Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

@olgamarie Prayers put your faith in God... take one day at a time is all i can tell you... I have cared for an 84 yr old man not making red blood cells who died Jun 28th and then on dec 26th his wife who has been in nursing home for 14 years died of an Acute Myocardial Infraction near if not 100% blockage doing catherization was out because of multiple health issues she was put on comfort care soon after her trip into ER on Dec 19th ended on medical floor for couple of hours transferred same day to hospice for pain management only stayed there till Sat but in my opinion should of never been moved back to the nursing home - the hour+ trip was total misery for her I rode with her and listen to her moan and basically scream she was still in misery for 4-6 hours after arriving back wand was full of morphine... their son was diagnosed with Stage 4b lung cancer - his father & I knew the results before he was even out of the biopsy & I Had to go tell he mother who was full right side stroke - how much she comprehended I do not know because a week earlier she asked me what was exactly wrong with Russ and I had been explaining telling her everything for 2 years! he is in clinical study at IU Medical/Simon Cancer center - 12 weeks of chemo 2 chemo's first week with immunology, abraxane (Sp) the next 2 weeks - ct-scan every 3 weeks (DEc-April) I even landed in a ditch ass backwards on Jan 12th last year leaving out of here in rain/slet with roads slush and Ice - the Ices storm of 2018 that went as far down into Tennessee or further that day.... the son is doing great no reactions or adverse effects for the chemo & immunology, some nausea, vomiting, etc. very little hair loss in fact it came back in thicker, some nuropathoy (sp) only to up to basically base of where foot meets ankle, He thinks is is "Super man" he has taken out on he bicycle to ride to delong and back roughly 10 miles one way it is -1 with wind chill of -15 he has tired the last 2 days and not gotten far.... I cancelled out his immunology on Monday because roads were snow covered and drifting from west to east and we would be coming home after dark was scheduled for tomorrow but i canceled out I am exhausted trying to keep our only heat going - wood stove - which he packed so tight it could not burn and blamed it on the wood; kitchen water both hot/cold froze so far bathroom is not .... we are in Northern Indiana and it has been brutal.... but i think we have survived it... there has to be better days ahead and I know God will provide....

@olgamarie, I'd like to add my welcome. There is a saying in German "I'm feeling close to water" which is the feeling of always being on the verge of tears. I can imagine that you find yourself crying at the drop of a hat with all that you have to contend with. There are several discussion groups here on Connect where you can meet people like you. Let's start with these:

For Small Cell Lung Cancer, join others here:
> Small Cell Lung Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/small-cell-lung-cancer-1/

To talk about managing COPD and emphysema, check out the Lung Health group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-conditions/) specifically these discussions:
> Just Diagnosed Emphysema https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/just-diagnosed-emphysema/
> Severe COPD and Interstitial Lung Disease https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/interstitial-lung-disease-severe-copd/

There are more, but let's get you started with these.

You have every right to be upset and mad. Connect is a good place to vent without judgement. Good for you for adopting healthy habits. It is a good step forward and helps take back control.

My mother passed away in 2012. She was my friend, confidant and companion. I have been divorced for almost thirty years. My boys have their own places now, but I feel like I caused their problems. Yes, I was diagnosed at the end of 2016, had radiation in 2017, that is why this is crazy. I am falling apart now. I have had depression and anxiety before. I sound so weak. Maybe, this is more of an issue now because my six month appt. for Mayo is in March. And my brother is dying of emphysema and a bad heart. Sorry for complaining.

@olgamarie- Good afternoon and welcome to Mayo Connect. We have just started a group for people with small cell lung cancer so I'm going to invite @margot69, @meka,@bluelagoon to join in this discussion. I have NSCLC, which is different than SCLC. No matter what time of year, what we've done, who we take care of, what religion, color or haircut we are all shocked when we're told that we have cancer. And we all get angry because we've all been busy with various things and because we are afraid. I'm so sorry that you have such a huge family responsibility. I hope that you can get help taking care of your mother. Are your sons living with you? When were you diagnosed? Has your treatment plan been decided yet.

Hi, My name is OlgaMarie. I have small cell lung caner, COPD and emphysema. And I can not stop crying lately. I am not afraid of the cancer, but of the emphysema. I put on a happy mask, but at home, I am upset. My life has been challenged with PTSD, caring for a son with schizophrenia ( doing really well now), an alcoholic son and a mother with alzheimers. I did those things for almost eight years and wanted to start to live again. Then cancer. I should not complain, but I am so mad. I finally wanted to find someone to love me and this. I am 73 and I tried, but now feel shattered. I know this is pathetic when so many people are more sick than I. I just want to be serene. I started to eat healthy (than the holidays) go to the YMCA three times a week. What should I do? Thank you so, so much for being here.

Hi Merry. I have nothing good to say about this Pulmonologist. It took me months to get him to do a CT, all I heard was to quit smoking. I kept after him so he orders it "if it will make you feel better, but probably won't show anything." After the test, was told to call his office ASAP. He ordered a PET which confirmed a spot in the left lung, nodes and 3 spots on the liver. Radiologist felt lung biopsy was too risky so decided on liver. That was a fiasco. Cancelled the first day and had to go in again. Results from that just came in on Thursday as SCLC. Niw, he is frantic Instart treatment or, he tells me, "You are going to die." I just want away from this doctor. My PCP also called in a referral to Stanford as did my ENT Doctor out there. I called but have to wait fir them to call back. Yes, would like to see some discussion from anyone going thru this and if anyone has been treated at Stanford. Thanks!!

@margot69-I am truly sorry to hear this Margot. There's always hope. Try not to doubt this. Most likely the next step is a PET Scan and the biopsy that they postponed. I have no idea how how the radiologists staged you without a biopsy.
Can your pulmonologist pull any strings and get you an appointment sooner?
Since there has not been a discussion about Small Cell lung cancer I'm reaching out to everyone to see if someone will join us in beginning a new discussion.

Sending you many many energy hugs, keep fighting as best you can!!!

I finally had the liver biopsy done. What a fiasco! Went in last Friday and it got cancelled and was done on Monday by a different radiologist. Luckily, he didn't get the lung. Had a brain MRI done and no metastasis showing. My Pulmonologist messaged me yesterday that I have small cell lung cancer, stage IV and now, the dictir I couldn't get to do a CT for months, is telling me I need treatment ASAP. I can't get into an Oncologist here for a week. I called Stanford and have to wait for a call back. I have no idea where to go or anything about treatments. Anyone dealing with SCLC? Is there any hope?

Since it is the Holidays, nothing is moving along quickly. Have not heard from my doctor but his nurse called today to say a liver biopsy us set up for next Friday and they cancelled the lung biopsy, for now. Radiology Pathologist (?) felt the liver biopsy would give them the information they need and my doctor concurred. Still no call from Radiology about the brain MRI. I did see my ENT doctor today, one of the ones I see, and he looked at the PET scan report and said I need to get the biopsy done! I told him my ears have been hurting but he doesn't see anything. He feels, if I need treatment, it can be done by Oncology here as he feels, no matter where you go, it is going to be the same treatment protocol. I am curious to know if anyone has lung cancer that has gone to the liver and some nodes.