Meloni

Thank you Barb and Tom!
 
My MRI was on Tuesday. Like the CAT scan, PET scan, and bronchoscopy, it was my first of that type of procedure. Very noisy, and I felt like Hannibal Lector when the placed the hood device over my head and face.
 
My next appointment with the oncologist is tomorrow, and it's been a test of patience, wondering what's going on in my body, and how my life will be changing.
 
Tom, you have mentioned genetics in some of your posts. Do you have some keywords that might help narrow my research regarding that? The doctors have asked about my family history, and it was tough to immediately answer because the father who raised me, passed from lung cancer at 48, but he was not my biological father. All of my siblings (1/2 siblings, genetically speaking), are cancer-free, but I am also the oldest. My biological father, whom I have only recently reconnected with, has disclosed that he has COPD (industrial exposure), his father passed from lung cancer, his paternal grandfather passed from a type of cancer, and my father's sister passed from lung cancer last year. I have no idea if that's relevant, but thought I could add it to the info if it would be helpful. 
 
Thank you for your help, and also about the notebook Barb!

Meloni,
 
I'm afraid I can't help you much on the genetic front.  The small amount of knowledge I have relates to the new science of developing targeted therapy to attack certain subtypes of cancer that display mutations in their DNA.
 
My oncologist asked about my family history for lung cancer and also many other diseases.  I didn't have anyone who had it in my family.  That said, there is a book that you might read that provided me a wealth of information about cancer.  And, you may have some time on your hands that a good book might fill.  The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddharta Mukherjee is superb and there is a wealth of information about the genetics of cancer.
 
I hope your consult goes well.
 
Stay the course.
 
Tom

Exactly my recipe of disease.
 
Did the biopsy include a genetic mutation type?  If it did not, then you can have the pathologist test the sample for genetic mutation (pathology samples are always kept).  This is important because of new treatment methods that are very successful in treating NSC Squamous cell LC.  Here is the youtube cite for Dr. Lecia Sequist's video on advances in biomarker profiling for lung cancer - 
 
Okay upper lobe left lung tumor location, proximity to trachea and radiation will yield challenges in radiation treatment.  I had those also.  Pain may increase as may swallowing difficulty.  It sounds like the radio oncologist is going to incrementally treat the main tumor to shrink it stages to minimize radiation induced side effects.  Get a prescription for "magic mouthwash" or that elixir given to radiation patients to relive irritated throat and dry cough.  Have some chloraseptic throat spray on hand.  During my radiation, I lived on Halls lemon drop cough drops.
 
I don't know if he is going to have adjunct chemotherapy concurrent with radiation or full strength infusions.  Normally, during first line treatment, radiation is the primary therapy and chemo is secondary.  When this is the case, the chemo is referred to as adjunct therapy.  If adjunct, then it is typically given at a lower strength then when administered alone.  Ask your doctor to qualify if the taxol - carboplatin combination therapy is full strength or adjunct strength.  If adjunct, expect fewer side effects from chemo.  Here is a primmer on chemo side effects that might be interesting reading - http://www.lungevity.org/about-lung-cancer/lung-cancer-101/treatment-options/chemotherapy
 
As for survival statistics, leave those for later consideration.  Your dad is choosing treatment and therefore life.  Attitude, I believe is important to a successful outcome.  He and you need to believe you are going to have a successful outcome and that success yields far longer life than 6 to 8 months.
 
Stay the course.
 
Tom

Welcome here.
 
Excepting motherhood, I've been exactly where you are now.  At diagnosis, my surgeon told me I was not a surgical candidate.  But my oncologist figured out a way to shrink the tumor to allow surgery.  I had a years worth of post surgical complications from removing my right lung and during that period, the cancer migrated to my left lung.  I was then right where you are - on the 20% five-year survival curve.  Come February 4th, good Lord willing, I will have survived 12 years from non small cell, squamous cell, lung cancer.
 
It took all kinds of treatment, most of that was unsuccessful.  I had lots of nervous time anticipating and waiting for scans, so much so, I coined a term for the special anxiety we lung cancer patients experience - "Scanziety"!  I was absolutely afraid, then depressed, then afraid and depressed.  But I believed I'd be one of the 20% and if I could live one year, why not five?  When I got to five, why not ten?
 
After you digest this, I've got some information on understanding survival statistics that you may find comforting.  But for right now, I'll keep it simple.  You've got to want to survive to survive.  You've got to believe you will live to live.  I believe attitude is of ultimate importance in arresting your disease.  And, you can influence your attitude about survival, treatment and life.  You are in charge of your feelings and beliefs.  They are about the only thing you can control during lung cancer treatment, so grab the control and believe you are going to make that 20%.  Believe you are going to make the 1% or the 1/2% who go on to have lengthy lives after treatment.
 
Show up to treatment armed with this positive attitude and unshakable belief in life and tell the doctors to "bring it on"!  
 
Stay the course.
 
Tom

One other thing....always take your 3 ring binder with all your appointments and pages for questions...and map of facility. And blank pages to journal. To cuss & scream!
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Meloni,
 
OK - I understand now.  You've got an oncologist on board and you are going to a "results revealed" consultation.  Most important advice I can give is not to go to this consultation alone.  Most of my questions would evolve around treatment options and effectiveness of each option to eliminate my cancer.  There will likely be a range of treatments and a range of effectiveness.  You and your doctor need to make the right choice, for you.  Doctors I've encountered (my own and others where I've been the second set of ears) lay out a menu of treatments along with advantages and disadvantages of each.  
 
Stay connected with us and I pray you have the best possible news after your consultation.
 
Stay the course.
 
Tom

Croaz32,
 
There is no playbook.  Stage IV SCLC with extended metastasis is nasty.  
 
My father was so broken inside while I was in treatment, he couldn't talk to me.  I didn't understand then; I do now but he passed before my disease was arrested and we can't talk about it.  If I could, I guess I'd tell him there is a time to live and a time to grieve and he got the order reversed.  But, I understand why.  It's that feeling of hopelessness you are describing compounded by your belief that you can't help your family member.  But you can.  How?
 
Focus on the little things.  While in treatment and uncertain about outcomes, my wife became a master of the little things.  She'd tell me in the morning, we were going to have breakfast for dinner at Denny's.  She'd describe all the Grand Slam possibilities and before I realized it, I was looking forward to something - to something I would enjoy.  Then, she'd bring me a bag of Gummy Bears and I inhale Gummys but she'd dole them out to me one at a time, making me keep one in my mouth till it nearly melted away.  Then she'd engage me in choosing the best flavor.  Then she'd argue with my choice.  Then, I'd forget about my cancer.  Just for a while but those thousands of little things my wife dreamed up strung together a long period of enjoyment.  
 
It is not how much time we have left; it is what we do with the time we have.  Help your family member find joy in the little things he or she loves about life.  Be a master of the little things.
 
Stay the course.
 
Tom