Hi everyone. I am new here. My mom was just diagnosed with SCLC on 9/1 after having a brain tumor the size of a ping-pong ball removed. She just had her first PET scan done and we are waiting on the results now.

PCP says her presentation is a bit unusual because she only has 2 small spots, less than 2 mm, in the lungs on her pre-op CT scans with nothing else showing up in the chest, abdomen or pelvis. I am worried about it having spread to the bone though since my mom has been experiencing pain in the legs.

She is a real trooper. She has bounced back from the surgery and has not had any negative side-effects during the last two weeks of WBR. Oncologist says she will start chemo in October.

She has been a whirling dervish of activity around the house. She is an antiques collector (picture 3000 sq ft antique mall in an 800 sq ft house-hoarder-esque). She is worried she will die and leave me to deal with all of her stuff (she was worried about this before her dx already... the dx just put it into overdrive) so she has been going through all the stuff planning on having yard sales and our doing a series of antiques shows to sell alot of it off. One might think that would be depressing but it isn't. We are having alot of fun going through the stuff and I get to "shop at mom's". Plus, I have been bugging her for years to help me write down information to identify which of her multitude of antiques were "family pieces" and she is finally doing it.

I worry about helping her fight this as she gets ready to start chemo next month. I live 2 and 1/2 hours away and have a demanding job. My dad is with her but he is disabled, has many health problems of his own and can't drive. My mom is the one that has always taken care of him. My mom is a fighter though and reading some of the success stories on here has helped.

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Sarah
My mom, 65, is dx with SCLC
7/2011 - Began experiencing left-side weakness. Thought she had had a stroke. Doctor sent her for MRI
8/5/11 - MRI revealed not a stroke but a brain tumor the size of a ping-pong ball, which my mom named "Boris".
8/22/11 - Surgery to remove the tumor. Surgeon said he was able to get it all. Left-side weakness symptoms are gone. Mom bounces back like a champ from surgery.
9/1/11 - Pathology shows brain tumor was SCLC met. Preop CT scans showed only 2 small (<2 mm) spots in lungs and nothing else suspicious in chest, abdomen or pelvis. Begins 2 weeks of focused and whole brain radiation.
9/16/11 - PET scan (waiting on results) - No side effects so far from the radiation.

Sarah - I'm glad you found this place - believe me it helps. As I read your story I understand how hard it can be with work and other pressures when your mom is facing this fight. Be happy to work with her through the house - just be doing that you are helping her, especially if it turns into fun - she can see that in your eyes.

I had another thought about her being the one to drive. I am not sure where you are or what cancer treatment facility that she is going to but check out volunteers. I know the have them here in Richmond and an ex-boss volunteers in Chesapeake but they drive patients to and from therapy. It is a little hard to believe that people are willing to do that - but most just want to give back after having been a caregiver or survivor in many cases themselves.

I hope therapy treats your mom (and you and your dad) well. There are many good stories among the people here - and I'm sure someone with more knowledge that I will be here to help you with any questions you may have.

Take care,
Annette

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5/5/09 Bad Cough - sent for xray
5/6/09 CAT SCAN
5/8/09 Pulmonologist - not good ordered bronch
5/14/09 Bronc 5/19/09 Breathing test & Results - NSCLC (Adenocarcinoma 3cm)
5/22/09 PET Scan - 5/27 referred to surg & onc
6/2/09-met with surg & onc. They say there are two spots. One small on left lung and one larger one on right lung 3.6 x 3.2 cm - they are pretty sure and approaching it as if it were two separate cancers staging the right at II and the left at I.
June 15 - RML removed - Pathology - margins clear and nodes clear. June 25 follow up with surgeon - doc agreed to stage I since it appears he got it all - June 30 return to work
July 7 Oncologist says Stage 1A - we don't recommend chemo for this stage
Aug 17 - surgery - again took ULL and some nodes -
Sep 8 to onc - Both sides IA - no chemo just watch closely
Dec 15, 2009 - CT Results - NED
March 10th, 2010 - CT Scan - Results - NED
June 15th, 2010 - XRay - Results - NED
Sep 15th 2010 CT Scan - Results - NED
Dec 2010 XRay Only - Results - NED
Dec 2010 MRI - Results - Clear
March 2011 - CT Scan - NED
June 2011 - XRay Only - NED
Sept 2011 - Scan & Vampires - Scared to death!!!!

Hi Sarah,

Terribly sorry you found this out and I truly wish you and your mom the very best of luck. Keep us updated.

Hi Sarah!
Sorry for the late welcome. I was dx'd with SCLC on 4/28/08 and I'm still here! The stats on SCLC are very scary and are out of date. Survival rates have increased so don't let the old info on the internet scare you. Sounds like Mom is doing great and it is very good to keep busy, at least it kept me from thinking to much!

Dana

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Mar. '08-Routine xray found Spot tip of upper left lung.
Dr orders CAT. growth confirmed.
Sent to Pulmonolgist who orders PET.
Pet results-my spot lights up like a Christmas tree.
Can't reach spot for biopsy referred to surgeon.
Surgical Biopsy scheduled for Apr. 28th '08
Apr. '08-Surgeon found SCLC, removed upper left lobe and surronding lymph nodes.
Everything biopsied no other cancer found, declaired NED by surgeon on Apr.28th '08
ONC wants me to start adjuvant therapy.
June '08-MRI brain scan and CAT NED
Chemo cisplatin/vp16 3 days every 3 weeks 4 sessions ended Aug. '08
Partial hearing loss due to Cisplatin
Sept. '08 1st CAT after treatment NED
Dec. '08-2nd CAT after treatment NED
Apr. '09-MRI (brain) and CAT NED
Aug. '09-CAT NED
Dec. '09-CAT and MRI NED
Apr. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Oct. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Jan. '11-XRay NED
Oct. '11-CAT NED

Welcome Sarah. I just said something similiar to what Dana said in a post to another newcomer whose Mom has SCLC. I'm not in touch with the statistics but know I'm seeing more and more survivors here and at cancer treatment centers.

Wishing your Mom the best. Her energy will put her in a good position for this battle.

Judy in KW

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Cytology report on fluid removed from lung after pleural effusion and pneumonia Sep 07 showed adenocarcinoma cells. Dx IIIb NSCLC Oct '07 at MDACC, Orlando. Fol 6 rounds Taxol/Carboplatin/Avastin and 2 Avastin, CT/PET 4/1/08 pleural thickening gone and no active cancer cells. 11/3/08 STILL NEVD. CT/PET/MRI 5/4/09 Cancer back, still in the pleura and chest wall, small amt of fluid, all in left lung.
5/11/09 Start on Alimta every three weeks.
7/13/10 Had Alimta on road in Corning NY.
8/24/09 Scans show some improvement. Continue on Alimta.
9/14/09 Chemo on road in Mt Holly NJ.
10/6/09 Started regular Alimta infusions in Key West.
11/3/09 CT and PET scans showed significant improvement. Some issues already resolved.
2/3/2010 No evidence of residual or recurrent disease. NED! Stay on Alimta.
5/6/10 Am considering myself still NED until/unless proven otherwise in July. Rabid radiologist thinks he sees something suggestive of similar to some abdominal cancer. No light up on the PET. Am hoping for the best. Stay on Alimta and scan in 9 wks instead of 3 mos.
7/8/10 Chest CT unchanged (NED Feb '10). Infiltration in the region of the omentum is probably slightly more prominent than before. Diverticulosis requiring antibiotics.
Jul, Aug, Sep, continued Alimta in Corning NY, Portsmouth OH and Mt Holly NJ.
10/14/10 Chest CT unchanged from Feb '10. Findings likely representing progressive nodular peritonal carcinomatosis in the midabdomen. Treatment changed to Tarceva started in Nov.
12/15/10 Chest CT unchanged. Abdomen changes compatible with peritoneal carcinomatosis again identified with mild progression noted.
3/16/11 CT chest unchanged. CT abdomen progression ascites (fluid). Progression of soft tissues nodularity on the peritoneal surface anteriorly with diffuse omental involvement.
4/13-15/11 Hospitalized at MDA. Removed 4 1/2 litres (8-9 lbs) of fluid from abdomen 4/14. Started on taxotere before release on 4/15.
5/16/11 Hospitalized for fever, neutropenic. Treated with intravenous antibiotic and antiviral. Given blood transfusion. Note that KW Cancer Center did not give me my Neulasta shot after my chemo on May 6. Onc had me cancel my 5/26 chemo until after my scan on Jun 6. Was discharged on oxygen. Test w/Dr Gerth 5/26 indicated I could go off sitting and sleeping O. Will do walking test 6/2.
6/2 Did not get requisite numbers on walking test. Left for Orlando 6/5 still on oxygen.
6/6/11 MRI normal; CT stable. Taxotere and Neulasta at MDA 6/7 and 6/8.
6/13/11 Appointment with Dr Olham in KW. Off oxygen week of 6/16.
8/8/11 CT scan showed stable with perhaps some lessening of fluid. Stay on Taxotere.
10/10/11 CT chest still clear, CT abdominal lining stable. Stay on taxotere.
12/19/11 CT chest clear, CT abdominal lining stable, MRI clear. Stay on taxotere.

Hi Sarah,

We are going through a similar experience with my mom... she goes in for chemo tomorrow and will supplement with some avemar and maitake extract.

I wish you and your family the very best of luck from the bottom of my heart, and please keep us updated.