Hello all! I feel like I know most of you so well, but you don't know me at all. My name is Melissa, and I am 34 years old. My 54 year old mother was diagnosed with extensive SCLC in August 2004. She has mets to several areas-I'm not sure I even know them all. I do know she has mets to several bones and her pancreas. She was in pretty bad shape by the time she was diagnosed. She was diagnosed on a Friday afternoon and her leg broke on Friday night due to a bone met. She had to have surgery and was in the hospital several days. She lives in Southern Illinois and planned to have chemo shortly after getting out of the hospital, but she was just too weak. She ended up back in the hospital and finally switched doctors (her doctor missed several opportunities dating back to May 2004 to get her diagnosed when she was in much better shape). Her new doctor convinced her to get a second opinion in St. Louis. They started her on chemo immediately. She has since started going to another oncologist back in Southern Illinois, but the doctor travels there from St. Louis.
Things seem to be going well, but that is all too common with SCLC. My parents don't seem to be very interested (maybe they're scared) in finding out more about the disease. Her onc is talking about her next chemo being her last for now and just having her do scans every couple of months.
I am an "only" child, and I have been extremely close to my mom my whole life. It absolutely kills me to watch her go through this. I live over two and a half hours away and have a husband and two small children of my own. We (or I) have been going down often, but I feel guilty that I can't be there full time.
I am so thankful for this website and its members. I have to admit that I sometimes get depressed coming on here (I find it very hard when some of you get bad news), but I feel like someone in the family has to be informed enough to ask the important questions. Please know that I am pulling for (and praying for) all of you.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
