Ina - I can so relate to your concerns about the cost of cancer care but Christine is SO right about not putting a price on saving a life! When my son was first diagnosed he was out of a job, in therapy for depression and newly divorced. I thought we would be able to handle all the expenses but when the hospital bills started coming in from several different departments of the hospital, it was overwhelming! The hospital told us we could pay as little as $5 a month but that didn't last long, especially with all the other household expenses. It was a big source of stress for him - he sold everything he had and having to sell his motorcycle was particularly painful. He ended up going bankrupt which knocked the wind out of him more than anything else. It does get better, though. My son has been cancer-free for almost 6 years, now. He has a great job, a beautiful significant other to share his life with, and not just one but two motorcycles. It is difficult to deal with money problems but it is important to remember: "People before Things". Things can be replaced. People can't.

Hello to everybody,

Haven't posted recently since I got busy. We are getting ready to visit my Papa and my inlaws in November. Just called Joyce and she is still on feeding tube. She is able to walk around. Still in pain. No word about radiation since she is still weak. Not sure when her next appointment will be. Keep you guys posted.

Take care everybody!! Stay healthy.

Ina

Thanks for updating! If we don't hear from you before you go, have a wonderful visit!!
Kathy

Ditto have a great trip, give her a huge hug of support from those of us at OCF.

Hello guys, I am back from our "medical mission" visiting our elderly and sick parents. We were there for 18 days. Joyce has started her chemo when we were visiting. she is very responsive to the treatment and we just learned yesterday that she started losing her hair from the chemo treatment. A friend went there yesterday to cut her hair, now it is about 1cm long. She has no complains. Her next chemo treatment is December 13 then the last in Jan 2013.

The doctors decided to opt out of radiation and to focus on chemotherapy. They wanted to make sure that the particles seen on your lungs will be "killed" or removed by chemotherapy.

Let me know what you think about that decision. Nice to be back home.

Hope you had a great trip! Thanks for posting an update. Joyce has been thru alot! Glad to hear she is doing so well with her recovery.

Hi... Not sure what kind of chemo she is getting its likely not just cisplatin if she's losing her hair. I know she's older and they might not want to put her through the trauma of rads but after her chemo is done she should definitely have rads if a cure is what you are looking for - chemo alone is said not to kill oral cancer. The chemo aimed at her lungs is great but to get rid of the oral cancer or any that may be lurking she should have both. good luck glad you had a nice visit.

Unfortunately I took the back seat when they went for their first chemo treatment. I had to take care of my Papa who I had to take for his complete medical check up. He lost weight massively and was diagnosed with severe hyperthyrodism and COPD/Emphysema. He lost so much weight, he was a walking skeleton with skin. Immediately he quit smoking.

It was a very stressful yet very successful visit.

Hyperthyroidism could cause the weight loss. Hope they got it all sorted out.... He should have quit smoking ages ago... Did they do a full chest workup on him? You certainly have your hands full. Hugs!