small cell back so soon devestated

tracy2377

hi everyone my husband has limited small cell lung cancer. he was diagnosed in august of last year and finished his treatments (cisplatin and etopiside and 33 rad treatments to chest)in november he had pci in january he went for a scan while he was sick and it showed an inflammed lymph node as well as pleuaral fluid they decided to rescan this week a month after the last one and it showed 3 new spots. the doctor was not optimistic at all about his prognosis he stated that he probably had about a year or so to live and with 2nd line treatment maybe if he was lucky a year and a half. he said go and have a second opinion but they will tell you the same thing. we are beyond devestated and i just wondered if anyone has any advice they mentioned clinical trials? or the standard 2nd line of treatment or just do nothing. he also said this is not curative anyone out there on 2nd like chemo have any success any help at all would be greatly appreciated. just totally beside my self help thankyou tracy

sissylu1

hope
I can't imagine how hard it was for you and your husband to be told this information but please read posts on this site and you will see that there is hope!

luz del lago

sissylu1 said:

hope
I can't imagine how hard it was for you and your husband to be told this information but please read posts on this site and you will see that there is hope!

Tracy,
I am so sorry to read
Tracy,

I am so sorry to read of the recurrence of the cancer. Those news are probably the hardest! When my husband's cancer recurred and spread, our hope, our optimism were slammed. At first he said, well, at least I know what the routine will be, I'll know what to expect in regards to the treatment. Not like when you are first diagnosed, when you have no clue as to what it will feel like.

As time passed, treatment was limited, his wonderful oncologist could not find a trial that he would qualify for, recurrence began to feel far worse than the original dx! Even though we already knew what treatment was like, so on and so forth, things felt different, scarier.

I would suggest you do seek another opinion, not so much as to the diagnosis and prognosis, but more in the direction of the trials and even treatments intended for other cancers yet have shown to do some good in lung cancer survivors. It is also a good time to have a loving discussion with your husband as to how far and how intense he wishes to go in treatment. Discuss quality of life feelings, yours and his. Come to a place where you are both at peace. Make time for special time. Do not allow the beast to consume every moment of your lives! It will if you let it!

Never give up hope! Hope is that which helps us keep going, gives us the desire to make the most of everyday. Remember to take care of yourself.

Sending you hugs and good wishes,

Lucy

angelyn

luz del lago said:

Tracy,
I am so sorry to read
Tracy,

I am so sorry to read of the recurrence of the cancer. Those news are probably the hardest! When my husband's cancer recurred and spread, our hope, our optimism were slammed. At first he said, well, at least I know what the routine will be, I'll know what to expect in regards to the treatment. Not like when you are first diagnosed, when you have no clue as to what it will feel like.

As time passed, treatment was limited, his wonderful oncologist could not find a trial that he would qualify for, recurrence began to feel far worse than the original dx! Even though we already knew what treatment was like, so on and so forth, things felt different, scarier.

I would suggest you do seek another opinion, not so much as to the diagnosis and prognosis, but more in the direction of the trials and even treatments intended for other cancers yet have shown to do some good in lung cancer survivors. It is also a good time to have a loving discussion with your husband as to how far and how intense he wishes to go in treatment. Discuss quality of life feelings, yours and his. Come to a place where you are both at peace. Make time for special time. Do not allow the beast to consume every moment of your lives! It will if you let it!

Never give up hope! Hope is that which helps us keep going, gives us the desire to make the most of everyday. Remember to take care of yourself.

Sending you hugs and good wishes,

Lucy

small cell
My mother is going through the same thing right now. She had limited sclc and went through the same chemo and radiation as your husband, except she chose not to have the pci. Her doctor is starting her back on chemo and hopefully radiation again. He sounded optimistic, not like your doctor sounded. He also told us that they have a clinical trial going that is doing extremely well with killing sclc. Don't give up hope, I know its hard some days, but you guys can do it!
Angie

bradygirl

angelyn said:

small cell
My mother is going through the same thing right now. She had limited sclc and went through the same chemo and radiation as your husband, except she chose not to have the pci. Her doctor is starting her back on chemo and hopefully radiation again. He sounded optimistic, not like your doctor sounded. He also told us that they have a clinical trial going that is doing extremely well with killing sclc. Don't give up hope, I know its hard some days, but you guys can do it!
Angie

devastated
Tracy so very sorry,I also was dx in Aug 2010 and my last scan showed an area they think is inflammation so I have my repeat next week. I will pray and send you positive thoughts. A second opinion may be benificial. Please know we are all here for you two.Keep your thoughts positive MaryAnn

tracy2377

bradygirl said:

devastated
Tracy so very sorry,I also was dx in Aug 2010 and my last scan showed an area they think is inflammation so I have my repeat next week. I will pray and send you positive thoughts. A second opinion may be benificial. Please know we are all here for you two.Keep your thoughts positive MaryAnn

brady girl
hi thanx for the reply i pray all is well with you and that you have a good scan please keep us posted. my husband went to dana faber in boston massachucetts and they are going to start him on a new clinical trial this week i will post when i know more. they were great there they told him he had a few options as far as chemo went but when the offered us to try the clinical trials we decided we are going to go with that. i will post more after his appointment this week take care and goodluck with your scan tracy

luz del lago

tracy2377 said:

brady girl
hi thanx for the reply i pray all is well with you and that you have a good scan please keep us posted. my husband went to dana faber in boston massachucetts and they are going to start him on a new clinical trial this week i will post when i know more. they were great there they told him he had a few options as far as chemo went but when the offered us to try the clinical trials we decided we are going to go with that. i will post more after his appointment this week take care and goodluck with your scan tracy

Sending prayers and good
Sending prayers and good wishes for you all.

Take care,

Lucy

grannysb

tracy2377 said:

brady girl
hi thanx for the reply i pray all is well with you and that you have a good scan please keep us posted. my husband went to dana faber in boston massachucetts and they are going to start him on a new clinical trial this week i will post when i know more. they were great there they told him he had a few options as far as chemo went but when the offered us to try the clinical trials we decided we are going to go with that. i will post more after his appointment this week take care and goodluck with your scan tracy

I am sorry for the news, but
I am sorry for the news, but do not lose hope or your faith. I will pray for healing and peace throughout all of this. Hugs & Blessings

NKY_Dave

I Am So Sorry!
Tracy, I am so sorry to hear your news. I have been reading this thread since the first of the month and feel compelled to respond this morning. I am experiencing the same thing as you only it is with my wife. She was dx in November of 2009, went through 4 rounds of chemo, 15 sessions of radiation and then PCI. That put her in remission in April of 2010. The rest of 2010 was pretty good, but in January the cancer was back. This time it was in her brain. She had a cyberknife treatment that got rid of these 2 tumors, but then yesterday we got the news that the cancer was back in her other lung plus her lymph nodes. She will get a PET on Monday then see the Onc. to decide the next steps. The plus side of it all is that she is still in relatively good health, at least outwardly. She has been able to travel and go out all she wants. She has worked in her beautiful perennial gardens this spring all the time. She had to quit work and can no longer drive due to the brain issues.

We both are doing our best to carry on our lives and not spend the time we have left worrying about what might happen. If we do that, then we are wasting the time that God has given us. She is such an inspiration to me with her grace, dignity and deep relationship with God! I pray that we get to continue with her good quality of life for a good length of time!

My prayer for you and your husband, Tracy, is that you two will be able enjoy your time together!

God Bless You!

Dave

luz del lago

NKY_Dave said:

I Am So Sorry!
Tracy, I am so sorry to hear your news. I have been reading this thread since the first of the month and feel compelled to respond this morning. I am experiencing the same thing as you only it is with my wife. She was dx in November of 2009, went through 4 rounds of chemo, 15 sessions of radiation and then PCI. That put her in remission in April of 2010. The rest of 2010 was pretty good, but in January the cancer was back. This time it was in her brain. She had a cyberknife treatment that got rid of these 2 tumors, but then yesterday we got the news that the cancer was back in her other lung plus her lymph nodes. She will get a PET on Monday then see the Onc. to decide the next steps. The plus side of it all is that she is still in relatively good health, at least outwardly. She has been able to travel and go out all she wants. She has worked in her beautiful perennial gardens this spring all the time. She had to quit work and can no longer drive due to the brain issues.

We both are doing our best to carry on our lives and not spend the time we have left worrying about what might happen. If we do that, then we are wasting the time that God has given us. She is such an inspiration to me with her grace, dignity and deep relationship with God! I pray that we get to continue with her good quality of life for a good length of time!

My prayer for you and your husband, Tracy, is that you two will be able enjoy your time together!

God Bless You!

Dave

Garden of blessings...
How beautiful that your wife has been able to work in her garden! After all that she has experienced, it is a blessing. That you both have been traveling and enjoying this time together is an inspiration.

Sending my best wishes and prayers for blessings to continue!

Lucy

lekkerone

NKY_Dave said:

I Am So Sorry!
Tracy, I am so sorry to hear your news. I have been reading this thread since the first of the month and feel compelled to respond this morning. I am experiencing the same thing as you only it is with my wife. She was dx in November of 2009, went through 4 rounds of chemo, 15 sessions of radiation and then PCI. That put her in remission in April of 2010. The rest of 2010 was pretty good, but in January the cancer was back. This time it was in her brain. She had a cyberknife treatment that got rid of these 2 tumors, but then yesterday we got the news that the cancer was back in her other lung plus her lymph nodes. She will get a PET on Monday then see the Onc. to decide the next steps. The plus side of it all is that she is still in relatively good health, at least outwardly. She has been able to travel and go out all she wants. She has worked in her beautiful perennial gardens this spring all the time. She had to quit work and can no longer drive due to the brain issues.

We both are doing our best to carry on our lives and not spend the time we have left worrying about what might happen. If we do that, then we are wasting the time that God has given us. She is such an inspiration to me with her grace, dignity and deep relationship with God! I pray that we get to continue with her good quality of life for a good length of time!

My prayer for you and your husband, Tracy, is that you two will be able enjoy your time together!

God Bless You!

Dave

God Bless you Dave.
The attitude of you and your wife is to be much admired in my opinion. As you prayed for Tracy and her husband, my prayer is that all of you will enjoy each day together. Diane

tracy2377

lekkerone said:

God Bless you Dave.
The attitude of you and your wife is to be much admired in my opinion. As you prayed for Tracy and her husband, my prayer is that all of you will enjoy each day together. Diane

thankyou so much for your kindness
thankyou all of you who have responded your well wishes and advice have been very helpful and much appreciated through all this you learn to deal with and take one day at a time as none of us no what tomorow will bring and you learn to cherish everyday as if it were your last. my husaband and i went to dana faber today and they started him on a new clinical trial which has shown good results. from what i understand it is used in kidney cancer this study is being done only in a few hospitals in massachusetts i will keep you updated on how my husband does again i want to let you know how much your messages mean to me and my husband praying for you all tracy

grannysb

tracy2377 said:

thankyou so much for your kindness
thankyou all of you who have responded your well wishes and advice have been very helpful and much appreciated through all this you learn to deal with and take one day at a time as none of us no what tomorow will bring and you learn to cherish everyday as if it were your last. my husaband and i went to dana faber today and they started him on a new clinical trial which has shown good results. from what i understand it is used in kidney cancer this study is being done only in a few hospitals in massachusetts i will keep you updated on how my husband does again i want to let you know how much your messages mean to me and my husband praying for you all tracy

Prayers for all. Peace and
Prayers for all. Peace and comfort