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

Today was a mixed day. On the down side, they were unable to get all of the clots/coagulated blood out of her left lung. They were able to clean out the majority of the upper lobe. They got down to the tumor but then could proceed no further to prevent damaging the tumor and cause it to start bleeding again. They will be putting her in a chest wrap that shakes her entire chest in an attempt to get the clots to break up and allow her to cough them up. She will also be using steroid-based inhalers to help break up the remaining clots in her lung. The doctor said that further attempts to get past the tumor would be fruitless unless the tumor shrinks in the future after chemo treatments.

On the positive side, Liz was taken off the breathing assist machine and is breathing fine on her own. She was able to eat a little solid food and felt as well as could be expected considering the past 24 hours of exertion and having tubes down her throat. She should move out of the ICU to a normal bed tomorrow and then be released from the hospital on Friday.

Bob- Yesterday sounds like a roller coaster for both of you! I'm glad that there is progress and that Liz will be home with you in another day or so.

Have the doctors mentioned changing her chemo or adding another one?

You must be exhausted. I hope that one of your girls will be visiting this weekend?

Merry

PS- When I had my second lobectomy in Boston (I live in southern RI) my husband had left after a visit and was halfway home when I got the clearance to go home. Going to Boston used to be easy but it's a long trip now due to traffic. It's actually a nightmare of traffic. So Dave had to turn around and come all the way back and get me. Poor guy had to work the next day.

Merry, Liz was moved to a regular room today to recover. They are now considering putting in vein filters/strainers to capture any blood clots from moving from her lungs to other parts of her body. Hopefully the Drs. will explain this more thoroughly with us tomorrow before they decide to implement the procedure. It now seems like they are thinking of something new to do to her each day to keep her in the hospital.

The Oncologist did discuss reducing the strength of the chemo but she is not scheduled for her treatment until next week and we will know more by then.

We have a friend that is very familiar with home caring for older adults and has volunteered to help care for Liz until our daughter arrives from Colorado in early June. She has promised to show me the "tricks of the trade" so that I can be a more effective care giver in the future....

Good morning Bob- I'm so very relieved to hear that you will get some help with home care. Will your daughter be moving home for the summer?

This must be very topsy turvy for you both! But I'm glad that Liz is able to participate in her own care right now and that a doctor is listening to her!

How do you feel about the chemo dose being reduced if it's not shrinking the tumor? r is it that the chem hasn't had a long enough to do any shrinkage?

Merry & Lisa, thanks for the ongoing encouragement!! Today we are feeling pretty good. Liz received an intervascular filter at around 1:30 pm and was released from the hospital at 5:00 pm. She has been taken off the Eliquis and restricted from any blood thinners due to the bleeding of her tumor - hence the IV Filter. She will be seeing the Radiologist Monday for evaluation of direct radiation treatment to the tumor in her lung. The Oncologist and Radiologist will be working in tandem to coordinate the chemo and radiation to keep her red blood cell count in the acceptable range during the co-treatments. Needless to say, she will be undergoing nearly constant blood count monitoring.

Liz has not had enough chemo to really shrink the tumor so they are going to be more aggressive and hit it with radiation treatment also. Unless the tumor shrinks, they will not be able to access and restore her lower lobe.

The help offered by our daughter and by our close friend also is great news for Liz. Our daughter has a job that she can perform remotely over the internet. Our close friend has cared for several family members through out the years and has a wealth of experience where I have 2 months trying to learn the ropes.

Bob- I'm glad that the dr.'s have changed their treatment plan for Liz. I bet that she is thrilled to be home. And to have your daughter and friend to help too. This will help give you a break and renew your vitality.

Have they given a reason why they aren't doing a lobectomy?

Merry I will have to ask them. I believe that they are worried about the cancer possibly spreading as a result of the surgery..... Our friends were helping us build a handicap ramp for Liz and cut our internet cable in several places while setting posts. It may be 7-10 days before the cable company can send someone out to install a new drop (crazy huh?) If I do not respond right away it is because we are having to go to a friend's house to "borrow" their internet to check mail, etc....

New surgical procedures decrease the spread of cancer cells during surgery. It will be interesting to hear what your dr. says.

I hope that during your forced hiatus Liz improves significantly.

Merry

They have taken Liz off chemo and placed her on palliative radiation treatment and a new drug after radiation treatment is complete. The last CT scan showed that the tumor had grown larger after the first round of chemo and the pill she will be on is only approved for persons who are not responsive to chemo.