mary donnelly Wrote:
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> My father was diagnosed with extensive SCLC and
> went for chemotherapy. He did not have many side
> effects except mouth sores. He took eminen as a
> drug to prevent side effects. He was diagnosed in
> Nov. 2006. He went for 5 cycles of the chemo and
> then in March he was in remission. On Memorial
> day weekend, he had two seizures and was rushed to
> the hospital. He had two brain mets that were
> pretty small about half the size of a pinky nail.
> Drs. recommended WBR instead of stereotactic
> radiotherapy because he may have other cells in
> there that are microscopic. He did 15 days of the
> radiation. He was fine until the second week and
> then he started to get tired. He is now finished
> with all radiation and is very tired. For a 78
> year old man he used to be very active and now he
> is just exhausted after showering and getting
> dressed. His appetite has diminished and is
> depressed. Its been two weeks since radiation. I
> am hoping he will snap out of this in a few weeks
> because it stinks to see him like this. Iwill
> keep everyone updated.

My father started doing better a month after the wbr and they did an mri and it said it was decreasing. However, it started to grow back in his lung. They decided to put him on taxol. He had to go for 12 treatments one time a week. The doctor said that there were no side effects. He made 6 treatments and after the 5th he started going downhill by not eating. Would call the Dr. and said it was normal. It was august at this time and we were going to do another cat scan after the 6th treatment. However my father started deteriorating with the not eating, and he started to get delusional that we couldn't leave him home alone. This was not like him. He didn't know how to work the remote control and started eating paper of the chewing gum. We decided to sent him back to the hospital. In the ER, they ran all the tests and everything came back that it was shrinking, however his sodium was low along with his potassium. The doctor said he can come back to normal after his sodium levels are low . it was because he was dehydrated and not eating. After a couple of days even after his sodium levels went up there was no change. Its call SIADH , when the cancer eats up your sodium levels and makes u off balance. It was going to keep happening. My father was eating a little bit but was hallucinating at times. He started to have the shakes really bad, I guess it was his nervous system that was going. From the time I took him to the hospital, he passed a week later. He went very fast and he did not suffer at all. He battled SCLC IV extensive stage for 10 months. Its a very difficult diagnosis because at times things can be so good and then at times you can be very tired, having seizures.

What i told my father was that your type of cancer is good for chemo. It is excellent with treating it . It may come back again but you can keep treating it with chemo. There is something that they can give her for the nausea

that's hard, my mom has outlived the statistics for extensive sclc. she was diagnosed a year and three weeks ago. my mom had no lose ends to take care of she lives with my sister and her family so we always kept the truth about "how long she will live" from her. For the whole year she felt and thought she could beat this. She did her 6 months of carbo/vp16 and then after we enjoyed life she loves mexico so we went we spent alot of time together just enjoying each other. Then 3 weeks ago her platelets were 7,ooo (so low) she was admitted in the hospital sodium went down everything went down, did a bone marrow extraction and found cancer in there too, we already found it in the brain and did radiation. So the docter pretty much said there is nothing left to do, she was like if we don't do anything I'll die. It was like all time stood still we all we looking at the doctor nervous about what he would say, my sister and I had kept that fate from her for a year and knew this moment was here. He said yes jean that is what will happen. She didn't want to except that and asked the doctor to give her the chemo she had to try. We all even the doctor knew that giving this to her would give her a bad quality of life but she wants to try. In the hospitalshe brought up where she wants to be buried and we assure her it will be alright, for 3 1/2 weeks she slept 23 hrs a day eat very little but now is doing a little better, counts still to low to continue chemo, she says on a daily basis she wants that chemo to get the cancer out of her body. I don't know if she remembers much from the hospital (low sodium and counts make you very lethargic) so she could still think she can beat this, who knows. Make sure you feed your mom fresh veggies and fruit eating right is very important, and just enjoy your time with her and let her tell you what she wants to know. Always be positive the mind is very powerful. Focus on the moment.

My mom was just diagnosed with extensive SCLC 7 weeks ago. Along with the lemon size tumor in her left lung, a PET scan revealed more cancer in her liver, pancrease and possibly her spine and femur. We are currently in her second round of Chemo and have 4 more to go. Her hair fell out less than 2 weeks after the first round. She hasn't been sick though. Thank God for that. I brought her home from the hospital to live with me so I can better care for her (she was disabled before the cancer). I have 3 children and this is very hard on them. They are 12, 9 and 6. Old enough to see what's going on but young enough that they don't understand. My mother is difficult and demanding and getting worse as the days progress.

If she's gotten this far is there still just as good a chance that the Chemo will make her sick as we do more? I can't imagine how much harder that will make it on her and the rest of the family.

God bless you all and thank you for this sight. I suddenly don't feel so all alone.

HI !
My mom is 62 years old , she have a lung cancer in Third Stage with meta in the Brain. Docs are pes˙imistic . Is my mom has a chance to survive ?
I'm waiting for your answers !

hi my dad has sclc he has not had chemo but received radiation now he is weak and nausea hasnt eaten for 4 days the doctors know theres nothing they can do so we just wait

From what I have researched on the net this aggressive, tragic disease is going to take all of us on one hell of a ride. Let us pray to God that our family members pass from this Earth as Christians. It is at times like this our faith is all we have. God will strengthen us to get through this. Let's all pray for strength and patience with our loved ones. Let's not forget to share in simple moments together. Let's all pray for our loved ones to not suffer. Quality of life is more important than quanity. Let's all pray for one another. The world does not offer us peace. Death is the doorway to eternal life. We all know what we are going through we need to pray for one another.

My mom is 76 and was diagnosed in Nov. 2007 with extensive small cell lung cancer. Her liver was very involved and enlarged. She has had six rounds of chemo and there is no disease in her lung, but it is still in her liver. The Dr. doesn't feel she can handle anymore chemo. (neither do I) she has neuropathy in her finders and legs and has a hard time keeping her balance. We have to go to the doctor this week and I'm wondering if anyone knows of any treatment for the liver or any particular questions that I should ask. Have you had a similiar experience?

Hi Linda I am setting at my computer at 11 pm just checking out small cell lung cancer. I am not a over religous person go to church 50 %. But some how I found this posting. My mom is 70 April 7 th she had a large growth removed from left kidney adrenal gland. first they said it is cancer but we got it all. YEAH then the second path report showed a lung cancer cell in the tumor and so 2 days ago she got the diagnosis small cell lung cancer with mets. They figure she has small cell in the lung and spread to the adrenal gland the tumor in the adrenal gland was largest any one seen. Well she has copd (emphysema) real bad, smoked all her life weighs 90 pounds. Has oxygen at home can not walk much cause of shortness of breath. My mom saw oncologist 2 days ago wants nothing done no chemo no more ct scans etc says if she had lung cancer she would be sicker and would not have survived the first surgery to remove the tumor. She had quit smoking 1 month ago but now is smoking says she wants to enjoy life. The oncologist said that small cell reacts well to chemo I wonder if I should try to talk my mom into it. I really do not know if she could tolerate it. Sorry to go on and on. Guess now i just support her, love her and help her as much as I can. I should not have replied to you as I can not tell you any good treatment etc all I can say is I wish you the best and perhaps you can leave me feed back on what you think about my mothers decsion. Thanks Lisa

Linda,

My dad was diagnosed in Dec '07. He also has liver involvement with some regrowth. He initially had 4 rounds of Chemo and prophylactic brain radiation.

It has been 6 months since his diagnosis and the cancer has not spread to any other areas. The area of regrowth is in the original site and is not as large as when first diagnosed.

He will start a 2nd line chemo treatment next week for this regrowth in the liver...the drug is irinotecan.

Lisa,

This disease is not curable. The treatment effects are devastating to every aspect in a person's life. It changes the way they look, the way they act/interact, the way they eat as well as what they eat IF they continue to eat at all. These physical changes can be so altering you must learn the "new" face of your parent and try not to grieve over the person they were before sickness.

I look at my dad and he looks nothing like he looked 6 months ago. As a Marine and all through life my dad has been impeccably "squared away". A very sharp man with honor and integrity as sharp as his appearance.

I think your mom's decision is admirable. It's how I would want to handle things if it were me...I just could not let my kids see me so ravaged with sickness and side effects of treatments.

Have a heart to heart and tell her how you feel. Listen to her when she tells you how she feels. I can see your side of it as a daughter would see it, but as a mom there is a different perspective.

Whatever the future holds I hope it holds happiness for you and your mom.

My husband has recurrent small cell lung cancer. He is only 55, was a smoker and a firefighter for 30 years.
It all started April 06 with limited stage cancer. He had chemo and radiation along with prophylactic brain radiation. He went into remission for a year and then it came back last July.
They gave him two more rounds of chemo and he has some response. After that more chemo with no response and we were told nothing else could be done.
He went into Hospice care at home the beginning of April 08 and to this day is doing well.
From everything I read on line about this cancer he should be gone by now…..so don’t give up hope!! He has his good and bad days. Lately his feet have started to swell really bad. Mostly his right one. Not sure what that means. Does anyone know?
I think the hardest thing with this stage of cancer is not knowing what will happen next and when. How much longer he will be with us.

My mom , as sweet as can be,is 69. She has SCLC. It was discovered in March. She was a smoker for many years and quit as soon as she found out. She has done 5 rounds of chemo. They are for 3 days, then off for 3 weeks. The first time it didn't make her sick. The second not too bad either. Since then it really knocks her down. Her onchologist prescribed a new nauscious pill. It seems to help alot. She has been very sad. She has lost alot of weight and down to 103 lbs. The cancer is in many bones and in her liver also. The chemo shrunk the lung cancer but has done nothing to the liver cancer. She has been very confused lately. I hope it hasn't spread to her brain. My father is so depressed at the thought of losing his wife that he can hardly function. It has been that way since March. I spend a few hours a week with them and talk on the phone every day. My father says that after mom is gone, he will be right after her. He says he could never live without her. They have no faith in Christ. It is all so very sad. For all of you who are going thru this, keep your faith.

my dad was told he has kidney lungs liver and spinal cord cancer can u plz tell me how long he has and how will we know when it reachees his brain he only gets palletive pain care

I don't want to sound like doom and gloom..but I had a 55 year old best friend who lost her battle with this disease. She had mets in her brain, spine, ribs, and liver. The lesion in her lung was quite small. She didn't have insurance when she started feeling sick. No coughing but lots of back and leg pain. Some tenderness in the abdomen. She had an area on her upper lip that went numb..just like when the dentist numbs you up for dental work. There was a tumor which the doctor initially thought was wrapped around her spine, which is an oncologic emergency, and was concerned about sudden paralysis. An MRI showed that the tumor was not posing any immediate threat of sudden paralysis. By the time her insurance took effect it was too late. I don't know how long she actually had sclc. The official diagnosis was made in late October of '07. She survived a few rounds of radiation to the brain and one session of chemo. Hospice was called in practically the same time the diagnosis was made. Everything seems like it happened in fast forward in retrospect. She developed pneumonia about 2 days after Christmas and passed away on January 3rd of 2008. Her faith saw her through and she maintained a sense of humor to the end. She had been a heavy smoker since she was in her late teens. We just didn't know any better back in the late 60s and early 70s.

Please remember that each case is different and don't give up hope. Let the patient be your guide because in many cases I think they're stronger than the people left to worry about them.

When the cancer spreads to the brain your dad may become disoriented, delusional, combative, or simply lethargic. My father-in-law did really strange things like trying to eat paint he'd srape off the wall! It's really impossible to know. My friend did none of those things despite having two rather large brain tumors. She was lucid until the night before she was transported to the hospital. At the hospital she was given morphine to keep her comfortable. Her passing was peaceful.

I hope this information helps and doesn't upset you anymore then you already are...just remember that hospice is wonderful and they will make sure that your dad is comfortable.

My prayers are with you and your family.

Kathe

I am just beginning my journey I was diagnosed with stage 3 nsclc than they found a 3 cm mass on my right frontal lobe and now I am stage 4 was just wondering what the survival rate is for stage 4 can't seem to find any answers. and I will have brain surgery on Wed and I do not know what the furtue will bring the are planning radiation two weeks after the surgery.

My mom is 62 yrs old and was diagnosed with limited sclc 5 years ago. She went through chemo (cisplatin and vp16) and prophylitic radation. She really did not have any side effects, she drove herself back and forth to every appt she had for 6 months. In May of 2009 they found another tumor in her chest that they began the same type of chemo, this time it really took a toll on her. She became very ill, (vomiting, slowly not being able to walk, and passing out). She finished her last session of chemo on Jan 6, 2010 and after the PET SCAN the oncologist told us the cancer was still there and there was nothing else he could do. I was not taking that as an answer so I went for a second opinion at the University of Pennsylvania where after a few appts, and 2 ct scans the tumor is no longer active, but 2 brain lessions formed and the one is pressing on the part of the bran that controls her motor skills. She is no longer able to walk, eat by herself, pretty much everything is done for her, it is like she had a stroke. They began 15 sessions of radiation and her last dose will be on August 4, 2010 and the symptoms seem to be getting worse. No one can tell me what we can expect. It is just so hard my parents live in Southern Delaware and I live in Philadlephia. I know this is a rare case but if anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate it

Thank you.