husband just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. had partial lung removed 3 years ago

blueslady
blueslady Member Posts: 3
3 years ago my husband had lung cancer. It was the non aggressive kind and they got it all. He's had semi annual check ups since. On his last Ct scan they found a spot. Last week a bronscopy revealed a tumor in the lymph node. The path report today comfirmed small cell lung cancer. He is undergoing scans to look for any other areas it might have invaded.

His brother had the same thing and the radiation burned his throat so bad he never was able to eat solid foods again and always carried water as his saliva gland were so badly damaged by radiation.

My question to any of you is how to I try to keep my husband hopeful when he watched his brother go through the same thing and die within 3 years?

God Bless each of you that is struggling like I am. I try to tell myself not to cry, it's not about me. But I seem to cry all the time.

Comments

  • sissylu1
    sissylu1 Member Posts: 66 Member
    support
    You remind your husband that he survived one bout with lung cancer and he can survive another..remind him there have been medical advances in the past 3 years and we all need to be reminded that we CANNOT compare our individual cases to anyone else's...cancer responds differnt in everyone...good for you for seeking help and if you have spent anytime on this post you have read more than one survival story. Also do not beat yourself up for reacting to how this is impacting you-cancer affects us all and you are certainly entitled to feel the way you are because this is about you too! Hang in there and we all will be praying for you!
  • angelyn
    angelyn Member Posts: 51
    sissylu1 said:

    support
    You remind your husband that he survived one bout with lung cancer and he can survive another..remind him there have been medical advances in the past 3 years and we all need to be reminded that we CANNOT compare our individual cases to anyone else's...cancer responds differnt in everyone...good for you for seeking help and if you have spent anytime on this post you have read more than one survival story. Also do not beat yourself up for reacting to how this is impacting you-cancer affects us all and you are certainly entitled to feel the way you are because this is about you too! Hang in there and we all will be praying for you!

    support
    I agree with sissylu, alot can happen in just ONE year. Tell him not to worry about the radiation. My mom has SCLC in her lung and went through the radiation last year with hardly any trouble, no burns, nothing. Tell him to not give up, that we may be reading his survival story many years from now.
    Angie
  • blueslady
    blueslady Member Posts: 3
    sissylu1 said:

    support
    You remind your husband that he survived one bout with lung cancer and he can survive another..remind him there have been medical advances in the past 3 years and we all need to be reminded that we CANNOT compare our individual cases to anyone else's...cancer responds differnt in everyone...good for you for seeking help and if you have spent anytime on this post you have read more than one survival story. Also do not beat yourself up for reacting to how this is impacting you-cancer affects us all and you are certainly entitled to feel the way you are because this is about you too! Hang in there and we all will be praying for you!

    thank you
    Thank you for the words of wisdom and support, not to mention the prayers. Path report confirmed 3.5 cm sclc. Now I'm praying it's not spread, scans will determine treatment plan.

    thank you again
  • blueslady
    blueslady Member Posts: 3
    angelyn said:

    support
    I agree with sissylu, alot can happen in just ONE year. Tell him not to worry about the radiation. My mom has SCLC in her lung and went through the radiation last year with hardly any trouble, no burns, nothing. Tell him to not give up, that we may be reading his survival story many years from now.
    Angie

    thank you
    I can see I'll be a regular poster here. Thank yous o much for your imput and words of support angie. I truly appreciate it.

    I decided today to do the best I can to handle it with courage, dignity and lots of love. The support from friends and family has been amazing. I know that God will provide me with the strength I need to face what ever is to come.

    Thank you so much for sharing re your mom.
  • angelyn
    angelyn Member Posts: 51
    blueslady said:

    thank you
    Thank you for the words of wisdom and support, not to mention the prayers. Path report confirmed 3.5 cm sclc. Now I'm praying it's not spread, scans will determine treatment plan.

    thank you again

    Wondering
    Please let me know what is happening with you guys. Sometimes I am on everyday and sometimes, "chemo week", I am not on as much. Hoping everything is going well and I hear from you soon.
    Angie
  • medi_2
    medi_2 Member Posts: 505 Member
    Welcome!
    I think you will see that many of us are sclc survivors. Mine was inoperable because it was so close to my heart so I had all the cisplatin, epositode (cannot spell that darn thing) and radiation. They warned me of trouble swallowing but I really had not much of a problem . Sometimes my first cup of coffee would burn in the morning but eventually subside. And here I am more than 2 years from it. Don't let him compare; we all have different side effects, the important thing is life and yes everyday treatments are improving. Just think: if there are that many survivors posting on this site, then there at least are that many out there surviving also.
    PHOOEY on cancer ;)
    Medi
  • grannysb
    grannysb Member Posts: 21
    Please keep us updated. we
    Please keep us updated. we are all praying/thinking of ya'll. I am a 25yr colon/rectal cancer survivor, and now have been diagnosed with SCLC. I am a fighter, and "AIN'T" gonna go down without a fight !!!!!!!!. I try to read often.........Hugs & Blessings
    Granny
  • grannysb
    grannysb Member Posts: 21
    medi_2 said:

    Welcome!
    I think you will see that many of us are sclc survivors. Mine was inoperable because it was so close to my heart so I had all the cisplatin, epositode (cannot spell that darn thing) and radiation. They warned me of trouble swallowing but I really had not much of a problem . Sometimes my first cup of coffee would burn in the morning but eventually subside. And here I am more than 2 years from it. Don't let him compare; we all have different side effects, the important thing is life and yes everyday treatments are improving. Just think: if there are that many survivors posting on this site, then there at least are that many out there surviving also.
    PHOOEY on cancer ;)
    Medi

    PHOOEY on cancer ;) You are
    PHOOEY on cancer ;) You are so right medi_2
    PHOOEY PHOOEY on cancer :)