my father was just diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer which has already metastisized to his liver. He started chemo yesterday. what should i expect to happen next. What does anyone know about this type?

Thanks worried :(

My father-in-law has non small cell which went to his liver too. I would guess to exoect rounds of chemo. I think if its spread, they don't operate...

I only know a little about small cell... it is less common than NSC...
it is more aggressive... it grows more quickly... however...on the good side...
it actually responds faster to treatment....
My husband had NSCLC...but I remember the radiologist saying with small cell you can usually tell within days if the treatment is working as opposed to NSC which can take weeks....

you can do some research on line... there are a few sites dedicated to lung cancer...

I hope that all goes well...I am sorry you are going through this....

My father-in-law has non small cell which went to his liver too. I would guess to exoect rounds of chemo. I think if its spread, they don't operate...

My mom has been dealing w/ sclc since we discovered june 30th...no surgery...not really an option for small cell...had 4 rounds of 2 drug chemo treatment...3 days straight and 2.5 weeks off...Many people do have REALLY positive responses to the chemo...often putting into remission...but it will eventually come back...my Mom's had spread to her liver, sternum, and spots in her spine...some of it started to shrink...after first 2 cycles...then after last 2 ...had grown...so she wasn't one of the many who have very favorable results w/ first round standard treatment....not because of the spread...but just her...she may be a little immune to chemo as she had 10 mos of chemo years ago for breast cancer...but at my mom's urging...they have started her on secondary treatment of Topetecan...which they usually give someone that had gone into remission and has had a recurrence...both treatments she has tolerated well...just tired...a little nausea...lost her hair...and low blood counts...but all in all ...she has been feeling ok...it is scarier that nsclc (although both are bad...my dad had nsclc)...as it is so very agressive...and the chemo will not touch the brain where it tends to spread to....If someone is successful w/ the first rounds of treatment...they we often do proactive radiation to the brain to prevent it from popping up there while in remission...hope this helps...keep in touch....definite hope!!!....C

My mom was diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer Dec, 06. She only made it through 3 rounds of 3-day chemo treatment because she got so weak and had to keep getting blood transfusions. She also fell and broke two pelvic bones on the side of her amputed leg of 14 years ago. So, it was mid March and we just decided to call in hospice and she has been keep very comfortable and virtually pain free since then. She is still with us today (she lives with me and my family and I am her only caregiver). Her lung cancer has pretty much taken over most of her body, including her brain now. There is no cure for this and even with the chemo, it has come back with a vengence. It has been a long and difficult road.....any only gets worse with time. If you have any questions, I can probably help answer them for you......we've been through a real lot since her diagnosis.
Hope, I am so very sorry for your father and you. Please know that my prayers are with you.

I am so sorry what you nd your Mom are going though...your note was encouraging to me ...as the doctor talked about how aggressive this is...and we were thinking weeks w/o treatment...I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers...C

Hi ladies,
I'm just sitting here thinking about all the people out there with cancer and how difficult it must be for them. It is also very difficult for the caregivers as well. You never really know what to expect next...except the unexpected!
As I watch my mom deteriorate a little more each day I get very sad. :(
Since it is in her brain, and with all the pain medication and steriods, she's really not MY mom anymore. I'm pretty much like her mom now. She can't remember what she did 2 seconds ago. ..... it is so frustrating for both of us.
Well.....no point in rambling anymore......just had to vent for a moment.
I wish all of you peace and my prayers. Take care of yourselves...and your loved ones.
SherryAnne

Hi ladies,
I'm just sitting here thinking about all the people out there with cancer and how difficult it must be for them. It is also very difficult for the caregivers as well. You never really know what to expect next...except the unexpected!
As I watch my mom deteriorate a little more each day I get very sad. :(
Since it is in her brain, and with all the pain medication and steriods, she's really not MY mom anymore. I'm pretty much like her mom now. She can't remember what she did 2 seconds ago. ..... it is so frustrating for both of us.
Well.....no point in rambling anymore......just had to vent for a moment.
I wish all of you peace and my prayers. Take care of yourselves...and your loved ones.
SherryAnne

You are an AWESOME daughter....

Thanks for your response. Although I feel your situation is worse than mine right now. You are an awesome daughter. I will keep you and your mom in my prayers as well. I know Cancer is like this monstrosity. I mean you hear the word forever. But until it is told it is your relative and you have to live it . Its just a word. Im just trying to help educate myself. My mom is only 55. I cant imagine her a widow.. The whole thing is bad. So far he has taken the chemo fine. But he is pale and losing weight. And his appetite is diminished pretty much to nothing. I feel my job as a daughter is to be there for them. Thats why i am looking for my own support on here. I dont want them to know my real feelings..i feel he wont las long. but i have to be positive for them. If that makes sense.

If you ever want to talk put me on ur buddy list..thanks Hope2007life

Hi everyone,
I think ALL of your are awsome! And I see that we are all pretty much in the same boat here. Cancer is a very ugly disease and I wish I had never even heard the word. But looking at the silver lining here, this actually gave me and my mom a new perspective on our relationship. We have become much closer. This may sound weird, but I really believe that I have been blessed by God as he has entrusted me to take care of my mom here on earth until she goes to her eternal home. (But I am still frustrated every day!).
I hope all of you have a good day tomorrow and may you be blessed each and every day.:)

I think I feel like you do....I always tell my kids not to talk on line to people they don't know...but I feel like i have a connection here....able to talk...ask...share....with people that truly understand what I may be going through as a daughter....you get such limited...but valuable time...but still limited...with the doctor....do not always want to be a pest always calling....sitting in the oncology waiting room...realize just how busy they are....such a sad thing....take care...as always...c

My stepfather has lung cancer, non-smoker. We have done Tarceva since May of 2006. Last week we found out that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes. Dr wants to start chemo but need a head ct before hand due to the fact the chemo can make you bleed out. Two days ago, my mom had to take him to the hospital due to fatigue, irregular heartbeat. EKG shows heart attack but blood work does not. While in the hospital we found out that, he had brain cancer in two different places. They have started radiation on the tumors in the brain. I know he is dying, I just do not know what to expect next or what the next step is.

My stepfather has lung cancer, non-smoker. We have done Tarceva since May of 2006. Last week we found out that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes. Dr wants to start chemo but need a head ct before hand due to the fact the chemo can make you bleed out. Two days ago, my mom had to take him to the hospital due to fatigue, irregular heartbeat. EKG shows heart attack but blood work does not. While in the hospital we found out that, he had brain cancer in two different places. They have started radiation on the tumors in the brain. I know he is dying, I just do not know what to expect next or what the next step is.

I think the questions are...is the brain cancer...the lung cancer that has spread? It is a common migration for it...the radiation can help contol the cancer in the brain...and the chemo ...many times works REALLY well on lung cancer that has spread...depends on the type (small cell or non small cell). They need to do radiation to the brain...as most regular chemo treatments do not touch the cancer in the brain. Although reluctant...Drs will tell you if there is no hope...and nothing more they can offer...as they did that w/ my Dad...and the focus just turned to comfort for him...as long as they are offering treatment options...I like to feel that they still feel there is a chance...so keep the faith...c

I am a male age 74 and have the same thing as you describe your father having. Mine may have spread a little more than his. I went on chemo in June, 2007 and started with a 6 hour drip of Taxol, Carboplatin, and Avastin. I got 4 such treatments 3 weeks apart.
These are strong drugs that cut my 2 main tumors about in half and about knocked me on my butt. Three weeks after the last treatment I began taking part in a clinical trial in which I take a daily pill (Tarceva) and a 30 minute drip of Avastin every 3 weeks. After the 1st 3 weeks I was exhausted but wasn't sure it was from the old treatment or the new. The doc gave me a week off of everything to allow my body to get stronger. I'm back on the trial and doing much better. From the Taxol,my feet became very numb and remain that way, I'm hoping they get better so I can drive again. Also have frequent diarrhea and skin rash but you learn to live with it. Send me any other ?? you have. I recieve treatment from top notch people at Vanderbilt in Nashville,TN. John

That is the chemo cocktail that they wanted to put my stepfather on...He started with the Tarceva...He has scares from the rash of the medication...Before they could start the chemo they had to do a head CT due to bleeding out. Two brain tumors, to our surprise. Now radiation to the brain is making him tired, confused, but he still does not seem to understand that he is dyeing. Do you sometimes think quality of life is better then quantity?
My stepfather is 53 and says that he has had a good life but will do any to stay with us longer.

That is the chemo cocktail that they wanted to put my stepfather on...He started with the Tarceva...He has scares from the rash of the medication...Before they could start the chemo they had to do a head CT due to bleeding out. Two brain tumors, to our surprise. Now radiation to the brain is making him tired, confused, but he still does not seem to understand that he is dyeing. Do you sometimes think quality of life is better then quantity?
My stepfather is 53 and says that he has had a good life but will do any to stay with us longer.

I personally feel that quality is always better than quantity...but that it such an individual choice.....when ...God forbid....I am faced w that....at this point in my life I would choose quality....but if faced w/ x amount of months left...I could change my mind:)...It is so individual...as a caregiver...i want quality...if they can't be cured...want comfort for them...but it is not my life...it is theirs...they need to make that decision...it's hard....take care..c