Wife Just Diagnosed w/ ES SCLC - What Can We Expect?

Dede, thanks for sharing!! We have an appointment tomorrow with the Dr. that will perform the biopsy(ies). They will also be scheduling the placement of a mediport for needed chemo at the same time as the biopsy, if warranted. Another appointment is later in the day with a Radiologist to look at treatment options for the affected brain areas. We are hoping that the wait for biopsy results will not be long after our initial consultation tomorrow so that we can start chemo and/or other beneficial treatments.

We pre-registered Liz at Mayo-JAX a few weeks ago and sent what records we have today so they will be available to the Mayo team as soon as the biopsy results are known. PUSH-PUSH-PUSH....

The internet can be a wonderful thing!!

I don't know if I am right but I would not have Liz rush into immediate treatment until all biopsies in, confirmed and also her pathology results may have her eligible for a targeted treatment. My tissue samples were sent to: https://foundationmedicine.com/ Please ask the doctor about this. Yes, the wait is very frustrating....

Dede, we met with the surgeon who will be performing the biopsy today and Liz is scheduled next Wednesday for her biopsy. The doctor found an inflamed lymph node under her shoulder blade that will be his preferred biopsy site based on the P.E.T. scan results. I asked him to ensure that he obtained a large enough sample to provide for genomic testing of the cancer. He assured me that he usually takes 3 samples, but wanted to know what the genomic testing would accomplish. When I explained that this would help identify the specific genetic makeup of the cancer he seemed like this was the first time anyone had made such a request. He told me that he would discuss this with our Oncologist to see exactly what we were after. Does this seem strange to anyone else??? I may have done a poor job describing what we were after and maybe the more proper term was tumor marker or biomarker which led to this confused look on his face..... We will ask where the biopsy samples are to be sent for analysis. The surgeon is associated the with the Ascension Health Group at the local hospital here.

Well, I'm glad that the biopsy has finally been ordered. In my experience, it was my Oncologist who ordered the biomarker testing on tissue that had been saved from a previous surgery. After the technician does the biopsy he will probably not be involved in her treatment or decisions about them.
You have another week now to wait for the next step. Hang in there! We are here for you. How are you doing? YOu must be pretty exhausted?

Dede, we met with the surgeon who will be performing the biopsy today and Liz is scheduled next Wednesday for her biopsy. The doctor found an inflamed lymph node under her shoulder blade that will be his preferred biopsy site based on the P.E.T. scan results. I asked him to ensure that he obtained a large enough sample to provide for genomic testing of the cancer. He assured me that he usually takes 3 samples, but wanted to know what the genomic testing would accomplish. When I explained that this would help identify the specific genetic makeup of the cancer he seemed like this was the first time anyone had made such a request. He told me that he would discuss this with our Oncologist to see exactly what we were after. Does this seem strange to anyone else??? I may have done a poor job describing what we were after and maybe the more proper term was tumor marker or biomarker which led to this confused look on his face..... We will ask where the biopsy samples are to be sent for analysis. The surgeon is associated the with the Ascension Health Group at the local hospital here.

I would ask the surgeon if he is able to isolate the suspect lymph node. I had a needle biopsy of one under my arm and the results were meh. Then, scheduled for an excisional biopsy and the surgeon said he would likely take out others as well as, due to size of the node, it might not be visible. Give your guy the articles you find: here's one: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476558604800411

Merry, thanks for the concern. Luckily I am, by nature, a "high energy" kinda person and am feeling okay so far. It is a bit of a challenge juggling work and all of these appointments but my work partners have been GREAT and have even arranged it where I can work from home when needed.

Liz went to the Radiologist for initial consultation yesterday and went back today for a "planning" CT on her brain to help guide the targeted radiation treatment for her brain lesions. As soon as the biopsy results are known she will start radiation treatment. The Radiologist and Oncologist work in the same building and they seem to coordinate well together so far.

We will be pretty much stagnant until the biopsy next week, so we will probably be pretty quite until then. In the mean time, hope everyone is doing well.

Good morning- Things seem to be moving along for you, even with the one-week waits. I think that it's a good thing that with every new thing that comes up that you have a chance to mull it over and a chance to change something if need be. No matter what kind of radiation Liz will be given it will make her pretty tired so she can rest up. Do you know what kind? Has it all been explained to you? Is it SBRT?