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Is this the end for MIL with SCLC? What is this ?

 
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momof3
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Joined: 25 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:59 pm    Post subject: Is this the end for MIL with SCLC? Reply with quote
Hi. I am new here and am looking to get some guidance for myself and my husband who is very much in denial regarding his Mom who was diagnosed June 07 with Stage 4 SCLC with met to the bones. She underwent chemo and went into short remission in Nov. Tumors were back by Dec. Just had two more rounds of chemo and a scan today showed a complete "white out" in one lung. She has been coughing up blood, running a fever and can barely walk. They are giving up chemo but considering radiation. He is trying to be so hopeful and I want to be supportive but also realistic. He is supposed to go away for 3 weeks on business travel and I don't think he should go. Do you think she is getting close to the end? Thank you for any help.
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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4291
Location: Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Is this the end for MIL with SCLC? Reply with quote
Hi momof3. I am very sorry for your MIL's cancer. It does sound like she is coming close to the end. How fast could your husband come back in the case of an emergency? So dangers are so many for your MIL. If she is coughing up blood, there is blood in her lungs which could cause a blood clot. A blood clot to the lungs is one of the fastest ways with very little warning a person can die. Even if the person is in a hospital, a clot to the longs can kill without the staff being able to do anything. I am not trying to scare you or your husband... just to give you an idea of the dangers.

It is impossible to predict how long your MIL has. You and your husband are facing a difficult decision. You, your husband, and your MIL are in my thoughts and prayers.
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pbj11
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Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1301
PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:11 am    Post subject: Re: Is this the end for MIL with SCLC? Reply with quote
Hi,

I can't give you any advice on a time frame. They can go very quickly or linger on for weeks, months. This is very tough. I have a son who lived out of town and there was no way to predict when a rushed flight into town would have been advisable. My husband turned very rapidly and there was no time. I'm sorry this is happening. If business is unavoidable, he can spend time with her now. You don't always have to be with someone when they actually pass away and many people cannot be there for one reason or another. That doesn't mean you loved them any less.

I'm a little confused. Unless the doc is extremely cutting-edge, either your MIL has ED-SCLC or Stage IV NSCLC. This might be good to know -- SCLC grows more rapidly than NSCLC. Any radiation would be for palliative purposes at this point.

Coughing up blood is common in lung cancer. Tumors and surrounding tissue gets irritated and they can bleed. Coughing propels the junk up and out and it's streaked with blood. If she has a clot, she'll know it as she'll suddenly become SOB. Although lung cancer patients have a higher risk of clots, that should have shown on the scan or via symptoms. Coughing up blood was one of the reasons my husband went to the doctor in the first place. It comes and goes during the course of the illness and some of the worst clot type blood came when he had the least amount of cancer. Fever could be from pneumonia. Fever and not walking well could be an indication of paraneoplastic syndrome. Did they say the white-out was cancer, pneumonia, or pleural effusion? What are the doctors saying overall?

Sorry again -- I've probably been of no help.

God bless,
PBJ
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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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