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Survival rates?
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An_206457 posted:
My husband has just been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. They say it is staged "extensive" because he has a 2cm spot on his left lung and a 4cmx5cm mass in his chest wall adjacent to his right lung. Can you give me some guideance as to his potential survival rate? He is scheduled for a PETscan Thurs this week and we are in the process of being referred to an oncologist. Any insight you can provide me would be much appreciated. Thank you.
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jamesd1941 responded:
had my left lung removed 10 1/2 years ago i am going to be 70 this january
i am in canada my name is james potts

if you need to get answer i hop this will help
jim
 
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cancerbegone replied to jamesd1941's response:
my lung cancer has come back for the third time. I am 67 years old and thank god it is still contained in only my right lung. am looking at possible removal of the right lung. Wow, 10 1/2 years is great, more power to you. Do you still get tested regularly? needless to say i am very scared.
miriam
 
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cancerbegone responded:
The Pet scan will give you the complete answer as to how far the cancer has gone. This is going to ba a hard fight but just hang in there and attitude does count for alot. Good luck to both of you. Cancer is a inconvience try not to let it over come you. Miriam
 
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Lynnythepooh replied to cancerbegone's response:
My husband is 74. Just diagnosed 4 weeks ago. With small cell lung cancer. It has spread to his bones and spot on his liver. He had his first chemo treatment 3 weeks ago. All he does is sleep he hardly eats. I told the doctor and because he is nauses sometimes and she gave him medication. He is suppose to have his next treatment in 2 days. His daughter just passed away in April of breast cancer. I have been married to him for 33 years. It breaks my heart to see someone I love so much suffer. Is there a light at the end of this meaning is this treatment suppose to give him any quality of life? The doctor said if he doesn't get treatment he will be gone in 2 months. But at least then he was able to enjoy life. Now he is a zombie all the time and sleeping all the time. I do not know what to do.
 
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newcancerdiag replied to Lynnythepooh's response:
I too have been with my husband 33years. He is only 67. Was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in early August and began his first chemo 2 days after his 67th birthday. He has just finished his 4th round of chemo and is doing well. He too sleeps alot during the day because the chemo brings fatigue. He doesn't eat as well as he should but we keep a positive attitude, and enjoy every day together. This road has its highs and lows, but your love and faith will get you two thru this. We have our PETscan in 3 weeks to assess how he has responded to all of his radiation and chemo thus far.,. We pray for an "all clear" result ~ All the best to you and your hubby.. Stay positive and be strong.,.. Support of family, friends and faith really help too! Take care, sending all the best your way.
 
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cashd responded:
If you haven't already been referred to an oncologist, and even if you have, my advice to you or anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer, is to call a Cancer Treatment Center of America, there are 5 in the United States, with a 5th being built in Georgia. The one my husband goes to is in Zion,Ill., just right outside of chicago. You can look the other locations on the internet. They have the most up to date advances in medical precedures, and they treat the whole person, all under one roof. They take care of you, its a world of difference in the total care you receive.

Dawn
 
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Gerie87281 replied to Lynnythepooh's response:
I think living life like a Zombie is not worth the treatment. I am 68 yrs old and have been diagnosed with lung and brain cancer 5 months ago. If having Chemo makes me sick and zombie like, I'd rather forgo the treatment even if it gives me more time. I'd rather have less time but more quality time. Just keep me pain free as much as possible. When it's time for me to go, I'll go on my own terms. My husband and I have been married 45 great fun years, I'm happy with that time. I know it is hard but we all have to go sometime one way or another.Some of us just know how and when.
 
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Jeff96 replied to Gerie87281's response:
My wife is on month 4 of a 6 month treatment for ovarian cancer (stage 4, spread widely before being found). I figured she was basically gone when we found out.

She has felt like you a few times, HOWEVER the doc is now telling us he believes treatment has had a major positive effect. DO NOT GIVE UP. Treatment is a pain, however we have found it is far far from all of the horror you hear about.

If she gets a few good years, we will take advantage of them and enjoy. I appreciate every day she is here and am extremely glad she choose treatment. If she did not, I am sure she would have passed by now.
 
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sandyfreckles replied to Lynnythepooh's response:
my husband was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma in aug. he is in his 4th chemo, it did make him sleepy but now he is able to sit in the recliner and watch tv. he has pain in his jaw,his neck and up his spine and thats after he gets the neulasta shot. about four days after the chemo he is very tired and weak, he can walk around but not like he use to. he has lost hair but not all of it. it just thinned out for him. he has a port and now a blood clot in his jugular, and is scheduled for surgery today to have the port taken out from the left side and put in the right side. the ports i guess are known for getting blood clots. he eats but not like before. and now he is on coumadin and shots in the stomach.
now for more news his employer put him on leave of absense with no pay or medical. however he is still able to get his chemo they call it a charity case. we got the cobra papers from the company but it would cost us 558.00. have applied for ssdi and dhs but everything takes time. we are not only dealing with the desease and treatment but other things along with it.
my husband was healthy up until jan of 2010 he seemed tired and did a lot of sweating at nite. we thought he had the flu. then by july he just couldnt make it at work anymore.
he describes the chemo treatments as chemical warfare. we go in after two more treatments to get a pet scan see if the tumors have shrunk. this has not been a good journey. he just turned 60 in june of this year. he is still very loving to me and depends on me, i work 2 days a week and i hate to go but i have to have some money.
 
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sandyfreckles replied to Gerie87281's response:
please dont give up, yes the chemo makes you sick but life is so much more important.
 
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tentnc replied to Lynnythepooh's response:
My mom is 70 and was diagnosed with small cell in September and went through her first chemo 3 weeks ago. She seems to be doing okay for now. I think the steroids she was given has help A LOT. Her appetite has been more than usual, but we let her eat what ever she wants and it keeps her going. Maybe you can suggest him taken some, it also seems to helps with the nausea. Everyone is different, but what works for some does work for others. We are still in the early stages and I don't know what to expect and I'm very scared and don't want to loose my mom, I love her dearly. But you need to see if it's really the treatment or the loss of a loved one that is making him not to want to live. Maybe what she went through is causing him not to want to go through the same.
I'll pray for you and your family. It seems there are more people out in the world with cancer than we realize.

Tena
 
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newcancerdiag replied to Lynnythepooh's response:
Has anyone out there experienced cranial radiation treatments? My husband just finished his 4th round of chemo and next week has an MRI on his brain and a PETscan for the body to assess where we are. Whether there is cancer in the brain or not, they want to put him thru 10 days in a row of radiation on the brain. I am very scared on what this will do to his "normal brain cells" if there is no cancer up there? Anyone with any advice or can share your experiences - I am open to hear anything. Thanks,
 
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tentnc replied to newcancerdiag's response:
My mom had 5 spots on her brain and they did radiation with the machine that pin pointed and only sapped the cancer cells and it only took ONE time. They put her head in this bracket that was screwed to her head so that she could not move and shot the radiation straight too the spots and only those spots. I hope that's what they are going to do for your husband. It was painful, the shots they gave her in order to put on the brace, but once the first 4 shots were given she didn't feel anything else. It's a new machine and they say it's "the one". My mom is being seem at the cancer center in Charleston SC. You may ask your doctor to check into this, as apposed to 10 days of treatment.
I hope this helps. I pray for us all.
 
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Watchman34 replied to sandyfreckles's response:
Reply to Sandyfreckles
Dear lady, I am so sorry, as I also am for others I have been reading here. But I am replying to you because I understand your stress and your financial needs. So many are in the same situation as you. Jesus is the answer. If you know Him, please get on your knees and ask Him for help. Study Philippians 4:4-13 and 4:19. These verses have carried me through many a crisis. I wish I could help you more, but the most important thing I can do is to pray for you and your husband. I shall do that now. "Lord, I humbly come before you and pray for this lady that she will be able to bear the stress and the financial burden she is under. I pray that many of her friends will come forward and help and that a church may support her through this chrisis. I pray for the peace beyond all understanding to be with her and her loved one. I pray for her husband, for complete healing. I pray for him and a lack of pain and suffering, but above all I pray for your Will to be done. Amen!"
God Bless you all
r_hooper@bellsouth.net


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