Small Cell Lung Cancer: Let's connect

@popkorhn- Good morning. I think that the only thing that you can do now is to make sure that all of your legal papers are in order. If you aren't sure what they are in your state I'm sure that a lawyer can let you know what you need. The second thing that you can plan depends on how Pop feels and whether he is in treatment. Otherwise, I would think that the world is wide open to you. Do what you want, when you want to. As difficult as it is to make future plans it's that easy to cancel plans if you need to. Being honest about what your hesitancy is for making plans is all about people being forgiving and understanding. How are you doing? How is Pop? How did he do with his second round?

Good morning @besswillis. Welcome to Mayo Connect. I agree it is terrifying when you are given a set time that is left in your life. Is it possible to get a lawyer to help with insurance woes? I can't imagine having to rely on a corporation for such information and then have them hold it up due to red-tape. If this is a new cancer is it possible to get legal help?

PopKorhn’s second round went extremely well. There has been little or no affect after his second round of Chemo and immunotherapy last week. He golfs every Tuesday, plays pickleball for and hour or two 4 days a week and usually gets in his 10,000 steps a day. So Far so good for a 74, almost 75 year old. He has another pet scan at Moffitt on the 28th and we meet with his small cell Thoracic specialist who is doing a clinical trial that he may be a candidate for. He is scheduled right now for two more rounds of chemo in March along with the two immunotherapy drugs. We were told that he would have the 4 Chemo treatments and possible two more depending on what his Feb 28th pet scan shows. The immunotherapy could be for life. Truly an unknown path, yet life is still good.

So sorry to hear about your Aunt. My husband was diagnosed with a secondary liver cancer on December 18th, 2019 after a biopsy of his liver. A Pet Scan showed his primary tumor was in his lung and gratefully no involvement in his brain . The chemo along with Carboplatin and etoposide are what the standard 3 cocktails used.

@popkorhn- Good morning. I finally looked up pickleball! This looks like my cup of tea! What fun. Amazing that PopKorhn's chemo and immunotherapy are going so well. I am so pleased. This must be such a relief to you. How are you holding up?

Nancy (shortshot80) I don't know "pickleball" but I have been on the lung cancer discussions for almost four years. Visiting with Colleen (Director) and Teresa) I am doing the best I can do...I think radiation is really great. It doesn't hurt and it stops the bleeding. While doing all the medical stuff, I have written a book. My daughter is proof reading and it will go to print soon. It is a "autobiography for family and friends. It started out as a "woman commercial fishing" book. I ended as autobiography. Nancy

So she actually had no small cell lung cancer before and had 2 parts of her lung removed in 2013. Now she has small cell long cancer with a mass6.2×5.2 c.m in her ap window, 15 m.m. mass on her liver along with 3 other lesions, a spot on her spectrum, iliac bone and t11 disk.

@besswillis- I'm not sure what you mean by an ap window. Have you come to any solution with the insurance company? What does the dr. say about her treatments?

Ap window is a space in the chest between the lungs and heart. I have been constantly on the phone with the Dr the insurance and everyone else. So we actually finally got the order sent to insurance and is finally approved, now we are going tomorrow for chemo education and a de appointment and the infusion scheduler is trying to get us doing treatment tomorrow.

@besswillis- Phew! I have been very scared for you. This must make you feel a lot more at ease if this is possible. Please let me know how you make out!