I am new here and my mom was just diagnosed with ext. stage SCLC (in her right & left lung, lymph nodes, liver, adrenal glands & pelvic & back bones). It has been rough. She had pneumonia & was in the hospital for 8 days. She got home, was on oxygen & seemed to be doing alright. Now she is back in the hospital with possible blood clots. She was supposed to start chemo today but now has to wait because the pneumonia is not completely gone & they don't want to start chemo till they can get that better. I guess I'm just being impatient. I am NEW to all this & I guess I don't know what to expect. I read all these inspirational stories but I don't know if my mom will be one of those. Everytime we take a step forward, it's like we are pushed 5 steps back. I know she is going to have good days & bad days but she is my mom & I want her to be around for awhile. I'm about to give her, her first grandchild in 2 months & I'm scared crazy she won't be around to see her. I want to tell her how much I need her to fight this but I don't want her to suffer.

If anyone has any words that will help me make sense of everything, I would reall appreciate it.

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10/1/07 Mom has masses on lungs & liver
10/5/07 CT scan, Pet scan & MRI
10/9/07 Masses in lungs, lymph nodes, liver, adrenal glands, pelvic & back bone
10/11/07 Admitted to hospital with pneumonia
10/18/07 Liver biopsy
10/23/07 DX with Ext. Stage SCLC
10/28/07 Admitted to hospital with fluid around right lung & possible blood clots
10/30/07 No clots; started first round of radiation (everyday for 4-5 weeks)
10/31/07 getting port & starting chemo

I wish I could tell you something that would help you make sense of it all. But when someone we love is going through this, it never makes sense.

None of us ever knows what to expect when going down this road. People's experiences can vary quite a bit, even when stage and treatment plans seem similar. But we can all relate to the feelings of fear, anger, sadness, and confusion that we face when our loved ones are ill. So keep coming back here. You don't have to do this alone.

I will be sending positive thoughts for your mom's recovery from pneumonia so that she can begin her treatments.

Peace.

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My wonderful husband of 15 years - 46 y.o. - ext. sclc

9/06 - Hoarse voice prompts visit to ENT. Xray reveals 10 cm. mass left lung. Go to MSK - inoperable.
Only pursuing natural remedies.
10/30/06 - mediastinoscopy finds mets to mediastinal and rt. hilar nodes
12/15/06 - cardiac tamponade, fluid drained
12/28/06 - 1st visit to onc at MSK (finally!)chemo to start next wk. carboplatin/etoposide
5/3/07 - last chemo complete
5/29/07 - depart for our once-in-a-lifetime trip, a 12 day Mediterranean cruise
6/20/07 - get scan results. progression in lung and lymph nodes. Hycamtin to begin next week.
8/6/07 - get scan results, progression in lung and lymph nodes again. Begin once weekly taxotere tomorrow.
8/29/07 - my honey gets to have another birthday...that's a cause for celebration!
9/12/07 - hubby has seizures. brought to hospital. huge pleural effusion, multiple brain mets, and dka.
9/13/07 - hospice begins in hospital
9/14/07 - we move to my mom's so I have additional caregivers available as needed
10/2/07 - Joe's earthly journey comes to an end

My life will go on, but my soul will never recover

"Somewhere beyond the sea, he's there watching for me.
If I could fly like birds on high, then straight to his arms I'd go sailing".

I'm sorry you had to find us, but glad that you did.
I'm also sorry for your Mom, and that she is having such a rough time.
Like Nyka said, it's very hard to watch someone that you love, struggle with this disease.
It makes it even worse, to not know what to expect, because there are some people that whiz right thru their chemo treatments and go into long remissions, (or are even cured!), and there are some, like my husband, who have a rough time with certain types of chemo meds.He has good days, rotten days, and in-between days too.
The people here are the very best, so please come back when you have questions, or just want to talk.
Take care, and nice to meet you,
Prayers going up for you and your family,
Nova

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My Husband's battle with SCLC.....Picture is of Harry before diagnosis.....

January 07-Doctor ordered a Cat Scan due to cough and pain in ribs. Sent us to the Pulmonologist.
Late January- Biopsy taken. Results show SCLC, inoperable.
Sent to Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa.
End of January '07 -started first chemo treatment. Ended up in ER after about 5 days with dehydration.
Feb 23rd '07 - second round of chemo, ended up IN the hospital for 2 days with a bladder infection.
March-'07 Third round of chemo. Also started radiation twice a day, 5 days a week.
April 10th,'07
Harry is in the hospital with a very bad infection in his heart valve. On liquid diet now because radiation has burnt his esophagus.

May 11th, '07- new scan and MRI results were good. Cancer/tumor has shrunk about 60%. Head is still clear.
June 8th, '07
Harry started first infusion of Carboplatin.
June 15th, 07..... Harry is in the hospital again. Has an abscess on the wall of his intestines. He's lost 7 more pounds. Blood counts are terrible.
June 27th, 07
Harry remained in the hospital for 7 days, (once again).
He is now passing out when he stands. He's been put on a new medication to raise his BP a little, plus help him retain fluids. Hoping it works, because he's bruised and cut from falling.

July 26th, 07- New Cat Scan results show that the original tumor has grown, and there are also new areas involved near ribs and higher in the left lung.. Will start Taxol, to "control" growth.
August 07
MRI came out clean. Thank you, Lord.
Lung tumor has some shrinkage, but some new growth in different areas. Mixed bag of results.

2nd dose of Taxol given.
9-10-07
Cat scan results were fairly stable.
He will continue on the Taxol, another 4 rounds. Blood counts were good.
Nov. '07
Harry had his last dose of Taxol. He won't get the 6th dose, due to numbness and tingling in his feet.

New scan done on Jan. 7th, '08
Shows Mets to liver in several spots. New tumor in lung, and more fluid.
Started Cpt-11 once a week.
Doctor mentioned Hospice. It was declined. Harry went fishing the next day. :O)
March '08
Harry now has Mets in his liver, ribs,shoulder, arm and more nodes.
He's on strong pain medication. Mostly sits in his chair and sleeps. His fighting spirit still remains, and he chooses to continue treatment.
April 8th, 08
Radiation doctor states that there isn't much more they can do. Harry has been given a "6 months or less" prognosis .
Harry has chosen to have Hospice involved. Says he's "kind of tired of sitting in doctor's offices".
I'm not sure yet how I feel about it , but it's his choice.
June 7th, 08
Harry passed away at 1:05 am, a few hours after being taken to the Hospice Care Center .
I miss him SO much. My heart is broken.

Hi- I'm glad you found this site. My Mom also was DX Last Sept with Small Cell Ext-Liver, Adrenal 9cm mass in lung. If you read her time line below it's been a struggle but well worth it. She is still here and going strong. We can just take things one day @ a time-I learned that if you think about your loved one dying all the time you will go crazy. Read her the inspirational stories on here to give her hope. With a new grand child on the way she has all the reason in the world to stay positive and fight it.
Keep us posted and PM me anytime
Dar

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My Mom
5/1/46-6/20/08

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight

Jake