Dad diagnosed with Lung Cancer and has spread to Liver

caringson33 · New User Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Indiana

Hi,
My Dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer that has spread to his Liver on the 2nd of June. He got the Biopsy on June 12 2009.
My Dad is 67 year's old. Quit smoking years ago.
We saw the doctor on the 16th of June and she started Chemo the next day, June 17. He has to have three days straight of Chemo for three weeks and after that I am not sure.
The doctor said that it is Small Cell Lung Cancer that has spread to his liver. She said that his liver is not in good shape. She also said that he has a bone Spur on his hip and that it starting there also.
The pathologist report that I was able to get has this as Final Diagnosis;

Liver Mass, Fine Needle Aspiration:
-Metastatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
-Immunohistochemical Stains Support the Above Diagnosis (CK7, PANKERATIN, TTF-1, SYNAPTOPHYSIN, And CHROMOGRANIN).

Has anyone with Small cell Lung Cancer that has spread been able to get it in remission?
I am lost right now. Looking for some help.

Thanks,
caringson33

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2854

Hi Caringson,

I'm so sorry to hear this news for your Dad and family. My husband was the same age and had also quit for over 2 decades before getting a late stage lc diagnosis. My heart goes out to you as I well remember this horrible period of time.

Sounds like he has good doctors who are all over this quickly. That is good and I hope he does well with the chemo.

Remission isn't typically a word that is used in lung cancer. Usually the best you can hope for is some periods of NED (no evidence of disease.) Lung cancer rarely goes away forever. Most times it is difficult to get rid of all of it at all.

May I suggest you post this same message in Dr. West's forum at CancerGRACE.org? He has a wonderful site devoted entirely to lung cancer for professional/technical questions from patients. I think it may be worth posting the report there for his take and explanation.

We'll be here to give you any information from our own experiences. We also will support you during this journey too, because it's one heckuva ride.

Many hugs and God bless,
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

melkissa

I ditto the above post. I can't answer any of your questions, I just wanted to offer an ear if you ever need to talk or vent. Positive thoughts going your way!
_________________
My dad was diag w/nsclc stage 4 & mets to spine & hips on 11/08 at age 43. Large mass on R lung & collapsed L lung. No surgery so chemo & rad 5d/wk. No results. 4/09 rushed to the hospital b/c breathing issues. Hooked up to o2 & treated for infection. Released when o2 levels were good w/help from Hospice at home. In Hospice as of 6/2/09. Passed 6/10/09. Missing you forever daddy.

caringson33 · New User Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Indiana

Hi,
Thanks for the info pbj11. I will check out the site and post there also. Thanks melkissa, I might need to talk at some point.
Dad is eating better. I think they gave him some type of steroid with his Chemo treatment. Only the second day.
I am going to have to set down and have the talk to see what he wants done if something bad happens. Our family never talks about things like that, but going to have to. I am not showing that it is getting to me when I am around Mom and Dad. I need to be strong for them. So when I do break down I make sure I am alone or with my Girlfriend.
My prayers go out to everyone dealing with Cancer, patients and family.

Take care,

caringson33

Don

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. My mother was also diagnosed with SCLC with mets to the liver. Although the treatments are rough for her (she is 84) the cancer is responding will, which will give her some more quality time...how long? Who knows...we are praying that she will be given another year or so. She is in good spirits and is able to do things.

SCLC responds better to treatment than NSCLC, but rebounds quickly. It is very aggressive. She has had four chemo sessions and may have one more.

Yes unfortunately, he needs to make final preparations. We (my brothers and I) had a lawyer come over to her house to draw up her final decrees. It is sad, but necessary.

I regularly pray for everyone on this forum...that works.
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

caringson33 · New User Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Indiana

Hi,
Thanks Don for responding to the post. I hope your Mother is feeling the best she can. Dad has lost a lot of weight, but since he started Chemo on Wednesday he is eating much better. I will have to talk to my brothers and have them stop by and Dad has his lawyer that he likes.
The posts have been very helpful, so thanks very much.
I hope the Chemo works. We need Dad around for a long time to come. I have noticed that he was getting worse the past few months. I wish I would have been able to notice more so he could have caught it before it spread to his liver.

Take care,

caringson33

Don

Hi,

Don't blame yourself for not noticing symptoms. SCLC typically does not present symptoms until it is too late. In our case, a Urologist doing a work up for bladder infections ordered an abdominal CT scan and they found the cancer in her liver first. Then after more CT scans, they found the primary tumor in her lung. Also, Mom has Crohns disease so she always had some type of ailments, so we didn't notice anything unusual.

Anyway, the best thing to do is to spend alot of time with your Dad and pray for the best.

Good Bless. DonB
_________________
Don B
Dec 07 Dx Follicular NHL, Grade I (Indolent)
Stage IIIA - No Symptoms
Watch and Wait - 6 Month Checks
Jan 09 Scan shows Progression - no symptoms
May 18, 09 - Started R-CVP
After Third Round, CT scan showed some tumor shrinkage
July 31,09 - Completed 6 Rounds R-CVP

caringson33 · New User Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Indiana

Hi,
I am lost right now. To start off Dad has had three "Cycles", of Chemo Treatment. I misunderstood the Oncologist. His treatment is Chemo for three days straight and three weeks off and goes for another three days and three weeks of no treatment.
On June 8 we had to take him to the ER for high calcium in his blood, was there for three days. On the 29th of June he was taken to the ER for Pneumonia and found that the cancer has spread to the lymphnodes and was released on July 4th. Had another three days of Chemo starting on the 8th of July. After the treatments he says he felt better and was eating much better. After those treatments he had to have blood transfusions for low White Blood Cells and Red Blood Cells and for low Magnesium. that was on the 21-23.
We had to rush him to the ER yesterday on the 25th of July for Pneumonia again and they said it is worse this time. He is in ICU and they are not sure what is going on with him yet. For some reason his White Blood Cell count is very high and they don't know why. They said that the next 24 hours is critical. Do you know why this is ? Or has anybody had the same problem after treatment and transfusions?
I am just lost right now. Thanks for your help.

caringson33

P.S. Don, I also have Crohns and it can get bad. I hope your Mother is doing good.

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 153

Hi Caringson,
I am so sorry your Dad is doing so poorly. I can speak to you about the hypercalcemia as my husband battles it frequently. Cancer tumors produce substances that activate the normal osteoclasts (bone eaters in normal bone resorption) making them work on bone much more than normal. They actually break down the bone and release the calcium into the bloodstream. Excess calcium causes a myriad of symptoms that can be life threatening. Over time the hypercalcemia becomes untreatable (Dr. West calls it a leaky boat but you only have a dixie cup to bail with). The lack of appetite is one of the symptoms of hypercalcemia as patients just lose all desire and sometimes feel that they can't swallow.
Leukocytosis is an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood as a result of infection. Sometimes cancer patients present with Hypercalcemia-leukocytosis syndrome. This looks like just a bout with pneumonia but needs further investigation. You might want to pass this by the docs.
I will pray for you and your Dad that you can get through this bump in the road,
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

caringson33 · New User Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Indiana

Hi Onecoyote,
Thanks for the info. I will let the doctors know. Sounds like my Dad. Loss of appetite and he say's he is having problems swallowing and get choked very easy.
He is out of ICU and the doctor said that the Pneumonia is in both lungs and it is where the cancer is and that is why he is coughing but nothing comes up.

Thank you,
caringson33

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