My husband had two lesions when he was diagnosed, One in the rt. upper lung and the othe in the mediastinal lymph. Both were less than 1.5 cm. After obtaining a PET scan and seeing no other lesions, the doc was pretty convinced it was NSCLC.

They tried a needle bx of the right upper lung and it was unsuccesful. After I researched it, I found that the efficacy of needle bx in a lesion that size is only 50%. We chose not to try again. The lesion in his mediastinum was in such a place that they were unable to scope it for a bx.

So, it was surgery for a bx. They removed his rt. upper lung and the lymph in the mediastinum. He had a very stormy recovery due to the fact that his vocal cord was paralyzed and he couldn't cough effectively. He at one point begged for a ventilator but I kept telling him, "No, you can do it." I stayed with him in the hospital 24-7 which really helped because as you know, hospitals are notoriously short staffed these days.

From what I read while he was in the hospital was that in Japan they are staging SCLC like NSCLC and doing surgery on small cell when it is in the limited (lung and mediatinum) stage. Their success rate is higher than the US who are using the old VA system staging of limited and extensive.

Our doc said if they had obtained a bx and found the SCLC, he would never had had surgery. SCLC is not a isease of the lung necessarily, but a systemic disease from what he said. I'm trying to look at it as if he's in Japan and has a better outlook. Anyone else had surgery for SCLC and how were your results?

Thanks everyone for all your replies to my posts. I feel a great weight lifted off me since I've been here talking to others, seeing, and learning to live with this disease.

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July 07 - Unable to get needle Bx of 1.2 cm mass rt. upper lung or Bx of mediatianal mass 1.3cm, so a right upper lobe removal was done on my husband SCLC.

Chemo X5 treatments started 3 weeks after surgery Carbo & Etopiside. Concurrent radiation to the chest also done

Nov 07 had PCI

Sailed throught the surgery, radiation, and chemo.

Post PCI is when he started the fatigue and short term memory loss. It's been 4 weeks since PCI and severe fatigue continues with 2 long naps per day and nodding off for the rest of the day.

Jn 1, 2008 Today is 5 weeks from radiation. He continues with fatigue and now is starting to lose weight. He was always able to maintain, but now losing.

I do remember a few of our members who had surgery for limited stage sclc, but I can't think of them right this minute. It's very rare and I do think it has to be limited and localized and followed with chemotherapy...but I could be wrong.

I'd ask Dr. West more specifically if he's had experience with that. He's at www.onctalk.com and is a great source of information and advice.

Keep us posted. Am very curious to know what Dr. West says about this and I hope your husband has complete success in his fight against LC.

_________________
- Katie Brown, Co-Founder and Director of LCSC-

15 yr cancer survivor.

"Any of us who have experienced the cancer journey- and survived it-
have an obligation to make the path clearer and aid those that come after us."
- Lance Armstrong

In memory of Jessee Dewey, SCLC
December 29, 1938 - September 6, 2003
Lisa Dewey- Jan. 22, 2007
my parents are together in heaven


facebook www.facebook.com/lungevity

Hi!-
Check out my wife Bev's story "Born to be Alive" in the My Story section. Her diagnosis and treatment sound very similar to your husband's.
Best Wishes,
Kim

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Kim
Husband of Bev

http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/vi ... hp?t=25389

Wow, that's really great!!! I'm hoping my husband will match her although he is older and has the drawback of being male (from what I read, females have better success).

I'll have to rub myself all over him and maybe some of my female will rub onto him for a little booster.

thanks all!

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July 07 - Unable to get needle Bx of 1.2 cm mass rt. upper lung or Bx of mediatianal mass 1.3cm, so a right upper lobe removal was done on my husband SCLC.

Chemo X5 treatments started 3 weeks after surgery Carbo & Etopiside. Concurrent radiation to the chest also done

Nov 07 had PCI

Sailed throught the surgery, radiation, and chemo.

Post PCI is when he started the fatigue and short term memory loss. It's been 4 weeks since PCI and severe fatigue continues with 2 long naps per day and nodding off for the rest of the day.

Jn 1, 2008 Today is 5 weeks from radiation. He continues with fatigue and now is starting to lose weight. He was always able to maintain, but now losing.

And thank you, Katie for the Dr. West suggestion. I did hop over there and left a message.

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July 07 - Unable to get needle Bx of 1.2 cm mass rt. upper lung or Bx of mediatianal mass 1.3cm, so a right upper lobe removal was done on my husband SCLC.

Chemo X5 treatments started 3 weeks after surgery Carbo & Etopiside. Concurrent radiation to the chest also done

Nov 07 had PCI

Sailed throught the surgery, radiation, and chemo.

Post PCI is when he started the fatigue and short term memory loss. It's been 4 weeks since PCI and severe fatigue continues with 2 long naps per day and nodding off for the rest of the day.

Jn 1, 2008 Today is 5 weeks from radiation. He continues with fatigue and now is starting to lose weight. He was always able to maintain, but now losing.

I very rare cases when SCLC is caught very early surgery can be done. I think there can be no lymph node involvement

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Mother Stage I clinically, Stage IIIa pathologically. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Deceased March 2003
Please seek 2nd opinions and verify everything