small cell lung cancer

Posted by cheris @cheris, Oct 24, 2016

My sister was just diagnosed with this. Anyone know what to expect and how I can be of help to her?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

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Lw, thank you for your very kind response. It means more than you know. - Susan

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

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Thank you, windwalker (I like that moniker); Insidious is so right One month, everything's fine; next month, a life-threatening diagnosis. I wish your friend and her husband well. The support of family and friends is so important; it was a blessing that we had it. I wish the same for you, your friend, and especially her husband. - Susan

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

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Thank you, Colleen, for the link. - S

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

Jump to this post

Hi Susan-
My heart goes out to you and your family! Lung cancer needs to be extinguished from our society!
My wife is now stage IV with NON SMALL CELL lung cancer. Her journey started in 2014 with repeated pneumonias and a diagnosis by our local doc that she had a "lung abscess"...
In May 2015 after non conclusive findings from an incompetent pulmonologist, we packed up her records and sent to Mayo...within 4 days they confirmed an adenacarcinoma...and asked that we get her there (Rochester) ASAP. Within a week she had a bilobectomy and was told she was stage 3A.
After 4 rounds of cisplatin chemo (debilitating) she was told she was okay...then in July, 2016 she was told her cancer had metastasized and was put on Opdivo...no response to it so they ordered a molecular study, from which they FINALLY determined she had a HERR2 mutation commonly found in breast cancer (not lung cancer) patients!
She is now being treated for that mutation...not approved by the FDA for lung cancer! We pray that this therapy is the right one.
Bottom line...to those with nonconclusive findings, insist upon a genomics study! They need to treat the mutation-NOT THE ORGAN!

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

Jump to this post

<br><br><br><br><br>Thank you Susan for your kind words for my friends. I have been praying day <br>and night for a miracle for them. I like 'Windwalker' too. Especially now <br>that there are several Terris on the blog. It can be hard to keep us <br>straight.  -Terri M.    That is why I also add an M. after <br>my name.<br> <br><br>

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

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Thanks so much - I wish we had pushed harder to pin down a cause for that A.R.D.S. episode four years prior to her cancer diagnosis. Also, I'm not certain my sister was given much information regarding the A.R.D.S. We were just relieved she lived through that, and tried to do all we could for her afterward by way of support. I will always believe her cancer diagnosis was related somehow to the A.R.D.S. My sister's cancer was also NON-SMALL Cell Adenocarcinoma. It's certainly easy to confuse the two types.

I'm very sorry about your wife's diagnosis; it sounds like they might have diagnosed it earlier if not for the holdups before you got to Mayo. I do hope and pray for your wife's prognosis and a good outcome. Miracles still happen.

My sister's insurance wasn't very good by the time she received her cancer diagnosis. I also don't know what types of studies were done to determine mutations. Since she was a medical professional, we presumed she knew the right questions to ask. Prior to her diagnosis, one of the medical schools in our area announced they would no longer accept her medical insurance at it's affiliated hospital(s). No reason was given. I thought at the time, and still believe it was the height of arrogance. Once she received her cancer diagnosis, this limited the facilities available to her and many other people for treatment. As I've said before, none of this hindsight will bring her back.

Best wishes to you and your wife; I hope you'll keep me informed of her progress. God Bless You. - Susan

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @cheris, I am sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It is good to hear that the breathing has improved, albeit with a side effect of feeling sick.

I see that you posted this question in Just Want to Talk, http://mayocl.in/2iLQFNz, where Kanaaz brought in a few members to share their experiences. @llwortman briefly joined the discussion, but now you have asked a few more specific questions about dealing with the side effects of chemo.

I would also like to invite @burrkay who cared for his wife who has cancer and has gone through multiple treatments and may be able to offer some advice on how you handle this as a caregiver.

@cheris, you mentioned that the prognosis does not sound very good, have other options been discussed after the last round of chemo? If you don't mind me asking, what has your sister discussed as her wishes for treatment after chemo?

Jump to this post

<br><br><br><br><br>Hello. I can tell this is still very painful for you. If I could reach <br>through this computer and hug you, I would.<br> <br><br>

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@windwalker

<br><br><br><br><br>Hello Cheris,<br> <br>     I am so sorry to hear of your sister's illness. <br>Your sister's journey sounds like my dad's. Do you know what stage her lung <br>cancer is?<br> <br>Terri

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Sorry about the post above, I forgot to proof read it before I sent it. I would like to know how everyone is doing out there? I'm doing okay, not perfect but not horrible either. How is your treatment going Burrkay? You are a very brave women! Take care all and I hope everyone is doing well.
Leslie

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@windwalker

<br><br><br><br><br>Hello Cheris,<br> <br>     I am so sorry to hear of your sister's illness. <br>Your sister's journey sounds like my dad's. Do you know what stage her lung <br>cancer is?<br> <br>Terri

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<br><br><br><br><br>I am checking in. Doing very well thank you. Just finished my month of <br>tobramycin, doing my salt lavage treatments and other daily meds. Am feeling <br>like a normal human being (with a little short of breathe). I hope others are <br>doing well also!<br> <br><br>

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@windwalker

<br><br><br><br><br>Hello Cheris,<br> <br>     I am so sorry to hear of your sister's illness. <br>Your sister's journey sounds like my dad's. Do you know what stage her lung <br>cancer is?<br> <br>Terri

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Thank Goodness, I've been thinking about you and am so happy that you are doing so well. Keep up the good work!
Leslie

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