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

It does take a long time....my initial diagnosis til surgery---2 months. Surgery and tissue samples sent to genetic testing lab Foundation Medicine results? -----6 weeks. I hope hope you get answers sooner than I did.....It is nerve wracking.....but be prepared to hurry up and wait.

Thanks Dede....

Biopsy confirmed Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Not great news, but better than what we thought - Small Cell Lung Cancer....

Liz had her first treatment today, 5.5 weeks after first diagnosis on Feb 18th. We would still be waiting if not for a sharp Radiology technician at her Oncologist who went out of his way to get her in today rather than later in the week.

She will be receiving 2 weeks (10 days) of 6 MeV photon radiation treatment to two areas of her brain receiving 300 centigray (cGy) each treatment for a total absorbed dose of 3000 cGy or 30 Gray. To put this in perspective, the maximum allowable absorbed dose for a nuclear worker to a single organ is 0.5 Gray over one year. One area is at the base of the brainstem and top of the spinal column. The other area is mid-front right lobe. They will be using Arc methodology consisting of approximately 50 degree arc patterns to apply the photon beam from side to side thus minimizing the radiation exposure to her more sensitive optic nerves, hippocampus, and brainstem areas of the brain. They will rescan each week to determine the effectiveness of the treatments and modify, if needed. The Radiologist does not expect Liz to experience any negative cognitive affects from the treatments due to the location of the lesions - I hope he is right!!

Once the brain radiation treatments are completed they will concentrate on the chemo therapy. They are using the Guardian 360 genomic testing kit to evaluate the cancer for specific DNA traits and we should have the results before the radiation treatments are completed.

Good morning, Bob- Well, this is what you have been waiting for, TREATMENTS to begin! YAY! I had both Photon and Proton and I have no idea what my next one will be, probably in August sometime. I wish Liz the best in this! NSLC is definitely much better than SCLC!

Have you seen the machine?

Merry, I have not seen the photon generator they are using, Liz is the only one of us allowed in the treatment room. Her treatments last about 15 mins each day and the Radiology techs seem to know their stuff and are really taking good care of her needs she tells me.

It's huge and looks like it s from Outerspace! The techs are fantastic. I'm so glad that Liz is being taken well cared for! I hope that you are getting enough rest?

Bob- Check out the photo at the bottom of the page

This is what my machine looked like at MGH in Boston, where I am cared for.
https://gray.mgh.harvard.edu/clinical-physics/170-photon-clinic

Hi Bob- It's been a week since we last spoke. I'm just checking in on you to see how things are going with Liz. I hope that you are having some good weather so that you can get out and clear your head if need be.

Merry

That's one BIG accelerator!!!

Thanks for checking up on us. Liz completed her radiation treatments today and will begin chemo next week. We meet the the Oncologist Monday morning and she has a treatment that afternoon. The radiologist said that he will rescan her brain in a few weeks to check on the progress the radiation treatments made on the cancer there and schedule additional treatments if they are needed. He wants any swelling to subside and does not want her going through initial chemo and radiation at the same time. That's about where we stand now. Will give an update next week as new info becomes available.

Thanks again for caring!!!

I have been thinking about you too...we all are. How is Liz feeling and is she eating well? Important. Trying to keep weight on during these treatments can be tough ( I am an example) so aside from the "correct" diet give her that which her mouth may water for.....me? macaroni and cheese my go to longed for food. We will wait to hear from you next week.

If nausea hits (probably will) saltines and ginger ale help alot.....along with the zofran pill...my morning staples....