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.

amatics | @amatics | Dec 9, 2022

Was anyone treated at Moffit for lung cancer

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1 reply
daisy9460 | @daisy9460 | Nov 15, 2022
In reply to @mustangdee64 "I’m so sorry to hear this. Are you taking immunotherapy?" + (show)
@mustangdee64

I’m so sorry to hear this. Are you taking immunotherapy?

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Yes

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mustangdee64 | @mustangdee64 | Nov 15, 2022
In reply to @daisy9460 "I’m not exactly in the same boat, but I also had sclc, a few months later..." + (show)
@daisy9460

I’m not exactly in the same boat, but I also had sclc, a few months later it went to my brain. This was in 2020 & 2022. Living life in 3 month increments is not fun. I had a seizure, then they removed the tumor in my brain. That was a year ago. Now they just found a lesion in my liver.

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I’m so sorry to hear this. Are you taking immunotherapy?

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1 reply
daisy9460 | @daisy9460 | Nov 14, 2022
In reply to @mustangdee64 "I was diagnosed in July 2021 with limited small cell. 5cm tumor in left chest and..." + (show)
@mustangdee64

I was diagnosed in July 2021 with limited small cell. 5cm tumor in left chest and three nodes. I went through standard treatment and have been NED since. This coming 15th will be a year since chemotherapy was completed. I am suffering some radiation side effects but mostly mental pain.

Just waiting for it to return and living in three month increments, scans and repeat. I lost my ability to work and basically my livelihood. Two adult children live with me they never left home. I supported everyone until I got sick.

There are three small children here, one is mentally disabled. I have been unable to find peace, let alone have a silent moment for a thought.

There’s no where else for them to go. I centered my life around them so I am spouse less and friend less. They have no one too.

Life really sucks now.

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I’m not exactly in the same boat, but I also had sclc, a few months later it went to my brain. This was in 2020 & 2022. Living life in 3 month increments is not fun. I had a seizure, then they removed the tumor in my brain. That was a year ago. Now they just found a lesion in my liver.

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1 reply
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.

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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)
@vlpr

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

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

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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)
@tymish17

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.

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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.

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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.

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1 reply
Moderator
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)
@tymish17

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.

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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.

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