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Wife's Diagnosis SCLC- Chemo Next Week-What Should I Do?

Posted by bovic21 @bovic21, Feb 11, 2025

Hello, my wife had a biopsy of a lump on her neck on Jan. 31,2025. It was determined she has SCLC, An xray revealed a mass in our right lung. Met with an oncologist and he ordered a PET scan and MRI of the brian. The results came back and no other cancer locations were found, PTL!
A port was put in today and chemo starts next Tuesday. We meet with a radiation doctor Friday. Radiation treatments will start soon. Chemo treatment is carbopatin/etoposide.
Is there anything I can do to better help her with the chemo side effects? Anything I should get prior to treatments? And any other suggestions or comments on our journey?

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Apr 5 2:31pm
In reply to @mimicmckay "@lls8000 Tarlatamab was FINALLY approved by my insurance company but I ended up in the hospital..." + (show)
Profile picture for mimicmckay @mimicmckay

@lls8000 Tarlatamab was FINALLY approved by my insurance company but I ended up in the hospital with a chest tube. So far 5 liters of fluid and counting. The good news is they are able to start the Tarlatamab while I’m already here so VERY grateful about that. I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed I get my first dose tomorrow.

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@mimicmckay, How are you doing? Has the fluid buildup at least slowed down? I hope you are starting to feel better.

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mimicmckay | @mimicmckay | Apr 5 6:03pm
In reply to @mimicmckay "@lls8000 Tarlatamab was FINALLY approved by my insurance company but I ended up in the hospital..." + (show)
Profile picture for mimicmckay @mimicmckay

@lls8000 Tarlatamab was FINALLY approved by my insurance company but I ended up in the hospital with a chest tube. So far 5 liters of fluid and counting. The good news is they are able to start the Tarlatamab while I’m already here so VERY grateful about that. I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed I get my first dose tomorrow.

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Got my test dose on Friday. So far no issues except a slight fever. Pleural effusion has resolved after draining 5L and chest tube being in for a week. Heading home today after a 9 day stay. Happy to be back home with the family on Easter.

Happy Easter everyone 🐣

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bovic21 | @bovic21 | May 17 9:03am

My wife has been receiving Tarlatamab every other week for 3 months. A body PET scan and a brain MRI was recently done. The scan showed that Tarlatamab was reducing her cancer in all spots below the neck! But the 2 brain tumors had grown slightly and 2 new little ones have appeared.
Because of this growth and new brain tumors, she is going to have Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Her radiation doctor calls this sniper radiaition. Tomorrow she goes for a face mask fitting and then she will receive either 1 or 3 sessions of radiaiion.
I was just wondering if anyone has had an experience with this type of brain radiation? and if so, how successful was it? and how bad is the mask fitting and wearing?

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | May 18 1:03pm
In reply to @bovic21 "My wife has been receiving Tarlatamab every other week for 3 months. A body PET scan..." + (show)
Profile picture for bovic21 @bovic21

My wife has been receiving Tarlatamab every other week for 3 months. A body PET scan and a brain MRI was recently done. The scan showed that Tarlatamab was reducing her cancer in all spots below the neck! But the 2 brain tumors had grown slightly and 2 new little ones have appeared.
Because of this growth and new brain tumors, she is going to have Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Her radiation doctor calls this sniper radiaition. Tomorrow she goes for a face mask fitting and then she will receive either 1 or 3 sessions of radiaiion.
I was just wondering if anyone has had an experience with this type of brain radiation? and if so, how successful was it? and how bad is the mask fitting and wearing?

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@bovic21, Sorry that you and your wife are facing this good news/bad news situation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for treatments to help our bodies, but not our brains. The Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) can also be referred to as 'gamma knife'.

@tvichkon, are you still doing well after your gamma knife procedure? (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1507460/)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/stereotactic-radiosurgery/about/pac-20384526

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tvichkon | @tvichkon | May 18 1:36pm

Yes I'm still doing well. Thank you

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