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.

@doughy42

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.

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@doughy42 - I'd also like to welcome you to Connect. I also have stage 4 lung cancer. I have multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. My first cancer was 21 1/2 years ago. How did the gastric bypass go? Are you maintaining a good weight? You mentioned that you have problems with pill digestion. I imagine that has something to do with your bypass. Can you crush any pills and mix them in applesauce or a juice?
Can you tell me more about your cancer? What kind is it? When was it found?
It sounds as if you are close to completing your chemo. That will be a huge relief! It was when I had it.

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@lady1lake

Even though I have been posting on another segment of this forum I would like to join in here since I have SCLC, stage 3b. I finished chemo/radiation at the end of Oct. I tire easily, but am able to manage light daily task. Thank goodness my sweet husband is keeping things running smoothly. I beat breast cancer & a recurrence years ago. Hoping & praying to beat this cancer too.

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I will be thinking about you. I am sorry you are faced with cancer again. You beat it once, I hope this journey is the same. I also have SCLC. Blessings.

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@merpreb

lady1lake- I'm pulling for you!

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@bluelagoon, @margot , @olgamarie- @lady1lake posted this on another group's conversation: This past week I was diagnosed with metatasic cancer. Am going back to Mayo on this Tuesday for a liver biopsy to discover if it is from the breast cancer 9 years ago or the small cell lung cancer of last year. Then the doctors will decide whether or not I am a candidate for immunotherapy. Thank God for excellent Mayo doctors & modern medicine . I am good with what ever they decide. I have told them that I want quality of life, not just quantity. They all said that it is the right decision. Also last week I had targeteted radiation to the bone covering the brain. No lesions in the brain, but did have bone metastasis. Will find out soon if that particular therapy worked.
I was hoping that we could all get together and help her through this.
Here is hoping that you are all feeling well. Will you join me?

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@lady1lake

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

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Tried Senokot. Did not work for me, but Milk of Magnesia did. Also I eat cooked dried prunes with lemon slices, yummy & helpful combination.

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@merpreb

@bluelagoon, @margot , @olgamarie- @lady1lake posted this on another group's conversation: This past week I was diagnosed with metatasic cancer. Am going back to Mayo on this Tuesday for a liver biopsy to discover if it is from the breast cancer 9 years ago or the small cell lung cancer of last year. Then the doctors will decide whether or not I am a candidate for immunotherapy. Thank God for excellent Mayo doctors & modern medicine . I am good with what ever they decide. I have told them that I want quality of life, not just quantity. They all said that it is the right decision. Also last week I had targeteted radiation to the bone covering the brain. No lesions in the brain, but did have bone metastasis. Will find out soon if that particular therapy worked.
I was hoping that we could all get together and help her through this.
Here is hoping that you are all feeling well. Will you join me?

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Thank you @merpreb. This Mayo connection means the world to me. I do not discuss my cancer problems with many people, mainly just my family & a couple of very close friends, who have also had cancer.
I am feeling very positive because like the other 3 different cancers I have had over the past 17 years, all were caught in early stages. But, have to admit since this one is so close to the brain it is a bit more scary. Am having headaches, just not as bad as before the targeted radiation treatments. Of course pain meds do help. I know that the brain cannot feel pain, but the scalp, bone & blood vessels surrounding the brain are sensitive to pain.
Thank you all for your kind, caring thoughts & prayers.

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@lady1lake

Thank you @merpreb. This Mayo connection means the world to me. I do not discuss my cancer problems with many people, mainly just my family & a couple of very close friends, who have also had cancer.
I am feeling very positive because like the other 3 different cancers I have had over the past 17 years, all were caught in early stages. But, have to admit since this one is so close to the brain it is a bit more scary. Am having headaches, just not as bad as before the targeted radiation treatments. Of course pain meds do help. I know that the brain cannot feel pain, but the scalp, bone & blood vessels surrounding the brain are sensitive to pain.
Thank you all for your kind, caring thoughts & prayers.

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@lady1lake- Good morning. Please keep us updated on your progress!

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My husband was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer which has spread to his liver. Any information from anyone who has survived this would greatly be appreciated.

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@popkorhn

My husband was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer which has spread to his liver. Any information from anyone who has survived this would greatly be appreciated.

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Hi @popkorhn (fun name), welcome to Connect. You'll notice that I moved your post to the Small Cell Lung Cancer discussion. I did this so that you can more easily connect with others living with SCLC like @margot69 @lady1lake @cheris and others.

What treatment is your husband on or had? How is he doing? How are you doing?

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@popkorhn

My husband was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer which has spread to his liver. Any information from anyone who has survived this would greatly be appreciated.

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@popkorhn- Welcome to Mayo Connect. How awful for you and your husband, as if one cancer isn't enough. I am a mentor for Mayo Connect Lung cancer group. Hearing that "you" have cancer is true shocker. Have his doctors discussed any treatments as yet? How is he feeling physically?
Here is some information about lung cancer spreads to the liver, which is very common.: https://www.verywellhealth.com/lung-cancer-spread-to-the-liver-2249263
I'd also like to ask how you are doing? Connect has a separate group for care givers which I think will help you immensely. You will need to take care of yourself as well and I hope that the love and caring that other caregivers share will help you too. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/
I'd also like to invite @margot69 @lady1lake @cheris to join this conversation.
Please continue to reach out on this site so that we can continue to support you. Would your husband want to join us do you think?

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I was d diagnosed with stage 4 Malignant Neoplasm Of Lung Adenocarcinorm in the right Lung, Nodules in liver and stomach. The right lung had huge Timor which had fluid in lining of lung. All cancerous. At the Mayo in Rochester they did scans and had to remove a quart of guild for breathing before they could start on how to treat after 5 days and seeing different options. Surgery and radiation was ruled out as was the once a month pill. I was put on Carboplatin, Pemetrexed, Pembrolieumab and Keytruda Immune therapy every 21 days.the 3 chemo tram eats shrunk the tumor almost in half and nodules have stayed stable. I got very sick for 4-7 days on the chemo treatments which took days to get back strength than back for another dose.April thru September than went on just the Keytruda. Had my last treatment 6th of January and on 27Th will have scan done to see what my next step will be. This is not beatable so I believe I will go for quality rather than quantity of life I’ve had left.
This diagnoses was a shock as i played pickle ball 5 days a week two hours and was active in swimming and walking and everyday chores. The first sigh of trouble when silvery meals on wheels I walked up three flights of stairs and couldn’t breath when got to top. Called my primary Dr who had me come in as I taught I had pleurisy. After X-ray, scan and blood work same day was told I had cancer and what was my choice. Biopsy had to be done and here at St. Cloud hospital (only place to have done) and couldn’t get me in for 3 weeks. Decided to go to Mayo and they had me in 3-4 days. They have been amazing. Trouble was driving 3 1/2 hours one way for treatments and if blood work wasn’t up to par would have to go home and reschedule.so know am getting treatments at the cancer center here in St Cloud. Back to Mayo every 3 months. Sorry about long post!
Colleen
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