I found out July 10 that I have Lung Cancer & it has spread to my hip & it was only that my hip was sore that I went & got checked out, unfortunately this form of cancer is terminal.

This post is not a feel sorry for Barry one its simply here to inform so that if I stop posting one day you will all know why.

I started the radiotherapy Monday this week & that will go every day for all this week & the next, I have had an appointment with the chemotherapy specialist & start that treatment August 2.

The radiotherapy is being used to try & reduce the size of the tumour on my hip & appears to be doing some good; I am not as sore & have a bit more mobility that should improve in the next few weeks.

The chemo goes for 12 weeks & consists of 4 sessions by 3 weeks; the first week is a 3 hour intravenous drip, the next is  7 days later for 1 hour & the next week is a rest week & so on for the 12 weeks, at the end of those 12 weeks they will do scans again to see what effect this has had.

The specialists are not giving me any false hope or aspirations they are just putting it the way it is & what statistics tell them; if the radiation & chemo both fail the stats say I may have 9 months or there about, on the other hand if these things work & my body responds well to the treatment then it could be years (?) how many is in the lap of the gods & my determination to survive, I’m punting on option 2.

Cheers
Barry

Peace be with you, Barry.

You've the same initials as Black Caviar so I know where my money's going.

Cheers and beers,

Beefa.

News saddening to grief, difficult for words.  Hope to hear from you for the times to come.  My thoughts very much with you, Barry.

As a clusterhead this is what I DO know. You will fight this to the end. I am so sorry to hear that Barry. As a believer in the Christian faith, I will be praying to God that the chemo and radiation treatments are gentle on you and that your body responds to the treatment. Thanks for sharing this with us and allowing us to be a part of this journey. Hopefully, we can be a support for you as well. [smiley=hug.gif]

Quote:

my determination to survive, I’m punting on option 2.

  And so are all of us Barry.  My prayers are with you as you go through this.  Lean on us whenever you need to.  Sometimes we'll empathize with you and at other times, we may even make you laugh.  As well as my prayers, I am sending you a big huge hug.

Barry, I'm looking forward to your posts for years to come. :)  Love you brother and we're here for you, no matter what!  :-*

Thanks for letting me know.  I am at a loss for words right now.   Big Hug.

wow.  lets face it barry, you might as well live life to its fullest now.  do anything. do everything.  you will be sorely missed, but keep in mind that it is only because you are so loved by us here, and everywhere else you have touched peoples lives.   im going to pray for you.  not for some miracle, but for you to experience life to its fullest.  you have a reason for living life to its fullest.  live, love and leave a legacy when you go.  we're rooting for you.  im cheering for you.  cheers man!  you somehow manage to always make me smile with your posts, wish i could meet you face to face!

smile! you are one hell of a man!

You've done a lot of good here over the years, Barry.  Remember that.  We will.  Peoples' lives are better because you are here.

So lean on us in the months ahead if you need to.  We'll be here to provide an ear, even if we're a world away.

All the best, my friend.

George

I'm sorry to hear this, my friend, and I count myself fortunate to call you friend.  I will join my prayers with my brother Jimi, and pray for God's peace to fill you.

Jerry

Barry, another vote here for option 2. As with CH it is all about making the best of life between the trials and tribulations that are thrown at you. Keep fighting and strong with best wishes for you and your family.

I'm sorry to hear this, Barry. *hug* You are a fighter so I know you can beat this. I've seen the power of collective prayer coupled with clusterhead spirit beat the tar out of cancer.  You are in my thoughts and prayers. Use us to lean on, bro. Hugs, nani

So sorry to hear Barry. Be strong and know that your cluster family is here for you.  I will, through prayer, hand you over to the Greatest Physician of all.  He has the last word.  Have faith my friend and keep us posted when you are able.

Many hugs,
Langa

So sorry to learn this Barry.

All I can say is that we'll do our best to be a sounding board and help in any way we can.

Charlie

That sucks to read Barry.  Enjoy what you can and make the best of everything. 

-Gregg in LasVegas.

Barry,

I'm so sorry to hear this news... [smiley=hug.gif] But I also know that us clusterheads are determined bunch, so that will help you out now with this new challenge.

I'm also praying kind, so before I begun to type this post, I prayed for you. I prayed that the treatments will work and that you will beat the statistics and have a lot of great time ahead of you.

All the best,
Sanna

Gosh I am so sorry to hear this Barry.  Thank you for your kind words and support over the years.  I'm rooting for option 2 too.  [smiley=hug.gif]

Barry You are in our thoughts and PRAYERS !!! Love ya Brother !!

Personally I've long been a supporter of Saint Stout who's known to cure coughs, colds, scabby holes, arched feet, moles on the back and things penicillin won't fix.

I have it on good authority he once saved a mere mortal from a Swan-induced hangover. (Hence his beatification.)

General concensus is that the home-fired  shrines to St Stout are not simply more effective but far more romantic into the bargain but she'd be the judge of that.

My next shout,

B.

On the positive side your Karma account is MASSIVE!!!

Seriously though, I'm sorry life has given you another thing to deal with.  Cancer just sucks.  Good luck with the treatments. I hope they do some good.  Keep us posted and I'll be saying some prayers for you.

-Dennis-

Barry, I have no words of wisdom, just prayers from someone who really doesn't know you but cares anyway! I had heard once, that praying is the MOST we can do for someone.  I'm going to do the most I can for you my distant and supportive friend.  Will be looking forward to your posts ;)

Beth

Thinking about you and sending good vibes.

Barry, I just read this and am at a total loss for words. All I can do is send positive vibes, and offer a shoulder or an ear should you ever need one.
Best thing I can say is this: I used to think that I have CH  because eventually something would come along in life that I would not have been able to deal with, cope or make it through the ordeal.
Unfortunately, I wasn't wrong. I've been through some rough weather, but know how to fight with everything I've got to keep together everything I am.

With that said Barry, you are a FIGHTER, and having CH has taught you how to fight, no matter how exhausting it may be, or how futile it may seem at times. But keep faith and hope, and FIGHT!!!

I'm pulling for you, and also look forward to more postings from you for years to come.

Peace & FUTURE,
Carl D

Well, if Brians post didn't make you laugh I don't know what will Barry.  ALSO...Dennis' remark about your karma account is right on.  We always talk about karma being a bitch in the negative, but in this casekarma can and will be a positive force to be reckoned with.  I have a really good feeling that you're going to be around for a good many years to come.   :-*

Take it one day at a time, Barry!  I will keep you and your family in my thoughts.

Hi Folks

Firstly thank you all for your kind & encouraging thoughts I really do appreciate them.

I have left posting anything until I had at least started the chemo treatment so as to give some news on where I’m at.

I had my second lot of Chemo yesterday; just the small one, about an hour on the drip instead of 3 hours.
So far no real side effects other than a little diarrhoea & constipation, no nausea, no tiredness, none of the horror story side effects I have been told to expect by people who have never been through this treatment themselves, so I’m a happy little Vegemite so far.

The Doctors aren’t saying but it looks like I have responded to the radiation therapy quicker than they expected, I have little to no pain at all in my hip & am able to get around reasonably normally now.

Being so far away from home (2000 Km)& staying at our son’s home gives me very little to do  apart from raking up the leaves every morning, Jason’s home, a 2 story 3 bed unit is a great place for him being a single fly in fly out worker, but for me being someone who needs to be active  I’m bored sitting around scratching my butt otherwise.

Ah well its only another 10 weeks & I may be able to go home for a while.

Feeling positive about this.

Cheers
Barry

Two storeys, three bedrooms, alone and bored, and you haven't even started the home brew?

Barry_T_Coles wrote on Aug 10^th, 2012 at 12:21am:

Feeling positive about this. Cheers Barry

I do too, Barry. :)  Thanks for updating, sorry you don't have much to do.  Maybe take up a craft, like crocheting or knitting? ;)

Here for you and don't worry, we'll always keep the lights on!

hugs,
:)mel

Barry, I believe that is the beginning of more good news to be shared in the near future ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Quote:

a little diarrhoea & constipation

Do those two cancel each other out, resulting in normal bowel movements?  ;D

Barry as you are aware I have not posted here in a very long time but I want to assure you that I and my Church family here will be praying for you until you beat this thing!

Quote:

give some news on where I’m at.

From what I gather about where your at, it's a place with two stories.  One not good, but this last one was a good story.   





Quote:

none of the horror story

Don't go in the barn!




Thankful news.    :)

Kick some ass, my freind. Good Luck!

Brew wrote on Aug 10^th, 2012 at 3:18pm:

Quote: a little diarrhoea & constipation Do those two cancel each other out, resulting in normal bowel movements?  ;D

Nah! they take it in turns, just like a tag team. :D

AussieBrian wrote on Aug 10^th, 2012 at 5:12am:

Two storeys, three bedrooms, alone and bored, and you haven't even started the home brew?

I would start the home brew ceptin all me gear is up north along with about 15 slabs of the finest stout one could imagine; Ah well it'l be a good brew to go home to & the weather will be drinking type not like down here at the moment, raining & windy.

Cheers
Barry

Thanks for the update, Barry! :)

Prayers are on their way from us as well. I hope you'll find something nice to do with all that extra time. I've been watching way too much Olympic games myself...

All the best,
Sanna

Positive update, Sir.  Just what we've all been praying for.  Keep up the good work and we'll keep the prayers and positive vibes rolling.

Nah! they take it in turns, just like a tag team. :D[/quote]

Well,this brings a little excitement to the table (not knowing of which one it will be) allot better then the same old boring routine   :o :o :o :o :o...kinda like childbirth (not knowing if it will be a boy or a girl...as long as its healthy) i did say kinda  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

on a serious note...Barry,i am very saddened to hear of this and wish you nothing but the best...you will be in my thoughts and prayers...with a big hug.....Lenny

Your still warm and fuzzy in my book. [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] Keep up the good fight.
tachead

tachead wrote on Aug 20^th, 2012 at 5:39pm:

Your still warm and fuzzy in my book. [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] Keep up the good fight. tachead

Some people have great memory's ;D

Cheers
Barry

Barry, we've not met...I just hang around the internet neigborhood you call home, but I've always enjoyed reading your posts. You provide a positive message and a warmth in a cold, dark place where the beast lives. Now you face another beast. You can beat this one, too. Be of good courage and cheer. God bless. lance

My prayers and respect to you brother. Your posts are always helpful and will continue to be so.

Don

Barry... you have my respect and prayers. You have lifted so many in your lifetime. I've once read that a simple act of kindness is much like a pebble thrown into a pond... the ripples spread throughout humanity.

You, my friend have caused tsunamis.

Keep your chin up!

with warm regards,
Tony

Hi Folks

I started the second Chemo  round of the four sessions last week after the mandatory weeks rest from treatment.

I saw the Chemo Oncologist prior to my time in the clinic and he had some good news for us; I have to get bloods done the day before a chemo session to check my white blood cell levels, if the white cell count is down they wont administer the drugs until it comes up again and this lengthens the time of treatment, from the blood they also do a count of Tumour markers CEA & CA19-9 and both of these have dropped rapidly over the three weeks, this reduction in the markers tells the Doctor that the treatment is working & the cancers are reducing in size.

The doctor didn’t say as much but we could see from the look on his face & his demure that he was pleased with the results.

My white cell count has dropped but I am on self injected medication daily for 3 days to help the bone marrow produce more white cells, hopefully this will work & we won’t need to postpone any treatment or have the need for a transfusion.

All in all I am feeling well & confident.

Cheers
Barry

Good to hear an update like this Barry. May you continue to please the doctor with your results.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop.  I'm so pleased to hear that you are feeling good!

Keeping you in my thoughts Barry x

Barry - prayers for this fight you find yourself in that you will come out the other side the clear winner!

We have all seen the power of prayer on this board.

Please continue with the updates as you are able.

Barry...This update just made my day...keeping my fingers and toes crossed...hoping and praying for nothing but good news like this to continue.....Lenny

its awesome hearing the good news!  i hope the treatments keep going well and the cancer keeps shrinking away. 

i dont think He is finished with you yet. ;)

me and mine are hoping and praying for you and yours :)

Barry, have the shots helped?  I hope so!  Waiting for an update and still praying.

:-*mel

Talking to several peoplle here by phone and I don't think you even realize what a support of love and prayers going out to you.


Quote:

I’m bored

How about getting a Kindle reader and downloading free books that you've never had time in the past to read.  It's a win-win situation.  No boredom AND you are educating yourself.   ;D

Melissa wrote on Aug 31^st, 2012 at 5:17pm:

Barry, have the shots helped?  I hope so!  Waiting for an update and still praying. :-*mel

Hi Mel
Yes the shots worked really well & brought the white cell count right back up to where they should be & we didn't have to delay any of the treatment.

I saw the Doc again last Thursday before the chemo clinic & he said he is very pleased with the way I am responding to the treatment.

He is pleased that I am not being effected with nausea, I am virtually pain med free with only needing 1/2 a tablet every 3-4 days & that is only when I have over done it a bit with the exercise & now that I have got the constipation issue sorted, he said these are all good signs.

Cheers & thank you all for your kind thoughts.

Barry

Linda_Howell wrote on Aug 31^st, 2012 at 7:03pm:

Talking to several people here by phone and I don't think you even realize what a support of love and prayers going out to you.

Hi Linda; Yes I do realize & appreciate the enormous amount support, love & prayers that are coming from my friends here, it may not be said outright but sometimes the one simple word says a lot more than the length of the word itself & I see & feel that in every post.

It's the positive vibes coming from every one around me that gives me a greater strength to fight on, I've fought the beast & won this is just another battle & another fight I will win.


Quote:

I’m bored

Quote:

How about getting a Kindle reader and downloading free books that you've never had time in the past to read.  It's a win-win situation.  No boredom AND you are educating yourself.   ;D

I'm not a great reader unless it's of a technical nature & I have had a couple of my work mates forward some incomplete technical documentation I was working on before I had to come down for treatment, I'm now getting my teeth into this & it will be rewarding to be able to finish this work.

Cheers & thanks again for your love, support & prayers.
Barry

Hey, Barry.  Bit of bad news from Sydney University and the CSIRO.  It seems the hops used to make beer contain female hormones (phytoestrogens) and excess consumption can turn a lot of blokes into women.

They got 100 men to down 8 schooners each in an hour and almost every one of them;

   a)   Argued over nothing,
   b)   Refused to apologise when obviously wrong,
   c)   Gained weight,
   d)   Talked excessively while making no sense,
   e)   Became overly emotional,
   f)   Couldn’t drive,
   g)   Failed to think rationally,
   h)   Had to sit down while urinating.

Seems the only ones to get through unscathed was a couple of ClusterHeads so there’s hope for us yet.

Yay Barry, great to hear!  I pray it continues and that everything goes WAY better than expected!!

:)mel

Hi Barry I know we chatted a while back but I have been gone for a while.  I'm so sorry to read about your bad news.  Jimi said it the best cluster heads are fighters and if anyone can kick this beasts ass just like you have been kicking that other beasts ass all these years.  Your in our prayers buddy. Stay strong :)

Barry_T_Coles wrote on Aug 31^st, 2012 at 11:55pm:

I saw the Doc again ... he said these are all good signs. All in all I am feeling well & confident.

Barry, reallly good work!





Quote:

I have had a couple of my work mates forward some incomplete technical documentation I was working on before I had to come down for treatment, I'm now getting my teeth into this & it will be rewarding to be able to finish this work.

Nothing like having time and a preoccupation with skill.   :)


Umm... after poor quick choices today, if you can write a short technical manual for matching shirt, tie, and pants in dim light after hitting the snooze alarm three times, I'd have an interest in it.  I even looked down very slowly at work to see which shoes I had on.

This all I have:

1) Lay them out the night before.

2) Yeah sure.  I'll have time in the morning.

Thinkin about you Barry...Keep up with the treatments and kick cancers a$$. I know you will. Try to stay standing while taking a whiz...lol ;)
tachead

Kevin_M wrote on Sep 6^th, 2012 at 9:11pm:

[quote author=4F6C7F7F745259524E6261687E0D0 link=1343350324/52#52 date=1346471721] Nothing like having time and a preoccupation with skill.   :) Umm... after poor quick choices today, if you can write a short technical manual for matching shirt, tie, and pants in dim light after hitting the snooze alarm three times, I'd have an interest in it.  I even looked down very slowly at work to see which shoes I had on. This all I have: 1) Lay them out the night before. 2) Yeah sure.  I'll have time in the morning.

Not real technical but:
Get a job where the company encourages it's employees to wear the company uniform by supplying the clothing or alternatively join the armed forces, week day clothing choice problem solved.

Weekend wear, clothing optional weather permitting, weekend BBQ wear a smile :).

Going out wear, I've never had a problem my wife tells me what I will be wearing & of course I do as I'm told.

Cheers
Barry

Thanks for the reports, Barry.  I've not posted following the first reply, but there is not a time I come on this board that I don't pray for you.  I also have reminders elsewhere to keep you uplifted before God frequently. 

I'm glad you have something now to keep you occupied.  Boredom is worse than any malady I've ever suffered!

Be well, my friend,
Jerry

Quote:

Get a job where the company encourages it's employees to wear the company uniform by supplying the clothing or alternatively join the armed forces, week day clothing choice problem solved.

Good approach, uniform discipline and predictability, and I can fool people into thinking I'm normal.  Just roll up the sleeves to look busy, or alternatively, be busy dropping for 150 pushups.  You can only fool some of the people some of the time.




Quote:

Weekend wear, clothing optional weather permitting, weekend BBQ wear a smile

Ah the leisure times.  Worry-free from any work rules about butt-crack, where ya gotta shut-up, don't stare, and no smiling as it applies to females so that they may be none the wiser.  Yeah that discipline thing.  I'm fooling none of the people none of the time.




Quote:

Going out wear, I've never had a problem my wife tells me what I will be wearing & of course I do as I'm told.

God are you smart.  Now I know why they're called technical MANuals -- and much needed.  Thanks.

Hi Folks
I had the last of this round of chemo last Thursday and up until now I haven’t had much to be able to let people know how I have progressed with the treatment.

Apart from being tired a lot I have had little or no reaction to the chemo drugs, from the blood samples that get taken prior to each treatment the doctor can determine how things are going within my body and all the signs are good with all of my vital organs working perfectly and my bone marrow producing sufficient white blood cells without having to take any medication to assist

The Chemo Oncologist is really pleased with the results so far, he is very confident that the tumors have shrunk and is thinking that they may have shrunk more than was thought possible at the onset.
I will have a full body bone scan and CT on my lung 30/10/12, from there he will be able to assess just how much the tumors have shrunk.

He confided in me the other day that by the time I was diagnosed and was put in his care there was little under normal circumstances he could do for me other than palliative care to make me comfortable until such time as I simply fell off the perch (my words not his).

The goal posts have moved for the better, with the tumors shrinking the way they appear to have done he now considers that I am a prime candidate for maintenance therapy, something that really shouldn’t have been possible before.

What will happen from here on is; get the scans done & assess the effectiveness of the chemo & the minor radiation therapy I had initially, from there I will go on the maintenance therapy for 9 lots that will consist of a 1 hour session every three weeks over a period of 27 weeks.

Once he is happy that the maintenance therapy is progressing to his satisfaction it looks like I may be able to return home some time in the New Year & fly down every 3 weeks for the treatment under the PATS scheme.

He is also looking at attacking the tumor in my lung the main offender but that is yet to be determined as to which way things will go.

This is by no way a cure but gives me the confidence that the future looks a hell of a lot brighter.

One day at a time.
Cheers
Barry

I consider this very good news Barry! My hope is this is but one of many good reports to come.

Bill

Cheers to you too, mate, and our sincere regards to She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.




(Just as an afterthought, you may consider changing the name of this thread.)

It's great to see updates like this. May you continue to surprise your doctors with your good progress.

The little internal repairmen certainly don't have three guys screwing in a lightbulb, their technical manuals must have been well documented. ;)

Great job, Barry.    :)

Great news Barry... prayers are with you... and you know who luvz ya.. :-*

BarbaraD wrote on Oct 15^th, 2012 at 5:22am:

Great news Barry... prayers are with you... and you know who luvz ya.. :-*

DITTO

That is great Barry... Been keeping you in my Prayers and thoughts... God can and God will...

Stay strong my dear Brother...  Kick that Little c in the a$$...  [smiley=hug.gif] [smiley=hug.gif]

Peace & Blessings
LL

Thank you for the update Barry and with a good one too. :)

This is pretty good news - may it continue and just get better and better!!!!!

Sounds good here too Barry!

I'm widja.

Charlie

Thanks for the good news!  Praying for you, my friend!

Jerry

That is terrific news Barry!  Us Cluster heads are a resiliant lot.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Good luck for 30th.

Keep the good news coming Barry. [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe

Be thinking of you tomorrow Barry.  All the best  [smiley=hug.gif]

Hi Folks
I had the scans done Tuesday last week (5 hours in a railway tunnel)& met with the Chemo Doc last Thursday & the results aren’t what we where hoping for.

The tumours haven’t shrunk as well as was expected & some have increased but it’s not the end of the line, the Doc says the outlook is still positive given what has happened so far.

I meet with the Radiation Doc on Monday to start another round of radiation & commence the maintenance chemo treatment next Wednesday.

Am still feeling pretty good in myself with only a little pain now & then but the super pills soon fix that.

Cheers for now will keep you updated as I get results.
Barry

Sorry to hear that the tests weren't great.  But great to hear that you are feeling good and that your doctors are confident of a positive outcome!

Keeping you in my thoughts Barry x

Thanks for the update Barry...my thoughts and prayers continue for you....Lenny

Barry, you are still in my thoughts.   [smiley=heart.gif]

Prayers continue for you, Barry.

Thanks for the update Barry. It seems there is never an ideal path down this road.  Prayers continue...

-Dennis-

Praying regularly for you, my friend! 

Jerry

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers family, it helps with the positivity.

Cheers
Barry