Sclc - Cancer: Lung Message Board

chickypoo · 11-01-2005, 12:53 PM

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.

CamillaNell · 11-01-2005, 02:32 PM

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

tuckygal · 11-01-2005, 03:29 PM

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.

rockie · 11-01-2005, 10:01 PM

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

OTabby · 11-02-2005, 01:08 AM

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 †