My brother has small cell lung cancer

My brother was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to his bones and spine, He starts chemo today and a clinical trial drug called  cediranib.  Does anyone have success stories with this form of cancer which is the aggressive kind?...I must add that he is only 38 years old. and the doctors told him that his chances of survival past 1 year are almost none. We are all so devastated.Good or bad I need to know what to expect so if someone can share there stories with me I would appreciate it.

Let me start off by saying that most of what you will read about small cell lung cancer is not good.  I've found very little positive news.  It was explained to me that the treatments are meant to extend life but not cure anything.  I lost a brother-in-law (early 30s) to it last October and my dad (66) exactly 6 months to the day later.

That sounds so gloom and doom, I know.  It was sickening going through this.

But, I will say, there are always exceptions to the rules and that's what you have to work for.  With my dad,we had an okay oncologist and a wonderful radiologist and pulminologist who were really fighting with us. 

My one regret is that we didn't try different places.  There was a place, Anderson MD in Texas, that is supposed to be "state of the art" that we knew about but didn't seek out until it was too late.

 And I know why.  Dad didn't really want to go that far away (we are in Indiana) unless we had too and the first couple of months seemed to be going in our favor.........then a setback.......then "let's wait and see", then another set back......etc. etc. etc.

Even if things are going okay, please keep your alternatives open.  I contacted the American Cancer Society who sent me info for clinical trials in our area.  Some of them you can't do if you've already started chemo.  Both our pulminologist and radiologist say that attitude is a large part of it, so I would encourage you to not share all of the really bad stuff you read with your brother. 

 My brother-in-law fought his battle for just at a year and my dad for only about 5 months.  My brother-in-law started trying herbs and alternative therapy (evidently there's a chiropractor in Florida who is connected with this and people are swearing by her) which did help his pain, but I think he started with it too late.

Be agressive, ask questions, if you're not comfortable, move on to the next doctor, and most importantly, say everything you're ever wanted to say to him.

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. My mom, age 67, was diagnosed last Sept.11 and only discovered it after it had metastasized to her brain. We were told she could live maybe 2-4 months without surgery to her brain and then possibly 12-18 with surgery depending on the treatments and how she responded to them. The doctor determined surgery was not an option on her lung but they did do surgery on her brain to remove the tumor. That surgery was very successful. She then had numerous rounds of whole brain radiation and radiation on her lung followed by chemo.  The cancer then returned to her jaw bone, pelvis, and ribs. They restarted the chemo. treatments but she had so many side effects that we made the terrible decision to discontinue treatments.

 It was a long gruelling road for her and our family. Truthfully, I would say she probably had 4 good months during the time she was diagnosed and when she passed away. We just lost my mom on July 6 and it was heartbreaking but I know that she is finally at peace and not hurting anymore. I would never wish this awful situation on any family as it is so awful to see your loved ones go through this.  I will pray for your family and Godspeed to you all.

 

On 8/4/2009 shelljb wrote:

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. My mom, age 67, was diagnosed last Sept.11 and only discovered it after it had metastasized to her brain. We were told she could live maybe 2-4 months without surgery to her brain and then possibly 12-18 with surgery depending on the treatments and how she responded to them. The doctor determined surgery was not an option on her lung but they did do surgery on her brain to remove the tumor. That surgery was very successful. She then had numerous rounds of whole brain radiation and radiation on her lung followed by chemo.  The cancer then returned to her jaw bone, pelvis, and ribs. They restarted the chemo. treatments but she had so many side effects that we made the terrible decision to discontinue treatments.

 It was a long gruelling road for her and our family. Truthfully, I would say she probably had 4 good months during the time she was diagnosed and when she passed away. We just lost my mom on July 6 and it was heartbreaking but I know that she is finally at peace and not hurting anymore. I would never wish this awful situation on any family as it is so awful to see your loved ones go through this.  I will pray for your family and Godspeed to you all.

My mom was finally diagnosis in early Nov 08 (even tho she got a symptom in Mar08 but doctors thought something else). At that time, it met to her rib and spine disc.  She lasted only 9 months after the doctors refused to treat her more- even she got only one tumor left near her heart that blocking her blood O2 circulation (caused her CHF). 

Pls try to spend, document, video the time together so you dont regret when the love ones left at sudden. 

Check out this for more info.  He listed a lot of really good stuf there....  This is a must to read.

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com/

http://www.lungcancerbookandnewsletter.com/small%20cell%20ca

Best wishes,

V