Tom Galli

Welcome here! As Susan said: “recurrences suck.” I’ve had 4 after NED treatments. On the radiation point you bring up, I was told I couldn’t have a second dose of radiation because I’d already had 30 treatments of conventional radiation. But the radiation oncologist who directed my CyberKnife SBRT said he could plot a path that avoided the conventionally radiated area. I’d see a radiation oncologist who specializes in precision radiation to re-examine radiation treatment. I firmly believe attitude counts also and applaud yours! Stay the course. Tom

Golfman, Welcome! You are asking really tough questions. First consider small cell lung cancer treatment has dramatically improved very recently. The two means that should interest you are precision radiation (you'll likely have a form called SBRT to deal with the brain met) and immunotherapy. Here is information about precision radiation treatment for all types of lung cancer (including small cell). Here is a very recent advance on adding the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab to the standard chemotherapy regime for small cell. So, for the first time in perhaps 3 decades, effective treatments are in play for small cell lung cancer. Note also, precision radiation can also be used in place of surgery to address the tumor in your right lung. Be sure to ask your doctor about adding immunotherapy to your conventional chemo and addressing both the lung tumor and brain met with precision radiation. We have small cell survivors on this forum who've been successfully treated. I wouldn't know their ages. I can't begin to answer if treatment is worth it for you. It was and has been for me. Stay the course. Tom