SCLC - Honest Answer?

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Hi, my mother in law(She is 55) was diagnosed with SCLC in Sept 07, the reason for her going to the docs in the first place was because she had a lump in the side of her neck that looked like a swollen gland, a biopsy was done of the lump which was found out to be SCLC, because it has moved from the lung already she was told this was the Extensive Diease. She was a heavy smoker but has not touched a cigarette since she was diagnosed.
Since September she has had 3 months of chemo (She was started on it the week after her dianosis) and now is on her 2nd week of radium with another week to go. She had a scan after her chemo and was told everything was looking good and she had responded well, she had a scan yesterday to her head to make she nothing has travelled upwards (As I beleive it sometimes does) and we are awaiting the results of that.
Apart from losing her hair because of chemo, a little bit of a cough (Simular to what I had myself when I packed in smoking 18 month ago) and a sore throat when swallowing because of the radium, she is very fit and well. Can someone be truthfull with me and tell what the chances are of her surviving? and if not how long most people have after dianosis? Whenever we see her docter he seems pleased with her but with everything I have read about SCLC it just does not look good, has anyone every survived with just Chemo and Radium alone? even tho they wont operate and take the cancer out?
Thanks
ps- I think this site is great for infomation, I used it for info a few years back when my own dad was going through throat cancer.

ksplat · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:08 am Post subject: SCLC - Honest Answer?

Hi there

So sorry to read about your MIL with SCLC. She appears to have responded well so far to her treatment & if I were you I would try not to read anything further into it!
You have probably "overloaded" yourself with alot of negative info on LC & I know this is a big drawback with our advanced technology these days. I'll bet it's hard to find a website which paints a rosy picture of this disease?!
No doubt you will receive support & information on this thread from sufferers & their carers. As you know we are are great community here with a huge capacity for reaching out to our members.
I hope the brain scan result will be clear, when you hear? Are you comfortable with the Dr & his experience in this area? If you are doubting his/her expertise you could always seek a 2nd opinion (if you haven't already).

My prayers & thoughts are with you & your family.

Cheers, Aussie Angie.
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BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks Aussie Angie...

Just received news today that my MIL's Brain Scan was clear thank god, but they want to give her 3 weeks of radium to the head as a precation.. I have tried to make her see that this is a good thing but she is a bit down at the moment as she only had one more day left of the radium to the chest area...it wouldnt be so bad but she has to travel nearly an hour each day to and then back from the hospital. She asked about side effects and they have told her migraines, extreme tiredness and hair loss (Her hair only started to grow back again this week from the chemo!) Has anyone had any other side effects that we might need to look out for?

sealnomore · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

[quote="BWFC"]Thanks Aussie Angie...

Has anyone had any other side effects that we might need to look out for?[/quote]

My dad had a hoarse/sore throat with the whole brain radiation treatment. It wasn't horrible, but it was uncomfortable at times.

Debbie

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks Debbie,

I know I have probably overloaded myself with info but does anyone know of any cases when people have survived SCLC-ED?

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 614

BWFC,

I'm sure there are those who do survive or beat it, but the percentages are pretty low. There are always those miracle few who do make it, plus there are more who survive for a number of years. Sometimes that's the best we can hope for.

Best wishes,
PBJ
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Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

MIL really going through a bad time, she had to have a mask made yesterday for the Radiotherpy they are going to give her to the head, and she had a panic attack when they were fitting it in the planning dept, now she is absolutly petrified to go back on Monday when the treatment starts, she never slept last night and has had to go to the docs for some carmers, she has rang the ONC and he said that they will have a talk to her on Monday, has anyone any experiences with 'the mask'? is it the fitting that is the worst? or will it be bad when she has to wear it for the treatment?

Tera · Experienced user Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 71

BWFC, tell your MIL that the mask fitting and the measuring for the radiation is the tough part, it gets easier. My mom had WBR and was a the claustrophobic type. She was so brave! It takes time for the mask fitting and the measuring but once your MIL is past that, the treatments themselves will only take a few minutes and will not be as bad. They may have to re-measure from time to time, but it won't be as bad. Mom even told me herself the treatments weren't anywhere as scary as the fitting and measuring.

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks Tera, I will pass on your comments thanks, when we spoke to her over the weekend she is point blank refusing to go anywhere near the mask so don't know if there is an alternative? or if they can give her some without it somehow? She said she would be willing to maybe have some kind of sedation or something so will talk to the consultant today.

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

MIL is nearing the end of her radium to the head area, she ended up refusing to wear the mask, they carried on with the treatment anyway and had come through it really good. Once she finishes on Friday it will be a 6 week wait until she goes for a scan... I beleive that SCLC tends to come back after responding well to radium??? Although I haven't mentioned this to her I was wondering if anyone know what the docs would do in this case? More Chemo?

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 614

BW,

Glad to hear they were able to do the brain radiation despite no mask. God bless her docs -- she is having a tough enough time now. Did they do whole brain radiation (WBR) or spot treatment on the mets, or both? WBR tends to hold off new mets in the brain. Of course that doesn't do anything for the rest of the cancer in her body.

What is the status of the rest of her body? Is she tumor free? You already know SCLC is so darned aggressive, so the likelihood of a return somewhere is pretty high. There are second line chemotherapy regimens out there for SCLC, but beyond that it's pretty up in the air whether she can get a response with 3rd line agents. I've seen people do more radiation and chemo though, so don't throw in the towel.

Best wishes and keep us updated with her status.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks for the responce PJB...

All they have said to her is that after 6 weeks of finishing her radium, she will need to go and have a scan again to see how she has responded..she is really well though, sometimes I think that there cant be anything wrong with her but I know thats just wishful thinking... don't know about her being tumor free tho, when she had a scan before the radium the doc was very pleased and said she had responded well but he didnt say anything about being tumor free... will keep you updated on any furher developments.

BWFC · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

oh and when she had a scan after chemo they said that her organs were clear...when she had the scan to her head he also said that was clear? could she still have mets to her head tho?

brainman · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:38 am Post subject: Re: SCLC - Honest Answer?

What kind of scan did she have? Even the most sensitive of scans do have a sensitivity limit below which they will not detect cancer cells. So the basic answer to your question is "Yes, there could still be mets in her head. But if they are too small to detect, they are also probably too small to cause any problems."

BWFC, your MIL is in my thoughts and prayers.
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helensgirl · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: SCLC - Honest Answer?

Hi,
You know, my partner's uncle was diagnosed w/LC 8 years ago, and is still kicking........but my mom only made it 7 months. I wish you all the luck in the world, and send hope and peace and positive thoughts your way. Keep in touch in this forum...These people have been a God-send! Take care of yourself...Kim in NC
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