small cell lung cancer

[SuzyB24]

my daughter has above - does anyone have experience of this?

Thanks

A worried Mum

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello SuzyB24,

I am sorry to hear about your daughters Small Cell Lung Cancer(SCLC) - this will be an anxious time for you all.

All of our information leaflets can be found by clicking this link:roycastle.org/help-and-supp...

You might find this leaflet explaining Small Cell Lung Cancer helpful: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2... Page 38 has suggestions for what your daughter could ask her medical team.

Small cell lung cancer is a rarer form of lung cancer. When considering treatment options for your daughter, the medical team will take into account, the type of cancer she has, its stage and her performance status. SCLC is treated according to national guidelines (best practice) and her cancer team will follow these guidelines when planning her treatment.

Stay positive and remember support is available for both you and your daughter. Your daughter should have a Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse allocated to her. They are a valuable source of information and support.

In addition, we have a range of support services, from one to one support to online support groups through zoom , if you are interested in any of these you can register through this link: roycastle.org/help-and-supp... Or by emailing [e-mail], or why not call our nurse led helpline for a chat on 0800 358 7200.

I hope some others on this forum will share their experiences with you and that some of this is helpful. If there is anything else you wish to discuss, you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Wishing you and your daughter all the best.

The Roy Castle Support Team

[SuzyB24 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you so much for replying

[Warham]

Hi Suzy. I was diagnosed with limited small cell lung cancer in July and finished treatment in October this year. Your daughter’s treatment will depend on her particular diagnosis but mine went like this. I had twice daily radiotherapy for three weeks, Monday to Friday, with weekends off for good behaviour! Intravenous chemotherapy over four cycles every three weeks with the first on day one of radiotherapy. I can’t pretend that it was anything but tough. The radiotherapy itself wasn’t too bad but the hanging around between the 9am and 3pm sessions was a real pain - I lived too far away from the hospital to make it there and back and there and back comfortably. I was lucky that the radiology suite had a couple of cubicles with beds where I could rest if I needed as well as a Maggie’s. I found chemo very hard, though someone else receiving the same treatment as me at the same time breezed through it. For me it was nausea that was the problem. Your daughter shouldn't be shy to ask to try other anti-nausea drugs if the first ones don’t do the trick - the second ones I took really helped. Also ask to see the hospital dietician. I found them very helpful with tips for eating when I was nauseous and they also provided me with supplement drinks that I found I could keep down. Post treatment for me the biggest problem is fatigue so it’s good to plan for this. So she needs to think about transport - driving and chemo don’t always sit happily together - her diet and help at home if fatigue kicks in. Wishing her the best of luck.

[SuzyB24]

thanks so much for your reply. So far Carly has been on chemo tablets with very few side affects so I’m just hoping it stays that way. Thanks again

[Evanp-15]

hi There

I’m so sorry to hear this, I was 50 when I was diagnosed I have stage 4 lung cancer small cell carcinoma it’s nearly 4 years in February since I was diagnosed, if you go on the Roy castle lung foundation website my story on the 18th November is on there and my journey of living with this, From the start of this I just thought you must be positive it helps you get through it all.

[Babydolltina]

Hi SuzyB24, I'm so sorry to read about your daughters diagnosis. The best advice I could give to you is please make sure that your daughter asks all the questions she needs to, and take every bit of treatment that's offered. My late wife has the same cancer, but sadly there was a delay in diagnosis and start of treatment and sadly it never ended well. The toughest part of her treatment was the radiotherapy. They decided to give her 28 sessions to her lung and 8 to her brain. This made her very tired and sadly I think it was too much, too late.

God Bless and All of your family stay positive

John

[SuzyB24]

thank you John I’m sorry to hear about your wife. Fortunately my daughter was diagnosed very quickly as the tumour was found incidentally from having a chest x-Ray so we are hoping for the best.

[Murfeezlaw]

That's what I have and they started with the very potent, chemo, we called it the red devil because it is wrapped in a red film to protect it from the light. I am 56 and had very little side effects (mainly nausea) and radiation. The chemo was a 3 day treatment with the 1st day taking 6 hours the 2nd and 3rd day taking 2 hours to complete. When I began radiation, it was monday-friday for 39 treatments. The tumor was 4cm x 4cm and the first treatment shrank it so much it couldn't be detected by the radiation oncologist. I am now in remission, however it has Metastasized to my bone and possibly my tonsils. So research holistic as well as medical treatments to boost her response and I am praying for you and your family.

Also, they found mine in limited stage (B2).

[SuzyB24 in reply to Murfeezlaw]

Thank you - my daughters tumour was 2cm as found very early so chemo having good affect. She takes two tablets twice a day and so far no serious side effects. Thanks for your kind thoughts. X

[Murfeezlaw in reply to SuzyB24]

That is fantastic. I had and have to again have the IV chemo. God speed and blessings to your daughter and you as well, because this had happened to both of you.

[SuzyB24]

thank you so much