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@hellkatbaby Your courage and positive outlook through these difficult times is admirable. It's good that you're spending as much time with your family as possible. Medical science is really advanced these days and I sincerely hope that medical care will help the doctors control your condition effectively. Whenever possible, do let us know of your progress. A big thank you for thinking of us with your advice on staying quit. It is appreciated. All the best and many hugs!!!

You must be a truly amazing person Hellkat! Your positive attitude and courage shine through your entire post. Thank you for posting your story as something for other smokers and X-smokers to ponder. You will be helping many. I like the blog idea. It might be e good place for you to come and share your thoughts along the way.

Sending love, light, and power to you, hellkatbaby Do create a blog, you can make this private, selectively public or public, whatever you are most comfortable with. Hope you can use the power from your decision to NOPE NOPE NOPE and make your journey a bit easier. We are all behind you. S

I'm sorry you're having to fight this battle hellkat but like Deadpool, who I love too btw, I'm thinking positive that you too will come out victorious. I'm sure your treatments will be much better not having to worry about when your can go smoke. And MD Anderson is a great cancer center with state of the art equipment so if anyone can cure this, or at least get you in remission, it's them. Xoxo

Very strong and courageous post hellkatbaby. My thoughts and prayers will be with you on this battle. Strong message in so many ways and one that can help many others, keep strong!!!

I'll be doing the prayer thing for you too and I'm kinda a bit jealous that I didn't get a funky Deadpool mask. So cancer fighting tips... 1. Broccoli and walnuts... both great food choices... Although my dad swears banana smoothies with honey and malt cured is stage IV melanoma. 2. Take someone else to appointments with you. 3. Right down every question you think of between appointments and take the list with you. Give the list to you appointment buddy to tick them off and make sure you don't forget any. 4. Never be scared to ask the same question over and over again. 5. Accept others prayers, even if religion is not your thing, because when they pray that's some positive energy being sent your way and it's not going to hurt. (I got shitty with the prayer thing, and I'm churchy) 6. Keep your fluids up, even if you do t feel like anything make sure you drink. 7. It's all about you. It is not your job to worry about how anyone else is doing, or feeling or copying....you need to use all your energy for you. Thank you for sharing what you have, it's a timely reminder for all of us. Keep your head high and know we are all here cheering you on and willing to listen to you vent and celebrate ad needed.

Okay, Hellkatbaby, we are in this fight with you and with your hellova positive attitude I think we're on the winning team. You've taken this truly crappy news and managed to turn it into a post full of hope and determination, while also reminding all quitters or wannabe quitters that there are much worse things than craves to have to deal with. Thank you for posting here and I am in awe of your spirit and bravery, even though you must have your ups and downs. Please stay around and keep us updated if and when you feel like it -- it might be a good place to come to vent as well as share your successes along the way. Big hugs to you.

hellkatbaby, I am so glad that you posted here and hope that you will let us support you through this battle. I will immediately start praying for you and the wisdom of the doctors treating you. Your positive attitude is a definite asset and will help you through this fight. Please keep us updated. Linda

NOPE

Nope not ever!

Gday NOPE to start the day

NOPE!

Nope

This is a hard one for me - wasn't quite where I should post it or even at all. But felt this tale of caution would jolt those that were in denial with their quit to wake up a little more, and for those who are trying so hard to keep their quit to NEVER GIVE UP - EVER! Sooo, here it goes.... I went to the ER Tuesday when the headaches returned. I've had 5 maybe 6 days to process all of this so please bear with me, things may be a bit out of order or scattered but this is the 1st post anywhere regarding this and the ONLY place I plan to post about this for now. There's no way to sugar coat any of what I'm about to say - so I'm just going to say it. Obviously these are not your basic headaches - this is stage 4 - lungs to lymph node to brain. That being said and many tests and scans later my quickly assembled mini team from MD Anderson are very hopeful and positive. They have been straight shooters from day one explaining with all the advanced technology while this is not curable it is treatable and manageable And they are not here to give me a 'set date' but hope. They feel with targeted radiation starting with the brain, which at this point is the size of a nickle at the largest and smaller clusters that they can be shrunk and controlled. Still waiting for the biopsy to return to determine what 'family/class and organ this originated at as that will let them know how to proceed with rest of the treatment as far as lungs, etc. So I know radiation/chemo is the course at this point. As I said I was admitted on Tuesday and given the fact that in spite of all that was thrown my way in just that 48hrs my attitude toward all of it - remaining positive, asking questions, taking notes and not spiraling out of control they were comfortable enough to feel they could discharge me with a high dose of steroids for the swelling and reduce the headaches. (which they have) They felt that my 'score' was high enough that to keep me inpatient was not the right place for me and discharged me Wed. night after the biopsy. So I've been taking things day by day, step by step, as I've said it's a lot to take in, obviously not a 5yrd dash but a marathon. Tomorrow I meet with the rest of my 'team' at MD Anderson to get a tour of the center and from all my notes taken at the hospital between me and family they want to start with the brain radiation pretty quickly. I get my own 'spiderman' mask as they call it - but I'm a Deadpool fan - he kicked ass and had a sense of humor to match so It will be my Deadpool mask - those that know that movie will get it and hopefully appreciate where I coming from with that. So I'm sure that is one of the topics we will go over in more detail, and to answer the questions I have for them as well that seem to pile up as the days have passed. Anyhow - POSITIVITY and keeping up the good fight is the name of the game still - just a new battle is all. I have my ups and downs as expected but for now I'm keeping things on the UP. Went out to the river house where my sister lives and spent the day Thursday for some fresh air and a change of scenery. Went to lunch with the family Friday, got some things done yesterday and then lunch with my son today. I have not and do not plan to keep anything from my family as at this point they are my biggest support team. We are all soaking it up in our own different ways and that's natural. As I said today is just day 6 since the news. I may start a blog on here but know nothing about this RSS Feed/Twitter - yadda yadda. So felt right here at the start is where I would start. Please keep in mind this IS NOT A PITY POST!!! This is about no matter where you are in your fight against smoking of why you NEVER QUIT QUITTING THE GOOD FIGHT!!!

POSITIVELY NOPE !!!!!

Nope

I am pretty sure this is my party. I am so excited I am getting ready

NOPE!

NOPE...

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do actually have that picture hanging but I pasted a fig leaf over his stick. I do not know why I loved that guy. I have all his Ben Casey series on CD and his music albums. My girlfriends got me a Ben Casey doctor kit for retirement.

What a Strong person you are ...you will fight this ...and we will help you ... I'm sorry your having to deal with this...and of course you are in my prayers too... I hate cigarette,s with a passion .... Please stay close and read all you can ...

NOPE

It's OK... I've found another Shipment....phew !!!!

NOPE

Even our pets wanna join in the fun

NOPE !!!!....

NOPE...

Nope!

NOPE!

Sorry about what you're dealing with Hellkatbaby. You have a great attitude and courage to spare though. I certainly wouldn't bet against you. Godspeed.

He is a hunk. The naked picture he is in a Herculies pose.

I would have said #2 also, but I was too busy looking up pictures of Ben Casey.

It is #1. I did accidentally walk through wet cement (because I was too busy looking at my butt in the store windows). I happened to be working for the Sherrifs office and when I returned to work, they already knew about it and pretended to arrest me for a joke.

Number 3 is a lie unless you have a secret hidden room in the basement that your grandchildren don't know about.

This is my supply of Champagne and Cognac. I will fit it all inside The QuitTardis as usual. There must be no delay.

I heard @Sazerac is on her way to pick up the wine too

12 Hello darling nicotine free slayers. You know, back in the day, the sticks had to cheat to win. Ask anybody.

Had an incident with the beer delivery. No one was hurt but, will we recover the loss of suds in time ? I'll bring Cognac and Champagne in The Tardis (with a clean safety record)

NOPE

Apparently not. It seems I am the Goat ... derisive sports term for a player responsible for a team's loss OR the greatest of all time -- you pick.

Nope!

Love it! I'm happy to lose for a good cause.

Awesome @Jordan7, thanks! He's the one standing behind the fan in the black suit

So, you're saying this is going to be a dry event

@jillar wins the yardbird dinner ! I could mend sails, but, I haven't. @reciprocity When I lived a ways up a dirt road, during major rains, I would put on rain gear, grab my mattock and go out to 'ditch the road' which is making a shallow diagonal ditch across the bed of the road, draining water into the bigger ditch on the low side of the road. Digging and cleaning the bigger ditch took a shovel or a back-hoe. "In the old days, in a bad rainstorm, the farmer went out with a hoe and cut herringbones off the side of the road, so the water would go off the side instead of washing out the middle of the road," (from 'Road Maintenance on Your Dirt Road) It was actually fun work, playing in the water.

NOPE

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever!