Guest Guy C Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Hello my name is Guy. I am here for support as my fiancee Debbie has SCLC. She was diagnosed back in late March. The desease was extended to the pancreous region and adrenal gland. She also had brain mets. She first went for 10 treatments of WBR and then completed a 6 round regimin of Etoposide & Carboplatin. Upon completion her head was clear and everything else had significantly shrunk. This was in early-middle August. About two to three weeks later she was back because a lypmph node popped out on her collar bone. The oncologist waited and checked her 3 weeks later and because it hadnt grown chose to wait again. He said he wanted to giver her body a rest and so forth. It appears it reacurred or the previous regimin didnt do as good as we had hoped. This is very discoraging to her and myself as well. She goes back Monday for further evaluation and as it seems the node has grown some and she will have to go for further chemo using Topotecan. I am having a real diffucult time with this as with SCLC, a re-acurrance is never a good thing. She is terrified and having a tuff time dealing with all of this. We have a 2 year old as well as two other children living with us and its hearbreaking. Does anyone know how well the Topotecan works? She seemed to respond to the 1rst chemo drugs well except for the node. I also found a couple of clinical trials at Dana Ferber that she could go for and we will be showing her oncologist these on Monday. Thanks in advance Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCoastLadi Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Guy, I'm very sorry about your finacee, ex SCLC is such a difficult cancer. As you can see by my husbands' profile, hes' been thru alot. As for topotecan, my husband didn't have any good response to it. That is not to mean that Debbie wouldn't. I have found that everyone is different and responds differently. As far as clinical trials go, in our situation, we haven't exhausted other options. But definitely discuss w/ her dr. I also want to ask are they considerating Whole Brain Radiation ( WBR or PCI ) for preventative measures. SCLC is know to go to the brain, that is what happened in my husbands' case. But his first time w/ radiation he did well. I also see that there are young children, so I know it is so so very difficult, I know Debbie must be exhausted. And probably depressed, including yourself. Please try to take advantage of the social worker at her hosp. to try to help both of you. Please feel free to email/pm me any time...... Grace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Hello Guy and welcome, So sorry you had reason to find a site like this but glad you have posted. I am not able to offer much in the way of advice, but as Katie mentioned, please read through the other forums, especially the SCLC and SURVIVOR's. You can find a lot of great information as well as HOPE in those. Please keep us posted and let us know how we can help you through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Debbie and the children, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hof411 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Hi Guy, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I feel your pain. I/we are going through a very similar situation with my dad. The pain I feel is sometimes unbearable, as I'm sure you know all too well. I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the topotecan. You have come to the right place for answers and support. Everyone here is great. Hang in there and never give up. I just told my dad yesterday, "This is going to be the fight of your life." We are going to do everything humanly possible to beat this thing. Take care, Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonjo Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Hi Guy, I am very sorry about your fiancee's diagnosis. I don't have any advice for you, I just wanted to welcome you and offer my prayers for you and your family. God Bless, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guy C Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 I want to thank all of you who have welcomed me. Although Debbie seems ok at the present, I am terrified, as is she, of an uncertain future. We still have too much to accomplish together and she will fight this thing. Her journey is my journey. Im right there with her. Thanks Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Welcome, Guy! Sorry you and your fiancee have to go through this. My wife had a different type of LC, so I can't help you there. Determination to fight is a good thing in subduing the beast. Metastatic lung cancer gives a bleak prognosis, but there are people on here who have lived a lot longer than they were given. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raindog Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Hi and Welcome Guy, Sorry for all that you and you fiancee are going through. You have a found a great place for advice and inspiration from a multitude of wonderful survivors and caregivers. I wish you both the very best, and will keep you both in my thoughts, -Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernrol Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Guy, Welcome to the site. There are a lot of clinical trials with new drugs that come out. Check them out and see what your oncologist thinks of them. The only trial that I would not consider is one that I could get the same meds without the trial, unless I was guaranteed of getting the drug and not a placebo. Stay positive Ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda661 Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Guy: My experience as a caretaker in this disease was with a different form of LC than your fiancee' has, so I can't offer anything on your questions here....but I did want to welcome you to the board and encourage you to post as many questions as you have to everyone for input -- there is a forum for SCLC specifically, a general forum, a caregivers forum (really helpful for venting emotions as a caregiver in this), in addition to many others as you see from the community list -- Knowledge is power with this disease, so I discovered, and this site is gold when it comes to shoving the fear aside, getting the courage up to take this journey, and getting the support you need to keep on walking it. Best wishes, Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Hi Guy and welcome. I'm so sorry to hear about your fiancee's diagnosis. I hope her treatment goes well. You're both in my prayers. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Hi GUY: I don't know much about sclc drug response either. I suppose like all things in cancer, the reponse depends on the individual. I hope you find somthing at Dana Farber. Welcome to the boards, don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrnalu Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Hi Guy,and welcome.youve come to the right place for support.The people here are wonderful and have helped me so much.Prayers going out for you and Debbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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