Lung Cancer or ALS?

[troy]

Would you rather have lung cancer or ALS? And why?

[Blizna]

Well...it depends on the stage of the cancer (metastazes etc., affected lymfatic system...)

If I could choose of these 2 diseases both in their earlier stages, I would surely take lung cancer, because: There is cure. If surgery isnt possible, there is still chemotherapy. If this all fail, they can remove the one lung or its part...also, there is at least chance to be healthy again.

[Omar]

Personally, I know a woman who had chemotherapy and a surgery for her lung cancer and was ok for about 10 years till she got it again and now she is again on chemotherapy.

[guwainengle]

Personally-- I do not want either-- I just want to know what the problem is.

G

[jimercat]

Right on G!!!

[Al]

Speaking as one who has ALS and had a Biopsy for possible Cancer and who has to wait a week more for results to see which disease is going to kill him, I have no idea why anyone would ask such an inane question. But seeing as you asked, I'd rather not have either.
AL.

[jimercat]

Al,

Cancer too? What next?

Will be praying for you.

[Al]

After two biopsies the Surgeon called a few minutes ago and said the biopsy was negative and there were no cancer cells. A benign lump that should go away in time on it's own. So as you can imagine, things are a bit more upbeat here now. Just might have to celebrate with a glass of red.
A much happier AL.

[Al]

By the way thanks for the kind thoughts. I really was worried.
AL.

[Midnight]

Hi Al,

You are such an inspiring man. Truly a hero.

-a hero as a firefighter, helping solve the mysteries surrounding your own in your own town and how you have helped them with their lives, your plight to help so many in their journey through their struggles with ALS, your support with this site, your willingness to be so open to others with photos and things in your own journey that really help real people, reaching out to complete strangers, naming yourself as a grandpa on this site (tells a lot). I am sure your family loves you so much. They are so lucky.

Thank you. You touch my heart and make me miss my own grandfather.

[jimercat]

Great news Al!!!

Glad you didn't have to ruin your weekend thinking about it. Here's to you! :mrgreen:

[jimercat]

Troy,

wondering how long you've had ALS...how long did it take do dx? do you have bulbar onset? are you still walking?

[CindyM]

Hey Al - great news. I've been holding my breath for a week! Might celebrate with a glass myself tonight! Cindy

[Icanmanz]

Troy, may I ask why you are asking such a question? To me one is just as bad as the other! They are both killer diseases! May God bless you.

Irma

[Icanmanz]

Prayers to you, Al.

Irma

[anne]

Troy..not sure why you ask such a question but I will tell you that my father had lung cancer in 1972, he had 5% chance of pulling through. He had his lung removed and three ribs. Life was tough for my mother especially since she has lost her oldest son, my brother, 6 months prior to cancer. My dad was then diagnosed in 1984 with alzheimer's and then passed away 9 years later at the age of 67. It was a very difficult time both with the lung cancer and with the alzheimer's. After going through all of this my mom was diagnosed with motorneuron disease with bulbar symptoms (June 2006). She has not been officially given the diagnosis of ALS as of yet but it very much looks like it is. I have to say the ALS is the worst of the three diseases that my family has gone through. The alzheimers was difficult for us to deal with but not for my dad. He was unfortunately clueless. The lung cancer was difficult but he managed to pull through and recovered well. My mom's condition is robbing her of everything in life and her mind is so very sharp. She is a woman that had to become independent because of my dad's cancer and then the alzheimers but now she is confronted with not being able to speak, not being able to swallow so she finds herself with a peg feeding tube and eventhough her fine motor skills and mobility is excellent she is unable to do anything because she is completely winded on exertion. She relies on her Bipap machine at night and now during the day. She is tormented constantly with the build up of phelgm and not being able to cough it up. Not being able to even open her mouth. So after reading this lengthy post make your on judgement on which is worse. I unfortunately have and am experiencing both of these illnesses.
God Bless. Anne

AL: I am sorry that you have been faced with the possibility of cancer. Thankfully you are out of the woods. Maybe, see you at clinic on the 11th.

[pmbenb83]

Al ~ So glad to hear your result was negative. I'm going to have a glass of wine and say a little toast to you. Cheers! Pam B in Va

Troy ~ I hope you do not have either disease. My husband lost both his father and mother to lung cancer and is now facing the possiblity of having ALS. Like I said, I hope you have either. Pam B in Va

[Jamiet]

Great news AL.....

Woooo Hoooo!! Have a glass for me

[TomR1972]

Al,

I will toast to you with a little red as well, Cherry Coke!

Glad you got good news!

Tom

[hboyajian]

Al, I'm sure glad you don't have lung cancer, and that they called you right away, not making you wait for an appointment to find out the biopsy results.

About the question posed about lung cancer and ALS. I lost a friend 2 years ago to lung cancer. It took him down in 6 months. He went from being a vibrant, active person to struggling weakly along with an oxygen tank in tow. He lost weight and strength rapidly. He struggled for every breath and this gave him anxiety at near the end of his life. He was gone so much faster than any of his friends or family were thinking might happen. It was a roller coaster of shock upon diagnosis, hope that the surgery might cure him or at least give a respite, despair when they found more, and inoperable cancer during the surgery, hope that chemotherapy might work to eradicate or slow it down, and then when it was clearly not doing much, we helplessly saw him continue to weaken. It was much like ALS in that way. A difference is that he continued to hold onto hope that he might be cured until just a week before his death. However, the treatments were difficult and made him suffer and feel very ill. A difference is that there was no option to go on a trach and ventilator as his lungs were toast, not the muscles operating them.
Another friend of my family has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer this summer. She was told she has 6 months to 2 years, even if the chemotherapy slows it down. Her husband is disabled and cannot easily care for her. He is in anguish. She does not feel very ill right now and is just trying to live while she can. The first round of chemo did not affect her too adversely. Her fear is that she will be in pain, nauseated, and weak until she dies.
All of this is terrible. ALS is terrible. I watched my father live with it as well as he could and die from it not too long ago. Lung cancer is also terrible. May any person who has either be surrounded by people who love them. That is what really matters.

[Peg B]

Hi,

Al so glad to hear it was benign. Thanks so much for pointing out what a stupid question. It was my first thought.

My mom had parkinson with most of it affecting her mind - active auditory and visual hallucinations etc. She came home from Fla so we could take care of her. Three days later she was DX with lung cancer. Two years later she got a new cancer - cancer of the neck. Her sister first had breast cancer then died of cancer of the esophages. Their other sister died first of breast cancer (41). Her daughter, my cousin died of colon cancer. My sister lasted 12 years with breast cancer which went on to bone cancer. My other two sisters both are survivors of breast cancer. (10 years and almost 2 years). The youngest sister died in a car accident at the age of 22.

Troy - Really - take it one day at a time and do not worry about what may or may not happen. We have so little control. But life is so good too. God Blessings and Peace. Peg