Small Cell Lung Cancer and what to expect???

Ladylacy said:

Your mother

Have they performed a bronoscopy on your mother to see what it is in her lung?  As far as the chemo, yes it could kill her.  My husband was first diagnosed and under radiation, chemo and surgery for laryngeal cancer.  Then a year later they found cancer at the cervical of his esophagus which is a rare place.  At first he said no more then changed his mind and underwent around round of radiation and chemo.  Less than 6 months after treatment ended the cancer had returned to the cervical of his esophagus and it was found in his right lung.  Only thing offerred was chemo but we were told up front it would cure, only prolong and could possibly hasten.  He is almost 77.  He declined all further treatments.  Today 10 months later he is still here but is getting weaker. 

What does your mother want?  That is the main question and as hard as it sounds and seems, it is all her choice not anyone else.  I didn't try to talk my husband out of his decision.  We have been married for 51 years and together 2 years before that and no I don't want to lose him but like I said it is his decision, not mine.   I have read so much about chemo and the side effects.  He had a hard time with the first chemo but the second round was a different chemo and a lighter dose.  But I also know that if he had chosen chemo for this last time, it would have been a much stronger chemo with bad side effects.

Wishing your mother and you the best -- Sharon

Hi Sharon,

You are so right, it is all her decision.  She does have a DNR in place.  They can't really do anything at this point to see what these bubbles are in her lungs because she

is to weak and it would only make her suffer more then she already is.  None of the doctors have seen anything like it and one doc is a pulmonary specialist along with her oncologist and the infectious disease doctor.  At this point they have her on a machine that forces oxygen into her lungs and when they remove it for her to eat, her oxygen goes back down into the 70's.  Tomorrow we have a meeting with the hospital social worker to learn more about hospice care.  Her pulmonary doctor told us she only had a few days but her oncologist (I think) told the truth and said they don't know how long she has.  So we are just taking it one day at a time and making her as comfortable as we possibly can.  This is her second bought with chemo, last October she was pre-leukemic so she was on Dacogen a very light chemo and she came through that with no problems other than having her leg amputated in February which was not related to any cancer issue, she's always had clots in her legs.  This past year has not been easy on her.  I did tell her last night that this was between her and God and whatever they decide we will all support.  It sounds like your husband probably would have been on the same type of chemo my mother just did.  She has only done one round of it, but it has completely kicked her butt.  Her oncologist said at this point it is best to just leave it to God since she would not have been cured of the cancer anyway, as you said, it's just prolonging their lives for a bit.

Thank you for responding and I'll pray for you and your husband,

Barb

dennycee said:

Barb-
Sharon has given you

Barb-

Sharon has given you great advice and it sounds to me that you are making well informed decisions and actions.  if she decides to fight MD Anderson would be the ideal place..  Why doesn't she want to go there?

 

Dennycee and Sharon...thank you both for responding.  Unfortunately my mother passed away yesterday at 6pm.  I was fortunate enough to be with her when she stepped over.  We had put her in a hospice the day before, so they made her very comfortable.  It was a nice, quiet, serene room...no more bright, noisy hospital rooms.  I am at peace with it because her passing was very peaceful with absolutely no struggle.  I'll keep you both in my prayers.

Barb