Joy Marie Posted September 21, 2018 Posted September 21, 2018 Monday, the 24th at 10:30. It's been such a long wait. My older brother will be there with me. Our oldest brother will be in contact by phone as he lives out of state. Mom is doing great and happy to get this done. She passed her cardiac stress test and even had her kidneys checked out. I want to thank Tom about telling me to get a preliminary report on the nodule. We will insist on that. I will keep everyone posted. In hope everyone has a nice weekend. Joy
LexieCat Posted September 21, 2018 Posted September 21, 2018 You might want to clarify with the surgeon that you'll get some kind of preliminary report immediately after the surgery. It may not always be possible to have a conclusive answer. If you ask beforehand at least you will know what to expect (and the surgeon will know what you're expecting). Either way you should have basic pathology results in a matter of days.
BridgetO Posted September 22, 2018 Posted September 22, 2018 Best wishes to your mom for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. Bridget O
LexieCat Posted September 22, 2018 Posted September 22, 2018 Yes--good thoughts and good vibes from me, too! I meant to say that in previous post but forgot to add that.
Laurel Posted September 22, 2018 Posted September 22, 2018 Bless your mom and your family! Sending soft hugs
ColleenRae Posted September 22, 2018 Posted September 22, 2018 Good luck to your Mom! Sending supportive wishes to her and all of your family. She's lucky to have you! Keep us posted.
ColleenRae Posted September 28, 2018 Posted September 28, 2018 Has there been any update on your mom's surgery?
Joy Marie Posted September 28, 2018 Author Posted September 28, 2018 Hi Colleen and everyone. My mom had her vats surgery on Monday. It went well and they took out her right lower lobe. Pathology report is not back yet but I will post it when we get it. Mom didn't have a lot of pain and she didn't use opiod drugs after 2nd day. She had some problems with her 02 getting low and she did use the oxygen at the hospital. The best thing to do is walk a lot build up strength, and use a spirometer before your surgery and 10 times an hour after, every day. After surgery she was only blowing 500 now she's up to 750. Keep walking. You will get well. My mom is 70 years old and she's doing my great! Joy
BridgetO Posted September 29, 2018 Posted September 29, 2018 Yay for mom! I'm glad to hear that she's doing great.
LexieCat Posted September 29, 2018 Posted September 29, 2018 Yay--really glad to hear she's doing so well! And glad to hear she's doing her exercises. My bet is that within a few weeks, she'll be almost completely back to normal. Tell her to keep up the good work!
Joy Marie Posted October 2, 2018 Author Posted October 2, 2018 Hi everyone. Mom's pathology report is back and very upset to say she has limited stage small cell. No cancer found in lymph nodes or around edges. Surgeon will refer her to onocologist. I was expecting non small cell. If anyone can give me any info on possible treatments that would help. Joy
Steff Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 Hi Joy, I am sorry to hear about your mom's surprise pathology . There are many treatments types available for small cell and it's great news to hear that there wasn't any cancer found in the surrounding area! Check out LUNGevity's webpage about Small Cell LC treatments here. There are many clinical trials available that might be a reasonable option. I know this is not what you were expecting or wanting. I've been through that a lot with my mom's NSCLC, but there's always hope. My mom came from death's doorstep to resuming her crafting and raising money for LUNGevity. There are still rough days, but most are good. We can't ask for much more than that. Your mom can have that too. Take Care, Steff
LexieCat Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 Well, small cell definitely IS a challenge, but early/limited stage is good news. Chances are she will be treated with some form of chemo, possibly combined with radiation. It's definitely good that she had the surgery while she's still at the limited stage. When will she be meeting with the oncologist?
Joy Marie Posted October 2, 2018 Author Posted October 2, 2018 Tomorrow. If anyone else has info please post. So far I can't find any hopeful news except her lymph nodes are clear and her PET scan only lit up her nodule. Thanks, Joy.
Tom Galli Posted October 3, 2018 Posted October 3, 2018 Joy, Post surgery treatment for small cell is likely chemotherapy. The most typical combination of chemotherapy is Carboplatin and etoposide and these are normally given by infusion 3 days in a row, then a 3 week break. Normally after surgery, chemotherapy is given at reduced strength but I am not too familiar with small cell. It is very good news that her lymph nodes were clear and the PET uptake was confined to the lung nodule. An early find addressed by surgery is the best way to no evidence of disease (NED) in any form of lung cancer, but especially small cell. Go with your mom to the oncology consultation. There will be a lot to discuss. Read the link that Steff posted before you go so you can ask informed questions. Stay the course. Tom
LaurenH Posted October 12, 2018 Posted October 12, 2018 Hi, Joy, Just wanted to check in and see how you and your mom are doing? Please post an update when you can. We are here for you. With gratitude, Lauren — Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation
Joy Marie Posted October 12, 2018 Author Posted October 12, 2018 Hello Lauren and everyone. I have some very positive news about my mom. We went for her first oncologist appointment yesterday. Although mom's dx is small cell, it was found so early, she will have 4 weeks adjuvant chemo and after that her doctor says she is one of the rare cases that will be fine. She will have brain MRI this Wednesday, but doctor doubts there is any mets, but if course she will be monitored for the next few years. Remember mom had a early low dose CT scan of her lungs, doctor says it saved her life and so did the lobectomy. Now I'm researching how best I can help her through her chemo. If anyone has any helpful tips please post. Joy
LexieCat Posted October 12, 2018 Posted October 12, 2018 What TERRIFIC news! Another life "Saved by the Scan"! Joy, if you tell us what kind of chemo she will be getting, folks here who have had the same kind can be helpful.
Joy Marie Posted October 12, 2018 Author Posted October 12, 2018 Lexie, I will find out what chemo mom will have. Doctor said it would be lower dose than usual for mom. I know you will all give us your input. We are happy and looking forward to getting the chemo done and starting the new year.
Tom Galli Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Joy Marie, Somewhere on the forum, I wrote Reflections on Infusion. This is a good primer for first infusion. (Can’t link — on a cruise ship with iPhone). Bottom line is there will be a lot of IV sticks. If your mom has trouble with IVs, then ask her doc for a port. Not asking was the biggest mistake I made in treatment. Also, on the Stay the Course Blog on the forum, I wrote 10 Steps to Survive Lung Cancer. That has some chemo tips that may be of help. Stay the course. Tom
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