Small Cell Lung Cancer: Let's connect

Posted by Merry, Volunteer 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, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 25, 2019

In reply to @lady1lake "Still taking things one day at a time. Just glad to be able to go onto..." + (show)

lady1lake- I'm pulling for you!

Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 25, 2019

In reply to @margot69 "This gets more interesting. I am under the care of a local Onc. I did go..." + (show)

@margot- How wonderful that Dr. Wakelee was so thorough! I had cisplatin and it wasn't pleasant. An oncologist nurse advised me to get an anti-nausea prescription and take it as soon as you get home from chemo, and to take it round the clock for a few days. See what your Oncologist will give you!
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Just go with it, Do what you can and don't do what you can't. Ask for help if you need it. Warm hugs! If you go to the Neuroendocrine cancer group please come backa nd visit and keep me up to date on how you are doing! Warm hugs

lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jan 25, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "lady1lake- I'm pulling for you!" + (show)

Thank you Merry. I have to admit that I am nervous about whole brain radiation toxicity. I lost 2 teeth during last chemo/radiation & one of the possible side effects of WBR is tooth decay.

margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 25, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "@Margot- How wonderful that Dr. Wakelee was so thorough! I had cisplatin and it wasn't pleasant...." + (show)

Sorry, it is Carboplatin and Etoside. They are giving me IV Zofran before each treatment. I have the pills at home too but can only take every 6 hours. I took a Tigan yesterday, older med for nausea I have used for some time for my stomach issues. Skipped dinner. I think I feel worse since I started this, not feeling well this morning. Haven't checked the other group yet.

Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 26, 2019

In reply to @margot69 "Sorry, it is Carboplatin and Etoside. They are giving me IV Zofran before each treatment. I..." + (show)

@margot69 -I'd also like to include @bleulagoon, @lady1lake in this discussion because they have both had chemo. Hang in there! Chemo can make you feel ill for sure. If you are still nauseous than contact your doctor or infusion nurse.
here are some ideas for you. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/cancer/art-20047517

lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jan 30, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "@margot69 -I'd also like to include @bleulagoon, @lady1lake in this discussion because they have both had..." + (show)

The chemo did not make me nauseous but did give me dry mouth & bad taste. My appetite was not good at all so I drank chocolate flavored Premier protein drinks & creamy soups. I lost 25 lbs & that was not a bad thing because I was getting over weight with aging. Now have a good appetite & trying to maintain present weight.

margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 30, 2019

In reply to @lady1lake "The chemo did not make me nauseous but did give me dry mouth & bad taste...." + (show)

Dry mouth and throat are my enemies as I have suffered from that for years and had to have thousands of $$$ in dental work done. Yes, feel drier and like I have a mouth and throat full of glue and I know the Zofran isn't helping. I switched to trying just the Tigan and it is not as bad. I constantly have to drink something, chew Act gum, use Biotene soray, etc. Actually, yesterday, I felt somewhat better but maybe did too much. Went for my blood work and decided to go to a wig salon here in town. Had intended to just look but I did buy a wig. My husband was very patient thru the whole thing, shocking. LOL! I then got a Big Mac and ate the whole thing. Most I had eaten in days. I have lost about 8 lbs but starting out with a few extra to spare. Now, to address constipation probkems which sent me to Stanford some years ago.

lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jan 30, 2019

In reply to @margot69 "Dry mouth and throat are my enemies as I have suffered from that for years and..." + (show)

Constipation was a constant problem while I was on chemo. Senokot worked!

doughy42 | @doughy42 | Jan 30, 2019

Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had gastric bypass. My stomach does not digest the pills. Now on 2 chemo and Keytruda. One more infusion will do scan to see if working.