We just found out she has small cell lung cancer. She has been given 1-3 months to live. She is also a diabetic, a smoker and has heart disease. Would chemo and radiation be a way to go? What is your experience with sclc?

I am really sorry to hear about your mother-in law. My mother was diagnosed with extensive (stage IV) small cell lung cancer last Dec. 29, 06. She was also give 1 to 3 months at diagnosis if she did NOT have chemo. With chemo, they were giving her till the end of this year. My Mom is still with us today. Everyone is different and treatments affect everyone differently. She only had 3 rounds of chemo (didn't make the last round because she was so weak and frail she fell and broke two pelvic bones; she is also an amputee ...right leg above knee) and it is a battle each and every day of her life. She is aware that she is terminal .....as the doctors told her at the time of diagnosis...but she chose to get the chemo because she had "unfinished business" here on earth and she needed time to straighten things out. She has accomplished this and has been preparing herself for eternal life with GOD. She is now so much at PEACE with EVERYTHING now. I left the decision of chemo vs. no chemo up to my mom as she is the only one who could really make that decsion for herself. There was no question in her mind that she was going to get chemo. (I personally did not see the point as to lengthen the time period of suffering and dying from this awful disease, but as I mentioned before, she NEEDED that time to finsh her work here on earth).
I am so grateful now that I let her make her own decision and gave her 100% of my support. It's been a very long, hard road this past year. But it has also been a blessing as our relationship was able to become much better now.
I've been taking care of my mom for the past 10 years (the last five of which she has been living with me and my family). If there are any specific questions you might have, I would be more than happy to try and help answer them for you as we have been through a real lot already.
Take care and my prayers are with you.:angel:

We just found out she has small cell lung cancer. She has been given 1-3 months to live. She is also a diabetic, a smoker and has heart disease. Would chemo and radiation be a way to go? What is your experience with sclc?

My Mom is a 12 year breast cancer survivor...went in for routine f/u tests end of July...whirlwind since...mass in her lung...scans upon scans...in her liver...sternum...bone...kidney...small cell cancer.....first round of "regular regime" did nothing...actually grew...now on topotecan...has had good quality of life...everything considered....very tired....not sure the outcome...doesn't look great,,,but taking one day at a time...in my thoughts...C

W/ small cell they typically do chemo...which can have GREAT results ...often putting in remission...once in remisson...they may do radiation to the brain...being proactive...as the chemo doesn't typically reach the brain...and if they get good results (remission) w/ the lung...they will do proactive radiation on the brain..as chemo will not touch that...and if you go into remission,,,just treat the brain...to ensure that nothing has snuck up there..always hope...c

My Dad passes away with small cell lung cancer in 1990. They gave him 2 months to live and he lived 5. Radiation and chemo actually did nothing for him and was a real dissapointment to us. However, things have improved dramatically since my Dad was ill and miracles do happen........don't let the doctors play God by putting time limits on his life. Take one day at a time and make each good day really count. I thank God everyday that I was able to be with my Dad for the last 6 weeks of his life around the clock and I would not take for the conversations we had during that time. I miss him so much I can not even describe how much.

My mother-in-law decided to get a second opinion 2 weeks later from another oncologist. He did a pet scan. The results stated sclc in left lung, lymph nodes and center of chest. She asked her regular MD to get results and go over with her. He is not a cancer specialist but did tell her that it is only in the left lung and that's it. It's weird how 2 specialists say one thing and a regular MD basically says they are lying to her. It's upsetting to the family because we feel that the MD is either not being honest with her or doesn't know what he's talking about. :confused:She has decided on chemotherapy. I just don't know how well she will do on the treatments with her also having diabetes and heart disease.:(

Hi Just thought I would give a quick update, my father-in-Law had a large tumor in his right lung and was give 3 to 6 months to live, he had one pallative radiation treatment. One year two months later he is still with us and his general health has been better this year than the past 6 years. His tumor has shrunk none of his consultants can believe or understand why the tumor has shrunk so small and that he is still alive. So to hang on in there folks these consultants dont know everything. God Bless all of you who are fighting this horid illness and god bless all your families.