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.

shaila1902 | @shaila1902 | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@shaila1902- Good morning and a warm welcome to Mayo Connect. Thank you for giving more information..." + (show)
@merpreb

@shaila1902- Good morning and a warm welcome to Mayo Connect. Thank you for giving more information to Margot. Meeting a new doctor can be intimidating. Would you mind sharing a bit more about yourself? What type of lung cancer do you have?

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I have adenocarcinoma of the lung with brain mets.I was on Gefitinib for 18 months but it progressed a bit more in the brain so Dr Wakelee switched me to Tagresso since the past 2 months. Have done Gamma Knife surgery twice for the brain. But side effects overall have been minimal-some nausea-feeling tired etc but not major. I continue to live a full busy day with my work, exercise, meditation and walks-and a focus on the important things in life. I live in Mumbai India. Glad to be on Mayo Connect

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3 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "The ride to Stanford? Depending on traffic, weather, accidents and road construction coukd be 1 hr..." + (show)
@margot69

The ride to Stanford? Depending on traffic, weather, accidents and road construction coukd be 1 hr 45 mins to 3-4 hours coming and going! My daughter is in San Diego, minimum, in good traffic, 7 1/2 hours from here, has taken us 10+. Oh, just feel comfortable at home. She life's in a ranchette with dogs, horses, braying Donkies, goats. Any other time, I enjoy it. SIL is a mechanic and always working on something and people always in and out. I love them and the animals but, if I am not well, I just want oeace and quiet. If they decide I qualify for some treatment, what if that makes me sick? I would hate to be so far away and being our home vacant fir that long, however long that might be. Have a son diwn there too that suggested we rent a place down there, in San Diego! He did not offer to pay for that. Ear Doc gave me a script for Percocit, I have never taken. My stomach and pain meds do not get along well together.

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@margot69- I understand about the ride and wanting to be in your own home. I did that too. I have a very hard time with pain pills. They make me nauseous as hell. I get sick every time. I have to take and anti-nausea med before I take any pain meds.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 15, 2019

@shaila1902- Good morning and a warm welcome to Mayo Connect. Thank you for giving more information to Margot. Meeting a new doctor can be intimidating. Would you mind sharing a bit more about yourself? What type of lung cancer do you have?

REPLY
1 reply
shaila1902 | @shaila1902 | Jan 15, 2019

I am sure you will like her. Wish you all the best. There are so many new medicines in lung cancer and so there is a lot of hope for all of us !

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @shaila1902 "@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also..." + (show)
@shaila1902

@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also very caring. I have been under her treatment for my NSLC adenocarcinoma for the lung with brain mets since the past 2years . She and her team are very responsive to any queries/problems you may have.

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Shalia, glad someone is familiar with Stanford and this doctor. After deciding I would probably seek an opinion at Stanford, I started researching doctors and she has a very good education and reviews. A friend suggest Dr. Padda, who had an opening. I guess I got lucky because they called back to say they could get me in to see Wakelee this week. I am glad you have done so well under her care. I am hoping there is some ray of home for me with the small cell LC, stage IV now, but nothing showed in the brain.

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margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@Margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients stay for free.
Do you have an oncologist at home that would work with another Dr to administer the chemicals or radiologist?

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Near Stanford? Not sure. Will have to wait and see what treatment plan they suggest.

It has been a real circus over hear and my doctor knows I am not happy! I was supposed to see an Oncologist here, after I had to ask for a referral, last Friday but I was stuck in the ER. I have one this Friday and will keep it.

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shaila1902 | @shaila1902 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @margot69 "Good Monday morning. Actually, Stanford called this morning to set up an appt. I asked if..." + (show)
@margot69

Good Monday morning. Actually, Stanford called this morning to set up an appt. I asked if I coukd see Dr. Wakelee but she was booked out. Asked to see Dr. Padda, who treated a friend, and they booked an appt this Thursday. A while later, they called back and said Wakelee had an opening Thursday at 3:30, nit the best time for us for a long commute but I took it! Asked the scheduler who was the better doctor to se and was told both are good but definitely Wakelee. Actually, here is a video from Stanford and sge is one of the speakers, if it is ok if I post it here. https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/cancer/lung-cancer/about-this-condition/types.html/presentation-mode/stanford-health-now/videos/lung-cancer-webcast-2014

Scared to make this journey. Thanks for asking. As I have told very few people, nice to have the support.

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@margot69 Glad you are going to see Dr Wakelee. She is very very good and also very caring. I have been under her treatment for my NSLC adenocarcinoma for the lung with brain mets since the past 2years . She and her team are very responsive to any queries/problems you may have.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019

@margot. Is there a Ronald McDonald near the hospital? They have guidelines but most cancer patients stay for free.
Do you have an oncologist at home that would work with another Dr to administer the chemicals or radiologist?

REPLY
1 reply
margot69 | @margot69 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter..." + (show)
@merpreb

@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter it might be a chance for her to help you. She must feel helpless.
There are doctors where you are going so your husband should be ok. Don't you think? You have to think about yourself too. Are you going to forgo your health?
Can't you get something stronger for now?

Jump to this post

The ride to Stanford? Depending on traffic, weather, accidents and road construction coukd be 1 hr 45 mins to 3-4 hours coming and going! My daughter is in San Diego, minimum, in good traffic, 7 1/2 hours from here, has taken us 10+. Oh, just feel comfortable at home. She life's in a ranchette with dogs, horses, braying Donkies, goats. Any other time, I enjoy it. SIL is a mechanic and always working on something and people always in and out. I love them and the animals but, if I am not well, I just want oeace and quiet. If they decide I qualify for some treatment, what if that makes me sick? I would hate to be so far away and being our home vacant fir that long, however long that might be. Have a son diwn there too that suggested we rent a place down there, in San Diego! He did not offer to pay for that. Ear Doc gave me a script for Percocit, I have never taken. My stomach and pain meds do not get along well together.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019

@margot69 : Hhow long of a ride is it? If you are close to your daughter it might be a chance for her to help you. She must feel helpless.
There are doctors where you are going so your husband should be ok. Don't you think? You have to think about yourself too. Are you going to forgo your health?
Can't you get something stronger for now?

REPLY
1 reply
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