half way done

Mom is doing well.  She is halfway done with her treatments and is feeling great.  The neulasta is keeping her white cells up and now she is on procrit every Tuesday for her falling red cells.  Next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday she will be getting her 4th set of treatments.  The doctors plan is to do another PET scan after those treatments and see what is happening with the cancer.  From my (Leslie) viewpoint she is MUCH improved from the beginning of this adventure.  She is able to breath with no problems and is able to walk around and do things in a way that we have not seen in quite a while. 
This coming Saturday is the local lung cancer fundraiser so all the kids/grandkids will be in to support mom!
Thanks again for all the prayers! God is great!!

Monday, April 11

Finished 2nd chemo round...am still on menace for gaining weight...it's working...I'm outgrowing my pjs...the three nurse crotchets are hAppy right now...les and wen are I Tahoe skiing...Kathleen and Jules are in charge..more later...the kids make me laugh!!!! Thank all of you for your prayers and love and concern

It' a good day!

Mom had an appointment with the oncologist today. All good news. She is responding great to the chemotherapy they are giving her. Her breathing is great, her blood counts are excellent, she put back on 2 pounds, her strength is returning and he estimates the tumors have shrunk 80% already. She started her 2nd set of chemotherapy today and was at the doctors for 5 hours and had more energy than me when we got home. I am amazed at her Great attitude and stamina.
We have started "Team Thaler" for the upcoming RUN AMUCK with the DUCK fight lung cancer walk/run that is coming up May 14th. Please go to www.yournextstepisthecure.com and sign up to support mom under "team Thaler"

Thanks to all for your prayers. They ARE working!
Leslie

Baby flies march 21

The kids are hovering around like baby flies and yes Pam I am grateful I did not pinch their little heads off when the were young. Diane, last week you said something about me being wonder woman...by Saturday I felt like wonder worm! On my way back up though! Thank you for the meals, flowers and scratch offs...but mostly your prayers and love. I am surrounded by my kind loving wonderful family and my favorite has finally arrived!
Love,
Margaret and Wendie

P.s. To my dear siblings....mom prefers me! :@)

Not a good day

Woke up with fever and feeling puny. Went in for neulasta shot and ended up staying for I.V. Fluids. Good new is cancer cells are being killed off quickly. Bad news is her body is having a hard time expelling them quickly enough which is causing tumor lysis. The doctor gave her allpurinol so her kidneys will be healthy when all this is done.
She actually ate a little something this evening. Yipee!
Leslie

Thursday march 17

Mom is responding well to chemotherapy. We are on our way to do #3. She is experiencing minimal nausea and seems a little stronger today. Her color is improving as well as her spirits. Because of her supressed immune system we are asking that there be no visiting or flowers. She has however said she will be accepting scratch off tickets with a grateful heart ;-)
Thank you all for the emails, Cards, blogs, and prayers!!
Leslie

First Chemotherapy Completed

This morning was moms first chemotherapy treatment.  She did very well and is home sleeping.  The results from the MRI showed no brain involvement.  We feel very blessed with this news because this cancer loves to go to the brain.  Guess I will still not be able to beat mom at scrabble!
Leslie

I am not happy with the pics Les chose!!  Better not have any bald pics here...otherwise feel free to shoot her...

Sunday march 13th

We met with oncologist Dr.Peter Acs on Friday. He confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. Mom will have a PET scan tomorrow to check out from her neck to her toes and then an MRI on her brain first thing on Tuesday. At 10 am on Tuesday she will begin her chemotherapy which will be carboplatin and etoposide. She will have chemotherapy Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. The doctor is expecting the chemotherapy to shrink the tumors rapidly and make her much more comfortable within a week.
She appreciates all the love and support everyone has sent. We are asking for no visitation at
This time. Her immune system will be quite compromised because of the chemotherapy regimen she will be having. Friday she will have a neulasta shot to increase her white cells so we will talk after next week about visitors. When she starts her chemotherapy this week flowers are not a good thing either as they can spread bacteria.
More later.... leslie

So Far

This is what we know so far.
Mom has not been feeling well for a few weeks. Last Friday she went in for some antibiotics and the Dr. did a chest x-ray.  The x-ray showed a mass in her right lung.  She was put on some strong antibiotics and went in Monday for a CAT scan.  The Dr. told her Tuesday morning that she has cancer in her right lung.  There are many types of lung cancer.  Tuesday afternoon she had a biopsy of a swollen lymph node in her neck area.  Friday afternoon we have an appointment set up with the oncologist to get the exact results and find out our next course of action.
For right now all her family is in town and she is happy as a clam.  No matter what the results we will, as we always have, stick together and take care of each other.  Thank you for your care and concern.  She is not really up to taking calls right now so posting on this blog would really help all of us out!
I will continue posting AS SOON as I know anything more!
Leslie

mom's health

Hi everyone.  We have started this blog to let everyone know of mom's health issues and also to allow notes from friends and family to mom.
Thanks for all the love!  Leslie