Small Cell Lung Cancer
My Dad was diagnosed in August SCLC. They found the cells on his lymph node, but could not detect the tumor in his lung. His only symptoms were double vision and leg and arm weakness. He was treated for many things before they finally figured out he had cancer and these other symptoms are most likely due to a rare cancer related syndrome called paraneoplastic. He has had 4 chemo rounds and 5 weeks of daily radiation. When he went in last week for his 5th chemo, he was too sick and the doctor ordered an MRI and CT Scan. Since last week he has began feeling a little better, possibly due to an increase in his dosage of prednisone. The results of the MRI are clear and the CT Scan no longer shows any cancer on his lymph node and still no lung tumor. This was good news to me at first, but then I remembered that the doctor told us SCLC almost always reoccurs, so now I am terrified. Especially after reading stories about people dying weeks after reoccurence.
My Dad will have his fifth chemo next week and last chemo after Thanksgiving.
I am scared of what will happen next. How often should I insist on followup testing? The unknown is so terrifying and my heart goes out to all of those who have had to deal with this and other cancers.
Posted by Tom
on Jun-02 11
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The mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work unless it’s open
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re: Small Cell Lung Cancer Click here to view reply in a separate window
My mother was probably one of the people you read about. thats great that your father is in remission and so was my mother.from my experiance just be sure that if your father has any new symptons at all, check them out, and if he has new growths, don't let the doctor talk you into waiting to long to recheck it. facts are untreated small cell kills in 8 weeks. my mother had a spot that they didn't know wether or not was a regrowth , and the doctors rechecked it in 6 weeks. by the recheck it was in her liver and brain, she died 2 weeks later. if they had either done a brain scan or a recheck in 2 weeks instead of 6 we would have had a chance to fight it again. she was too weak by the recheck. i would say have new symptons examined, even if they are minor, and if something comes up questionabe on the scans, recheck it in a couple of weeks. good luck to you. i hope your father's doctors do better than my mother's did
Posted by Maryanne
on Jun-02 11
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Maryanne
Jun-02 11
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