My mother in law was just diagnosed with SCLC. Originally, she was told there was a tumor on the top part of her lung. Because of it's location, it could be removed surgically, and it was. At that time, it was diagnosed as SCLC, however her Dr. was encouraged about the fact that it had been able to be removed surgically (most SCLC are inoperable due to the location of the tumors). He decided to wait a few week to begin chemo because she was having a hard time recovering from her surgery (she's arthritic and also her incision was not healing properly). His prognosis was that because the tumor had been removed, and bone and brain scans were normal, that chemo could possibly wipe out the tumor IF a PET scan showed no metastasis .

The very next day, the PET scan results came back and there was spreading to the lymph nodes in the lung. (there showed some other spreading but he attributed the results of those parts to inflammation from the surgery - it was the lymph nodes that were worrisome). She hasn't been told yet but she is meeting with him tomorrow. He maintains that his treatment plan is going to be the same in light of this test result. She already has severe COPD so radiation isn't possible. My MIL stated earlier that if it has spread she will not do the chemo.

Does anyone out there have any experience with a situation in which the SCLC has spread to the lymph nodes? We are just wondering realistically if she should bother doing the chemo or if anyone thinks the chemo results COULD possibly be positive. I am NOT looking for anyone to sugarcoat anything. We really want the most truthful answer even if it isn't positive. ANy help anyone can offer will be appreciated.

My late husband, who died of sclc this past Labor Day, was diagnosed last march with mets already in liver, bone, bone marrow and a couple of lymph nodes. Nevertheless, he began both radiation and chemo immediately, even with this as the starting point. Two real gifts to share with you come to mind:

(1) we met a physician, who visited my husband 11 years since his own diagnosis of sc at stage III. He claimed surgery, some cutting edge chemo and prayer, heavy on the latter as his understanding for why he is still alive.
He was was a gift of hope--while I knew of few long term survivors, I could say I knew of one.

(2) I really believe that treatments, radiation and chemo, gave my husband the gift of this past summer. Even though he never went into any kind of real remission, it did stabilize the disease, kept it from spreading for a little while. and that meant one more full summer, nearly symptom free, with his boys (7 & 11) and with me.

I think every one has to listen for what makes the most sense for themselves. I don't think everyone is supposed to fight as hard or in the way my husband did. for some all that treatment would get in the way of precious days of living, but for him, they really did add both quantity and quality of life, if only for months and not for years.

hope this is helpful somehow. blessings for you mother in law's journey, for healing and for discernment of what that looks like for her. and you too.

shalom, cam

Hello, my SCLC, diagnosed in April, had spead to the lymph nodes on my right collarbone, and to lymph nodes on each side of my neck, with the larger mass being on my upper right lobe. I had radiation and four rounds of three straight days of chemo and the nodes started shrinking after the first round of chemo. My scan in July was clean. Of course, this kind of cancer is known to come back so I am trying to be thankful each day that I feel as good as I do. I will have another CT scan next month. While this cancer is fast growing, it also responds very quickly to treatment. My prayers are with you and your mother-in-law.

Hi...I must agree with Cam and KyGal that continuing with treatment gives a gift of days, weeks and months. The ultimate detail of all of this is the wish of those who have to endure the procedures, needles, treatments, pain. If your MIL is a fighter, she will need every ounce of support and strenght that you can provide her. If her decision is to withdraw from conventional treatment, perhaps you can look into holistic therapy. I do not know where you live, but there are many -- many practictitioners all over this country that can be consulted. I recently heard of two miraculous cures attributed to acupuncture..... alas, my loving hubby (he is nsclc) refuses to consider such alternative treatments due to the intensive "needle" applications. These therapies are something worth considering due to their own success rates...good really. All in all...one factor remains constant..GOD. HE oversees all. No matter what your faith is, I hope you and your family have God or your own version of a higher power to lean onto to. He will never let you down, and ultimately our destinies...no matter how carefully we plan them out...are in His hands.

Hugs, prayers, and much hope coming your way from So. Indiana....

Jan

When I had my Upper Left Lobectomy for SCLC,they removed my lymph nodes from under my arm also,just to be on the safe side.Had 4 rounds of chemo.
This May will be 2 years in remission,my doctors have all mentioned how lucky I was to have the cancer found so soon.
Every 3 months I go thru a barrage of tests,thank God I'm still clean,as this is a very aggressive cancer
Take Care JL †

My husband allso has SCLC he was dx in June with the primary tumor confined to right upper lobe of his lung with right lymph node involement.
He has had 10 rounds of chemo and 39 rounds of radiation!
To date his cancer although not in remission is under control,he will have a PET scan to determine mets if any.
I would say that chemo could help your MIL to have a few extra months,of course everyone is different and mental attitude has a lot to do with the process.
I will pray for your family
God Bless :angel:

Karen44

Thank you all for your responses!

We just met with the Dr. this morning and he informed her of the met to her lymph nodes in the center of the chest. She took it better than we expected her to at first, but she did fall apart when I got her back to her rehab room.

I should have mentioned that my MIL already has had COPD for YEARS, she has severe arthritis in her hip (was scheduled to have it replaced this past Oct, but cancer got in the way of that) so now she can't walk alone or even with help, she can hardly breathe at all even when she wears her Oxygen. She's in terrible pain all the time and when I look at her, I feel as though she looks like she's aged 20 years in just the past two months. And she hasn't even STARTED her treatments yet. It's hard for us to look at her now and ever imagine her being back to somewhat normal again.

The Dr. is starting 3 cycles of chemo (3 days on and 18 days off 3 times) beginning this coming Monday (Because of her health, she will have them inpatient at the hospital) and then he will do another PET scan to see if that has helped at all. She states she is going to do the first round, but if it hasn't helped, she won't do another. We have agreed to support whatever she chooses. At her age (70) and with her history of health problems, we can't imagine her continuing to go through that if she doesn't want to. This is all just so sad for us to see her this way.

I really am keeping everyone here and their families in my prayers.

May God keep you and your hubby and his mom in his loving arms. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Like you, I respect what "their" decision is. May we keep strong through these times.

Hugs and prayers,
Jan

i just want to let all of you know that you need to keep on your drs after all your treatments are over. i thought i had beat my lung and lymph node cancer, but 3 months after all was over and i was doing great, mine met to the brain and now i am terminal. i went through treatment (radiation only) now its the waiting game to see if it gave me a little more time. i am so very angry right now. the lung cancer treatment was a breeze compared to the brain. just keep on those drs. because i would not have known if i hadn't had a severe headache for 3 days (over weekend) went to dr had ct next day and in 2 days was told basically i'm sorry. good luck to all.

Today my MIL fell and broke her left hip. We don't know how this is going to affect her treatments which are scheduled to begin this coming Monday. I really don't think things could get any worse for her!