Karen44

I want to thank each and every one who responded to my post. My God bless you and keep you God Bless you, my prayers continue Karen 44

Hello I have not written to this board for quite awhile but I wanted everyone to know that my husband passed away on Tuesday Feb 28. His passing was very peaceful surrounded by a very large family who loved him dearly. He will be missed but his memory will live in our hearts and minds forever,now he's at peace and no longer suffering. God Bless all of you who continue this long battle,I will continue to pray for each and everyone of you!! Karen44

Thanks for the replies As for the Decadron,Joe was on heavy doses of this when he was undergoing WBR,as soon as they weaned him off all steroids is when his appetite went south! We called his onco today and he told us there's nothing else on the market to increase appetite except putting him back on steroids and he stated he doesn't want Joe back on steroids.Joe is to keep using the Marinol and Megace together,but my reasoning is why use them if they do not work?? Joe no longer gets out of bed during the day,only to use the restroom! He is so weak!!Even a trip to the restroom wears him out!!I feel so helpless to see him wasting away and I have no control over this!! I hate cancer God Bless Karen44 ----------------------------------------------------- May 05 dx with large mass right lung May 05 scope done results negative for cancer June 05 needle biopsy confirms SCLC June 05 hospitalized for superior vena cava syndrome,cisplatin/etoposide started.Hospitalized for 10 days. July 05 discharged from hospital continue with chemo and radiation August 05 radiation complete 39 cycles September 05 chemo complete 10 cycles Sept 05 new scan shows good response with chemo Oct 05 stable dx Nov 05 presented with facial "tics" MRI of head shows 14 plus mets to brain,plus activity once again in chest Nov 05 WBR 15 cycles complete,starting cisplatin 3 cycles,then cisplatin/etoposide Dec 05 continues cisplatin/etoposide Jan 06 continues cisplatin/etoposide Feb 06 CT scan reveals new mets kidney,liver,spleen and new tumor to abdomen pancreas.No appetite started on Marinol Feb 06 started on Topotecan no appetite continues started on Megace continue with Marinol

Hello all It's been a long time since I have posted so much going on. My husband(Joe) just had another CT scan that revealed new mets to liver,kidneys,pancreas,spleen. Also a new tumor found in abdomen. They have started him on Topotecan,I was wondering if anyone else has had any experiences with this drug,if so would you be willing to share your experience with me? Also my Joe has not had anything to eat for the last two weeks other than Ensure plus,he take four to five cans of this a day,his onco has put him om Megace and Marinol,he still has no appetite??!! Does anyone know of any other drug they could prescribe for him to increase his appetite?? ----------------------------------------------------- May 05 dx with large mass right lung May 05 scope done results negative for cancer June 05 needle biopsy confirms SCLC June 05 hospitalized for superior vena cava syndrome,cisplatin/etoposide started.Hospitalized for 10 days. July 05 discharged from hospital continue with chemo and radiation August 05 radiation complete 39 cycles September 05 chemo complete 10 cycles Sept 05 new scan shows good response with chemo Oct 05 stable dx Nov 05 presented with facial "tics" MRI of head shows 14 plus mets to brain,plus activity once again in chest Nov 05 WBR 15 cycles complete,starting cisplatin 3 cycles,then cisplatin/etoposide Dec 05 continues cisplatin/etoposide Jan 06 continues cisplatin/etoposide Feb 06 CT scan reveals new mets kidney,liver,spleen and new tumor to abdomen pancreas.No appetite started on Marinol Feb 06 started on Topotecan no appetite continues started on Megace continue with Marinol

My hubby's onco told us that as long as his "counts"were good we shouldn't worry about all the germs floating around!! He told us that it was more likely for him to get sick by his own bacteria attacking him,rather then germs passed between persons!! Of course common sense tells us not to be around a roomfull of sick people!! Go ahead with Christmas,make lots of memories and take lots of pictures,enjoy the holidays Karen44

My hubby went to see the oncologist today as I have told you he is once again receiving chemo for the new activity in his chest. He is currently receiving a single agent chemo cisplatin,the onco gave him a one week "holiday" from tx so he will resume after Christmas with the single agent and then the week after he will start with two agents etoposide and cisplatin. They will do another MRI in a month when the radiation is completely out of his system,to see if the radiation zapped all those tumors in his brain. All his labs were right on so that's a good thing,they did however lower his dose of coumdin because his protime was slightly elevated. The onco also stated that my hubbys lungs sounds were remarkably clear and he will do another CXR when he goes back in two weeks to see if the plural effusion has lessened!! So we trudge on, one day at a time!! My hubby wants to drive but his onco says he must remain seizure free for at least two months,his last seizure was on Thanksgiving day,so hopefully he will get to drive once again!! God Bless all who have responded to my post,the comforting words and the encourgament are a Godsend to me. Karen44 ----------------------------------------------------- May 05-lg mass to right lung noted on CXR June 05- bronscopy done,results revealed no cancer cells June 05-Needle biopsy done comfirmed SCLC June 05- Hospitalized for 10 days,chemo(cisplatin and etoposide) started as well as radiation to chest.Prognosis poor,not expected to make it out of hospital,also severe superior vena cava syndrome. June 05-discharged from hospital,chemo and radiation continue. August 05- Radiation and chemo complete,only side effect was radiation burn to esophogus. August 05- lost a lot of weight due to radiation burn went from 165 to 118.Several small meals a day as well as shakes made with Ensure Plus September05-CT scan shows tumor as scar tissue,weight up to 137 October 05-Dr states while not in remission we have good control of cancer weight up to 144 November 05-presenting with facial"tics" MRI of brain done,results showed 14 plus mets to brain,WBR started.Prescribed Dilantin and Decadron November 05- PET scan shows active disease once again in chest as well as a plural effusion and blood clot in superior vena cava,started on coumdin. December 05-WBR complete,single agent chemo started.Continue to monitor plural effusion

Try to get your mom to eat several small meals a day,what does she really like to eat,with my hubby it was milkshakes so I would make his shakes with Ensure plus which has 350 calories per can,I gave those to him at least four to five times a day!! He went from 165 to 118 in a matter of weeks,then with all the shakes and small meals he would eat throughout the day he now weights 153!! I know it's an up hill battle but with encouragement your mom can gain back some of the weight she's lost. God Bless Karen44

Hello again everyone,tomorrow will be my hubbys last WBR tx. He has fared well with the WBR of course lost all his hair,and he is tired most of the day ,but he states he actually feels better . No seizures since Thnaksgiving day. Two weeks ago they did another CT scan of his chest and abdomen,the results showed active disease once again in his chest,and a small right side plural effusion,which they will monitor on a weekly basis. They also discovered a blood clot in his superior vena cava which he was placed on coumdin for. He started second line chemo last week,they used cisplatin,but this week since he is finished with WBR they will give him VP-16(etoposide) and cisplatin,for nine cycles. They have decreased his steroids to 3X's a day now and will eventually wean him off those all together!! He still remains positive that he can beat this cancer,he knows it's bad and his prognosis is not good but he continues to fight with a strong will to live!!! Karen1961

What can I say but thank you to each and everyone.God be with us all as we go on this long journey called cancer Karen May 05-hubby dx with lg mass in right side of chest May 05-1st biopsy showed no cancerous cells June 05-2nd biopsy showed the mass to be SCLC June 05- hospitalized with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in for 10 days,chemo started first night in hospital (etoposide and VP-16),radiation started also in hospital.Scans of every kind done no mets considered Limited Stage August 05- 39 radiation tx completed August 05- 9 cycles of chemo complete August 05-CT scan ,CXR show drastic decrease in size of tumor. September 05- CT scan and CXR all stable at this time October 05-CXR and CT scan remain stable November 05-PET scan,shows active areas in lymph nodes,but small in size will monitor. Novemebr 05-Hubby is having facial"tics",MRI of head. November 05-MRI results in multiple mets to brain 14 plus. November 05- Decadron for brain swelling and Dilantin for seizures.One big seizure Thanksgiving Day.WBR started to have 15 cycles December 05- CTscan,results show active cancer again in lung as well as a blood clot in Superior Vena Cava December 05-Placed on Coumdin for clot will resume chemo Cisplatin second round.

Well here we go again my hubby has active cancer in his chest,and he has a blood clot in his Superior Vena Cava. They will start chemo again on thursday of this week,we know they will use Cisplatin but we do not know how many cycles he will have. With this disease it never ends like the radiation onco said today"You're fighting a battle on many fronts" Karen1961 May 05-hubby dx with lg mass in right side of chest May 05-1st biopsy showed no cancerous cells June 05-2nd biopsy showed the mass to be SCLC June 05- hospitalized with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in for 10 days,chemo started first night in hospital (etoposide and VP-16),radiation started also in hospital.Scans of every kind done no mets considered Limited Stage August 05- 39 radiation tx completed August 05- 9 cycles of chemo complete August 05-CT scan ,CXR show drastic decrease in size of tumor. September 05- CT scan and CXR all stable at this time October 05-CXR and CT scan remain stable November 05-PET scan,shows active areas in lymph nodes,but small in size will monitor. Novemebr 05-Hubby is having facial"tics",MRI of head. November 05-MRI results in multiple mets to brain 14 plus. November 05- Decadron for brain swelling and Dilantin for seizures.One big seizure Thanksgiving Day.WBR started to have 15 cycles November 05- CTscan,results show active cancer again in lung as well as a blood clot in Superior Vena Cava November 05-Placed on Coumdin for clot will resume chemo Cisplatin second round.

Is your mom on the steroid Decadron?? If so I know that can alter a person's personality big time!!My hubby is currently on this drug and his personality has changed from being mild mannered to being at times violent!! I have been with him for 18 years and have never seen him like this before!! The Dr will start is not willing to discontinue this med because of all the swelling in my hubbys brain from the WBR. They will wean himoff this after the WBRs completed,only eight to go hurray!!! So just remember that it could be the drug talking and take things with a grain of salt!! God Bless Karen44

Hello my hubby was dx in June with SCLC at that time he had 9 cycles of cisplatin and etoposide and 9 weeks five days a week of radiation. He responded great to his initial tx with minimal side effects from the tx. Then three weeks ago he presented with facial "tics" He reported this to his onco on he ordered an MRI of his head. The MRI results were devestating,my hubby has several mets to his brain,they stopped counting at 14! He started WBR immediately,today he saw the onco again and he believes my hubby's primary cancer has once again reared it's ugly head,he has ordered yet another CT scan. What am I to expect with mets to the brain?? I have already noticed that my hubbys personality has changed,he has gone from mild manner to being beligerant and violent!! This scares me a lot I have never in the 18 years I have been with him seen him act as he has been the last week!! If anyone has any experiences with this please respond to this post I need advice on how to handle this! Thank you and God Bless Karen1961

I just wanted to let you know that my hubby also has these mini seizures,his consist of what they call Focal Point seizure,that is to say he has various facial "tics"!! He is on dilantin and they have told him the same not to drive and they told him if need be the would suspend his license due to his medical circumstances!! We live in Indiana. I would rather be safe than sorry. I also wanted to ask anyone on this board if they have used or know someone who has use the drug Temodar for brain mets? If so please feel free to e-mail me as I am researching this drug for my hubby's brain mets. God Bless Karen1961

I want to thank everyone who responded to my posts,this seems like the BOARD to post on!! My husband wants to fight this cancer he doesn't want it to win!! We know the odds are not in his favor, he will be in for the fight of his life!! Please pray for him God Bless Karen1961

Hello,I am new to this particular forum,my husband who is 44 was dx in June with SCLC and had 9 rounds of chemo(cisplatin&VP-16) and 39 radiation tx. All went well with that then about a week ago he presented with facial "tics",we spoke to oncologist about this he ordered an MRI which he had done last friday,well we recieved the results today,my husband has multiple brain mets and they have started pallative radiation and only give my husband a six month survival! I am just in shock as my husband was doing so well after the inital tx!!! I would love to hear from other people dealing with this disease or the caregiver to someone with SCLC Karen44