A minor rant to bore you all with...(just diagnosed with lung cancer)

Hatterasser · 12-28-2011, 01:14 AM

Okay, gonna take up some space here...

I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. It appears to be a solid lump in the lower left corner .. and that seems to be it (Lord knows they've scanned me from head to toe with CT, PET, Ultra Sound, etc. and can't find any more anywhere else).

My pulmonary doctor is hooking me up with the top thoracic surgeon in Norfolk, VA and I will be meeting with him in January to consult on when and where I will have whatever needs to be done, done. Pulmonary doc thinks it can be done with something like laparoscopic surgery (except laparoscopy only applies to the abdomen so whatever is done in the lung is called some other kind of "....scopy"), a non-invasive vacuum cleaning of sorts.

My breathing is superb (I was told after a breathing test that made me feel I was doing an alcoholic breathalizer thingy *lol*) so even losing a piece of my lung will not leave me incapacitated, or so I am told. And the surgery should be able to remove it all. If not, there is always chemo and radiology with which to follow up. All sounds so simple, doesn't it? Hardly scary at all, right? So I'm simply trying to accept it....it is what it is and there isn't any way I can change it by wishing it were not there.

I have to admit I was furious, really enraged, when I heard the news. Along with all the pain and misery of Ehlers-Danlos, I have come within bare specks of dying three times in the past ten years; once when my heart just plain stopped, once when my brain hemorrhaged for 3 weeks non stop, and one when my stomach hemorrhaged required 18 transfusions before they capped off whatever burst. I had thought I had been kept here on earth for a noble purpose...maybe to help my daughter and grandaughter who have been living through near h*ll for years...but certainly not to die of cancer. Hopefully, given what my pulmonary doctor is telling me, I won't die from this event, and I guess I'm just resigned to dealing with it.

But it's the time post-surgery that is still aggravating me royally. I fought for two and half years to get a loan modification on my mortgage...it was signed, sealed and delivered to me two months ago. I have to pay it now with no late payments so I don't screw it up. But what I'm hearing is that after surgery, I will have stay home (from work and thus income) for "many" weeks. "MANY" weeks? How many? I can't afford "MANY" weeks. *sighs* Oh well, I'm will just have to prove what my cardiologist once said about me.

"If you weren't so dang healthy, you'd be sick," he said. I love that comment about me. I'm too healthy to be sick for long so it's onward and upward. But I do wish life would get just a teeny bit easier as I get older, more worn out and less able to handle all the burdens. *sighs* Well, enough whining...Wish me luck and a prayer or two wouldn't hurt either.

That's it...that's my rant of the day. Thanks for listening....

msvette2u · 12-28-2011, 01:31 AM

Diane, you have our prayers

**JakodaCD OA** · 12-28-2011, 07:55 AM

I am so sorry your going thru this

I think your a tough person, and that saying 'the tough get tougher' comes to mind..I'll be keeping you in my prayers as well

sit,stay · 12-28-2011, 11:07 AM

Diane, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. My thoughts are with you.
Sheilah

1sttimeforgsd · 12-28-2011, 11:09 AM

Prayer's headed your way, and I wish you all the luck needed.

Hatterasser · 12-30-2011, 02:37 PM

Thank you for the good wishes and prayers. I do believe I will need them all sooner rather than later.

selzer · 12-30-2011, 03:02 PM

It sounds like they caught it in time. Awesome. It sounds like they will be able to do something that's great. The rest is just money. I know that it sucks. But it is just money. Your daughter and granddaughter need you. So, now about the money.

When we are sick, I mean really sick, it is hard to argue or fight or try to gain a foot hold on anything. But, there may be things that you can do to deal with the loan modification.

Do you have the name of the person you worked with. Call him/her on the phone and explain your situation and ask for two months grace before you start making payments. Really it is not so much to ask. If they say no, then plan B. But they cannot say, yes unless you ask.

When I lost my job, I continued to make my house payment for a year, I was having some serious problems getting the money together for it. After 1 year, I called my mortgage company, and they knocked it from 757 to 189 for six months, and then another six months. They forgave the rest of the interest. After that, they gave me two years at 379.

I know that the last thing your loan company wants is for you to default on your loan. They may be able to give you a short-term forbearance if you ask.

If they say no to this, then there are other things you can try. There is a cancer support charity out there that was begging for money on my phone the other day. But if they are soliciting funds, then they also are available to help people who have these types of situations. It is certainly something to try.

All of this is way temporary. The stress can add to your recovery time. A few months of help can get you back on track again.

I wish you luck. The main thing is that You are going to get this thing that can kill you out of there.

Uhg, Cujo must have drooled on the table next to my elbow while I was eating cookies a few minutes ago.

shilohsmom · 01-18-2012, 04:40 PM

Diane, have there been any updates? Did you try talking to your mortgage co? How are you feeling? I'm afraid the title to your thread might not have gotten the attention you deserve. Please keep us posted as we really do care about you.

shilohsmom · 01-18-2012, 04:43 PM

I know people in NC that might be able to help with your pups while you recover. Just pm me and I'll see what I can do ok?

Pattycakes · 01-18-2012, 04:54 PM

What a horrible thing to hear. My thoughts and prayers are sent to you.

Past story...I worked with a guy years ago...I will say about 15 years...and he was a heavy smoker. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and I don't remember all the specifics except that they didn't really think he would live longer than a year or so. Well...he proved them wrong and is still cancer free and doing very well.

Sounds like you have the right attitude going into this.

I hope all is working out with your mortgage and your job.

Hugs!

12-28-2011, 01:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
Hatterasser Master Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hatteras Island, NC Posts: 986	A minor rant to bore you all with...(just diagnosed with lung cancer) Okay, gonna take up some space here... I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. It appears to be a solid lump in the lower left corner .. and that seems to be it (Lord knows they've scanned me from head to toe with CT, PET, Ultra Sound, etc. and can't find any more anywhere else). My pulmonary doctor is hooking me up with the top thoracic surgeon in Norfolk, VA and I will be meeting with him in January to consult on when and where I will have whatever needs to be done, done. Pulmonary doc thinks it can be done with something like laparoscopic surgery (except laparoscopy only applies to the abdomen so whatever is done in the lung is called some other kind of "....scopy"), a non-invasive vacuum cleaning of sorts. My breathing is superb (I was told after a breathing test that made me feel I was doing an alcoholic breathalizer thingy lol) so even losing a piece of my lung will not leave me incapacitated, or so I am told. And the surgery should be able to remove it all. If not, there is always chemo and radiology with which to follow up. All sounds so simple, doesn't it? Hardly scary at all, right? So I'm simply trying to accept it....it is what it is and there isn't any way I can change it by wishing it were not there. I have to admit I was furious, really enraged, when I heard the news. Along with all the pain and misery of Ehlers-Danlos, I have come within bare specks of dying three times in the past ten years; once when my heart just plain stopped, once when my brain hemorrhaged for 3 weeks non stop, and one when my stomach hemorrhaged required 18 transfusions before they capped off whatever burst. I had thought I had been kept here on earth for a noble purpose...maybe to help my daughter and grandaughter who have been living through near hll for years...but certainly not to die of cancer. Hopefully, given what my pulmonary doctor is telling me, I won't die from this event, and I guess I'm just resigned to dealing with it. But it's the time post-surgery that is still aggravating me royally. I fought for two and half years to get a loan modification on my mortgage...it was signed, sealed and delivered to me two months ago. I have to pay it now with no late payments so I don't screw it up. But what I'm hearing is that after surgery, I will have stay home (from work and thus income) for "many" weeks. "MANY" weeks? How many? I can't afford "MANY" weeks. sighs* Oh well, I'm will just have to prove what my cardiologist once said about me. "If you weren't so dang healthy, you'd be sick," he said. I love that comment about me. I'm too healthy to be sick for long so it's onward and upward. But I do wish life would get just a teeny bit easier as I get older, more worn out and less able to handle all the burdens. sighs Well, enough whining...Wish me luck and a prayer or two wouldn't hurt either. That's it...that's my rant of the day. Thanks for listening.... __________________ Diane Mom to Freya. R.I.P Thor and Seamus Last edited by MaggieRoseLee; 01-20-2012 at 10:51 AM.

12-28-2011, 01:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,505	Diane, you have our prayers __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

12-28-2011, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	I am so sorry your going thru this I think your a tough person, and that saying 'the tough get tougher' comes to mind..I'll be keeping you in my prayers as well __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

12-28-2011, 11:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
1sttimeforgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Posts: 4,891	Prayer's headed your way, and I wish you all the luck needed. __________________ karen, mom to: ace-gsd (bi-color) 6/14/2010 mandy-yellow lab 1/31/2009 baby-terrier mix 11/25/2000

12-30-2011, 02:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hatterasser Master Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hatteras Island, NC Posts: 986	A minor rant to bore you all with...lol Thank you for the good wishes and prayers. I do believe I will need them all sooner rather than later. __________________ Diane Mom to Freya. R.I.P Thor and Seamus

12-28-2011, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
sit,stay Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,056	Diane, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. My thoughts are with you. Sheilah

12-30-2011, 03:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	It sounds like they caught it in time. Awesome. It sounds like they will be able to do something that's great. The rest is just money. I know that it sucks. But it is just money. Your daughter and granddaughter need you. So, now about the money. When we are sick, I mean really sick, it is hard to argue or fight or try to gain a foot hold on anything. But, there may be things that you can do to deal with the loan modification. Do you have the name of the person you worked with. Call him/her on the phone and explain your situation and ask for two months grace before you start making payments. Really it is not so much to ask. If they say no, then plan B. But they cannot say, yes unless you ask. When I lost my job, I continued to make my house payment for a year, I was having some serious problems getting the money together for it. After 1 year, I called my mortgage company, and they knocked it from 757 to 189 for six months, and then another six months. They forgave the rest of the interest. After that, they gave me two years at 379. I know that the last thing your loan company wants is for you to default on your loan. They may be able to give you a short-term forbearance if you ask. If they say no to this, then there are other things you can try. There is a cancer support charity out there that was begging for money on my phone the other day. But if they are soliciting funds, then they also are available to help people who have these types of situations. It is certainly something to try. All of this is way temporary. The stress can add to your recovery time. A few months of help can get you back on track again. I wish you luck. The main thing is that You are going to get this thing that can kill you out of there. Uhg, Cujo must have drooled on the table next to my elbow while I was eating cookies a few minutes ago. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

01-18-2012, 04:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	Diane, have there been any updates? Did you try talking to your mortgage co? How are you feeling? I'm afraid the title to your thread might not have gotten the attention you deserve. Please keep us posted as we really do care about you. __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

01-18-2012, 04:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	I know people in NC that might be able to help with your pups while you recover. Just pm me and I'll see what I can do ok? __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

01-18-2012, 04:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Pattycakes Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 1,463	What a horrible thing to hear. My thoughts and prayers are sent to you. Past story...I worked with a guy years ago...I will say about 15 years...and he was a heavy smoker. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and I don't remember all the specifics except that they didn't really think he would live longer than a year or so. Well...he proved them wrong and is still cancer free and doing very well. Sounds like you have the right attitude going into this. I hope all is working out with your mortgage and your job. Hugs!

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement