1. < Lung Cancer

Small Cell Lung Cancer: Let's connect

Posted by Merry, Alumni Mentor @merpreb, Jan 12, 2019

Most of the discussions about lung cancer has been about Non-small cell lung cancers. There are many sub-types of this that are included. But there is another type of lung cancer that needs to be discussed and that is Small Cell Lung Cancer. This aggressive form of lung cancer most commonly occurs in smokers. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) and grows very quickly, creating large tumors and spreading (metastasizing) throughout the body.
Symptoms include bloody phlegm, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Treatment includes surgery (for small tumors) as well as chemotherapy, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy.
Lung cancers cells are sometimes classified by where they tend to grow.
There have been huge breakthroughs in lung cancer research of late.
Please join @margot69 and I in this new disussion.

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

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "He Merry, Just posted I have an appt at Stanford this Thursday. I am having this..." + (show)
@margot69

He Merry,
Just posted I have an appt at Stanford this Thursday. I am having this right shoulder blade pain that just won't go away. Went to ER last Friday with this and back pain. Didn't really see anything. ER Dic said I have nodes on that side and maybe that was the problem.

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@margot69- Will your husband be ok to drive you? You mentioned that he had heart problems I think?? How is he?

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1 reply
margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@margot69- I recommend everyone should watch this. It is a bit lengthy so bear with it...." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot69- I recommend everyone should watch this. It is a bit lengthy so bear with it. I am thrilled that you now have an appointment in just a couple of days. You can do this! And you are not alone in this journey. We are right along with you. I commute from southern RI to Boston, MA for my appointments and tests. It's worth it, if you can, to seek the best care possible.

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Oh, glad you posted that. Yes, lengthy but informative. I have an appt to see Dr. Wakelee, the one that was the last to speak at that presentation. Thank you for the encouragement. Tgat is some commute. Going to Mayo, Sloan, MD Anderson really are not options. My daughter lives near Scripps in San Diego who, I think, just partnered up with MD Anderson in 2018. She wants me to come down there but, again, such an inconvenience, woukd not feel,comfortable and, having taken care of sick parents for years, hate to put my kids through this, if I don't have to. I don't know if one place is better then another.

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "Margot- What tests did he do that saw the nodules near your shoulder blade?" + (show)
@merpreb

Margot- What tests did he do that saw the nodules near your shoulder blade?

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They showed up on the CT, PET and the chest X-Ray too, I think. Under my clavicle area? Cannot be felt externally. 2 or 3 on the outside of my trachea? Tylenol is just not helping this pain.

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@margot69- Will your husband be ok to drive you? You mentioned that he had heart problems..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot69- Will your husband be ok to drive you? You mentioned that he had heart problems I think?? How is he?

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He should be. He was having some issues with feeling dizzy and has passed out 3 times over the past couple of years. Long story short, had a heart stent put in about 3 months ago and now trying to manage BP meds. It was too low the other day so he had to stop a med. He is out golfing today. :-). Another reason I don't want to travel far away from his doctors. What a group!

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019

@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter it might be a chance for her to help you. She must feel helpless.
There are doctors where you are going so your husband should be ok. Don't you think? You have to think about yourself too. Are you going to forgo your health?
Can't you get something stronger for now?

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter it might be a chance for her to help you. She must feel helpless.
There are doctors where you are going so your husband should be ok. Don't you think? You have to think about yourself too. Are you going to forgo your health?
Can't you get something stronger for now?

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The ride to Stanford? Depending on traffic, weather, accidents and road construction coukd be 1 hr 45 mins to 3-4 hours coming and going! My daughter is in San Diego, minimum, in good traffic, 7 1/2 hours from here, has taken us 10+. Oh, just feel comfortable at home. She life's in a ranchette with dogs, horses, braying Donkies, goats. Any other time, I enjoy it. SIL is a mechanic and always working on something and people always in and out. I love them and the animals but, if I am not well, I just want oeace and quiet. If they decide I qualify for some treatment, what if that makes me sick? I would hate to be so far away and being our home vacant fir that long, however long that might be. Have a son diwn there too that suggested we rent a place down there, in San Diego! He did not offer to pay for that. Ear Doc gave me a script for Percocit, I have never taken. My stomach and pain meds do not get along well together.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019

@margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients stay for free.
Do you have an oncologist at home that would work with another Dr to administer the chemicals or radiologist?

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shaila1902 | @shaila1902 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "Good Monday morning. Actually, Stanford called this morning to set up an appt. I asked if..." + (show)
@margot69

Good Monday morning. Actually, Stanford called this morning to set up an appt. I asked if I coukd see Dr. Wakelee but she was booked out. Asked to see Dr. Padda, who treated a friend, and they booked an appt this Thursday. A while later, they called back and said Wakelee had an opening Thursday at 3:30, nit the best time for us for a long commute but I took it! Asked the scheduler who was the better doctor to se and was told both are good but definitely Wakelee. Actually, here is a video from Stanford and sge is one of the speakers, if it is ok if I post it here. https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/cancer/lung-cancer/about-this-condition/types.html/presentation-mode/stanford-health-now/videos/lung-cancer-webcast-2014

Scared to make this journey. Thanks for asking. As I have told very few people, nice to have the support.

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@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also very caring. I have been under her treatment for my NSLC adenocarcinoma for the lung with brain mets since the past 2years . She and her team are very responsive to any queries/problems you may have.

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@Margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients stay for free.
Do you have an oncologist at home that would work with another Dr to administer the chemicals or radiologist?

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Near Stanford? Not sure. Will have to wait and see what treatment plan they suggest.

It has been a real circus over hear and my doctor knows I am not happy! I was supposed to see an Oncologist here, after I had to ask for a referral, last Friday but I was stuck in the ER. I have one this Friday and will keep it.

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @shaila1902 "@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also..." + (show)
@shaila1902

@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also very caring. I have been under her treatment for my NSLC adenocarcinoma for the lung with brain mets since the past 2years . She and her team are very responsive to any queries/problems you may have.

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Shalia, glad someone is familiar with Stanford and this doctor. After deciding I would probably seek an opinion at Stanford, I started researching doctors and she has a very good education and reviews. A friend suggest Dr. Padda, who had an opening. I guess I got lucky because they called back to say they could get me in to see Wakelee this week. I am glad you have done so well under her care. I am hoping there is some ray of home for me with the small cell LC, stage IV now, but nothing showed in the brain.

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