Michele

Went to my cancer dr yesterday for results of latest CT Scan and breathing tests - breathing in great- breathing out - not so great - CT Scan - only thing left is a scar!  Now I wait five years before I can say "Cancer Free"
 

Hello Friends,
I had a head MRI last Wednesday, and Thursday evening the oncologist called to inform me there is a spot in my Thalamus that was not present on my Feb 2017 scan. A biopsy would be required to confirm, but they believe it likely represents metastasis of the lung cancer. 
I'm waiting (always the waiting game), for the neurosurgeon referral to be approved by insurance. My insurance has never given me troubles, I just hate the lag time between discovering new issues and getting those new issues treated.
My oncologist indicated the lesion is small (10 mm) and treatable. Just waiting to hear from the neurosurgeon so I know what to expect in terms of treatment, follow-up and monitoring. Want to know about side effects and risks, too, of course.  Apparently the thalamus is a pretty important little unit in the brain. 
Meloni 
 

Sherri that's great your MRI was clean same as my husbands. He starts this coming week 2 nd  cycle chemo and first round of rad .last night and all day today we spent time in hospital because he started a fever.he was doing so good before that. He is all better now will see how round 2 does.  Enjoy your haircut!   Best wishes Michele

On July 17th I went to see my PCP thinking I had pneumonia.  Today I'm sitting here with a diagnosis of limited SCLC, although my oncologist hasn't received the results of the brain MRI yet.  Since learning that I have SCLC on July 24th, I've had a CT, bronchoscopy/biopsy, PET scan, radiation oncology consult, a chemo/radiation plan made and an Xcela port placed for chemo.  I haven't gone one day without a test or consult since the middle of July.  On Tuesday I go for a test for the accuracy of the radiation markings, then am scheduled to start radiation and chemo on Wednesday.  I had the brain MRI today, which is the first diagnostic test that didn't seem to happen over night.  Now I have three days of nothing but thinking and time for everything to sink in.  My husband, kids and I have planned a "go bald" picnic this Sunday.  I'm going to lose my hair anyway, so I might as well do it on my terms, right?  My youngest (who's 25) is going bald with me.  My husband probably will do the same.  And then we're sending my hair to a children's charity since I haven't had it cut in over 13 years.  What a way to finally have that done.  After that, who knows what will happen.  I feel like I was given the best bad news when I was told I have limited SC.  Now I feel like I'm waiting for the rug to be pulled from underneath me as I wait for the results of the MRI.  I have my small moments of breaking down, but I mostly feel emotionally numb at this point.  I'm just now beginning to understand all this information that's been tossed in my lap.  I'm scared I won't have time to understand the rest.

That's great news, Michele! I am happy for you and your husband. Thank you for sharing an update!
With gratitude,
Lauren
--
Digital Community Manager
LUNGevity Foundation

Wonderful news Michele!
Stay the course.
Tom

Hello everybody I just like to give update on my husband. He has finished 4 rounds of chemo and I must say he handled it preety well except for being very tired and a couple times dehydrated but all and all he is fine. Radation made him tired also. He starts brain rad in 2 weeks for precaution. End of October he gets his cats can to see if all treatments worked. I'm praying that it did. I wish he didn't get small cell but it is what it is.I will be going back to work this coming week been off for 4 months and I'm hoping I don't worry to much and he keeps drinking water and eating right.between my cancer from last Dec and his it has taken a toll on me but I'm Ned and hopefully he will be too! Thank you for your support.  Michele

I love it!!! Especially with your wonderful smile.

I had my annual CT scan with contrast on August 22nd and my consultation with my medical oncologist today (Aug 28th), and the result: clean scans and continued NED.
Yes I am a long tenured survivor but during today's consultation we spoke of how persistent lung cancer is.  Moreover, I learned that one cancer diagnosis often begets another.  So there is good reason for me to keep the twice yearly oncology consultations and the annual CT.
We also spend a lot of time reminiscing my time in active treatment.  Doc has a superb memory and he filled in my gaps and provided additional insight into how and why he suggested stereotactic radiation after my third line chemotherapy failure.  We also discussed the radio oncologist's aggressive treatment of Stage IV tumors in multiple locations of the body using SBRT and IMRT techniques.  This new approach is moving the survival needle for late stage diagnosed survivors to the right! 
So I'm celebrating clean scans and declare an end to scanziety for 11 months!
Stay the course.
Tom

Thanks so much Tom. I really appreciate your help and kind words, as well as the links and definitions. My dad went a whopping six weeks. His tumor is back to 80% of its original size at initial diagnosis. He will have second-line treatment chemo starting next week. I've since read more and realize that his time frames aren't helpful to his cause but of course we will stay positive. They are using the Topotecan chemo drug five days in a row every other week I guess? They plan to do five rounds but during his first treatment, he was planning to do six and they stopped at four (I can't tell if it was because it was going so well or if it was because the side effects were too great). Anyway, we shall see how he does. I imagine he will have a scan sometime into his treatment? 
Am I right to say they will do chemo to see if they can shrink the tumor again, do a scan and see where it is and then either continue chemo (if it's going well) or discontinue it if it isn't helping enough? There was mention of doing a trial IF he makes it to Christmas?? I don't know what that's about. Shrug. 
My dad is very down about everything but he would never ever come to a forum like this. He's actually a doctor himself and I think he's experiencing so many emotions. I can't even begin to understand, but I hope to be educated and then be supportive of him in whatever way he will let me. We've had a hot and cold relationship my whole life (I've never lived with him) but I will always honor my father and would do anything to help him and hold him up through this. So thanks for allowing me to pick your brain and learn what I can so I'm able to pass it on by caring for him.  

Thanks Tom?

Peg I'm so sorry u had a rough weekend with his family. But u did the right thing! I pray his scan shows good results.I like to give u my phone number in private somehow so if u ever need to talk or anything just let me know. Hopefully u guys will have a peaceful weekend coming up. I will have u both in my prayers.  Sincerely Michele

Michele,
OBTW, you can private message using functions on this site.  Go to the envelope next to the bell icon at the top of the page. Select "Compose New" at the top right hand part of the window. Type the name of the person on the site you want to message, and type your subject and message in the annotated areas.
Stay the course.
Tom

Peg I'm so sorry u had a rough weekend with his family. But u did the right thing! I pray his scan shows good results.I like to give u my phone number in private somehow so if u ever need to talk or anything just let me know. Hopefully u guys will have a peaceful weekend coming up. I will have u both in my prayers.  Sincerely Michele

I love it!!! Especially with your wonderful smile.

Michele,
 Last night brought us both about 8 hours of solid sleep. Our consult with our family Dr was an answer to a prayer. He took him off Norco which was doing nothing. Gave him Ibuprofen 800 2x a day with the gabapentin. he gave us Hydrocortisone 2.5% and told us to keep also using the Lidocaine. He also told me not to use the prescribed ER drugs for constipation because both are harsh and result in pushing which we do not need. Lee's problem has been chronic diarrhea since end of March not constipation. The chemo & that caused the fissure. His pain level today maxed out at around a 3 and day 2 of chemo. Tomorrow brings end of round 3 BUT they need to put a port in.
 
How are things going for you both??
Peg
 

Hi Pegi  hope everything is a little better with Lee's pain. And recovering . just checking in with you prayers and hugs.  michele

Sherri that's great your MRI was clean same as my husbands. He starts this coming week 2 nd  cycle chemo and first round of rad .last night and all day today we spent time in hospital because he started a fever.he was doing so good before that. He is all better now will see how round 2 does.  Enjoy your haircut!   Best wishes Michele

Sherri that's great your MRI was clean same as my husbands. He starts this coming week 2 nd  cycle chemo and first round of rad .last night and all day today we spent time in hospital because he started a fever.he was doing so good before that. He is all better now will see how round 2 does.  Enjoy your haircut!   Best wishes Michele

Thank you all so very much for the warm, supportive welcome.  What a long week last week became.  Stayed with my daughter so I wouldn't be alone during the day and she could take me to my appointments.  Forgot to grab my laptop when I went out the door.  My husband works long hours and is struggling so much with his emotions and not being able to be with me during all this.  Had to reassure him that I wouldn't be able to get this treatment if not for him and all his hard work.  
I had my first cycle of chemo and my first week of radiation.  Did well on the first day, but wow, did Day 2 wipe me out.  Day 3 wasn't too bad, except that's when my taste buds changed.   I'm doing four 3-day cycles of Cisplatin/Etoposide and at least 30 days of radiation.  The MRI came back clean, as well.  I am def. limited stage at this point.  I felt like I hit the lottery when my oncologist told me the only thing in my head was my brain, lol.  
Love that shirt, Susan.  My daughter chopped off my ponytail, but then my kids said I should leave my hair short for a week because it's been so long since they've seen me with hair that short.  I left it, but it's going bye-bye tomorrow.  Bed head all day isn't a good look for me.  My youngest still shaved his head in support.  
I'm just so thankful for all the support here, and that I found this site, but wish so badly that no one needed a place like this.
This new diagnosis and knowledge is the scariest place I've ever been.  

I love it!!! Especially with your wonderful smile.

Susan I didn't know you had recurrence til now. We had surgery around the same time u were one month ahead of me. So glad to hear you are NED now.. God bless! Happy for you!    Michele

YES - YES - YES - YES and once more with gusto!  YES!
Stay the course Susan!
Tom

Thanks Tom,  I love reading your posts and all the info you share....you are truly a role model and can easily lift ones spirit and hope....

Vinnpal,
Welcome here.
I'm a lung cancer survivor with 18 total taxol and carboplatin infusions and after each one, my red and white blood counts bottomed out.  I received injections of Procrit and Neulasta about 3 days after each infusion to boost counts.  That worked.
My appetite also hit bottom.  Everything tasted horrible.  One day, my wife made chocolate mint ice cream with crushed Oreo cookies.  I don't normally like mint but the chemo must have altered my taste buds enough to love it.  I devoured chocolate mint ice cream every chance I could and didn't loose much weight.  So grab a bunch of Ben and Jerry odd-ball flavored ice cream pints and see if you like one.  That will fattens you up; even try mint!  
I've also missed both radiation and chemo sessions due to illness and low counts.  These were rescheduled but a 2 week delay shouldn't effect your treatment.  Doctors safe-side the treatment frequency to account for treatment delays.  Moreover, I was told that chemotherapy agents remained in my body for a month or more after my last infusion.  I'd worry more about your diet than the 2 week delay.
Stay the course.
Tom