Any survivors??

• By Nannysgirl28
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 9:34 pm
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Thank you all in advance for any hope you may give!

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• By jmichelle
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 10:35 pm
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First, let me say how sorry I am about your Grandmother's diagnosis. I know how scared you are right now. One important thing is to NOT get on the internet and start looking at statistics. They are old and out dated on frankly will scare you even more. You must remember that there is hope AND that there are long term survivors of SCLC on this board and elsewhere.

Go to the upper right hand corner ( the find it section) and do a search for SCLC survivors etc. It should bring up posts that you can filter through to find more encouragement. It may take a little while to go through them but it will give you hope. There is one post from Daughter816 that has 69 replies!! That will be a great place to start.

Tell your Grandma to hang in there and keep a positive attitude and be sure to tell her there IS hope. Come here for any questions that you have.... and trust me you will have plenty. Hope this helps. Take care!

Jodi

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• By dusteerose
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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Hi,

Don't go into pannick mode yet even though it's easier said than done. I am 54 years old and was diagnosed with extended small cell lung cancer in July/August 2008. I took chemo and radiation from September 2008 through January 2009 and 3 weeks of preventitive radiation. I went into remission for 3 months. I went for my check up and the cancer came back in 4 spots. I am on chemo again and the spots are shrinking. Hopefully I will be back in remission. I have lived with this for over a year now and I will keep fighting it with every breath that I have. Do I get sad and angry that I got it? You betcha! But I try to stay positive and upbeat - not always easy but I don't want to live each day sad. My family and friends know that and they are upbeat around me for which I am thankful.

Keep a positive atitude and by all means don't change - keep your attitude positive and if she feels like talking about it lend her your ears to listen. It will help. But be who you always have been around her and that should help her out.

My prayers and many hugs for you, grandma and your family.

Jen

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• By cuddles53
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 12:42 am
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My husband had small cell lung cancer, and it was extensive. His oncologist told him he had 3 months to live. He opted to go for the radiation and chemo anyway, insisting he would not die, and would beat this. he did. They told him when he reached his 5th year, he was cured! He later got another cancer in his other lung which could be operated on, they took out some of his lobe and got all of it, again he had beat this. He died after 6 years of a bleed to the brain. whether it was a complication from his treatments I am not sure, I beleive so, but it was not directly from cancer. So if he can make it, and did get his cure as he wanted too so deperately, so can she. We all have our own agenda as far as time left on earth, Your grandma may live to be 100 or better. No one really knows. Take care of each other.
God bless Sandy

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• By mevsm
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 8:25 am
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Hi,

My mom did not look like she could survive much, she looks 20 years older than her age. Last year, after reading the internet, I thought she would be gone in six months. She just celebrated her 77th birthday 1.5 years after diagnosis. Mom had radiation & is still undergoing weekly chemo. We will see, this week, if chemo will be stopped since she had another PET-scan yesterday. The grapefruit sized tumor has been reduced to almost nothing. Prayers are powerful & a strong will to live can take one a long way. We are not always in control though even if we think we are.

Best regards,
MaryMac

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• By KathyV
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 9:28 am
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Hi Nannysgirl28, I was diagnosed with SCLC in May 2009. What a shock to everyone. I'm doing well so far with the chemo, but am run down and receiving IV Iron, Neulasta and Arascep to help boost my body. What I have found with this disease, an all cancers (my sister has breast/bone and brother-in-law has pancreatic/liver) is that you need four things to get through this: Family, friends, faith and attitude. I'm a Nana too and everyday I get up knowing that I will do anything to have just one more day with my grandkids. Coming from a large family, and with many friends and church members supporting me and praying for me is such a blessing. I don't think about the bad times ahead or the 'what if's' but rather how lucky I am to be surrounded by love. You need to create the best atmosphere around your Nanny that you can and stay positive. Remember, your grandmother is a statistic of One. I'm sure she is as scared as you are, so be the strong one for her. Make her laugh, hold her when she is down, and make memories. Good luck to you. Kathy

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• By Nannysgirl28
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 9:29 am
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Thank you everyone!!! It has made me feel so much better just hearing all of your stories! It is wonderful that all of you having such inspiring survivors in your lives. My grandma pretty much has the same attitude about this cancer. Im in my last two years of college right now and she is bound and determined to be in the front row when I graduate! Im praying for a miracle. My grandfather(her husband) passed about 3 years ago from liver cancer, so I think instantly your mind goes to the situation with him and you begin to think the worst. He was the first experience my family has had with cancer at all. He wasnt able to recieve chemo or radiation at point when we found his tumor. He passed away 5 weeks after diagnosis. I keep telling myself that was hi and this is her to keep my faith alive. Thank you all so much again...you have given me so much hope! She starts another 3 round of chemo on the 17th on Novemeber! Please pray she takes it as well as she has taken this last round. She has gained 8 lbs.!!!

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• By debra1
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 1:06 pm
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I too have ext. SCLC and I can not tell you that she can beat it. She can definitely live with it. I was diagnosed 11/06 and here 3 years later living a normal life. I do not have the energy I had before but I still am a pretty good grandma. I will be praying for you all.

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• By rmhayes
• Posted November 3, 2009 at 5:33 pm
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Hi...well first lets start by taking a deep breath. This is a long journey but can be done. I was diagnosed with extensive small cell...in March of 08. The tumor was 10 cms and had grown out of my lung wrapped around my bronchias and my aorta. Several months of chemo/radiation and a lot of being sick/weak and just worn out(many many hospitalizations for me) I am still here...long after I was told I would only have 6 months. Please do not read the outdated stats info you find online. Do not listen to anyone who steals your hope. But do listen to your grandmother. Help her with her daily chores and make sure she eats when she can. Also, naps help you cope. It's a very good sign she is doing so well so far. But chemo's affect is cumulative meaning she maybe doing great now but later start feeling the effects. Just keep being there for her and my prayers are with you
good luck and GOD BLESS
robin

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