Bad news.

[Swampy]

Well, I've been holding off saying anything to make sure I wasn't crying wolf or anything.

So, here it goes.

About 7 weeks ago, I woke up and had problems breathing. It was painful to breath, not hard to breath. Felt like I had a broken bone or two in my upper right shoulder/chest.

Long story short, my primary doctor put me on an anti-inflammatory pill for a week. Nothing happened. Went back and he put me on steroids. Nothing happened. Started having more serious pain problems and couldn't hardly sleep because of it all. Got some weak pain pills and he scheduled a CT scan for the following Thursday. Came home from my gallery Wednesday and was drinking some water. Went down the wrong pipe and made me cough. Cough hurt so bad, I was on the floor in pain. Connie made me go to the ER and they did the CT Scan then and there. The CT Scan revealed a small mass in my upper right lung (apex).

The following week (last week and yesterday) I went through some breathing tests, a broncial scope or whatever they call it where they took some biopsies from my lung and yesterday a PET Scan.

Tests came back to the pulmanary specialist who called me yesterday to tell me that I have stage 3b adenocarcinoma in my right lung. I have some node issues showing up in the tests, but they have to do more test to see if it's cancerous or just infected or inflammed.

I have no other information other than that for now until I see the oncologist on Thursday and may even need to have some more tests before I get more information even.

This is the reason for asking for a pair of moderators to help keep an eye on the forums. BJ has been pretty slammed at work but can handle issues with the server.

So, hardware issues, BJ will take care of, message issues will be handled by Jim and Tony. If anything else happens, I can walk Connie through fixing it or take care of it myself. I'm just not hanging around the computers as much the past few weeks since I'm only getting a couple hours of sleep a night/day and am pretty exhausted and the hard stuff hasn't even started yet.

I am working on a blog page for Connie and sometimes myself to put updates on. You can register and hopefully the email notifications will work and send you an automated email when we've added new news. The blog can be found here: http://bryanmaine.com/blog/

Don't be shy and not leave any messages of your own there either. :)

Thanks guys.

Bryan

[ChazR]

I'm dumbstruck and don't know what to say, Bryan. You know that I, and every member of this forum, will be pulling for you.

[photoworks]

Υou're strong and you can deal with it ;)

[paulc]

sorry for your bad news m8, but wishing you the best.

[Bilbo]

Very sorry to hear the news Bryan - wishing you the best.

Bob

[sandman]

You know the problems i'm having , but there nothing , NOTHING compaired to yours , I'm praying the outcome is good Bryan .
Theres nothing more i can say , like all the other forum members i'm shocked at this news.
Your in my thoughts .

Brian

[Ol'coot]

Bryan,

I agree with the other forum member as I am still in shock from the bad news. Janice and I will keep you, Connie and all your family in our every prayers, Concentrate on taking care of yourself and please call on me for anything that I can do here or otherwise as I am happy to help in any manner I can.

Tony

[rekhon]

Bryan is a great job what you did here, and how everybody cared for everybody. I hope that you don't have cancer and that you will be OK. You'll be in the prayers of me and my family. So many bad news...

[coolrun]

Best wishes for a quick diagnosis and speedy recovery to good health.

[phil]

Very sorry to hear the news - wishing you the best.

[Wichita Wayne]

Sorry to hear this news. You and your family are in for a real rollercoaster of emotions. I hope and pray that everything will work out bestfor you and your family. And let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

[Sleeping Bear]

Dang, I can see why you want to delegate the moderator duties. Hang in there, we'll keep you in our prayers.

If there is anything Mary and I can do let us know.

[High ISO!]

Hi Bryan,
I'm sorry to hear this news too......

I know you're tough, and you'll get through this....and back to normal in no time!

I'm thinking of you, just wanted to let you know.

Alissa

[Auminer]

What a kick! Our prayers are for your full recovery Bryan. Please keep us informed, it seems to help carry the load.

Bless you and Connie too!

[Linda G]

Bryan,

Totally speechless. Whatever, whenever, just say it and we'll make it happen. You need us to be out there, Connie needs us, we'll be there.

[JPS]

Just got to my workshop, read the latest news on my favorite site (here, of course) and got the shocking news !

Without knowing you personally, i beleive you're a "solid" guy, and in any case you will fight... and WIN !

Be sure that you (and Connie) will be in my thoughts everyday... i'll check your blog for sure !

Best wishes,
J-P.

[KeithM]

Whichever road you're heading down Bryan, I wish you a speedy recovery back to full health.

Hang in there !

Keith.

[1970gidget]

I will keep you in my prayers. Get well!

[lightwrangler]

Bryan, what a shock to read this. I hope for everything in your treatment to go right. Your spirit and enthusiasm make this site work and I hope will serve you well on the road ahead. Do whatever you need to in order to get well, if you need anything, just ask.

All the best,
Adrian

[GaryB]

Shocking news. I am sure a positive attitude and great doctors will sort things out...

[Igor]

Be strong, man, you'll overcome it. We'll pray for your health.

[jhawk1000]

Swamp

As Linda has written, if you need anything we will do our best to help. Please keep us up to date on this and tell Connie to call anytime.

Mel

[AzRich]

I don't know what to say! Hopefully it won't be as bad as the worst case scenario. Even so, sounds pretty rough. Luckily you're a strong person, and relatively tough.

Here's hoping that the news will be better as you find out exactly what's happening :)

Wish I could be more help,

[Andy B]

Bryan,
Whatever it is, you'll beat it.
You're a fighter.
Every best wish.

Andy

[Swampy]

Thanks everyone! We had more bad news yesterday and you can read about it on my blog. :(

The blog is up and running completely now and BJ and I have also installed a new chat room that is seperate and has sound. So go log in to it and wait for some sounds.

http://bryanmaine.com/chat

[Ross]

Bryan, I only just saw this. like the others I'm a bit stuck for words, but my thoughts and hopes are with you and Connie...

Ross

[easternherp]

What can I say that everyone else hasn't? I can't so I will just wish you good luck and hope that the outcome will be a good one. You have a lot of friends here thinking about you and Connie and I am sure you will overcome your troubles.

Andrew

[pauly99]

Shocked to read this. Keep your spirits up Bryan. In spite of the treatments and how you may be feeling, take the time to watch some funny movies and laugh as much as you can.

[Brabara]

Bryan i wish you very best wishes .... Barbara

[Tom V]

Bryan,
Wow! The bad news is such a shock. I wish you the best of luck. Live strong and keep on doing your best. Devote and budget your time for the things you value most. You are in my thoughts. Tom

[Bill C]

Bryan - I haven't been hanging around here much lately, however, I always come back 'home'. Of course, my thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Bill

[Swampy]

Again, I thank you all for the wonderful wishes and prayers. While I'm not responding to each and every post, please know that I am reading every one of them and holding them close.

I also appreciate those who catch me in chat when I can't sleep at night. It's been a lot of fun and helps me pass the time quickly.

[Wolfspirit]

Hi B, so sorry to hear, my thoughts and prayers are with you and be strong.Warren

[chris72]

Sorry to hear this bad news, I hope to be OK,
I wish you all the best,
Sincerely,
George or Chris

[BadpicKev]

sorry to hear of your news.


i hope you have an easy recovery.

[tpj.kevin]

Just registered not too long ago, and came across this news..

Will be praying for you and here's to your recovery.

Take care, man.

[Agrom]

Bryan,I have 3 words to say to you

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Goodluck and believe

(sorry that's 5 words)

Regards
Glen

[jesd]

Bryan,
Just saw this... I wish you ALL THE BEST in the future!!!! Also my thought are with you.

Jes

[toners]

You have a lot of good thoughts coming your way, Bryan and Connie. You've reached out to us through the years and built a community here. I don't swing by here every evening, but when I do, I know I will come away with something that contributes to improving my photography work. Now, if good thoughts and prayers mean anything at all, you certainly have them coming your way.

Cheers, man.

[Gurrah]

Ivebeen away for a while, but coming back, this is terrible news... Nor have I been sucha very long and frequent member of the forum that I feel I can call you a long time friend, but you certainly have been a nice aquaintance and as such someone who´s hospitaliy and friendliness has sunk into the entire forum, making it a place to leave, but also be able to come back to when time is due and still have that welcoming feeling alive ...as it is right now for me... Get well Bryan ! Really. I Pray too.

[Steve Wynn]

Fight it with all you have and keep up the good spirits. We're all praying for you.

Steve

[crabby]

LiveSTRONG my friend.

[robinp]

Now I feel really guilty that I've been away so long - best wishes Bryan, we all owe you a lot for your provision of this unique forum.

Cheers, Robin

[Steve P]

Yes I agree,

Not having this forum these past two weeks has been a strange feeling and just goes to show that despite the challenge you face, to have the strength to keep this place going is an astonishing thing indeed!


Thank you

[Topngu]

Brian,
I did go thru colon cancer then stroke....! so i wish U go thru...get strong mind & good spirit God always w/ U