Lahalsa

Thanks Tom - diagnosed "officially" last week; staffing of my case and staging to occur during the lung cancer team's meeting this Friday morning 10/28/22. I was excited today because I didn't have a test or procedure scheduled and did not have to wear sweats/t-shirt/no metal, take off all my jewelry, not eat/drink, etc. It's all so overwhelming and is happening so fast. Hope to start chemo next week, and aside from my husband, I haven't told anyone about this yet (was waiting for ALL the information so I could share it in one conversation with each person [son, mother, brothers, girlfriends, etc.] and not have to deal with 15 phone calls/texts a day asking if I found out something else, what the test results showed, when my next test was, etc.). I appreciate the info you shared above - very helpful - especially the part about living the life that you have. I ride an 850 pound Harley Davidson motorcycle (by myself, in other words, my husband has his bike and I have mine), and this past weekend, we rode bikes all weekend like we always do...rode to another state and back on Sunday. For this reason, I just cannot believe that I am not going to be around in a few months like the stats say for SCLC with malignant pleural effusion. I refuse to believe it - I am going to fight - and whatever happens, I'm going to take your advice and "do something" with every day I get. Thank you!

Thanks Lou and Laurel - I really appreciate it! Reading others' stories on here has inspired hope - especially since my research on SCLC with malignant pleural effusion says I'll be dead in 3-12 months. THAT had my chin in the dirt for a few hours...but I am ready to fight...I have PUSHED my "Team" (who knew I'd be getting a team) to get me into every test absolutely as fast as possible regardless of where I have to go to get it (I've been to 3 different cities for testing) - hence, the reason I was able to get it all done so quickly - and now I'm begging them to start my treatment NEXT week (so funny, only people on here would probably understand someone BEGGING for chemo). I am ready to fight - happy to hear about rapid advances in treatment - and - that maybe this is not an automatic death sentence - or - at least not such an immediate death sentence! I ride an 850 pound Harley Davidson (by myself) - my husband and I ride our bikes every weekend and just rode 250-300 miles Sunday - it's hard for me to imagine that I won't be here in a few months - it doesn't even make sense! So, instead of thinking about how long I have before I die, I'm going to focus on fighting. Thanks for sharing your chemo experience Laurel - of course I'm super nervous about it - still working full-time of course - I've just been taking sick time as needed for tests/procedures thus far...hoping I can continue working - even through treatment - just taking a day - or days - as needed for any ill effects. I've had long hair my whole life - it's 3/4's of the way down my back - and I know it's vain, stupid, and a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things, but I'm already grieving the loss of my hair (how long till that happens?). I appreciate your comments Lou and Laurel - thank you for taking the time to greet and educate/share with me!

Hi Cheryl! Just diagnosed a couple weeks ago and preparing to start chemo treatment possibly next week. I know it's different for everyone and dependent upon which drugs you're on - but can you tell me what to generally expect?

Right on Tom!!!! I look for my results every hour until they show up!!! I'll google what I don't understand but I want to know ASAP!!

I have a >5 to <7 right hilar mass, determined to small cell. I've had CTs, MRI/Brain, and PET scan, and while there does not appear to be any obvious distant spread, my tumor is invading the mediastinal space between the lungs and I have pleural effusion, which the radiologist stated was "likely malignant," which would put me in Stage IV. My case is being staged this Friday morning. I found out that I "likely" had lung cancer 5 weeks ago; this week I'm looking at a Stage IV SCLC diagnosis, starting systemic chemo treatment next week, and likely not surviving long enough to see my grandkids graduate high school. Pretty overwhelming. Been coughing since February/March...but wasn't bad and didn't really both me. Cough worsened just before I left on my 2-week motorcycle trip, and about mid-trip, I started to have difficulty breathing/shortness of breath. The minute I returned, I contacted my PCP and she referred me for a CT - took 2.5 weeks to get in to get one - and the rest is history. Shocked, wondering what chemo is going to do to me, wondering how I'll manage work and planning for my potential demise in whatever time I have left.