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.

daisy9460 | @daisy9460 | Nov 14, 2022

I was diagnosed with sclc stage 1, then 6 months later I was diagnosed with brain cancer. Now, two years later I was diagnosed with liver cancer. I’m very depressed.

alcott | @alcott | Nov 11, 2022

In reply to @vlpr "How do you feel about that? I still have that decision to face after my 2..." + (show)

Just finished my 10 sessions of preventative brain radiation. I had no problems. So glad it is over with though.

mustangdee64 | @mustangdee64 | Oct 18, 2022

In reply to @tymish17 "I was diagnosed with limited SCLC on 6/21/2022. I started treatment on 7/25/20022 and completed 4..." + (show)

Hello Timothy! My name is Dee. I was diagnosed limited in July 2021. NED at present soon to scan again praying still same. I have finished treatments in October last year and still have some shortness of breath. I had horrible neuropathy for which I was prescribed Neurontin. Not liking the way it made me feel I just suffered it out. My neuropathy slowly started to subside and everything seems to be back to normal. If your shortness of breath continues to bother you tell your oncologist. They have pulmonary therapy and other things to help. I’m sorry you are going through this but we caught our cancer early so we will have a better outcome. Hugs talk anytime you need.

tymish17 | @tymish17 | Oct 17, 2022

I was diagnosed with limited SCLC on 6/21/2022. I started treatment on 7/25/20022 and completed 4 cycles of carboplatin and etoposide as wee as 33 radiation. After the 4th series of carboplatin/ etoposide + 10 radiation treatments,my peripheral neuropathy symptoms were worse than after previous infusions when symptoms diminished with time. It has been three weeks after completion and the symptoms have not subsided. In addition, I now have significant shortness of breath with minimal exertion. Is this a normal consequence of the treatment? What can help mitigate these symptoms. Should I notify my treating physician at this time? Any and all recommendations are welcome.
Timothy T.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 15, 2022

In reply to @tymish17 "Four months ago I felt great, able to go for long walks using my rolling walker...." + (show)

Welcome, Timothy. I agree with @mustangdee64 that pulmonary rehab could be helpful for you. It sounds like your body has gone through a lot and that you are generally dealing with decreasing muscle tone. A physical therapist can help with that too.

It's only been 2 weeks since you completed treatment. Be kind to yourself. Again, I agree with Dee. Do a little more than what you do today and be sure to rest. For example, if you're able to walk around a short space (the living room, the driveway, the hallway, whatever), add a few steps each day. And accept the days, where you can't add a step and try again the next day.

There are several places where members have shared breathing exercises too. @merpreb has a few good videos she can point you to. Here's one from another member to get you started:
- Lung and Breathing Exercises by Donna Wilson, RRT https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lung-and-breathing-exercises-by-donna-wilson-rrt/

Timothy, Have you heard about chair yoga? I wonder if that would be an option for you.

mustangdee64 | @mustangdee64 | Oct 15, 2022

In reply to @tymish17 "Four months ago I felt great, able to go for long walks using my rolling walker...." + (show)

I am a year out still having sob and fatigue. Talk to oncologist have them refer you to PT for pulmonary rehab. I am going to do this too. I try walk do a little then rest but I am nowhere near able to do what I could before

tymish17 | @tymish17 | Oct 14, 2022

Four months ago I felt great, able to go for long walks using my rolling walker. Then I had a routine lung CT scan because of my smoking history. Lo and behold- there was a mass lesion in my left lower lobe.A PET scan showed increase metabolic activity in the LLL lesion and an increased metabolism in a solitary hilar node. Two respected pulmonologists felt this represented “fungal flip-flop sign” and probably was not a cancerous lesion. Biopsy, however, was done and reported as SCLC. I have completed the four series of chemotherapy (carboplatin+ etoposide) and 33 sessions of radiation treatments. I now am home bound- too tired to do anything. What do I do for severe dyspnea with minimal exertion, numbness in both legs up to the knees.
Also have pain and tightness in both quadriceps and bilateral lumbosacral area. I now am two weeks post completion of treatment. When do I begin to feel better?? Is there anything I can do to treat the symptoms of “the treatment “? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Timothy T.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 13, 2022

In reply to @mustangdee64 "I was diagnosed in July 2021 with limited small cell. 5cm tumor in left chest and..." + (show)

Welcome, @mustangdee64. The emotional health related to cancer really sucks. There's no evidence of disease and everyone wants you to slip back into life as it once was. But things have changed - a lot.

Dee, there are others here who get that. I encourage you to follow the Cancer: Managing Symptoms group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cancer-managing-symptoms/

Here are few discussions you might want to check out:
- Life After Cancer: Do you feel prepared for it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/life-after-cancer/
- Facing Cancer Recurrence, PTSD & Acknowledging Mental Health https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/facing-cancer-recurrence-ptsd-acknowledging-mental-health/

You're not alone and this is a good place to share these feelings that are taboo elsewhere.

vlpr | @vlpr | Oct 13, 2022

In reply to @alcott "Preventative radiation of brain" + (show)

How do you feel about that? I still have that decision to face after my 2 remaining Chemo sessions. So far I've tolerated the 2 previous sessions ok. I'm a little concerned about the next 2 sessions (3 days each). Nothing to do but get on with them. Enjoy the days before.
VLPR