Small Cell lung cancer

worriedgranddaughter

Hi Everyone,
I am very new at this, but hoping to get some good advise. My grandmother was dianosed last year w/Small Cell lung cancer. She went through the chemo and radiation finished it all. She also went through brain radiation as a precaution. We had a follow up this week w/the doctor. We were told that it is back and her lung is has alot of fluid, and the cacer is in all of the lympnodes. The doctor told us that it would not help to drain the fluid because it will come right back. She can also have the chemo but it will not help and just make her very sick. She said if she decides not to take the chemo we may want to call Hospice because it will be about 6-months. Has anyone been through this before.
Worriedgrandaughter

MichelleP

I'm sorry to hear about your
I'm sorry to hear about your Grandmother. There are a few things I don't understand about her treatment. Why would they do brain radiation as a precaution if there are no mets there? And as far as the fluid, it certainly is a good thing to have that drained. Yes, sometimes it does return but they can continue the draining process. My husband had it done many times. Leaving the fluid there causes many problems, especially discomfort to the patient. And I don't understand why they suggested no chemo? Have you gotten a second opinion?

worriedgranddaughter

MichelleP said:

I'm sorry to hear about your
I'm sorry to hear about your Grandmother. There are a few things I don't understand about her treatment. Why would they do brain radiation as a precaution if there are no mets there? And as far as the fluid, it certainly is a good thing to have that drained. Yes, sometimes it does return but they can continue the draining process. My husband had it done many times. Leaving the fluid there causes many problems, especially discomfort to the patient. And I don't understand why they suggested no chemo? Have you gotten a second opinion?

I am not really sure they
I am not really sure they said w/the small cell it is so likely to go to the brain so that is why. It is not there because they did the MRI last week and results came back ok. The only option's that we have are to leave it or do the chemo and she said it would not really help. I would really like to get a second opinion. Thanks for your post.

soccerfreaks

MichelleP said:

I'm sorry to hear about your
I'm sorry to hear about your Grandmother. There are a few things I don't understand about her treatment. Why would they do brain radiation as a precaution if there are no mets there? And as far as the fluid, it certainly is a good thing to have that drained. Yes, sometimes it does return but they can continue the draining process. My husband had it done many times. Leaving the fluid there causes many problems, especially discomfort to the patient. And I don't understand why they suggested no chemo? Have you gotten a second opinion?

Michelle
Just a head's up: when things don't make sense to you, they probably don't make sense.

Take care of yourself.

Joe

tgentle

what little I have learned
Hello WGD:
My best friend was diagnosed last August with Small Cell Lung Cancer and I have been learning everything that I can about the disease and treatment options. The literature does support the precautionary radiation in many patients. The disease will find its way to the brain, liver, lymphnodes, and bones in most cases. In terms of the chemo, it is always pallative (for comfort and control of the tumor growth) rather than curative. At some point, the spread is so significant that there seems to be a decision about the quality of life. Again, the literature that I have been able to find lays this out. I have gone to cancer sites, just googled SCLC and read all the different information that comes up. If there is pain and discomfort from the tumors, it seems that they continue chemo otherwise the choice is based on the comfort of the patient in terms of the chemo side effects vs. the pain management at the end stage.

Hope this is helpful. Trish

tgentle

soccerfreaks said:

Michelle
Just a head's up: when things don't make sense to you, they probably don't make sense.

Take care of yourself.

Joe

Need for support and information
As I mentioned in my other posting, my friend has sclc. She already had tumors on her liver, gallbladder and lymphnodes when they diagnosed her. She took her first round of chemo and the tumors really did not shrink. She is currently on a different type of chemo but in June discovered brain tumors. These were treated with radiation and now we are waiting for a few weeks to do another PetScan and see what the status is. The doctor said that she likely has 2-3 months but could have four.

The doctor is not talking with her about what to expect in these months and has not shared that there are only a few months remaining as my friend does not want to ask those questions. She is still focused on beating this thing. As her primary care giver, I feel the need to know what will happen and what to plan around. So far, I have been doing everything but it is just too much to handle alone. She can no longer drive and she is frightened to be alone. She has a son that is willing to help but she has developed a strong dependence on me, likely from all the things she has been through and I was there.

I have searched for sites that would discuss the progression of the disease in the last stages but have really not found any helpful information. I am wondering if there is some one out there that I can talk to about what they have experienced. Any ideas. Thanks.

jensmom01

hey
i'm going through it with my momma she has had lung cancer for 2 yrs. and the dr. told us there was not anything else they could do except to try and get her in emory hospital to have surgery but it's only an eight percent that we will not lose her. we've been through it with my grandpa all you can do is leave it up to god and let him do all the work and all we have to do is pray that we're not going to lose our loved ones. does anyone think that i may need some help because all i do is cry all the time or is it normal for a daughter to cry as much as i do.

DorothyClarice

jensmom01 said:

hey
i'm going through it with my momma she has had lung cancer for 2 yrs. and the dr. told us there was not anything else they could do except to try and get her in emory hospital to have surgery but it's only an eight percent that we will not lose her. we've been through it with my grandpa all you can do is leave it up to god and let him do all the work and all we have to do is pray that we're not going to lose our loved ones. does anyone think that i may need some help because all i do is cry all the time or is it normal for a daughter to cry as much as i do.

I can relate
my mom has sclc too and i am crying a lot too. She had a needle biopsy that created a phenumo-thorax and kept her in the hospital for 7 days with a chest tube and extremely uncomfortable... she has been very uncomfortable and in need of constant oxygen since the procedure. She walked in the hospital feeling fine and has never been the same since.

worriedgranddaughter

jensmom01 said:

hey
i'm going through it with my momma she has had lung cancer for 2 yrs. and the dr. told us there was not anything else they could do except to try and get her in emory hospital to have surgery but it's only an eight percent that we will not lose her. we've been through it with my grandpa all you can do is leave it up to god and let him do all the work and all we have to do is pray that we're not going to lose our loved ones. does anyone think that i may need some help because all i do is cry all the time or is it normal for a daughter to cry as much as i do.

Surgery
Well my grandma hasn't been given to option for surgery. We are calling her doctor monday to find out why she hasn't mentioned it since it is only in one lung. Her doctor has not really been that helpful. My grandma had the first round of chemo and radiation but it only shrunk a little. Now it is in the limpnodes, and the doctor said she can take chemo but it probably won't help. Has anyone been through this? We are going to switch doctors and get a second opinion
Thanks,
Worried