Hi. My husband has stage 4 SCLC, diagnosed 07/07. He is on his third type of chemo (Gemzar). He's had two treatments so far. We went in for his third treatment on 05/14, but he couldn't have it because his platelets were too low. Today, we got a call from the office telling us his potassium is too high. No medicine yet, but extra fluids and dietary restrictions for today. Tomorrow we go in for another blood test. If it's still too high, I imagine they will prescribe something. They almost did today. His level is 6.7 (He's had blood drawn every single week since 07/07 and this has never been an issue before.

Anyway, I did a little research on the web (I know...can be dangerous sometimes!) The only connection I could find is kidney damage. We know he has mets in his adrenal glands, liver and brain. Oh, he did have CyberKnife on 05/12 for brain mets, but somehow, I don't think that is the connection.

Has anybody experienced this? If so, what was the diagnosis/outcome for you?

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Lynn

Gosh. Got a little scared tonight.

Larry had a relaxation massage today. Took a nap around 5:30. "Only want to sleep for a little while."

Checked on him about 7:30. Sleeping soundly. OK, good.

9:00 Started worrying. Should I check on him? He never sleeps this long. Checked on him. All is OK.

10:30 Still sleeping? Never sleeps this long. Really nervous now. Check on him. He wakes while I am checking on him.

Dang, didn't mean to wake him up. Now he probably won't go back to bed and sleep through the night.

Stupid potassium. Wouldn't have worried at all if it weren't for a bad blood test.

_________________
07/07: Diagnosed stage 4 SCLC. Carboplatin/VP-16, great scans. NED lung/hip, resolving liver.
11/07: Mixed scans. Repeat in 01/08.
01/08: Had seizures same week as scans. New mets: brain/adrenal glands. Active: lung/liver. In ICU overnight. Transferred to Hospice Wing next day.
01-28-08: Home on Hospice. Very critically ill.
01-31-08: Marked improvement. Sought second opinion. Yes, right diagnosis. Chose to not pursue further treatment.
02-05-08: Decided to fight w/Hycamtin.
04/08: Scans: Lung stable. Liver, adrenal gland, brain mets worse. Trying Gemzar.
05-12-08: CyberKnife for 4 of 6 brain mets. (Not WBR candidate-had radiation for non-hodgkin's lymphoma in 1984.)
05-26-08--06-10-08: Meds adjusted for increasing pain.
06-12-08: Fell down. Not injured.
06-19-08: Very wobbly. Brain MRI reveals innumerable lesions scattered throughout.
06-23-08: Hearing loss in right ear due to brain mets.
06-26-08: Not pursuing additional treatment.
07-24-08: Larry passed away at home at 8:10 pm, just the way he wanted. It was a gentle death. God's mercy is infinite.

Never mind. Repeated blood test. Came back low normal (3.7), so we're all figuring the first test was incorrect.

We're celebrating with chocolate covered raisins and gatorade.

_________________
07/07: Diagnosed stage 4 SCLC. Carboplatin/VP-16, great scans. NED lung/hip, resolving liver.
11/07: Mixed scans. Repeat in 01/08.
01/08: Had seizures same week as scans. New mets: brain/adrenal glands. Active: lung/liver. In ICU overnight. Transferred to Hospice Wing next day.
01-28-08: Home on Hospice. Very critically ill.
01-31-08: Marked improvement. Sought second opinion. Yes, right diagnosis. Chose to not pursue further treatment.
02-05-08: Decided to fight w/Hycamtin.
04/08: Scans: Lung stable. Liver, adrenal gland, brain mets worse. Trying Gemzar.
05-12-08: CyberKnife for 4 of 6 brain mets. (Not WBR candidate-had radiation for non-hodgkin's lymphoma in 1984.)
05-26-08--06-10-08: Meds adjusted for increasing pain.
06-12-08: Fell down. Not injured.
06-19-08: Very wobbly. Brain MRI reveals innumerable lesions scattered throughout.
06-23-08: Hearing loss in right ear due to brain mets.
06-26-08: Not pursuing additional treatment.
07-24-08: Larry passed away at home at 8:10 pm, just the way he wanted. It was a gentle death. God's mercy is infinite.

thank God. I hate lab errors!

_________________
Oct. 2002, Dad dx. with limited stage SCLC and was cancer free after chemo and RT, until April 2005, when developed balance problems, constant vomiting, and leg pains, and was diagnosed with spinal and brain mets
Jan. 2, 2006 - passed away peacefully surrounded by family...

Glad the potassium level is really ok. Also glad he got some rest. Hope he enjoys middle of the night tv. It's not very good! I would have worried about his sleeping so long, too.

Muriel

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Dx NSCLC 5/03. Surgery UR lobe. Staged as 1B. Chemo (taxol & Carbo)9/15/03 - 11/13/03. Wonderful CTs until Nov 04. Surgery 11/27/04, again staged as 1B. Chemo (Cisplatin and Gemzar) 2/05 to 6/05. Good CTs and PET since chemo.

I've had at least three potassium "scares" in past year and each time it turned out to be due to blood cells having "broken up" during draw.

That is great news that the massage therapy was so relaxing for him. Sounds like it needs to be added to his weekly schedule.

I don't actually see a massage therapist any more, but my CNA, who comes in 3x weekly (4 hours each), usually concludes her visit with a back rub, and I must admit that it makes me feel good for hours and hours thereafter.

Massage therapy is also on a list over at the cancer.gov website as being efficacious in terms of comfort care so I'd definitely recommend you keep it up! (Actually, it should probably be prescribed for both patient and caregiver--both are stressful positions)

Take care. Glad all's going well overall.

Carole

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01/07 Dx NSCLC IIIB Squamous Cell (5 cm. Grade 3 tumor RLL & right hilar & mediastinal lymph nodes). Underwent concurrent radiation & chemo, which decr. tumor to 2 cm., but by 12/07 tumor growing & lymph nodes growing & spreading. 2nd & 3rd line chemos bombed & by 07/08 tumor back to 5 cm. w/mets to liver, left lung & lymph nodes. No viable treatments left, <b>but</b> I'm still pain-free so me and <b>my tattoo</b> are still <b>Dancing in the Street</b> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y-x2fWKbmo)--figuratively at least! See <b>My Story: Quality of Life</b> at http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=36841.

He had another massage yesterday. (His Father's Day gift). It does make him feel much better.

Lynn