75bluedevilsmom Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi everyone! Im new here and have found alot of these stories so inspiring.I hope my story someday will also be inspiring.I am 47 yrs. old with a beautiful husband and son.I am a football mom,I work out of the home for USPS and take care of everything at home etc..I had however been a closet smoker for many a years.Let me start out at the beginning.2 weeks ago I got short of breath walking across the parking lot to my Dr.s office.The Dr noticed instantly and suggested an immediate bloodtest for a blood clot and an xray.Well I go home and busy myself with my son/husband and supper I get this phone call that the test is positive.Doc says go get admitted and have some clot buster.Also you appear to have some pnuemonia on the left lung.Well ok I guess I can do this it should only be for the night.So then the fun begins: CT scan shows Tumor wrapped around Bronchial,Thorentesis to pull off large bottle fluid,that shows up 0 cancer cells.Then they decide on Bronchioscope had trouble finding cancer cells in that biopsy/brushings etc...4th final day onoc orders the biopsy in which they insert needle into chest cavity,havent heard anything on that or the liver MRI.I am so terrified and in the dark,I cry constantly but feel great health wise..I just wanted out of the damn hospital! Oh no!Sodium was down,what the heck???Tuesdays bloodwork says that is back up. I am now at the wait to meet with onocologist point which is Monday.Seen my reg Dr. wed..He said a few cells were picked up on Bronchiosc,and they said small cell.He has given me this great outlook that it is almost to good to be true?I fear he gave,not so much me but my husband alot of false hope I have a semi strong support system but even with the anxiety med I am constantly up & down and I cant seem to shake it.I have nobody in my immediate circle going thru cancer to even relate to.I need to see my son grow up he needs his mom and I can't bare the thought of him watching me rot away. I am totally confused on the SCLC & NSCLC which one is worse which one is more responsive etc....I keep telling myself to stay off the internet but find myself right back there! I am one of those people that need knowledge all the time but I'm thinking maybe I should give it a break! My post may not make much sense but needed to vent alittle.I thank you for this time. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi Susan, You find yourself in the exact same position all of us here were in when first diagnosed. It is hard to step back and take time to just take some deep breaths. It seems that you still ned a lot of info from your medical people, so don't go trying to guess what's going on. The internet is full of great info and also scary and inaccurate stuff as well. It's best to get all your info and THEN try investigating. Right now you are just stabbing in the dark. I am from PA too. Where are you? The folks here will have their expertise to share, but we all will need to her the whole story ~ like just what type of lung cancer you have. No need to get into SCLC and NSCLC yet. Just a few things to get you started: keep a notebook with all the info from each and every appointment; get copies for yourself of all scans and reports; it's a good idea to take someone with you to all appointments (easy to not hear ~ or hear incorrectly what you are being told);ask lots of questions; second, third, AND fourth opinions are good things. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you as you gather your facts. Take the anxiety meds and take time to breathe, and take in one step (day) at at ime. Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi Susan. You did do one thing very correctly. YOU FOUND US. This is a great place to get information and find people who have "been there done that". I am so glad you found us. When I was diagnosed years ago I was so scared and there was no place at first to find support. Another place is our friend Dr. West's (Onocologist) site CancerGrace. SCLC is treated with Chemotherapy and it usually works very well. I have friends here in Minnesota who are doing very well 10 yrs out and still in remission. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and what the plan is. Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75bluedevilsmom Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 Thank You Ladies! I plan to be here with my gazzillions of questions I may have found home away from home. Monday is the day hope it leaves me smiling instead of crying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaminkw Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi Susan, welcome to an amazingly supportive cancer site. Sounds like a lot of tests trying to find cancer cells. When I had pneumonia, they were right there in the fluid, no question. Has anyone suggested that tumor might be benign? I don't want to give false hope but I wouldn't panic until all the results are in. Also, did the clot busters help the shortness of breath? If not, do they think the tumor wrapped around the bronchial tube contributed to or caused it? To many questions yet. Like Kasey said, step back and breathe. You said you are healthy so you have to believe you will get through this no matter what the outcome of the tests. Judy in KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric byrne Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi Susan, Welcome,I can recognise myself in your post,with my arrival here more than one year ago,the confusion,anxiety,fear the arrival of something so big in my life I just dont think I will be able to cope with all that it brings. Take a moment to relax for a minute,we have all gone through that part of our cancer journeys and recognise how you are feeling,enough to know that with the passage of time these emotions do subside.Your medical team will fully brief you of their examinations of your tests and procede onto a devising a treatment plan that best meets your needs. I cannot guess what this entails,but in my case it also led to a certain degree of further anxieties,will my surgery be unbearably painful,will I suffer nausea from the chemo cycle,will my gray hair fall out(maybe thats not so bad)what if the treatments are unsuccessful?and many more my overactive brain could manufacture,thats a problem with people with over imaginative brains.Well hand on heart I promise,nothing even close to my worst fears were realised,I sailed through everything with only the slightest of discomforts -constipation-and if I had the advice at that time of the buddies here,to drink plenty of fluids during my treatments I could have missed that one out also. I know mere words of mine may not allay your current turmoil of emotions,wish they could,but just know things do get better with the passage of time.Share with us and I promise your burden will get lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75bluedevilsmom Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 Thank You all for your kind words.I know I need to relax but find it so difficult even to do the most mundane daily chores.Im strong in front of son Jake, try to laugh and carry on with him like always but always bounce back to this amazing fear.I have this unbelievable urge to clean out things....I know Im being irrational but can't seem to control it.I take no meds for anything other than my aspirin therapy and a small xanax the doc just issued me but it isn't helping much.Anyways,thanks again you are all going to be so helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joppette Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Hi Susan, Welcome here. This is an excellent place to be as you work through all of this. I didn't find this place until two years after my DX and I sure wish I had found it while I went through all of the surgery and treatments. Please try not to put the cart before the horse. You will have plenty to deal with once you get your diagnosis and treatment plan. And actually, you'll find peace in that. All of us were frantic when we were first given the news, but didn't have a treatment plan. Lung cancer is very survivable! That is what you need to hang on to. It's not a death sentence. So I recommend you travel around this site, and read stories, and garner hope and strength from them. And then you'll deal with what you have to on Monday. Do let us know what is going on after your appointment. Take care, and don't hesitate to post with any issues or concerns you may have. Judy in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 viewtopic.php?f=58&t=40762 when you get some relax time take a look at the above kink. it a little old but will give you some gret info.. sorry you have to be here but glad you are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 It is so easy for all of us to say - take it easy - - but one thing you have here are people who know what "I can't relax" means. Don't be upset with yourself for feeling like you can't calm down - you just heard the worst words ever. I cannot even tell you when you will be able to calm down. Because if you are anything like most of us even when you get your plan going - and they tell you things are looking good - there are still a lot of things to worry about. The internet is full of "doom and gloom" and it probably won't surprise you that those statistics may be right - but - they didn't measure those who made it past the 5 year mark - and you will find them here. So the best advice is - stop worrying about being worried - it's part of it and it makes you normal. Take one doctor's appointment at a time - be sure you write things down - and check out all the postings here and like Kasey said another good place to check out is cancergrace - you can ask questions and get a response from oncologists. Check out the link that Randy posted - there are a lot of good questions to ask. Don't feel bad because you cry - it is a relief valve - and check back in here - because you have a lot of people here ready to offer you support when you need it. Annette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75bluedevilsmom Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 O.K just in from Onocologist. Stage III SCLC Limited (without brain scan yet) Will be starting Chemo 3 days on for 6 cycles every 21 days (IVP something and Carboplaxin?)Radiation daily 6 weeks.Dr. Finley Seem to also paint a rosy picture.Scheduled for port to be put in Thursday.Any info/feedback so appreciated.Dr. is pleased with my health overall and is really confident.Now I don't know if I should waste precious time getting second opinion or put my nose to the grind and get busy? Can anyone buddy me up with someone in the same predictament? Thanks to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joppette Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 We have many here with SCLC, Stage III, who will come along and help you I am sure! Mine was NSCLC, Stage IIB. I did fly to Mayo Clinic for a second opinion, and they gave me the exact diagnosis as they did here at home. I think the doctor's are very educated with all of this these days. I'd put my nose to the grind stone and get busy with recovery! Whatever you do has to be your decision, and what you are comfortable with! MI Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianew Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I am just seeing this thread, so also want to welcome you. I have Stage 3 NSCLC - but my understanding is that there are many people living well for years who have had limited small cell. In fact, I believe that is what Ted Kennedy's daughter had - and she is fine today. Many of us have had a very similar treatment plan - I had Carboplatin and Taxol, with 6 weeks radiation. I was very tired, but overall it was not too difficult. If you have any questions at all about side effects, or ideas on how to best manage, there is always someone here who has been down the same road. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric byrne Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Hi Susan, At the risk of boring all the buddies here,may I mention my friend and fellow Glaswegian,Robert Lowe,I discovered him about a year ago,I was in the dark mist of reading and researching success stories of long term Lung Cancer survivors,and being constantly disapointed,then one day I bought a Glasgow popular evening newspaper called the Evening Times,in it described the story of Robert,dxd with SCLC in 1993,almost died three times from his treatments,but survived, then in 2007 was dxd with NSCLC had treatments which included surgery,now recognised as the UKs longest survivor of both types of Lung Cancer.he with a specialist Lung Cancer nurse Penny Downer, set up a lung Cancer Support group in Glasgows Stobhill Hospital,I had to meet this guy,so I joined the group.Turns out we both had grown up in Springburn,a district in Glasgow,we went to the same Secondary School and despite Robert being in attendance 10 years in advance of my arrival,we were able to exchange gossip on the same teachers we had.Robert is 71 now,and I regard him as the Uks oldest youngest teenager if you can get what I mean,living proof that you can beat this and be happy to boot. You can read Roberts story yourself in cancergrace or in Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.org for a much more detailed report. Best Wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenwentzel Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Hi Susan, (((hugs))) sent to you from AZ. I have extensive SCLC with tiny brain mets along with many other small mets. I am going through the same treatment plan as you. Cisplatin and etoposide. I had my 2nd treatment last week. I have scans coming up in a week or so to see how the treatments are working. My oncologist was very positive with me as well. She says that age, being female, and no other real health conditions put us in the group who see the most positive results. I will be doing radiation either soon (if the scan doesn't show tumor reduction) or after chemo. This is such a crazy trip, Susan. I was diagnosed just over a month ago. I am just starting to get a handle on my feelings. Please consider me your buddy. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat127 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 The 'bluedevils' in your name makes me wonder if you are from Western PA. If so, and you'd like a second opinion, I can HIGHLY recommend my sister's doctor at AGH, who specializes in lung cancer. Just tossing that out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstdzy Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Hi Susan, Sorry for the late "welcome". I had SCLC limited. You can read about it in my signature. I was dx'd almost 3 years ago and I'm still here! Good Luck! Ask, yell, scream, laugh and cry it's all good here! Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.