Small Cell Lung Cancer

TaylorGC
TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
in Lung Cancer #1
My Mom was just diagnosed yesterday. She hasn't gone through staging yet to see if it has spread. They found it two weeks ago as a 4 cm in diameter mass. I don't know how big it is now because I don't know just HOW rapid SCLC grows... I am terrified.

I love my Mom so much and it takes everything in me not to cry uncontrollably when I am around her. I know that stress and tears is not going to help her. She is being so strong. The first thing she said when she walked in from the doctor was "It's okay, I am going to fight this." All smiles too. I don't know how she is doing it.

She was a smoker. The day she found out there was a mass in her chest she stopped smoking, hasn't had a puff since. She is breathing so much better, is no longer coughing, and no more wheezing either. It's like she is 10 times healthier... it doesn't make any sense!

They have to do the CT and MRI Thursday and Friday of this week to make sure it has not spread to the brain or bone. Then she will set up her treatments.

I keep doing research and keep looking for posts or stories of people that have survived longer than two years after being diagnosed and haven't found anything. Everything I have read has said people with SCLC don't survive longer than two years WITH treatment.

Can anyone give me a positive attitude for what we are about to go through? Can anyone give me a GOOD story? I am so scared. My Mom is the person I go to when I have a problem, to tell me everything will be okay. Now that she is the one with the problem, and it is out of my control, I can't say the same to her. Please help me have a peace of mind. She will be going to Barnes Jewish Hospital for treatment. Is that a good hospital? Are they good doctors? Please help :(

Comments

  • positivewife
    positivewife Member Posts: 21
    #2
    your mother
    Five years ago my husband was told he had lung cancer. He had a piece of his lung removed and was cancer free for over five years. This past September after ct scans and pet scans we found out his lung cancer is back.This time it is in the lyump nodes between the two lungs so they cannot do surgery. My point is my husband was cancer free for five years so don't give up hope.Everyone is different. The one thing I do know is you have to remain very positive.
    My husband has had 35 radiation treatments and 12 chemo treatments. He has stage 3B lung cancer. Considering everything he is doing very well and remains very positive.He is a fighter like your mom.My husband is 68 how old is your mother?
    My husband was a smoker but had quit about seven years before he got lung cancer. He has been on oxygen because of COPD for the last five years.His lungs were very bad before he got cancer.
    I'm so glad your mother quit smoking because it will make her recovery easier.The stage of your mothers cancer will determine what her treatment will be.Please let me know what you find out about the stage and her treatment. I wish your mother and you the very best.
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #3
    positivewife said:

    your mother
    Five years ago my husband was told he had lung cancer. He had a piece of his lung removed and was cancer free for over five years. This past September after ct scans and pet scans we found out his lung cancer is back.This time it is in the lyump nodes between the two lungs so they cannot do surgery. My point is my husband was cancer free for five years so don't give up hope.Everyone is different. The one thing I do know is you have to remain very positive.
    My husband has had 35 radiation treatments and 12 chemo treatments. He has stage 3B lung cancer. Considering everything he is doing very well and remains very positive.He is a fighter like your mom.My husband is 68 how old is your mother?
    My husband was a smoker but had quit about seven years before he got lung cancer. He has been on oxygen because of COPD for the last five years.His lungs were very bad before he got cancer.
    I'm so glad your mother quit smoking because it will make her recovery easier.The stage of your mothers cancer will determine what her treatment will be.Please let me know what you find out about the stage and her treatment. I wish your mother and you the very best.

    Thank You
    My Mom is 56... I looked up all the cancer before the doctor actually told her it WAS cancer. I knew that what it would be but I was really thinking it would be non-small cell cancer. From what I have read small cell cancer is worse because of how fast it grows and spreads. So I guess the reason I didn't read about it was because even though cancer is bad I didn't want her to have the worse of the two evils...

    Thank you for sharing your story, and I will keep posted on here, her CT is tomorrow and MRI is Friday so I will be updating as soon as they have results.
  • medi_2
    medi_2 Member Posts: 505 Member
    #4
    TaylorGC said:

    Thank You
    My Mom is 56... I looked up all the cancer before the doctor actually told her it WAS cancer. I knew that what it would be but I was really thinking it would be non-small cell cancer. From what I have read small cell cancer is worse because of how fast it grows and spreads. So I guess the reason I didn't read about it was because even though cancer is bad I didn't want her to have the worse of the two evils...

    Thank you for sharing your story, and I will keep posted on here, her CT is tomorrow and MRI is Friday so I will be updating as soon as they have results.

    Phooey on Cancer!
    I will be 55 soon and have been cancer (sclc) free for a little over three years. I had chemo, radiation and PCI. And I am a Mom. And I am not going anywhere if I can help it. Attitude will take her a long way and it sounds like she has the right one. Stop reading horror stories and enjoy life with her. The more normal you treat this will help you both.
    If you keep reading, you will find plenty of survivors on this site, all with a different story.
    Keep the Faith!
    Medi
  • fighting4dad
    fighting4dad Member Posts: 6
    #5
    Similar Story
    Taylor,

    We have a similar story. My dad was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, he is only 53. He also has four mets on the brain and one tumor on his spine. I can relate to how stressful this is for you. The only advice I can offer is don't read the negative things online. I know it's hard not to, because I was doing the same exact thing before someone told me to stop. My dad doesn't have to be a statistic and either does your mom. If your mom has decided to fight this, that's great...just be along side her and support her. Best of luck to your mom, I will keep her in my thoughts.
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #6
    fighting4dad said:

    Similar Story
    Taylor,

    We have a similar story. My dad was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, he is only 53. He also has four mets on the brain and one tumor on his spine. I can relate to how stressful this is for you. The only advice I can offer is don't read the negative things online. I know it's hard not to, because I was doing the same exact thing before someone told me to stop. My dad doesn't have to be a statistic and either does your mom. If your mom has decided to fight this, that's great...just be along side her and support her. Best of luck to your mom, I will keep her in my thoughts.

    Update
    The cancer was determined Limited... she is now going to Barnes Jewish Hospital though, and they looked at the scans done at our home town hospital... well there is a spot on her stomach they say they aren't concerned about but want to check, so here goes another PET scan tomorrow morning... also checking her spine because her back hurts... but she has MAJOR arthritis... (sp) It has been a month since they found this spot in her lung. Why aren't they getting her into treatment? It's like I can FEEL it spreading through out her body the longer they wait... ugh.

    She has been doing nothing but sleeping. She is always tired. I don't know if it's the cancer or if shes depressed, or a mix. She is still eating the same as she always has, and she has not lost weight shes actually put on about 10 pounds... I'm so scared for her. I love her so much but I feel like between her sleeping, and me taking care of my 16 month old, I can't spend much time with her. Just a couple years ago we finally got the "close" relationship I wanted and now everyone is saying "Spend as much time with her as you can" I feel like I can't do that, and once she starts treatment she won't be able to handle my Son running around and being noisy while she's trying to rest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am losing her already. I would also like to add that I am 19. My sisters are 29, and 39. My mother and father separated two years ago but her has been going with her to every appointment, coming over and holding her, eating dinner with her, and this has brought them closer. He is very depressed too. Please someone tell me what I can do for her, what I can do for myself, how I can help my Son remember her just in case, and how I can show her that I love her soooooo much. I will do anything she needs me to do. Any information on things I can get her to eat, or do daily, or things I should have her ask her doctor... I just need information from people that are going, or have gone through this. I don't want to read statistics anymore :(

    Thank you for the comments. I will post back when they get the results of her stomach and yet another bone scan... :/

    Please pray for her.

    Thank You


    One more thing... my Uncle just recently found spots in his throat or lungs... he is also going to the same doctor :/ and they are two of 3 people from our town seeing the lung cancer oncologist there... this towns air quality is very bad is basically what the doctor was trying to hint.Stupid Mills all around here, and smoking on top of that :/
  • mikedickerson
    mikedickerson Member Posts: 6
    #7
    TaylorGC said:

    Update
    The cancer was determined Limited... she is now going to Barnes Jewish Hospital though, and they looked at the scans done at our home town hospital... well there is a spot on her stomach they say they aren't concerned about but want to check, so here goes another PET scan tomorrow morning... also checking her spine because her back hurts... but she has MAJOR arthritis... (sp) It has been a month since they found this spot in her lung. Why aren't they getting her into treatment? It's like I can FEEL it spreading through out her body the longer they wait... ugh.

    She has been doing nothing but sleeping. She is always tired. I don't know if it's the cancer or if shes depressed, or a mix. She is still eating the same as she always has, and she has not lost weight shes actually put on about 10 pounds... I'm so scared for her. I love her so much but I feel like between her sleeping, and me taking care of my 16 month old, I can't spend much time with her. Just a couple years ago we finally got the "close" relationship I wanted and now everyone is saying "Spend as much time with her as you can" I feel like I can't do that, and once she starts treatment she won't be able to handle my Son running around and being noisy while she's trying to rest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am losing her already. I would also like to add that I am 19. My sisters are 29, and 39. My mother and father separated two years ago but her has been going with her to every appointment, coming over and holding her, eating dinner with her, and this has brought them closer. He is very depressed too. Please someone tell me what I can do for her, what I can do for myself, how I can help my Son remember her just in case, and how I can show her that I love her soooooo much. I will do anything she needs me to do. Any information on things I can get her to eat, or do daily, or things I should have her ask her doctor... I just need information from people that are going, or have gone through this. I don't want to read statistics anymore :(

    Thank you for the comments. I will post back when they get the results of her stomach and yet another bone scan... :/

    Please pray for her.

    Thank You


    One more thing... my Uncle just recently found spots in his throat or lungs... he is also going to the same doctor :/ and they are two of 3 people from our town seeing the lung cancer oncologist there... this towns air quality is very bad is basically what the doctor was trying to hint.Stupid Mills all around here, and smoking on top of that :/

    i am praying for your mom taylor
    Hello taylor my name is mike and i have read your story and im am going threw almost the exact same thing with my aunt amy. Me and my aunt are very close she helpt raise me as a child and now just last monday she found out she has sclc and it spread to the liver and stomach. i am real scared for her and i love her and will do anything i can to help her fight this. Im tryin to find people that are going threw the same thing we are going threw to build a little support group cause i dont know how your mom feels but my aunt would love to talk to sombody else with the same cancer as her i guess just to know she isnt alone. and i think that talking to sombody that you can relate to can only help and help to keep a positive outlook on this. cause it is very important to stay positive. so anyway that is what i am trying to do cause my aunt is not very good with the computer so im trying to set up some sort of phonew friends or phone support group if this is something that you think can help your mom plkease contact me and hopefully we can all help eachother get threw this my e-mail is fatdaddyhollywood@gmail.com my aunt and I look forward to hearing from you and anyone who is going threw this i will keep in touch
  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #8
    TaylorGC said:

    Update
    The cancer was determined Limited... she is now going to Barnes Jewish Hospital though, and they looked at the scans done at our home town hospital... well there is a spot on her stomach they say they aren't concerned about but want to check, so here goes another PET scan tomorrow morning... also checking her spine because her back hurts... but she has MAJOR arthritis... (sp) It has been a month since they found this spot in her lung. Why aren't they getting her into treatment? It's like I can FEEL it spreading through out her body the longer they wait... ugh.

    She has been doing nothing but sleeping. She is always tired. I don't know if it's the cancer or if shes depressed, or a mix. She is still eating the same as she always has, and she has not lost weight shes actually put on about 10 pounds... I'm so scared for her. I love her so much but I feel like between her sleeping, and me taking care of my 16 month old, I can't spend much time with her. Just a couple years ago we finally got the "close" relationship I wanted and now everyone is saying "Spend as much time with her as you can" I feel like I can't do that, and once she starts treatment she won't be able to handle my Son running around and being noisy while she's trying to rest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am losing her already. I would also like to add that I am 19. My sisters are 29, and 39. My mother and father separated two years ago but her has been going with her to every appointment, coming over and holding her, eating dinner with her, and this has brought them closer. He is very depressed too. Please someone tell me what I can do for her, what I can do for myself, how I can help my Son remember her just in case, and how I can show her that I love her soooooo much. I will do anything she needs me to do. Any information on things I can get her to eat, or do daily, or things I should have her ask her doctor... I just need information from people that are going, or have gone through this. I don't want to read statistics anymore :(

    Thank you for the comments. I will post back when they get the results of her stomach and yet another bone scan... :/

    Please pray for her.

    Thank You


    One more thing... my Uncle just recently found spots in his throat or lungs... he is also going to the same doctor :/ and they are two of 3 people from our town seeing the lung cancer oncologist there... this towns air quality is very bad is basically what the doctor was trying to hint.Stupid Mills all around here, and smoking on top of that :/

    Good for you. Stop reading
    Good for you. Stop reading those statistics. They are based on old news. There are many her and at inspire.com who have way outlasted those statistics. Just because someone smoked does not mean that they deserve cancer either. If that were true, anyone who laid out in the sun would deserve stage 4 skin cancer.

    If her the doc has not put them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds ask for them. The cancer will make her sleepy and so will cancer and pain. Many may disagree with me but for heavens sake, she has cancer, eventually she may stop taking them on her terms but these may help her find the inner strength she needs to fight this. Weight gain is good, she will need every calorie she has to fight this disease.

    Bring your child around, when she is tired, very little will keep her awake and it will give both of them a chance to make new memories.

    Find out if the hospital has a palliative medicine program, the docs there focus on pain in much the same way that a hospice doc does BUT IT IS NOT a hospice program. She can pursue any avenue of treatment with a palliative care doc. Oncologists focus more on the cancer and in my experience, not the best for pain management.

    Please keep us informed.
  • kit2600
    kit2600 Member Posts: 12
    #9
    dennycee said:

    Good for you. Stop reading
    Good for you. Stop reading those statistics. They are based on old news. There are many her and at inspire.com who have way outlasted those statistics. Just because someone smoked does not mean that they deserve cancer either. If that were true, anyone who laid out in the sun would deserve stage 4 skin cancer.

    If her the doc has not put them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds ask for them. The cancer will make her sleepy and so will cancer and pain. Many may disagree with me but for heavens sake, she has cancer, eventually she may stop taking them on her terms but these may help her find the inner strength she needs to fight this. Weight gain is good, she will need every calorie she has to fight this disease.

    Bring your child around, when she is tired, very little will keep her awake and it will give both of them a chance to make new memories.

    Find out if the hospital has a palliative medicine program, the docs there focus on pain in much the same way that a hospice doc does BUT IT IS NOT a hospice program. She can pursue any avenue of treatment with a palliative care doc. Oncologists focus more on the cancer and in my experience, not the best for pain management.

    Please keep us informed.

    asap
    you are right time is not your friend with sclc limited you need treatment now.his was started in 9 days at va hospital.no time to think about it just do it is what he was told.he is still here with 3 clean pt scans since treatments.his onogolist says she won't use the words cured or remission on this type cancer and is testing every 3 months.but we do say cured HEALED BY GOD !!!!
  • kit2600
    kit2600 Member Posts: 12
    #10
    dennycee said:

    Good for you. Stop reading
    Good for you. Stop reading those statistics. They are based on old news. There are many her and at inspire.com who have way outlasted those statistics. Just because someone smoked does not mean that they deserve cancer either. If that were true, anyone who laid out in the sun would deserve stage 4 skin cancer.

    If her the doc has not put them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds ask for them. The cancer will make her sleepy and so will cancer and pain. Many may disagree with me but for heavens sake, she has cancer, eventually she may stop taking them on her terms but these may help her find the inner strength she needs to fight this. Weight gain is good, she will need every calorie she has to fight this disease.

    Bring your child around, when she is tired, very little will keep her awake and it will give both of them a chance to make new memories.

    Find out if the hospital has a palliative medicine program, the docs there focus on pain in much the same way that a hospice doc does BUT IT IS NOT a hospice program. She can pursue any avenue of treatment with a palliative care doc. Oncologists focus more on the cancer and in my experience, not the best for pain management.

    Please keep us informed.

    asap
    you are right time is not your friend with sclc limited you need treatment now.his was started in 9 days at va hospital.no time to think about it just do it is what he was told.he is still here with 3 clean pt scans since treatments.his onogolist says she won't use the words cured or remission on this type cancer and is testing every 3 months.but we do say cured HEALED BY GOD !!!!
  • kit2600
    kit2600 Member Posts: 12
    #11
    dennycee said:

    Good for you. Stop reading
    Good for you. Stop reading those statistics. They are based on old news. There are many her and at inspire.com who have way outlasted those statistics. Just because someone smoked does not mean that they deserve cancer either. If that were true, anyone who laid out in the sun would deserve stage 4 skin cancer.

    If her the doc has not put them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds ask for them. The cancer will make her sleepy and so will cancer and pain. Many may disagree with me but for heavens sake, she has cancer, eventually she may stop taking them on her terms but these may help her find the inner strength she needs to fight this. Weight gain is good, she will need every calorie she has to fight this disease.

    Bring your child around, when she is tired, very little will keep her awake and it will give both of them a chance to make new memories.

    Find out if the hospital has a palliative medicine program, the docs there focus on pain in much the same way that a hospice doc does BUT IT IS NOT a hospice program. She can pursue any avenue of treatment with a palliative care doc. Oncologists focus more on the cancer and in my experience, not the best for pain management.

    Please keep us informed.

    asap
    you are right time is not your friend with sclc limited you need treatment now.his was started in 9 days at va hospital.no time to think about it just do it is what he was told.he is still here with 3 clean pt scans since treatments.his onogolist says she won't use the words cured or remission on this type cancer and is testing every 3 months.but we do say cured HEALED BY GOD !!!!
  • kit2600
    kit2600 Member Posts: 12
    #12
    dennycee said:

    Good for you. Stop reading
    Good for you. Stop reading those statistics. They are based on old news. There are many her and at inspire.com who have way outlasted those statistics. Just because someone smoked does not mean that they deserve cancer either. If that were true, anyone who laid out in the sun would deserve stage 4 skin cancer.

    If her the doc has not put them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds ask for them. The cancer will make her sleepy and so will cancer and pain. Many may disagree with me but for heavens sake, she has cancer, eventually she may stop taking them on her terms but these may help her find the inner strength she needs to fight this. Weight gain is good, she will need every calorie she has to fight this disease.

    Bring your child around, when she is tired, very little will keep her awake and it will give both of them a chance to make new memories.

    Find out if the hospital has a palliative medicine program, the docs there focus on pain in much the same way that a hospice doc does BUT IT IS NOT a hospice program. She can pursue any avenue of treatment with a palliative care doc. Oncologists focus more on the cancer and in my experience, not the best for pain management.

    Please keep us informed.

    asap
    you are right time is not your friend with sclc limited you need treatment now.his was started in 9 days at va hospital.no time to think about it just do it is what he was told.he is still here with 3 clean pt scans since treatments.his onogolist says she won't use the words cured or remission on this type cancer and is testing every 3 months.but we do say cured HEALED BY GOD !!!!
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #13
    TaylorGC said:

    Update
    The cancer was determined Limited... she is now going to Barnes Jewish Hospital though, and they looked at the scans done at our home town hospital... well there is a spot on her stomach they say they aren't concerned about but want to check, so here goes another PET scan tomorrow morning... also checking her spine because her back hurts... but she has MAJOR arthritis... (sp) It has been a month since they found this spot in her lung. Why aren't they getting her into treatment? It's like I can FEEL it spreading through out her body the longer they wait... ugh.

    She has been doing nothing but sleeping. She is always tired. I don't know if it's the cancer or if shes depressed, or a mix. She is still eating the same as she always has, and she has not lost weight shes actually put on about 10 pounds... I'm so scared for her. I love her so much but I feel like between her sleeping, and me taking care of my 16 month old, I can't spend much time with her. Just a couple years ago we finally got the "close" relationship I wanted and now everyone is saying "Spend as much time with her as you can" I feel like I can't do that, and once she starts treatment she won't be able to handle my Son running around and being noisy while she's trying to rest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am losing her already. I would also like to add that I am 19. My sisters are 29, and 39. My mother and father separated two years ago but her has been going with her to every appointment, coming over and holding her, eating dinner with her, and this has brought them closer. He is very depressed too. Please someone tell me what I can do for her, what I can do for myself, how I can help my Son remember her just in case, and how I can show her that I love her soooooo much. I will do anything she needs me to do. Any information on things I can get her to eat, or do daily, or things I should have her ask her doctor... I just need information from people that are going, or have gone through this. I don't want to read statistics anymore :(

    Thank you for the comments. I will post back when they get the results of her stomach and yet another bone scan... :/

    Please pray for her.

    Thank You


    One more thing... my Uncle just recently found spots in his throat or lungs... he is also going to the same doctor :/ and they are two of 3 people from our town seeing the lung cancer oncologist there... this towns air quality is very bad is basically what the doctor was trying to hint.Stupid Mills all around here, and smoking on top of that :/

    UPDATE
    The Cancer is in HER LUNG ONLY. I don't remember which lung. She was set up to do Chemo 3 days in a row and then have a 3 week break. The next round of Chemo (which she just completed Friday) was also combined with her first Radiation. She has Radiation 5 times a week, twice a day, for 30 days. I don't know what kind of medicine they are giving her, i see a lot of you name of the med names for the chemo... I will ask her next time I can. Her check up she had before her second round of Chemo, the doctor checked her blood and said that the Chemo is working and that she is doing very well with it. She hasn't lost weight yet, but she has lost her hair. It was very painful, more physically than emotionally. Now I know why most people choose to cut it all off. She has very low self esteem right now. Shes over weight and bald. All in all she seems fine. She sleeps a lot, but tries to get up and down to keep up with the house things like dishes, cooking, laundry etc. She drinks a lot of water and sweet tea, and is trying out different juices. Eating pretty much whatever she wants to, but she's eating the way she always has so we are thankful for that. So far no bad taste in her mouth YET. She has only had 3 sessions of Radiation so two more to go before she gets her first break. She isn't acting TOO bad right now, but I can definitely tell she is doubting herself. I don't know if its from the treatments just making her down, or if she has always felt this way and shes just scared. She went into this saying she was going to fight it, and she is, you can just tell how much it is taking out of her.

    I try to be around her everyday for the most part. She enjoys having my son around still, but sometimes I have to leave so she can rest. I wish there was something I could get her out to do, but even before she got cancer she was hard to drag out of the house unless it was to go on the boat LOL. My Prayers are with all of you of course. This is the only site I have found that has given me a little strength and hope. I want to pass that energy along to her. She cannot give up on herself. I love her too much and there is too much she still wants to see...

    Please everyone keep her in your prayers and I will do the same for you all as well. Continue sharing your stories so I will know how to help, what to do, what to expect, etc. etc. My Dad and Sister take shifts taking her to the hospital everyday since she has to go twice a day, they both work, and I have a 18 month old. Its getting hard on everyone. Mostly, for me, its getting hard to keep out the negative... but the doctor is really positive and told us he can, not shrink it-but get rid of it. He is a very pleasant doctor I must say.

    Thank you all. I might be back on here when its time for me to break down. I can feel it coming. Shes taking this a little too well, not the way I was expecting her to. Please, prayers. Thank you so much.

    Taylor.

    Her name is DONNA by the way.
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #14
    TaylorGC said:

    UPDATE
    The Cancer is in HER LUNG ONLY. I don't remember which lung. She was set up to do Chemo 3 days in a row and then have a 3 week break. The next round of Chemo (which she just completed Friday) was also combined with her first Radiation. She has Radiation 5 times a week, twice a day, for 30 days. I don't know what kind of medicine they are giving her, i see a lot of you name of the med names for the chemo... I will ask her next time I can. Her check up she had before her second round of Chemo, the doctor checked her blood and said that the Chemo is working and that she is doing very well with it. She hasn't lost weight yet, but she has lost her hair. It was very painful, more physically than emotionally. Now I know why most people choose to cut it all off. She has very low self esteem right now. Shes over weight and bald. All in all she seems fine. She sleeps a lot, but tries to get up and down to keep up with the house things like dishes, cooking, laundry etc. She drinks a lot of water and sweet tea, and is trying out different juices. Eating pretty much whatever she wants to, but she's eating the way she always has so we are thankful for that. So far no bad taste in her mouth YET. She has only had 3 sessions of Radiation so two more to go before she gets her first break. She isn't acting TOO bad right now, but I can definitely tell she is doubting herself. I don't know if its from the treatments just making her down, or if she has always felt this way and shes just scared. She went into this saying she was going to fight it, and she is, you can just tell how much it is taking out of her.

    I try to be around her everyday for the most part. She enjoys having my son around still, but sometimes I have to leave so she can rest. I wish there was something I could get her out to do, but even before she got cancer she was hard to drag out of the house unless it was to go on the boat LOL. My Prayers are with all of you of course. This is the only site I have found that has given me a little strength and hope. I want to pass that energy along to her. She cannot give up on herself. I love her too much and there is too much she still wants to see...

    Please everyone keep her in your prayers and I will do the same for you all as well. Continue sharing your stories so I will know how to help, what to do, what to expect, etc. etc. My Dad and Sister take shifts taking her to the hospital everyday since she has to go twice a day, they both work, and I have a 18 month old. Its getting hard on everyone. Mostly, for me, its getting hard to keep out the negative... but the doctor is really positive and told us he can, not shrink it-but get rid of it. He is a very pleasant doctor I must say.

    Thank you all. I might be back on here when its time for me to break down. I can feel it coming. Shes taking this a little too well, not the way I was expecting her to. Please, prayers. Thank you so much.

    Taylor.

    Her name is DONNA by the way.

    Also
    My Uncle that is also going through this, he has something a bit different, not sure what exactly, but they are only giving him treatments so he can eat. His throat was swollen to the point all he could (barley) get down was liquids. So they cannot get rid of his cancer, but they can make things better for him in the mean time.. :/ this isn't "really" my uncle...i just grew up calling him that... it is actually my Mom's Cousin, one she grew up with around her everyday. They are seeing the same doctor, but Like i said, theyre not trying to get rid of his, they just making him comfortable.

    Her OTHER cousin, was given 3 weeks... I can see why she is depressed, she might not be fighting alone, but she seems to be the only one doing good. just an update on that. Sorry what I say is so scattered. I only know terms that I read or that the doctor says so I dont know everything.
  • kit2600
    kit2600 Member Posts: 12
    #15
    TaylorGC said:

    Also
    My Uncle that is also going through this, he has something a bit different, not sure what exactly, but they are only giving him treatments so he can eat. His throat was swollen to the point all he could (barley) get down was liquids. So they cannot get rid of his cancer, but they can make things better for him in the mean time.. :/ this isn't "really" my uncle...i just grew up calling him that... it is actually my Mom's Cousin, one she grew up with around her everyday. They are seeing the same doctor, but Like i said, theyre not trying to get rid of his, they just making him comfortable.

    Her OTHER cousin, was given 3 weeks... I can see why she is depressed, she might not be fighting alone, but she seems to be the only one doing good. just an update on that. Sorry what I say is so scattered. I only know terms that I read or that the doctor says so I dont know everything.

    meds for trouble eating
    Lidocan and a swish and swallow(cant think of name)He could not even take a drink of water due to pain but they waited to long giving him these meds.he was getting iv for dehydration every other day.Get as much fluid in them as you can.They wanted him to have at less 4 bottles of water a day plus boost.He just couldn't do it.He lost way to much weight.Put the end results has been 3 good scans.And now he is drinking water and eating(this is months after treatments ended)It has been a long hard battle.and his beautiful white hair has come back dark and fuzzy and very batchey.GET FLUIDS IN THEM IF POSSIBLE
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #16
    kit2600 said:

    meds for trouble eating
    Lidocan and a swish and swallow(cant think of name)He could not even take a drink of water due to pain but they waited to long giving him these meds.he was getting iv for dehydration every other day.Get as much fluid in them as you can.They wanted him to have at less 4 bottles of water a day plus boost.He just couldn't do it.He lost way to much weight.Put the end results has been 3 good scans.And now he is drinking water and eating(this is months after treatments ended)It has been a long hard battle.and his beautiful white hair has come back dark and fuzzy and very batchey.GET FLUIDS IN THEM IF POSSIBLE

    My Mom
    Yeah they JUST gave my Mom meds for her throat because it hurts when she talks, breathes, swallows.... she is still eating and drinking, because she knows she has to, it just hurts her. They gave her liquid vicoden (sp?) and some numbing liquid as well. It is bothering her REALLY bad though. Shes been sleeping most of the day.

    My Uncle however, his throat was like that BEFORE they started treatment, he has cancer in his throat or something...? Thats why theyre giving him treatment, to help him be able to eat and drink, he's been drinking that boost stuff for months..so theyre just trying to shrink the tumors on him because they said its too far to get rid of it.

    My Mom is trying to stay strong. Any thing she could drink that would also soothe her throat?
  • Bobby1982
    Bobby1982 Member Posts: 1
    #17
    TaylorGC said:

    My Mom
    Yeah they JUST gave my Mom meds for her throat because it hurts when she talks, breathes, swallows.... she is still eating and drinking, because she knows she has to, it just hurts her. They gave her liquid vicoden (sp?) and some numbing liquid as well. It is bothering her REALLY bad though. Shes been sleeping most of the day.

    My Uncle however, his throat was like that BEFORE they started treatment, he has cancer in his throat or something...? Thats why theyre giving him treatment, to help him be able to eat and drink, he's been drinking that boost stuff for months..so theyre just trying to shrink the tumors on him because they said its too far to get rid of it.

    My Mom is trying to stay strong. Any thing she could drink that would also soothe her throat?

    Hi Taylor,
    I signed up to
    Hi Taylor,

    I signed up to this site after reading your story. My dad just got diagnosed with limited stage SCLC on his 60th bday in early May. He has gone though four rounds of chemo and began his first week of radiation this week. Our doctor sounded optimistic after a PET scan taken after his 2nd round of chemo...the cancer disappeared in the lymph nodes, and the mass decreased in his lung. The doctor stated they are working towards a "cure". I noticed your mom is getting radiation twice a day, my dads only getting it once and I read somewhere else that twice a day can be more effective with SCLC...I hope my doctor knows what he's doing. I wish my dad was as optimistic as your mom. Though we received good news, he is still pessimistic about his diagnosis. I will keep you and your family in my prayers as I look forward to hearing the progress with your mother.

    Bobby
  • angelgreeneyes1971
    angelgreeneyes1971 Member Posts: 2
    #18
    TaylorGC said:

    Update
    The cancer was determined Limited... she is now going to Barnes Jewish Hospital though, and they looked at the scans done at our home town hospital... well there is a spot on her stomach they say they aren't concerned about but want to check, so here goes another PET scan tomorrow morning... also checking her spine because her back hurts... but she has MAJOR arthritis... (sp) It has been a month since they found this spot in her lung. Why aren't they getting her into treatment? It's like I can FEEL it spreading through out her body the longer they wait... ugh.

    She has been doing nothing but sleeping. She is always tired. I don't know if it's the cancer or if shes depressed, or a mix. She is still eating the same as she always has, and she has not lost weight shes actually put on about 10 pounds... I'm so scared for her. I love her so much but I feel like between her sleeping, and me taking care of my 16 month old, I can't spend much time with her. Just a couple years ago we finally got the "close" relationship I wanted and now everyone is saying "Spend as much time with her as you can" I feel like I can't do that, and once she starts treatment she won't be able to handle my Son running around and being noisy while she's trying to rest. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am losing her already. I would also like to add that I am 19. My sisters are 29, and 39. My mother and father separated two years ago but her has been going with her to every appointment, coming over and holding her, eating dinner with her, and this has brought them closer. He is very depressed too. Please someone tell me what I can do for her, what I can do for myself, how I can help my Son remember her just in case, and how I can show her that I love her soooooo much. I will do anything she needs me to do. Any information on things I can get her to eat, or do daily, or things I should have her ask her doctor... I just need information from people that are going, or have gone through this. I don't want to read statistics anymore :(

    Thank you for the comments. I will post back when they get the results of her stomach and yet another bone scan... :/

    Please pray for her.

    Thank You


    One more thing... my Uncle just recently found spots in his throat or lungs... he is also going to the same doctor :/ and they are two of 3 people from our town seeing the lung cancer oncologist there... this towns air quality is very bad is basically what the doctor was trying to hint.Stupid Mills all around here, and smoking on top of that :/

    My Mother is now a sclc
    My Mother is now a sclc survivor she lost 40% of her right upper lobe. But is doing fairly well. I am also a survivor of NHL (2yrs) my family was ridden Cancer on my Fathers side my paternal grandmother had breast cancer 2 times and beat it both times then passed at 80 yrs old from lung cancer. My aunt (Dad's sister) battled 3 types of cancer over an 8 yr period then passed a few years ago. (she said she just couldn't do it anymore) so I believe she gave up. Then my father battled SCLC recently but he passed this past July 2011. But they did not find his until he was in later part of stage 4 :( ...
    The most you can do is be there as much as you can, LOVE AND SUPPORT is everything.
    I also tried this tea somebody had told me that it works I wasn't able to try it on my Father he passed right after I found out about it. Not sure if it helped my Mom but it is called Eissac tea. I also have heard Dandelion root is supposed to work too.
    I will pray for your Mom and I hope everything is going ok.. }i{
  • TaylorGC
    TaylorGC Member Posts: 7
    #19
    Bobby1982 said:

    Hi Taylor,
    I signed up to
    Hi Taylor,

    I signed up to this site after reading your story. My dad just got diagnosed with limited stage SCLC on his 60th bday in early May. He has gone though four rounds of chemo and began his first week of radiation this week. Our doctor sounded optimistic after a PET scan taken after his 2nd round of chemo...the cancer disappeared in the lymph nodes, and the mass decreased in his lung. The doctor stated they are working towards a "cure". I noticed your mom is getting radiation twice a day, my dads only getting it once and I read somewhere else that twice a day can be more effective with SCLC...I hope my doctor knows what he's doing. I wish my dad was as optimistic as your mom. Though we received good news, he is still pessimistic about his diagnosis. I will keep you and your family in my prayers as I look forward to hearing the progress with your mother.

    Bobby

    UPDATE SCANS BACK
    She is done with treatment and scans are back. We are confused. The tumor is still there but the doctor said that cancer is gone, and he wants to see her back in 6 weeks for another CT. Is the tumor ever going to go away? Or will it always be there?

    She is very lost, very scared. We all are. I guess we were expecting to hear the tumor was gone, because her last XRAY it didn't show up on, which is how they found the tumor to begin with.

    She has already told us if the cancer does come back she does not want to do more treatment. How do we deal with this? Do we push her to keep fighting like we have been telling her we would help her to do? Or do we understand it's just too hard and except that she is giving up? I don't want the cancer to come back or spread. I also don't want to force her to do something I know is horrible and painful, but I can't think of just watching her go... I love her too much and I just hate to think that, that is what it would come down to. I am not ready to lose her.

    Please continue with the prayers for her, and if anyone knows about what the doctor was saying to her that would help aswell.

    He also mentioned something about the radiation leaving scar tissue that was showing up on the scans and that waiting 6 weeks might be better to wait and see if more has cleared up...

    ugh.

    thank you everyone. We are also on inspire.com its a good website with many SCLC and NSCLC patients and survivors...

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