Thinking of you and Ken...each and every day...and praying for that miracle! Love you!

Thanks. Ken had the brain MRi and his staples out today. He is so tired and weak. We have to be at the downtown hospital tomorrow morning at 7:15 so he will not get much sleep tonight. They gave him oxygen during the MRI but he said it didn't help his breathing. I think if he could get some sleep he would feel better. But he can't breathe when he lays down. I hope tomorrow is the end of the testing and dr visits and he can start treatment. We appreciate the prayers and thoughts so much.

I just cannot even imagine how difficult things are for you both right now. Continuing the prayers and positive thoughts.

Praying for you and your husband.

Patti, my heart aches for you guys right now.

You might check with one of his doctor's to see if they can order some home care things for him, like an adjustable bed that head can be elevated, or a recliner, and maybe portable oxygen. I hope he has some relieve and can sleep and breathe soon.

Hugs to you both!

I hope you can get some things as Sandy suggested to help Ken rest comfortably at home.

Continuing to pray for Ken and you. {{{{hugs}}}}

Patti,
I am just seeing this now and I am so very sorry you and your husband are going through all of this. :ghug:

I just wanted to give you a story of hope: My sister-in-law's mother was diagnosed several years ago with lung cancer (not sure of exact type) and she was given 3 months without chemo and 6 months with chemo. She is a very positive woman and so is all of her family and friends and the power of prayer went to work....well that was 5 or 6 years ago and she is still going strong!!

I think prayer and a positive attitude can kill the cancer!!! You and your husband sound like fighters and I know you will fight this and come out the winners!!

**Regarding the sleeping laying down-do you have a good reclining chair? A neighbor of ours had throat cancer and we all pitched in and got him a really good reclining chair and he slept in that through most of his treatments when he was home because he could not sleep laying down either.
Your DH could then use it to go back as far as he can to be comfortable and then maybe he will be able to get a little more sleep.

I am praying for you both and your families to stay strong!!

I'm so sorry your going through this.

Sending positive thoughts and energy to both of you. XOXO

Sending daily prayers to both of you.

Thanks so much for all the positive thoughts, stories and prayers. They are helping. We met with the oncologist downtown today and although a radiologist hasn't read the brain scan the oncologist and fellow said it looked good to them but a radiologist would read it. They discussed a couple of options and we are going with one that is given 2 times in a 3 week period for 4 periods. This does not have as bad of side effects and he will not lose his hair. We have decided to start treatment with them even though it is downtown Chicago and about an hour drive. We have the name of another oncologist who is closer but for now we will go downtown. I can't tell you how much it means to us to come n here and read your posts.
Ann thank you for the positive story.

Good luck you will be in our thoughts and prayers! Please keep us updated!!!

Sending good thoughts and continued prayers to you and your husband.

Hugs and prayers are still going out to you and Ken.

Remember, just stay focused on "Going for the Cure".

Glad there is a chemo that has less side effects, but one thing to know is that even losing hair isn't all that bad (especially for a man), and it's temporary and usually comes back fuller, thicker and better than before.

You all are in my prayers every day and it sounds like you are fighting this from all angles. Stay close to God, keep your fighting spirit and know how many people are pulling for him.

Patti just know that Ken and you still remain in my prayers.
When does he start treatment?

Hang in there Patti! You know I'm there for you if you need anything. :hug:

Thanks!
We are waiting for the Insurance company to pre certify. I am hoping at the latest Tuesday. Ken is really struggling to breathe. The tumor is the size of a peach and wrapped around is airway. Inhalers are not helping. Even oxygen during the MRI didn't help.

Offering up continued prayers for you and Ken!

keeping you both in prayer.....:)

You are very welcome!! :)

Sending more prayers to both of you.

We have decided to go with a oncologist closer to home. After talking with the nurse at The Kellogg Cancer Center we decided Ken would not be up for the long drive downtown. We have an appt there tomorrow and hopefully the chemo treatment Friday or Monday. The oncologist comes highly recommended. I just want treatment to start so hopefully the tumor will shrink and make it easier for Ken to breathe. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and prayers.

Praying Ken can start treatment soon. Good to hear he has great doctors and a treatment center closer to home. Sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts for both of you.

Patti, I think that's a good decision to go with the one that is closer. Driving or riding in the car is awful when you don't feel good and just want to get home and rest. The treatment itself likely won't be different from one place to another.

Wishing Ken all the best, and praying for both of you.

Hi Patti
You are still in my prayers... hang in there girl !!

Get a social working or a case manager from your insurance, you need help with the extra stuff. They can order a special bed that will help

hugs

Praying for you and Ken. Keep positive and strong.

Thanks all anxious to go to the oncologist today and set a day for chemo. He is getting so weak I just had to give him a bath as he was too tired to shower.
Thanks I worked in medical insurance for 33 years and didn't even think to get a case manager on this. Your prayers are getting us through.

Stay strong Patti, you know the saying "When the going gets tough, the tough get going".

Hope a home health care agency will help you get additional items you will need. They will help you assess needs, get insurance approval, and work with the doctors when their approval is needed. You can rent a wheel chair to make it easier on him going from car to doctor appts, to conserve his energy.

Prayers and hugs are constantly going your way.

Thanks. Here's the latest! This new oncologist thinks there is a chance Ken's cancer is a 3B and not a Stage 4. Which he said could mean the difference between a cure and treatment. We are trying not to get our hopes up but I know all those prayers are working. He also thinks Ken can have some radiation to shrink the tumor and get some quicker relief with his breathing. Then do some chemotherapy concurrently. The reason he thinks it may not be Stage 4 is the first hospital gave me the CT scan report from Kens 2009 CT scan done in the ER (for a kidney problem) along with his current bone scan report by mistake. I noticed it last night when I was trying to organize the records for our visit today. On the 09 report it mentions that there is a 1.5 cm nodule on the adrenal gland which means it has been there for 2 years and not changed and therefore a good chance it is not cancer. They were concerned on the new scan that is was a spread of the lung cancer.
The oncologist on Tuesday must not have looked close enough to see the date difference on the report. I am also mad because the 2009 Ct report mentions 2 -7 cmm nodules in the left lung and it states at the end of the report should be evaluated for possible cancer on a nonemergency basis. No one ever mentioned that to us. Those 2 nodules plus another smaller one are still in his left lung so I am hoping hey also are not spread from the right lung mass. We go to the radiologist tomorrow if they can get us in and then a PET scan on Monday. After that the new oncologist meets with a whole team of doctors(surgeon, pathologist, radiologist etc) to go over Ken's case and then we will proceed from there. So thanks for your continued support and prayers. We are going for the cure! I will update after we meet with the radiologist.

Great to hear new opinions, maybe better, and darn those doctors who don't carefully examine all pre-existing scans & reports, along with the new. They seem to make you do all the leg work of record keeping.

So we are here with prayers to cheer you on to :cheer: Cure Ken :cheer: