small cell lung cancer

sundial · New User Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: uk

hi, this is my first post on this site as my father was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer 2 weeks ago. He has two lumps on the side of his neck which when tested were malignant, also a little bit in his stomach, his treatments of chemo starts on friday, he has a severe pain in his left arm which will not go away and he is having trouble sleeping at night, can anyone tell me the mortality rate for this type of cancer.

isidella · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: small cell lung cancer

Sundail,
Your father has extensive stage small cell lung cancer. Without any treatment the average survival is 5-12 weeks (this is an estimate). The most effective chemo protocols give an average survival of 6-12 months. From what I understand, prophylactic cranial irradiation can increase survival in some cases. Ask your oncolgists. I have personally known two long term survivors of extensive stage small cell lung cancer and both people had chemo (etoposide/cisplatin) and chest irradiation. This disease can take people very quickly. In other cases, if the chemo is well tolerated, people can do very well for quite some time. It just depends.

What I have seen helps patients:
1) Stop smoking and avoid second hand smoke.
2) Eat very well (a high calorie diet - small cell can cause wasting very quickly)
3) A good attitude (patients who believe with all of their heart that they are going to survive usually do better)

Take care,
Isidella

sundial · New User Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: uk

My dad has small cell lung cancer and has had his first chemo which went well, he was supposed to have his chemo again last friday, his blood was ok but he had blisters on the sole of his left foot with a slight rash travelling up his ankle and around the foot. The doctors decided against chemo until a skin dermotologist checked him out which they did and they are treating him for shingles but are baffled that he has no pain! could this really just be shingles or is it just a reaction to chemo? Also with this type of cancer how long can you keep postponing the chemo? They are also going to give him radio on his chest as his breathing is very bad, he is absolutely terrified by all this and is having panic attacks and crying all the time.Mymum is convinced that the chemo is going to work wonders and although his cancer is agressive and will probably return she thinks that if it does he will just receive chemo every time and it will clear Rolling Eyes

Do things get better or do you think he is coming to the end?

dar68 · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

Hi-My Mom was diagnosed 2 days ago with small cell lung cancer. She had 0 symptoms until 30 days ago when she was short of breath. I have been reading non stop on the internet and books. It's all so discouraging. Can anyone tell me something good about small cell? She is 60 and the picture of health except for having the most rapid lung cancer that there is!!!!!
We are going to Fox Chase on Monday with her Scans and reports. I am hoping they will start chemo ASAP. I have read that is responds so well to Chemo then why the Doomed Diagnosis???
Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

Regina · New User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Hi dar68,
I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in March of last year (2007). I had 12 chemo sessions and six weeks of radiation on my lung. The cancer in the lung was defeated but it was suggested that I have cranial radiation for four weeks to prevent the cancer from going to my brain. It seems that small cell lung cancer loves to settle in the brain, especially behind the eyes. Well, I had the cranial radiation every day for four weeks as suggested. This was in November 2007. In March of this year (2008) I had an MRI, along with all the other tests, to see how I was doing and if the cancer returned. It did; in my brain where I wasn't supposed to get it. I have a tumor in the left side of my brain about the size of a grape. There is so much hope, though. There are new procedures out there where a neuro surgeon can actually use a lazer beam to remove the tumor without cutting into you skull. It's called something like cyber-knife. I had the procedure done last Friday and, so far, I feel great. I will not know if the procedure was successful until I have my next MRI around August but I have no problems at all.

If you, or anyone else, have any questions you can e-mail me and I'll try to answer them the best I can. I AM NOT A DOCTOR but I can tell you about my own experience.

Regina
_________________
Think positive - YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS !!!
Regina

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1265

Hi Regina,

Welcome to this website. You sound like a wonderful fighter and I'm glad that they used cutting edge technology for your new brain met. Cyber-knife is a great tool for a brain mets and I'm happy you qualified to do it.

As an FYI, please note the date of the posts that you responded to. They are pretty old, but there are others here with SCLC who I know would welcome your uplifting attitude and the information that you have. This board is all about personal experiences and it would be great for you to continue sharing.

Thanks so much for sharing and go-get-'em girl!

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

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