Guest dantedressage Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hello everyone, My name is Kimberly and on Wednesday Jan 4th my father (62) went in to the hospital and on Friday was dx'd with Extensive Small Cell. Chemo was started on Sat morn and finished up on Monday morning. Wow. I have literally drowned myself with information about small cell. I can't get enough. Now, I want to hear stories and experiences similar to what I'm going through now. I am so glad I found this forum and I hope it will help. Where is my father now? What is covered with cancer at this point: Liver, Pancreas, gall bladder, stomach rib bones and vertebrae. Will the brain be next? What do I expect? Less than 12 months? I am strong and hate rose colored glasses doctors. Give me the hard ball so I can deal with it. Ugh. Thank you guys for your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hi Kimberly, very sorry to hear about your Dad, this is a tough time for you. My husband has small cell lung cancer and just past 1 year survivorship, you can see all he has been through in our profile. How much time does your dad have? simply put, no one but God can answer that question. My husband's dr's consider him a small miracle and the only thing that matters is Alan woke up today. We will get through today and worry about tomorrow when it gets here. I will admit I do not always follow my own advice on this, but I am getting better. we are here for you whatever you may need. Prayers coming for your family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Big welcome to you Kimberly, So sorry your Dad is thrust into the whirlwind of this disease. I have nsclc, but I had a brother that had extensive sclc. I don't know the details about his. I was in shock at the time. The doctors did paint for us a grim picture. He was so very sick with pneumonia when it was caught, we were just so grateful that he made it beyond that. He lived just 4 months beyond diagnosis. For him, they were a good 4 months. For me, I was very grateful to have him each and every day. I had lc at the time too, I just didn't know it! Lots of lc information here. Another place you might want to check it "my story". You can find much hope and inspiration there. Many people running around years after being dx with extensive sclc. Don't let the stats fool you. Everyone is an individual. If I relied on stats, I wouldn't be here right now. I am a stage lllb survivor...(extensive). over 3 years with no recurrence. Good luck. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilliBr1 Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Welcome to the board. Sorry to hear about your dad. Some here were given a grim outlook from their doctors and have survived and some like my mom who they thought they could give another 2 or 3 years only made it 9 months. A great deal depends on the person and like Debbie said God. I will keep your father in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dantedressage Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Thanks guys...My dad has been so very "text book" meaning, he has fallen in the chronology of what I have read on sclc. I'm unclear on the question of: In most cases are the bones and then brain the last to be touched by sclc? It seems like it to me. I understand there is hope, but I have to tell you, everything I have read gives my dad 6-8 months. I don't see anything wrong with hitting me with the facts. I want it that way. I don't want false hope. Hope that he will live for over 1 or even 2 years only to have him live for 6 months. I would never share that with him though. I stay positive for him. On the other side of the sclc coin, if it is to be swift, then make it so. Right? I have to tell you, I feel "floaty", maybe surreal. I am a strong daughter and take life head on. I'm not "wishy-washy" - but this may be a giant test for me. Did Peter Jennings have sclc? Makes me want to go back to school at age 39!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 I too, am sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis. When I first found this board, I thoroughly read the SCLC forum, starting with the last page. I found general statistics offered on the web weren't as valuable as real life experiences told by those affected on this board. If you must have a prognosis, I would start with your Dad's oncologist. He would have the most knowledge about his individual condition. I wish your Dad good fortune in his battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Hi, Kimberly. There are factors which affect survival time, and the quality of that time, which nobody can tell you for sure. Sclc is very aggressive, but in some cases a few rounds of chemo send it whimpering into hiding for months, or even years. Some surprise everyone and are "cured". Sometimes it barely slows down. There's no way to know where your dad will fall into the spectrum. He can boost the odds by having an oncologist willing to fight as hard as your dad can take, by quitting smoking (if he hasn't already), by being a bit of a hypochondriac and pursuing all problems promptly, and getting enough to eat and drink. Supportive care can make all the difference, in quality of lofe as well as quantity. Make the most of every day. Ask the hard questions, but be a cheerleader for your dad. It's like somebody came and robbed your house, took everything of value, and left a few lottery tickets. Not fair, it stinks, but SOMEBODY is going to win the lottery, so hang on to the tickets and check the numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Even if you were guaranteed your father's cancer had been cured, you still wouldn't know "how long he has left". There's always that random beer truck and a myriad of other nasty diseases that can be acquired in a journey through life. Stop trying to read the last page, enjoy the STORY - get YOUR act together and LIVE with him until he dies, be it two days, two years or two decades. It's not about the end, we all die some day, it's about the journey. Treatment will make him sick. That's a fact. It may kill him. That's a fact. He will eventually die. That's a fact. WHEN he will die, at this point, is an estimation from ANYONE, medical professional, fellow cancer patient, etc. DON'T kill him off yet. He can read it in your eyes, believe me. Support him, tell him you have faith in him beating it, and BELIEVE it. Attitude is everything, give him some HOPE, for crying out loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Ann Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Ditto what Becky said. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Kimberly, You already got the best answers from knowledgeble people, so all I want to say is be there for him and support him with the best smile you can, and love him. Hugs Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Kimberly you say you want the hard fact's and i think you pretty well have them. One thing all the Doc's and nurses were in agreement with and that is the person being treated outlook. My wife after 20 month's since first DX'ed is pretty much bed ridden now but not in alot of pain. Do i feel the end is near ? Yes!! Do i still hope and believe for a miracle ? Absolutely, one fact is there are many many people who were on there death bed who rose up and continued life. My advice is PRAY PRAY PRAY for your Dad ,his nurses and Doctor's and keep his spirit's up. Like other's have said read our BIO's. And sorry your now experiencing this.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffie Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Kimberly, You sound like your head is in a whirl wind right now. After you're able to calm down, you'll see things more clearly. When my father was diagnosed with sclc he was too frail for chemo so we spent as much quality time with him as we could and he was never unhappy. Some of my best memories are of that time with him, please put statistics aside and enjoy your father's company and let him know he is loved. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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