Feeling Scared husband been diagnose with Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 3.

[salakot]

After all the waiting games my husband is now been diagnos with stage 3 Small Cell Lung Cancer. Next week hes going to have his Chemo and Radio for almost 12 weeks. Hoping he will cope with all this treatment... He's trying to be positive at the same time his scared. I'm scared too knowing I'm the only family he got, and I have no family around to talk to as well.

[Texas64]

Oh Bless you Salacot. You have friends here who will encourage you and pray for you. Fear not , God is always with you. I will share a prayer with you that helped me in the darkest moments

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I will never forsake you.

Remember, prayer carries the power of Heaven. This is so awesome. Imagine there is nothing more powerful than prayers going up to God and Him answering. Be patient and know that he is God. Focus on Jesus when you are nervous and scared. Give your anxiety to Him. This takes discipline and patience. He has inclined your names on His hand.

Thank you sweet Lord for your love and protection. Amen😍

[Texas64 in reply to Texas64]

I meant to say "He has inscribed your name on His hand"

[michelle1hatch1]

Hi

Scared us a "normal" emotion I can assure you. I was diagnosed with stage 4 sclc in January this year and have just finished round 4 of chemo. 2 more to go then radiotherapy.

At my first chemo I was shaking with fear having heard loads of stories about the side effects. My husband was good but he was scared and upset too.

The good news is that the chemo has been fine, so indigestion and tiredness but ok. Each one gets easier and after 3cycles my tumours have shrunk by 50%.

It is ok to ge scared and anxious and it is understandable, but don't let your own or you husbands fear get in the way of positivity.

You will find that your friends and you cancer friends will be there to support and encourage you. Use them, you will need them, and don't be afraid to ask questions and express your concerns.

I am not sure if this helps, but my thoughts are with you

Happy bunny

[LisR in reply to michelle1hatch1]

Hi Michelle! You don't know how much your post cheered my up - I am just about to start chemo, and all I've been hearing so far is about dreadful side effects! It's nice to know that they aren't necessarily that bad! Could I ask you though what medications they were using on you? I am going to be given Pemetrexed with Cisplatin, and wondered if this was what you had as well?? If so, then maybe I'll get away with fewer side effects as well! Many thanks. x

[michelle1hatch1 in reply to LisR]

Hi

I am on Epi something and cisplatin by drip and come home with the epi one which I gave to take twice a day fir 2 days post chemo. They give me an anti sickness pre the drip and inject steroids and then I have anti sickness tablets to take 3 times a day at home for 7 days and steroids twice a day for 3 days. After the first round I felt nauseous but I think that it was because I thought I should. Once I realised the symptoms were not really real the the Naseau stopped. The worst side affect is the indigestion and the feeling that all the food you eat is stuck in your gullet and not being "processed" into you tummy. If I overeat I am sick, but it is not like any sickness I gave ever experienced before. You bring up what you have eaten and which has not been digested and it is done. Not sure if that makes sense but from someone who had a real phobia about being physically sick I have not found this to be an issue. My advice is to only eat small amounts post chemo, do not overload and stick to small snacks - a couple if biscuits, half a scotch egg. Don't try to eat a full meal, which I was tempted to do because my husband had taken the time and trouble to cook it.

I honestly believe the biggest side effect if chemo is the fear, and as my chemo nurse said if you are not sick (to the stomach) round 1 then you are not going to be. Tell yourself you are going to be ok, and I am sure you will be.

Your chemo is different to mine but I hope and pray you will be ok.

Final thing.....as they were dripping the chemo in I sang (in my head) Onward Christian soldiers as I believed that in every bag there was a battalion of soldiers going into war against those nasty evil cancer cells and as their general I had to encourage them to be brave and find their job. Silly I know, but I encouraged all of my friends to do them same so every 3 weeks I and all my friends would be singing in our heads the chemo battle cry!!

Keep strong and positive and believe in the power of the chemo, and this will help you overcome any unfortunate side effects and beat the cancer. If you should have any reactions try to put it in perspective of the fact you had a bad few hours but overall in the whole scheme of things it is a small price to pay for the benefit of killing off those nasty gremlins.

Mx

[LisR in reply to michelle1hatch1]

Thank you Michelle - that really helps me! i'm going in to this with the best positive mental attitude I can muster - and all my friends tell me I'm too "bloody-minded" to let it beat me! I will bear all your words in mind - I do feel that going into it expecting the worst will probably bring on symptoms of side effects in some cases - I really do believe a lot can be psycosomatic - so I'm telling myself that I may be someone who doesn't suffer too much from the side effects. I can't anyway - I live on my own and have two gorgeous dogs to look after! Son only lives a little way away, and I have good friends on standby. Thank you for your detailed information - very much appreciated!! x

[michelle1hatch1 in reply to LisR]

Bloody minded is good. My friends say I am a stubborn old cow - one and the same I think!!!

Stay positive and this will help. Please keep me updated.

Mx

[LisR in reply to michelle1hatch1]

Will do Michelle - and thank you once again! Seeing the oncologist on Friday to get my start date - should be shortly afterwards. x

[salakot in reply to michelle1hatch1]

Hi Michelle thank you so much for sharing your journey to fight this evil desease. my husband is been given exact the same treatment as you have. Etoposide and Cisplatin. He will start his Chemo on April 4. He have a long way to go. Base on the schedule that they gave him he have 4 cycles of Chemo and the rest is Radio.

[Hope1972]

My mam has nsclc too grade 3 a and is starting chemo on 12th April 2 rounds then they will rescan her? Everyones treatments seem to differ??? Can anyone explain why this is ?

[salakot in reply to Hope1972]

Hi Hope how you doing. My husband have Chemoradiation treatment. The Chemo start on April 4. Hope all goes well to your Mum and Dad.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to Hope1972]

Hi Hope,

Before doctors can decide what type of treatment will work best for each person they must consider a number of things, the most important of which is the stage of the cancer and their fitness. The stage of any cancer is found using a number of tests and scans which look at the size, position and the extent of any spread of each person’s cancer. Fitness is important to ensure that each individuals body can cope with the treatment.

I have attached a link for your information.

documents.roycastle.org/Sur...

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy castle Nurse Led Helpline

[Hope1972]

Hi i feel scared too, im going through this with both parents currently. I keep having waves of disbelief.

[LisR in reply to Hope1972]

Hi hope - so sorry to hear what you are coping with. Waves of disbelief is quite natural - I still can't quite believe the situation I am in, even after all the scans etc, and knowing that I'm starting chemo within a week or two, probably to face surgery afterwards. It's the waiting that is the worst in a way. And for me, what still makes it seem unreal is that I feel fitter and better than I have for months, apart from feeling a bit breathless if I move too fast - just like being unfit rather than anything else. Stay strong - easier said than done - and I hope you have a good outcome. I have found this forum a wonderful help, because people know exactly how you feel, and what you are going through ..xx

[Hope1972 in reply to LisR]

Hi hun , thanks for reply

Where do u have cancer ? Its good that they can do surgery on you though !! Xx

[LisR in reply to Hope1972]

Hi Hope - mine is lung cancer - a rather large mass in the middle lobe of the right lung. Despite it's size, the cancer - touch wood - doesn't seem to have spread elsewhere as yet. There are a few dodgy-looking "speckles" in the same lobe as the tumour, so they have decided to give me chemotherapy first to try to knock out any "lurking" bits (!), and it may even shrink the tumour a little if I'm very lucky. Then they will re-scan, and see if surgery is then an option. So - long way to go yet. But - when I was first diagnosed, I must admit I thought I was going to be told there was nothing to be done - so ...... always hope, things are not always as bad as they seem at first. Here's to a good outcome for your family xx

[Hope1972 in reply to LisR]

Thankyou , a friend of mines husband had surgery 2 yr ago and he is now clear so yes there is always hope xxx im sure u will be fine

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear salakot,

Now reading all the posts you have made a few online friends!

It is good news that your husband is starting his treatment next week.We all hope he will tolerate it and wish him all the best.You should have the contact details of the lung cancer nurse specialist who will provide you with on going support throughout your husbands treatment.Feel free to contact us at the Nurse Led Helpline if you need someone to talk to or have any questions you would like to ask.Freephone 0800 358 7200.

If you would like some details of a local lung cancer support group please email the Helpline at: [e-mail]

We can check where the nearest support group to your home is.

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Helpline

[Alexandra_JGW]

Michelle my advice to you is go private. I do not trust the NHS judgement on anything anymore. There is specific blood tests they can carry out which determines if it is a defected gene and they can treat that instead of the cancer cells. They are called the Sarah Cannon unit at Harley Street but believe me when I say they are so professional. Take care

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to Alexandra_JGW]

Small cell lung cancer is often not diagnosed until it is in an advanced stage so early diagnosis is very important, meaning treatment can be started as soon as possible, at present there is not a reliable routine blood test available on the NHS. More research into blood tests for lung cancer screening is needed, I have added a few links which may be of some interest.

nhs.uk/news/2014/04April/Pa...

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

There has been recently been a study in Scotland which has now finished recruiting, details of this are below.

eclsstudy.org/home

Kind regards

Roy Castle Helpline