep praying .
Thoughts and Prayers are with the both of you. I know the things you are going thru,friend of 40 years is going thru the same thing with lung cancer not pretty.
Great news Steve thanks for the update!
Glad to hear things are looking better Thoughts and prayers
Bill
God bless ya Melissa and all the best for both of you from Canada
...glad to hear the treatments are going well, Steve...
Good morning all. Been a while since I posted in here. I'm currently sitting boarded at chemo, and even though there isn't much new news, I thought I would type a little update.
In my last posting I made mention of some heartburn type symptoms caused by the radiation. Well these ended up turning into something much much worse. Like I told people, it would have been one thing to maybe see a guy go through it, but to watch a woman suffer with such pains, and then have it be someone you love like this, well, it was unbelievable!! Her esophagus would go into spasm and the pain would keel her over. It would only last about 10_15 minutes or so but it would put her down for much longer. Well thankfully that only went on for a couple weeks and we've been past it now for a couple weeks.
Today starts the last cycle of chemo. 6 hours today, then 3 hours each day this week except off on Friday, and then 7-8 hours on Monday and that's it!! Then we wait. Until early March when the will run a series of test to see if this all worked.
So for now, that's about it. Melissa's been doing pretty good overall. Hairs getting thin but still not in the wig, and dealing with a cough. Mostly at night and in morning.
Well thanks again for all the prayers and thoughts!!!
Melissa and Steve - You are often in both Julie and my thoughts and prayers.
I'll pray that the chemo does its job and Melissa's health will get better and cancer free.
Hopefully things will get better soon
Thanks for the update, thinking about you guys often.
Thank you for the update Steve, been thinking about you two and it sounds like you're on the home stretch. You and Melissa stay strong and you will get through this very challenging life situation. Les
Steve,
I missed this post and just now saw it. I have never had to face what you and your wife are going thru so I think it would be fair to say unless someone has walked in your shoes, they would not have a clue. The outpouring of thoughts and prayers from this site is amazing, a great group for sure.
I will keep you in my thoughts and hope for continued improvement.
Tom.
Hello all!
Other than a few small postings, I haven't been around much. Well, I wanted to post an update to Melissa's fight.
I wont have the entire story for about another week, but this is what we know as of this past Monday. The good news is, there has been no spreading of any cancer!! Her body and brain scans both came back clean!! In her words, Woo Hoo!!! And the original tumor which started out at about 50 millimeters (2"), is now down to only 15 millimeters (5/8").
The fly in the ointment is that we need one more test. This test is to tell us if this remaining 15 mm is dead, or live tumor. If dead, well that would be the greatest news and this would mean that she is clear and we can go live our lives until we test again in 3 months. If it is still live tumor, well then for the first time the Dr. put surgery on the table. The issue here is that the tumor is in a difficult place for surgery. Our Oncologist is not a surgeon so I can't speak on the specific issues and potentials with this. Lets just hope it dead and we wont have to worry about it.
On the less serious side, her hair is about gone and that is just killing her. But we will get through that!!
Well that's it for now. I'll post again here next week after we get an answer.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers!!! Our God is an amazing God and I my level of thanks is beyond words!!
Steve
Sounds promising! Thanks for the update, I think about you guys quite often!
Don't know you personally However GOD does I will be praying for you all and Remember GOD is in CONTROL
Steve, Thanks for the update and we are all pulling for you both and for a good result!
Will be praying for complete healing .Stay strong and put all your faith in the healing power of God . Bless you and your family.
Our prayers are with you two. May the healing go well, whatever it takes.
Praying for the best Steve!
Great news Steve, I was just thinking about you guys yesterday and was hoping we would get a "great news post" from you. The two of you are in thoughts and Kathy asks me a lot if there are any updates so I'll share your post with her. Stay strong you two. Les
Steve, I have never met you either but my wife Jill and mine prayers are with you for a swift and speedy recovery! Rob Vest
Steve , I will keep you and your wife in my prayers as well. Hang in there buddy.
Well, I'm not going to write a big deal here in this update. Oldgas is not really the place for all this.
Bottom line, we've completed our first batch of testing, and it wasn't good. The cancer has spread some and the original tumor, although much smaller, is still there. After what they hit her with, the Doctors are completely shocked!! It's not even worth putting to words how I feel. How Melissa feels. Got the news just Monday. So it's only been a short time to digest this. We're trying to figure out in our hearts how to just give it to God and enjoy life with this.
We start new treatments next week.
Like I said, Oldgas isn't really the place for all this and other than a few of you, I've never even met any of you so no need to cry on all your shoulders. So I doubt I'll post any further updates after this.
There are a few of you that I talk to in PM's, of course feel free to write any time!!! That goes for anyone really!!
It's going to be a tough go. Not really sure what to even feel.
I truly thank you all for the support and prayers!! It truly has gone a long way in helping get through this !!!
I guess God has his plans and we have ours. Not always an easy pill to swallow.
So sorry Steve and Melissa.
Steve this is as good a place as any to just spill it I guess. Good to just talk and not keep it bottled up inside, we are thankful for the updates. Lot of people praying for you both.God bless you both.
Steve and Melissa; I am truly sorry that this was the news you two received! I know that the two of you are battling "different demons" at this time... I hope and pray that this next round of treatments; is the one that puts the Cancer in remission...
Prayers to you both, you sound like a great man Steve, continue to stand by her side for whatever she needs.
Sorry to hear the news,However GOD IS IN CONTROL keep the faith Praying for you both
Terrible to hear, only wish you the needed faith to get through this. We all will still hope and pray for you and your whole family.