gerbil runner Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Hi - I've been lurking for a few days, and decided it's time to "get on board". My mom, 59, has extensive sclc. She's still undergoing tests. Diagnosis did not come easily. She was hospitalized on Nov. 15 due to jaundice, stomach pain, and intermittent coughing up blood. CAT scan showed 3 small lung tumors and a 4 cm pancreas tumor. Initially, the drs. thought it was pancreatic cancer, and she had a stent placed on 11/18 to open the bile duct. Jaundice cleared rapidly, but the brushings from the procedure did not yield a diagnosis. Monday 11/24 she was supposed to have a needle biopsyof the pancreatic tumor, but the radiologist decided he "wasn't comfortable" with the procedure. The pulmonologist proposed bronchoscopy, which was performed 11/25. Mom had a lot of blood in the bronchial tube, and was still bleeding so was placed on a ventilator in ICU. She was stable but scared and fighting the equipment, so was kept very heavily sedated. Finally transferred to RI Hospital at 2 am on Thanksgiving. The first bronchoscopy was inconclusive, so another was done on Thanksgiving. 3 tissue samples were taken, but did not yield a diagnosis. Mom came off the ventilator on Friday and improved rapidly. Needle biopsy of the pancreas was done on Friday, and the results came in Wednesday night 12/3 - sclc. Thursday Mom went home. Friday - brain scan. Today she sees the oncologist and has a bone scan. Not sure it chemo will start today, or what it will be. It's all very scary, as you well know. I have 3 boys, 12, 3.5 and 20 months, so even though I live 30 miles away, visiting isn't easy. I call every day if I can't see her. Yesterday, she noticed a grape-sized breast lump which hadn't been there the day before. I worry about how far the cancer has gone in the 3 weeks it took to diagnose. Can't fault her care much - they kept trying, and an open biopsy was considered too risky. She's sleeping a lot, though her appetite is good and she very much wants to fight. Dad is very scared, too. We're hoping to knock the disease back fast. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betplace Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Jen, Welcome to our lovely forum. There is much information and hope here and it is a good place to be. I am sorry that your Mom is having such a rough time of it, and my prayers are with you. Betty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Welcome Jen. Sorry you have to be here but welcome to our little family. I don't have the answers you seek but I will add your Mom and your family to my prayers. God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Hi Jen, Very sorry to hear about your mom. This is a great site with wonderful people and lots of information to gather. Stay with us. Praying for your mom. Peace, take and God Bless. Rich ************************************************************* The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / That’s The Key ************************************************************* Questions To Ask The Doctor About Lung Cancer http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch http://www.centerwatch.com Lung Cancer In The News / GOOGLE http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp Drug Information Online http://www.drugs.com ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education http://www.alcase.org Unites States / National Library Of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html Google / Great Search Engine http://www.google.com R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients http://blochcancer.org American Cancer Society / No Matter Who You Are, We Can Help http://www.cancer.org Cancer Information Service / NCI http://www.cancer.gov Cancer Research Center / A Cure For Cancer... http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR http://www.aicr.org Cancer Hope Network / Cancer? http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders http://www.acor.org Lung Cancer Information Library / Electronic Library Of Comprehensive Educational Materials On Cancer For Healthcare Professionals And Patients http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html American Lung Association / ALA http://www.lungusa.org American Medical Association / Physicians Dedicated To The Health Of America http://www.ama-assn.org Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer Healthfinder / Your Guide To Reliable Health Information http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 Medicine Net / We Bring Doctor’s Knowledge To You http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm National Foundation For Cancer Research / NFCR Cancer Information Center http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung Patient Advocate Foundation / Ensuring Equal Access To Health Care For All Americans http://www.patientadvocate.org Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html Lung Cancer Links / Cancerlinks Index http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html Cancer Free Connections / Life-Saving & Life-Giving Resources http://www.cancer-free.com Health Insite / Information On Lung Cancers http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page http://www.lungcancerclaims.com ************************************************************ If I Could Catch a Rainbow: If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you its beauty, On the days you’re feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I’m finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow fair, But let me be what I know best A friend that’s always there. Author Unknown ************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy RN Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Welcome. I too have extensive sclc. There are good treatments, and always hope. I have made it almost 3 yrs. Keep us updated on her condition. Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted December 9, 2003 Author Share Posted December 9, 2003 Thanks for the welcome. Talked to Mom last night - the brain scan was clear! Today she starts chemo - she couldn't remember the name of the drugs, but the routine will be 1x per week for 3 weeks and 1 week off - she thinks. I'll have to ask my dad today. He'll know. She's ready to evict the bugs, as she says. Hopefully the bone scan done yesterday will be encouraging as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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