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Wife's Diagnosis SCLC: Chemo Next Week-What Should I Do?
Hello, my wife had a biopsy of a lump on her neck on Jan. 31,2025. It was determined she has SCLC, An xray revealed a mass in our right lung. Met with an oncologist and he ordered a PET scan and MRI of the brian. The results came back and no other cancer locations were found, PTL!
A port was put in today and chemo starts next Tuesday. We meet with a radiation doctor Friday. Radiation treatments will start soon. Chemo treatment is carbopatin/etoposide.
Is there anything I can do to better help her with the chemo side effects? Anything I should get prior to treatments? And any other suggestions or comments on our journey?
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@mimicmckay, did you end up starting Tarlatamab? Have you experienced taste side effects? Anything similar to @bovic21's wife (see above)?
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1 ReactionUpdate and question. Back in August 2025 my wife was fighting a rash and itching from her first immunotherapy treatment (Imfimzi). After getting the rash emilinated, the doctors decided to not continue that treatment.
Then in early January the cancer returned and had spreaded, The doctors then started her on a different immunotherapy treatment, Tarlatamab (Imdelltra). At first she was tolerating this very well and seemed to be improving.
But about 10 days ago her sense of taste completely changed. Now everything she drinks tastes like salt water.
This has caused her to have trouble with fatigue and balance problems. The doctors gave her a hydration IV yesterday and today she is better. And she has another IV scheduled Friday.
We are trying everything the dotors and our family can think of to fight this. She sips cherry kool aid now.
The doctors suggested trying zinc supplements ands eating cantaloupe, Just starting those today.
Just wondering if anyone else has had anything like this and what might have helped.
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3 Reactions@bovic2, It took me a couple of years before I really got to that place of adjusting and acceptance. People ask how to get there, how to relax a bit, and learn to enjoy life again, and there is no right answer. It just takes time, and everyone will be different. I'm glad that you are both feeling a little better. Thanks for sharing.
@mamajite That is a great idea to ask about pre-meds before her next treatments. We will do that.
My wife made a statement last night that I thought I would never hear from her. She said she is finally adjusting to the fact that she has cancer. After six months of chemo and radiation appointments, scans and MRIs, and all the rough side effects, she's come to a point where she sleeps better, enjoys life a little better and does not worry as much about what's around the corner. Surprising, I feel better now also.
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6 Reactionsglad to hear she's feeling better! I would ask her care team which pre-meds they can give with her next infusion to try to mitigate that reaction. maybe benadryl + a steroid?
@lls8000 Thank you for your response. She is doing better. Her oncologist prescribed prednisone and a couple of different creams. Very quickly the itching went away and the rashes are slowly fading away. Not sure which on of the three medicines should get the credit, but thankful for the results.
The next problem is the oncologist said she has to taper off the prednisone. She was on 30mg, now on 20mg and in a week goes down to 10mg. Her second treatment has been postponed twice, waiting to get this itching and rash under control. It is now schedule to restart in 2 weeks, after a scan and MRI. We worry the itching may return.
hi @bovic21 - that rash sounds miserable. I wonder if benadryl might also help. I second @flusshund's recommendation to see a dermatologist. I see one at my cancer center that treats skin cancer, but also skin based side effects from cancer treatment. (I also lost most of my hair and the dr has me on low dose oral minoxidil, which has helped it grow back!) I hope your wife feels much better soon - and it's very loving of you to seek info that might help her feel better. 🙂
Hi @bovic21—treatment-related rashes can be miserable, but a dermatologist can often help quickly. When similar skin issues flared up for me, the dermatologist prescribed creams I’d never even heard of, and the rash calmed down within days.
After seven years of living with lung cancer, I’ve learned the value of building a small “village” of specialists—cardiologist, nephrologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, even a personal trainer. Each one tackles a different piece of the puzzle and makes the journey easier for both patient and caregiver (my wife.) Don’t hesitate to lean on that expertise; you don’t have to manage every symptom on your own nor should you expect your oncologist to specialize in everything.
All the best to you and your wife.
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3 Reactions@bovic21, This rash sounds miserable. Reach out to her oncologist for more advice and an earlier prescription renewal if she needs it. Is she continuing to improve?
My wife had her first Immunotherapy with durvalumab (Imfimzi) on June 25. The only side effect she has had from this one treatment is rashes and bad itching. We contacted the oncologist and he prescribed a prescription and cream. They didn't help at all. We went to an Urgent Care (big mistake) and they gave her a steroid shot and a prescribed a pack of steroid pills. That worked at first but then the rashes and itching returned even worst.
By then it was time for her 2nd round of durvalumab (Imfimzi). Once the lab saw the rashes we were sent to the oncologist. He said the 2nd round would have to be delayed until the rashes and itching were treated and gone.
Clobetasol Propionate cream and Prednisone 10mg were prescribed. She has been taking the pills and using the cream for 5 days and the itching is finally letting up and rashes slowly clearing up. The rashes are all over her body except her face and stomach. And now the cream is all gone and no refill for another 3 weeks.
Anyone else had this rashes and itching problem (side effect from durvalumab (Imfimzi)? If so, did you find any OTC help?
Thanks for reading!