David's Updates

"Excellent!

I cannot adequately convey how timely and important this book is for me. Just yesterday, my 82 year old mom who is dearly loved by her family, was discharged from the hospital after a week. She is a 12 yr. lung cancer survivor, extraordinarily blessed that it was caught at Stage 1 in 2011. She had to have a lobe of her left lung removed and a piece of the 2nd lobe (same lung). After 5 yrs of checkups and scans, she was declared cancer free. She faithfully went to the doctor a few times yearly even after that.
Last week (after several weeks or maybe a little over a month) of dry heaves, gagging, difficulty swallowing at times, some weight loss, shortness of breath (she has had anxiety attacks for a while now so we thought it was likely that), and then pain going from right side into her back, she finally went to the emergency room last Weds. They found fluid in her lungs of which they removed nearly a liter during her stay, low oxygen (she went home on oxygen) and a 6 x 4 mass on her remaining lung along with an enlarged subcarinal lymph node. They strongly suspect lung cancer. We are devastated and mom's spirits haven't been the same since finding out it is likely cancer again and likely much worse than last time. We are devastated and blindsided. And even though I've heard people say "82 years is a good long life" she is not ready to go yet and we are not ready to say goodbye!
This book gives me hope that just maybe, we can extend her time here with us. But yet we don't want her to suffer. It seems the author has been fortunate to find that "sweet spot" that has allowed him to avoid great physical pain, lengthy hospital stays, poverty, loss of mobility, etc but then again, he is a few decades younger than my mom. I wish him the very best.
Exceptionally well written and edited book and great advice on being your own best advocate in the fight against the cancer beast! "