"Parkinson's and Lung Cancer"

My "Parkinson's symptoms" that eventually led to a diagnosis for lung disease were "chronic dry cough" I just couldn't quite shake off, for at least 7 months, "shortness of breath" under exertion, (most noticeable when climbing multiple flights of stairs), and increased "difficulty sleeping".

If you have a cough that you can’t stop, try eating a spoonful of applesauce. Its cool, smooth texture can help soothe your irritated throat. Applesauce now comes in single-serving cups so you can carry one with you for instant relief. However, if your cough persists, food may have gone down into your airway. A cough is your body’s natural protective mechanism for getting rid of foreign material in the airway. The signs of silent aspiration (food particles that go into the airway, but you do not feel them) may be respiratory problems, fever, chest noises, and then pneumonia. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Tips For Making Life Easier

Applesauce worked for a while...

Chronic cough is defined as a persistent cough lasting at least 3 weeks. We’re going to look at the three most common causes: post-nasal drip (PNDS), asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Though most patients are aware of postnasal drip and asthma, it’s less widely known that cough is a common feature of GERD – and often the only presenting sign.
Chronic Cough

I was diagnosed and treated for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Can PD cause shortness of breath? Yes. But most PD patients who suffer from shortness of breath have some more usual cause for it. Other medical problems, especially of the lungs or the heart, are more usual causes. For instance, a person with PD may also have environmental allergies that cause asthma with wheezing and shortness of breath. Or the person may have emphysema. Heart problems like congestive heart failure can also cause shortness of breath. Simply being out of condition can cause shortness of breath after only mild exertion. Shortness of breath directly from PD can sometimes occur when a person has severe “off” time (when medications are not working). Then, in addition to the rigidity that occurs in other muscles, the chest wall muscles and even part of the diaphragm can become rigid, too. Instead of the chest easily expanding and drawing air into the lungs, the chest does not expand very well. A breath is shallow and shortened. So the person has to breathe more often to supply enough air for body needs and notices being “short of breath”.
APDA St. Louis Newsletter

Shortness of Breath in Parkinson Disease... Thanks Susan 'n Jerry !!

There is a message here...
Coughing, GERD, Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Sleeping, could ALSO, just as easily, have nothing whatsoever to do with Parkinson's Disease.

And... an expanded message here... an ongoing saga of my thoughts and others on how I'm doin' including an impromptu short poem I wrote one night...(the "poem" is about 1/4 down page 2)
Houston - We Have A Problem... Page1

Houston - We Have A Problem... Page2

Houston - We Have A Problem... Page3

Lung Cancer Overview Interactive Human Atlas

Types

Symptoms / Diagnosis

Staging

Treatment

Treatment Stages

Chemotherapy

When administering chemotherapy drugs intravenously to a patient, certain factors need to be considered in order to maximize safety and comfort.
Administration Guidelines

Warning - Chemotherapy Infiltration Thanks Gail !!

Chemotherapy / Lab / XRay / Oncologist / Scan / etc. Schedule For Murray Charters ...

Day 0 - Baseline Bloodwork (CBC, Differential, Creatinine, Liver function)
(Already done Aug. 19th. 2003) Wed. Aug. 20th. - Oncologist Consultation
Decision made to proceed with an agressive Chemotherapy
Gemcitabine and Carboplatin for Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) - an IV administered regimentation, once every 3 weeks for at least 4 cycles, reviewed, and "options" considered after each cycle.

Each Chemo cycle is a Three Week time frame consisting of Chemo Days 1 and 8 followed by 2 weeks of Recovery time...

Day 1 - Thurs. August 28th. 09:15 AM - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Day 8 - Thurs. Sept. 4th. 14:00 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 8 - Thurs. Sept. 4th. 16:00 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 1 and Chemo Day 8 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the first "cycle"

Day 20 - Tues. Sept. 16th. 13:30 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 20 - Tues. Sept. 16th. 15:00 - Oncologist

Day 21 - Wed. Sept. 17th. 09:00 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Day 28 - Wed. Sept. 24th. 11:30 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 28 - Wed. Sept. 24th. 13:30 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 21 and Chemo Day 28 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the second "cycle"

Day 41 - Tue. Oct. 7th. 09:00 - Day Surg. - Venous Access Implant - Pattison Pavilion - VGH
Day 41 - Tue. Oct. 7th. 12:30 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 41 - Tue. Oct. 7th. 01:00 - XRay -
Day 41 - Tue. Oct. 7th. 02:00 - Oncologist Consultation

Day 42 - Wed. Oct. 8th. 02:30 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Day 49 - Wed. Oct. 15th. 02:30 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 49 - Wed. Oct. 15th. 04:30 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 42 and Chemo Day 49 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the third "cycle"

Day 51 - Fri. Oct. 17th. 12:30 - Full Body Bone Scan +Rib Cage - Pattison Pavilion - VGH

Day 62 - Tue. Oct. 28th. 09:50 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 62 - Tue. Oct. 28th. 10:15 - XRay -
Day 62 - Tue. Oct. 28th. 11:20 - Oncologist Consultation

Day 63 - Wed. Oct. 29th. 02:00 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Day 70 - Wed. Nov. 5th. 02:15 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 70 - Wed. Nov. 5th. 04:15 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 63 and Chemo Day 70 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the fourth "cycle"

Day 83 - Tue. Nov. 18th. 12:10 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 83 - Tue. Nov. 18th. 12:10 - Lab - Tumour Marker
Day 83 - Tue. Nov. 18th. 01:40 - Oncologist Consultation

Day 84 - Wed. Nov. 19th. 09:45 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Aves

Day 84 - Wed. Nov. 19th. 12:00 - Transfusion (2 Units) - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Day 91 - Wed. Nov. 26th. 10:15 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 91 - Wed. Nov. 26th. 12:15 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 84 and Chemo Day 91 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the fifth "cycle"

Day 105 - Tues. Dec. 09th. 08:00 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 105 - Tues. Dec. 09th. 10:00 - Oncologist Consultation

Day 112 - Wed. Dec. 17th. 02:15 - Lab - Bldwrk (CBC, Diff, Creatinine, Liver fct)
Day 112 - Wed. Dec. 17th. 04:15 - Chemo - 6th. floor @ 600 W. 10th. Ave.

Chemo Day 1 and Chemo Day 8 + 2 week "Recovery time" represent the sixth "cycle"

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Best On-Line Medical Dictionary

Welcome to BloodBook.com - Information For Life

Blood Type Facts

Blood Group Details Explained from SCARF

Blood Test Results - Normal Ranges

What Does My Blood Test Mean?

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the most common blood test...
Complete Blood Count

Complete Blood Count At A Glance

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test

Understand Your CBC and Hemoglobin Levels

The Differential Count of the CBC measures the numbers of the different types of white blood cells present in the blood.
Differential Count

White Blood Cell Differential Count At A Glance

Differential Count
The differential count estimates the number of the various types of WBCs. This can help detect infection, anemia, and leukemia; or follow the progress of treatment. There are various types of WBCs (also called leukocytes) that normally appear in the blood. The differential determines the relative percentages of the different types of cells in the blood, notes any abnormal appearance of the cells, and the presence of any abnormal immature cells.

Neutrophils are mainly phagocytic cells (that is, they engulf and destroy invading organisms). They also release some enzymes and substances that affect the function of other cells called cytokines.

B lymphocytes (B cells) synthesize and secrete antibodies.

T lymphocytes (T cells) -- one type of T cell is called a helper cell; it secretes proteins that increase B cell function and the functions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize and destroy virus-infected and other abnormal cells.

Monocytes recognize a variety of microorganisms, especially gram-negative bacteria. Activated monocytes turn into macrophages that can engulf and destroy microorganisms and secrete a variety of cytokines that modulate the activity of other leukocytes.

Eosinophils and basophils release substances that cause vasoconstriction, smooth muscle contraction, and an increased permeability of small blood vessels. Eosinophils are stimulated by parasites and some bacteria. Basophils are stimulated by allergens.
Differential Count

Creatinine Blood Test

Additional blood tests, usually referred to as Liver Function Tests, may be used to determine the overall functional condition of your liver. Your liver must be in satisfactory functional condition to be able to tolerate treatment.

Liver Function Tests

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Living with Lung Cancer
A support program for patients, families and friends is co-led by oncology social worker, Sabrina Gaon and oncology nurse, Karen Sill. This program includes 5 sessions held weekly on Tuesdays from 11:45am to 12:45 pm. The program is held during the months of February, April, June, September and November at the Vancouver Cancer Centre.

This program provides a forum for people living with lung cancer, their families and friends to learn more about resources, to explore different ways of coping with lung cancer and to share questions, concerns and problems with others. This program is available by registration only. Please contact Sabrina Gaon at (604) 877-6000 extension 2375 to enroll in the next series.
Thanks Rosie !!

How Does Chemotherapy Work?

Understanding Chemotherapy 1

Understanding Chemotherapy 2

Nausea and Vomiting

Note: The Dopamine antagonists (Phenothiazines, etc.) would be *bad* for People With Parkinson's. They have just the reverse effect than does L-DOPA and tend to make Parkinson's Disease worse.

The drugs such as Odansetron (on dan' se tron) (Zofran) and others in that family are probably best. ( Thanks Bob and Gail !! )

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Gemcitabine (jem sit' a been) Brand name(s): Gemzar

Gemcitabine (Systemic)

Drug Index (Professional) - Gemcitabine

Gemzar / Gemcitabine Hcl

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine (Gemzar)

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Carboplatin (kar' boe pla tin) Brand name(s): Paraplatin Other name(s): CBDCA

Carboplatin (Systemic)

Drug Index (Professional) - Carboplatin

Carboplatin

Carboplatin

Carboplatin (Paraplatin)

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Gemcitabine and Carboplatin for Patients with Advanced NSCLC: A Safe and Effective Regimen

Gemcitabine / Carboplatin (GemCarbo) Chemotherapy

Gemcitabine Carboplatin Chemotherapy

Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Recent MEDLINE Abstracts (PubMed)

Gemcitabine versus gemcitabine/carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: preliminary findings in a phase III trial of the Swedish Lung Cancer Study Group.

Gemcitabine/carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Phase III Randomized Comparison of Gemcitabine (GC) and Carboplatin with Mitomycin, Ifosfamide and Cisplatin (MIP) in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

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Dexamethasone Oral (dex a meth' a sone) Brand name(s): Decadron; Dexameth; Dexone; Hexadrol
Dexamethasone Oral

Ondansetron (on dan' se tron) Brand name(s): Zofran
Ondansetron

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(I use this great utility software every day to cut 'n paste... 'n e-mail the "NEWS", 'n build this web site, etc. etc. Just indespensible!)
Winm8 (TM) The leading Multi Clipboard

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Diet and the Cancer Patient

Nutrition During Chemotherapy

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OncoLink Cancer News

OncoLinkTV: Breathing New Life into Lung Cancer Treatment

Instant Fill in the Blanks Poetry

Write an Instant "I Used To" Poem:

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