1. < Lung Cancer

Small Cell Lung Cancer: Let's connect

Posted by Merry, Alumni Mentor @merpreb, Jan 12, 2019

Most of the discussions about lung cancer has been about Non-small cell lung cancers. There are many sub-types of this that are included. But there is another type of lung cancer that needs to be discussed and that is Small Cell Lung Cancer. This aggressive form of lung cancer most commonly occurs in smokers. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) and grows very quickly, creating large tumors and spreading (metastasizing) throughout the body.
Symptoms include bloody phlegm, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Treatment includes surgery (for small tumors) as well as chemotherapy, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy.
Lung cancers cells are sometimes classified by where they tend to grow.
There have been huge breakthroughs in lung cancer research of late.
Please join @margot69 and I in this new disussion.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

lady1lake | @lady1lake | Apr 21, 2019
In reply to @lady1lake "Constipation was a constant problem while I was on chemo. Senokot worked!" + (show)
@lady1lake

Constipation was a constant problem while I was on chemo. Senokot worked!

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Tried Senokot. Did not work for me, but Milk of Magnesia did. Also I eat cooked dried prunes with lemon slices, yummy & helpful combination.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 21, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "lady1lake- I'm pulling for you!" + (show)
@merpreb

lady1lake- I'm pulling for you!

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@bluelagoon, @margot , @olgamarie- @lady1lake posted this on another group's conversation: This past week I was diagnosed with metatasic cancer. Am going back to Mayo on this Tuesday for a liver biopsy to discover if it is from the breast cancer 9 years ago or the small cell lung cancer of last year. Then the doctors will decide whether or not I am a candidate for immunotherapy. Thank God for excellent Mayo doctors & modern medicine . I am good with what ever they decide. I have told them that I want quality of life, not just quantity. They all said that it is the right decision. Also last week I had targeteted radiation to the bone covering the brain. No lesions in the brain, but did have bone metastasis. Will find out soon if that particular therapy worked.
I was hoping that we could all get together and help her through this.
Here is hoping that you are all feeling well. Will you join me?

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1 reply
olgamarie | @olgamarie | Feb 5, 2019
In reply to @lady1lake "Even though I have been posting on another segment of this forum I would like to..." + (show)
@lady1lake

Even though I have been posting on another segment of this forum I would like to join in here since I have SCLC, stage 3b. I finished chemo/radiation at the end of Oct. I tire easily, but am able to manage light daily task. Thank goodness my sweet husband is keeping things running smoothly. I beat breast cancer & a recurrence years ago. Hoping & praying to beat this cancer too.

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I will be thinking about you. I am sorry you are faced with cancer again. You beat it once, I hope this journey is the same. I also have SCLC. Blessings.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 4, 2019
In reply to @doughy42 "Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had..." + (show)
@doughy42

Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had gastric bypass. My stomach does not digest the pills. Now on 2 chemo and Keytruda. One more infusion will do scan to see if working.

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@doughy42 - I'd also like to welcome you to Connect. I also have stage 4 lung cancer. I have multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. My first cancer was 21 1/2 years ago. How did the gastric bypass go? Are you maintaining a good weight? You mentioned that you have problems with pill digestion. I imagine that has something to do with your bypass. Can you crush any pills and mix them in applesauce or a juice?
Can you tell me more about your cancer? What kind is it? When was it found?
It sounds as if you are close to completing your chemo. That will be a huge relief! It was when I had it.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 3, 2019
In reply to @doughy42 "Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had..." + (show)
@doughy42

Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had gastric bypass. My stomach does not digest the pills. Now on 2 chemo and Keytruda. One more infusion will do scan to see if working.

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Hi @doughy42, welcome to Connect. I'm not sure if we have a member in the lung cancer group who has had gastric bypass surgery.

Doughy, Do you have small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer? When is your next infusion?

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doughy42 | @doughy42 | Jan 30, 2019

Have stage IV lung that spread to lymph nodes. A question has anyone on here had gastric bypass. My stomach does not digest the pills. Now on 2 chemo and Keytruda. One more infusion will do scan to see if working.

REPLY
2 replies
lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "Dry mouth and throat are my enemies as I have suffered from that for years and..." + (show)
@margot69

Dry mouth and throat are my enemies as I have suffered from that for years and had to have thousands of $$$ in dental work done. Yes, feel drier and like I have a mouth and throat full of glue and I know the Zofran isn't helping. I switched to trying just the Tigan and it is not as bad. I constantly have to drink something, chew Act gum, use Biotene soray, etc. Actually, yesterday, I felt somewhat better but maybe did too much. Went for my blood work and decided to go to a wig salon here in town. Had intended to just look but I did buy a wig. My husband was very patient thru the whole thing, shocking. LOL! I then got a Big Mac and ate the whole thing. Most I had eaten in days. I have lost about 8 lbs but starting out with a few extra to spare. Now, to address constipation probkems which sent me to Stanford some years ago.

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Constipation was a constant problem while I was on chemo. Senokot worked!

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1 reply
margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @lady1lake "The chemo did not make me nauseous but did give me dry mouth & bad taste...." + (show)
@lady1lake

The chemo did not make me nauseous but did give me dry mouth & bad taste. My appetite was not good at all so I drank chocolate flavored Premier protein drinks & creamy soups. I lost 25 lbs & that was not a bad thing because I was getting over weight with aging. Now have a good appetite & trying to maintain present weight.

Jump to this post

Dry mouth and throat are my enemies as I have suffered from that for years and had to have thousands of $$$ in dental work done. Yes, feel drier and like I have a mouth and throat full of glue and I know the Zofran isn't helping. I switched to trying just the Tigan and it is not as bad. I constantly have to drink something, chew Act gum, use Biotene soray, etc. Actually, yesterday, I felt somewhat better but maybe did too much. Went for my blood work and decided to go to a wig salon here in town. Had intended to just look but I did buy a wig. My husband was very patient thru the whole thing, shocking. LOL! I then got a Big Mac and ate the whole thing. Most I had eaten in days. I have lost about 8 lbs but starting out with a few extra to spare. Now, to address constipation probkems which sent me to Stanford some years ago.

REPLY
1 reply
lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@margot69 -I'd also like to include @bleulagoon, @lady1lake in this discussion because they have both had..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot69 -I'd also like to include @bleulagoon, @lady1lake in this discussion because they have both had chemo. Hang in there! Chemo can make you feel ill for sure. If you are still nauseous than contact your doctor or infusion nurse.
here are some ideas for you. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/cancer/art-20047517

Jump to this post

The chemo did not make me nauseous but did give me dry mouth & bad taste. My appetite was not good at all so I drank chocolate flavored Premier protein drinks & creamy soups. I lost 25 lbs & that was not a bad thing because I was getting over weight with aging. Now have a good appetite & trying to maintain present weight.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 26, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "Sorry, it is Carboplatin and Etoside. They are giving me IV Zofran before each treatment. I..." + (show)
@margot69

Sorry, it is Carboplatin and Etoside. They are giving me IV Zofran before each treatment. I have the pills at home too but can only take every 6 hours. I took a Tigan yesterday, older med for nausea I have used for some time for my stomach issues. Skipped dinner. I think I feel worse since I started this, not feeling well this morning. Haven't checked the other group yet.

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@margot69 -I'd also like to include @bleulagoon, @lady1lake in this discussion because they have both had chemo. Hang in there! Chemo can make you feel ill for sure. If you are still nauseous than contact your doctor or infusion nurse.
here are some ideas for you. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/cancer/art-20047517

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