Small Cell Lung Cancer

VivianDE
VivianDE Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
We just found out that my father has small cell lung cancer yesterday and I am at my wits end... See he is 69 years old and a great man they found that he has a tumor in his right lung , and it has spread to his liver and lymp nodes.. But the wild thing is he had no signs he went to the doctor cause he had too much gas and his stomach felt full when he ate in looking for that issue the found the tumor. Now here is the kicker I am 3 1/2 months pregnant with his first grandchild (which the doctors told my husband and I would never happen). Well yesterday the told us it was inoperable and that the only thing was chemo. Without treatment he has weeks, with treatment 6 to 9 months... Yet they are not putting in his port for the chemo for another two weeks??? Please pray for him to be able to see his grand child and spend sometime with it...thanks Vivian
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Comments

  • msh442
    msh442 Member Posts: 3
    #2
    Viv, I am so sorry to hear about your father. My husband was diagnosed with sclc in Dec 02. The first thing I read said with treatment his expected life was 35 weeks. Well I threw that away and never told my husband. He lived almost twice that amount of time. He had 20 radiation treatments and then chemo from January through August. His scans were clear at that time and they stopped the treatment, but when it comes back it can come back hard and that is what happened to him. He passed away 4-23-04. The only advice I can give you is support your dad in any decision he makes about his treatment. Sometimes it seems like they take forever and a day to start the treatments, but most of the time they know what they are doing and have to complete all the tests to know what kind of treatments are needed. We had one granddaughter born in 10-01 and the second was born just 5 weeks before my husband passed away. I know that you should take care of yourself, and when your baby comes make sure your dad has plenty of time with them so they can bond. I have such wonderful memories of my husband and the first grandbaby and several wonderful pictures of him and the second one all cuddled up in his chair both of them sound asleep. You might want to get your dad to write his memories down for the baby of the pregnancy and birth and whatever else he wants. I am praying for you and your dad and hope that he has the time left to enjoy his grandchild, it is a very special time.
  • nicholesmom
    nicholesmom Member Posts: 17
    #3
    msh442 said:

    Viv, I am so sorry to hear about your father. My husband was diagnosed with sclc in Dec 02. The first thing I read said with treatment his expected life was 35 weeks. Well I threw that away and never told my husband. He lived almost twice that amount of time. He had 20 radiation treatments and then chemo from January through August. His scans were clear at that time and they stopped the treatment, but when it comes back it can come back hard and that is what happened to him. He passed away 4-23-04. The only advice I can give you is support your dad in any decision he makes about his treatment. Sometimes it seems like they take forever and a day to start the treatments, but most of the time they know what they are doing and have to complete all the tests to know what kind of treatments are needed. We had one granddaughter born in 10-01 and the second was born just 5 weeks before my husband passed away. I know that you should take care of yourself, and when your baby comes make sure your dad has plenty of time with them so they can bond. I have such wonderful memories of my husband and the first grandbaby and several wonderful pictures of him and the second one all cuddled up in his chair both of them sound asleep. You might want to get your dad to write his memories down for the baby of the pregnancy and birth and whatever else he wants. I am praying for you and your dad and hope that he has the time left to enjoy his grandchild, it is a very special time.

    Vivian, I too am sorry to hear about your Father. My Mother was diagnosed with SCLC in September of last year, they told us approximaltey 9 months is the usual life expectancy, today she is here and recooperating from her treatments but as of now she is cancer free. I had just had a son that she had not had time to bond with, now he is the first one to kiss "meema" good bye at night. Keep the faith, there is a chance he might see that miracle baby.

    MSH442, I read your reply to Viv, when the cancer came back did it show up in his test and what do you mean it hits hard? Does it come back in one spot or in many?
  • nicholesmom
    nicholesmom Member Posts: 17
    #4
    msh442 said:

    Viv, I am so sorry to hear about your father. My husband was diagnosed with sclc in Dec 02. The first thing I read said with treatment his expected life was 35 weeks. Well I threw that away and never told my husband. He lived almost twice that amount of time. He had 20 radiation treatments and then chemo from January through August. His scans were clear at that time and they stopped the treatment, but when it comes back it can come back hard and that is what happened to him. He passed away 4-23-04. The only advice I can give you is support your dad in any decision he makes about his treatment. Sometimes it seems like they take forever and a day to start the treatments, but most of the time they know what they are doing and have to complete all the tests to know what kind of treatments are needed. We had one granddaughter born in 10-01 and the second was born just 5 weeks before my husband passed away. I know that you should take care of yourself, and when your baby comes make sure your dad has plenty of time with them so they can bond. I have such wonderful memories of my husband and the first grandbaby and several wonderful pictures of him and the second one all cuddled up in his chair both of them sound asleep. You might want to get your dad to write his memories down for the baby of the pregnancy and birth and whatever else he wants. I am praying for you and your dad and hope that he has the time left to enjoy his grandchild, it is a very special time.

    Vivian, I too am sorry to hear about your Father. My Mother was diagnosed with SCLC in September of last year, they told us approximaltey 9 months is the usual life expectancy, today she is here and recooperating from her treatments but as of now she is cancer free. I had just had a son that she had not had time to bond with, now he is the first one to kiss "meema" good bye at night. Keep the faith, there is a chance he might see that miracle baby.

    MSH442, I read your reply to Viv, when the cancer came back did it show up in his test and what do you mean it hits hard? Does it come back in one spot or in many?
  • michaelcie
    michaelcie Member Posts: 133
    #5
    hi Vivian, I am Mike and I have small cell lung cancer, also was told would never leave the hospital. I am in remission two years last February.I was and am inoperable, the tumor was 5 inches x 4 inches x 3 inches, in lymph nodes, on lung, into left lung ,wrapped around aorta artery and pushing against my esophogus. I had four chemos and radiation treatments. I hope this gives you and your father some hope in battleing this rotten disease. I will keep you both in my prayers. Mike
  • VivianDE
    VivianDE Member Posts: 8
    #6
    nicholesmom said:

    Vivian, I too am sorry to hear about your Father. My Mother was diagnosed with SCLC in September of last year, they told us approximaltey 9 months is the usual life expectancy, today she is here and recooperating from her treatments but as of now she is cancer free. I had just had a son that she had not had time to bond with, now he is the first one to kiss "meema" good bye at night. Keep the faith, there is a chance he might see that miracle baby.

    MSH442, I read your reply to Viv, when the cancer came back did it show up in his test and what do you mean it hits hard? Does it come back in one spot or in many?

    Hi all THANK YOU SO MUCH for your words of support and prayers...
    Mike I will add you to my prayer too, you have given me lots of hope.
    nicholesmom Thank you also you know I just found out the friday before fathers day that I am having a boy.. I told my father for part of his fathers day present and he was so pleased...
    msh442 thank you also you know I just want my son to know my wonderful father... thank you all!!!!!
  • luannt
    luannt Member Posts: 11
    #7
    Hi vivian, I am a four year lung cancer survivor with mets to the brain. I don't believe in listening to statistics. God only know when it's time for you to die. There's alot of good treatments today...And more and more lung cancer patients are surviving everyday. I choose to look at it as an adventure for me. I was going to make the best of a bad situation. And I did. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Of course there were some scary times for us all, but we got through them. Now we can laugh about it. You really do need to have a sense of humor going through this desease, or it will beat you down. My life will never be the same, but sometimes I think it's better than ever. I hope this gives you some encouragement.

    LuAnn
  • nicholesmom
    nicholesmom Member Posts: 17
    #8
    VivianDE said:

    Hi all THANK YOU SO MUCH for your words of support and prayers...
    Mike I will add you to my prayer too, you have given me lots of hope.
    nicholesmom Thank you also you know I just found out the friday before fathers day that I am having a boy.. I told my father for part of his fathers day present and he was so pleased...
    msh442 thank you also you know I just want my son to know my wonderful father... thank you all!!!!!

    A Boy!!! Good for you and your family!!!! This maybe just what your Father needs to keep on fighting. My daughter really helped my Mom!!

    Keep in touch
  • jimgibson
    jimgibson Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Hi Vivian. I am surviving sclc for nearly three years now. I had a recurrance but I went with alternative treatment this time. It did the trick and I am still here to talk about it. You might want to check out my web page www.SurvivingSmallCell.com There are some very hard learned lessons there.

    Good luck to you and your family. God Bless...

    Jim Gibson
  • VivianDE
    VivianDE Member Posts: 8
    #10
    jimgibson said:

    Hi Vivian. I am surviving sclc for nearly three years now. I had a recurrance but I went with alternative treatment this time. It did the trick and I am still here to talk about it. You might want to check out my web page www.SurvivingSmallCell.com There are some very hard learned lessons there.

    Good luck to you and your family. God Bless...

    Jim Gibson

    Thanks Jim I read your story and will pass it along to my father. He just finished his first set of chemo and is very weak but his liver has gone down alot. I'm glad you are doing well and hope the best for you. Vivian
  • VivianDE
    VivianDE Member Posts: 8
    #11
    luannt said:

    Hi vivian, I am a four year lung cancer survivor with mets to the brain. I don't believe in listening to statistics. God only know when it's time for you to die. There's alot of good treatments today...And more and more lung cancer patients are surviving everyday. I choose to look at it as an adventure for me. I was going to make the best of a bad situation. And I did. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Of course there were some scary times for us all, but we got through them. Now we can laugh about it. You really do need to have a sense of humor going through this desease, or it will beat you down. My life will never be the same, but sometimes I think it's better than ever. I hope this gives you some encouragement.

    LuAnn

    Thank you for sharing you kind words with me you don't know how much it helps.. My father gave up so much for us to have a better life in this country I just pray to god that he gets through this so my son can meet this wonderful man. thanks Vivian
  • PDeLong
    PDeLong Member Posts: 1
    #12
    My father, too, has small cell lung cancer. He was not able to have surgery or chemo ... radiation was his only option and he has chosen not to have that. Since we have no communication with an oncologist we have no idea what symptons we should look for, how fast it can spread or anything. We have known about this tumor for almost a year now. Any help would be appreciated. My father is 76. Thank you!!
  • michaelcie
    michaelcie Member Posts: 133
    #13
    PDeLong said:

    My father, too, has small cell lung cancer. He was not able to have surgery or chemo ... radiation was his only option and he has chosen not to have that. Since we have no communication with an oncologist we have no idea what symptons we should look for, how fast it can spread or anything. We have known about this tumor for almost a year now. Any help would be appreciated. My father is 76. Thank you!!

    I just read PDlongs post, please get a second opinion!!! the damn doctors, if he has survived for a year with sclc , that is great news, especially without chemo, get a second opinion now!!! pleaseeeee , the doctor he went to is either a creep or I am missing something, most people diagnosed with sclc pass in 6-9 months with treatment, does that tell you something? please take him to a reputable doctor! Mike
  • florence53
    florence53 Member Posts: 2
    #14
    VivianDE said:

    Thanks Jim I read your story and will pass it along to my father. He just finished his first set of chemo and is very weak but his liver has gone down alot. I'm glad you are doing well and hope the best for you. Vivian

    Vivian..My dad was diag. with sclc last May. He had a round of chemo, radiation (not the full treatment of radiation.) they decided his breathing was better than they thought so he had surgery to remove the right lower lobe. And clean out 3 lymph nodes along the sternum. I am a nurse, but not an oncology nurse. This was pretty much all new to me. All I can say is ask a lot of questions, and be persistant, you can be a pain in the **** in a nice way. If you think something should be done and isnt..find out why. My dad had a great recovery, unfortunately right now he is not feeling well, we are not sure why and will find out monday if anything new has shown up. Hopefully not. Keep on plugging, Mostly all you can do is be supportive. Go to the doctor with your dad, its so easy to miss stuff when they throw all that medical jargon at you. If you are not happy with the doctor...look into a new one. Good luck. Prayers
  • jmevans
    jmevans Member Posts: 13
    #15
    luannt said:

    Hi vivian, I am a four year lung cancer survivor with mets to the brain. I don't believe in listening to statistics. God only know when it's time for you to die. There's alot of good treatments today...And more and more lung cancer patients are surviving everyday. I choose to look at it as an adventure for me. I was going to make the best of a bad situation. And I did. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Of course there were some scary times for us all, but we got through them. Now we can laugh about it. You really do need to have a sense of humor going through this desease, or it will beat you down. My life will never be the same, but sometimes I think it's better than ever. I hope this gives you some encouragement.

    LuAnn

    Luann,

    You mentioned that you are a 4 year survivor - congrats! That is winderful, wonderful news and certainly gives each of us more hope. When you mentioned "mets to brain" where you referring to metastis to the brain? Was it anywhere else as well? I ask this because mu mom also has metastises to the brain and will be undergoing gamma knife radiation. WHat was your treatment region both rads and chemo? Thanks for your help.
    Jennifer
  • jmevans
    jmevans Member Posts: 13
    #16
    Vivian,
    My mom was diagnosed on Novemeber 3, 2003, just the day before we told my mom and dad that they were going to be grandparents. I belive that God gave my mom a little angel to help her through the tough times. Mu daughter, her first grandchild is now 13 months old and my mom is still here fighting this terrible diesease. She is confident that she will beat it, and I believe that my daughter and her faith is all the encouragement and hope that she needs. Your little boy will do the same for your dad. God bless and I will pray for all of you.

    Jennifer
  • VivianDE
    VivianDE Member Posts: 8
    #17
    florence53 said:

    Vivian..My dad was diag. with sclc last May. He had a round of chemo, radiation (not the full treatment of radiation.) they decided his breathing was better than they thought so he had surgery to remove the right lower lobe. And clean out 3 lymph nodes along the sternum. I am a nurse, but not an oncology nurse. This was pretty much all new to me. All I can say is ask a lot of questions, and be persistant, you can be a pain in the **** in a nice way. If you think something should be done and isnt..find out why. My dad had a great recovery, unfortunately right now he is not feeling well, we are not sure why and will find out monday if anything new has shown up. Hopefully not. Keep on plugging, Mostly all you can do is be supportive. Go to the doctor with your dad, its so easy to miss stuff when they throw all that medical jargon at you. If you are not happy with the doctor...look into a new one. Good luck. Prayers

    Thank you for your Message how is your father doing? Please know I will inclued him in my prayers. My father has gotten his 2nd round of chemo he has lost a lot of weight and hair. And after chemo he feels horriable but after a few days later he starts feeling ok... I pray alot and like I have said even if he just gets a little time with my soon to be son that is all I ask. thanks Vivian
  • VivianDE
    VivianDE Member Posts: 8
    #18
    jmevans said:

    Vivian,
    My mom was diagnosed on Novemeber 3, 2003, just the day before we told my mom and dad that they were going to be grandparents. I belive that God gave my mom a little angel to help her through the tough times. Mu daughter, her first grandchild is now 13 months old and my mom is still here fighting this terrible diesease. She is confident that she will beat it, and I believe that my daughter and her faith is all the encouragement and hope that she needs. Your little boy will do the same for your dad. God bless and I will pray for all of you.

    Jennifer

    Wow I'm glad your mother is doing good I'm sure it has not been easy for you or her. I think the same about my soon to be son we where told we could not have kids and now this then my father got sick.. So I too think he will be my fathers angel...again thanks Vivian
  • HHenry
    HHenry Member Posts: 1
    #19
    luannt said:

    Hi vivian, I am a four year lung cancer survivor with mets to the brain. I don't believe in listening to statistics. God only know when it's time for you to die. There's alot of good treatments today...And more and more lung cancer patients are surviving everyday. I choose to look at it as an adventure for me. I was going to make the best of a bad situation. And I did. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Of course there were some scary times for us all, but we got through them. Now we can laugh about it. You really do need to have a sense of humor going through this desease, or it will beat you down. My life will never be the same, but sometimes I think it's better than ever. I hope this gives you some encouragement.

    LuAnn

    That is such a blessing....WOW!! 4 years. My husband was diagnosed 1 1/2 months ago. Just started treatment last week. Three days of treatment and back again week after next. It is SCLC Stage IV with mets to liver and bone. He had no symptoms at all.....except his lower back began to feel like a knife was cutting him into. Great health. Never stopped eating or lost weight. Hasn't been sick or lost weight, still eating after first 3 days of chemo. Statistics are scaring me. Even with chemo, the survival rates scare me. We've always believes in natural medicine. We've upped his intake of helpful herbs and vits. But, am really concerned as to whether they will interfer with the chemo working. No straight answers no matter where I look on web (everything contradictory), or who I talk to such as doctors, naturopaths, herbalogists. So, am stuck and don't know what to do to help him. I am disabled and he has helped me for so many years. We hardly ever see anyone....it's just us. He cries...not so much for himself...but for me. He says he can't leave me, he has to stay here and help me, that there is no one else to help me. I tell him that I am fine and please don't worry about me. I tell him that he will pull out of this a winner. I don't know what else to do. Can someone help me.
  • jmevans
    jmevans Member Posts: 13
    #20
    VivianDE said:

    Wow I'm glad your mother is doing good I'm sure it has not been easy for you or her. I think the same about my soon to be son we where told we could not have kids and now this then my father got sick.. So I too think he will be my fathers angel...again thanks Vivian

    Good luck - I'll be praying for you and your family.

    Jen
  • jmevans
    jmevans Member Posts: 13
    #21
    HHenry said:

    That is such a blessing....WOW!! 4 years. My husband was diagnosed 1 1/2 months ago. Just started treatment last week. Three days of treatment and back again week after next. It is SCLC Stage IV with mets to liver and bone. He had no symptoms at all.....except his lower back began to feel like a knife was cutting him into. Great health. Never stopped eating or lost weight. Hasn't been sick or lost weight, still eating after first 3 days of chemo. Statistics are scaring me. Even with chemo, the survival rates scare me. We've always believes in natural medicine. We've upped his intake of helpful herbs and vits. But, am really concerned as to whether they will interfer with the chemo working. No straight answers no matter where I look on web (everything contradictory), or who I talk to such as doctors, naturopaths, herbalogists. So, am stuck and don't know what to do to help him. I am disabled and he has helped me for so many years. We hardly ever see anyone....it's just us. He cries...not so much for himself...but for me. He says he can't leave me, he has to stay here and help me, that there is no one else to help me. I tell him that I am fine and please don't worry about me. I tell him that he will pull out of this a winner. I don't know what else to do. Can someone help me.

    HHenry,

    The best thing that you can do is have a positive attitude and God. I think that makes all the difference in the world. Statistics are just numbers... and their are people who beat this disease, why can't your husband be one of them?
    Jennifer

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