Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Small cell lung cancer liver mets

dallas80
0 Recommendations

Hi,
My husband, 80 years of age, was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer extensive stage with liver mets in late June 2009. He has had five three week cycle treatments of Carboplatin and Etoposite. A CT scan after the third treatment showed a significant reduction in the lung tumour and the liver size had shrunk but the spots remained. It now has been five weeks since his last treatment. The last few days I find him to be very tired and lasargic. We were told that no matter what he would eventually go into liver failure. I am so afraid that his decline may be starting already. Any comments or encouragements out there?
M.M.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Carboplatin Lung cancer

11 replies

pattyp1

hey MM,
you need to know that you're on a roller coaster ride, and sometimes the roller coaster can be pretty shaky...don't borrow problems right now - the liver is generally not that big of a player in sclc - a big old nuisance, yes, but not generally "the big one".

with that being said - WHENEVER you have questions like this, call the onc nurse and ask "is this normal?" - if the answer is yes, you'll feel better - if the answer is no, she'll be able to help get you in to see the onc faster.

and I hope he feels better real soon!!!! you too!!!
hugs
Pat

cards7up

With chemo, if a person doesn't stay hydrated they can go into renal failure. If you feel your husband isn't getting enough fluid into him, take him to the ER and get an IV going. Fluids are a necessity to reduce the amount of poision from the chemo. Good luck and take care, JC

debra1

My father is 89 and has ext. SCLC and has been on hospice for at least six months. He is doing very well and still getting around and we did not think he would still be with us. My point is that you can not predict how every one will do, it is very often different with each person. As Pat suggested, I would call your nurse and update her on changes...

dallas80

Hi everyone that replied to my message, thank you very much.
M.M.

dallas80

Hi Pat,
I do want to explain why I am concerned about the liver mets in my husbands case. When we first met with the oncologist who explained the stage of the SCLC to us and the liver mets, he s aid that sooner or later, depending on which treatment or if any he chose, liver failure would take him from us. The spots on his liver were numerous and even so the liver did shrink in size the spots are still there. Our family doctor emphazised to me over and over that whether it be radiation or chemo he chose, it is all for comfort only. I am trying to stay positive, but the prognosis and discussion with both the oncologist and our family doctor keep coming back into my mind. We were told that he would get more and more tired and will want to sleep more and more and then go into a coma and that all this would happen very quickly.
I am glad I found this site. I have been wanting to attend a support group, but with my husband needing a lot of my attention and my mother not being well who I also need to visit in her retirement residence, time for myself is just not available right now. By the way my Mom is 95 years old
Thank you to all of you who a listening. I will keep you posted and keep you in my prayers.
MM

8wall

Well
hang in there.I'm 52 extensive stage small cell for 13-14 months now..Still hangin on but don't know for how long..have lots of faith.keep upto date on site here.But we never know what we have left.
My prayers are with you.good luck
Dan

dallas80

Hi Dan,
I hope you have lots of time left, but as you say you don't know. I will be thinking of you. All my husbands communications have fallen on me. That includes informing doctors keeping track of his medications and contacting health care workers. For this reason I am so involved. Of course I would be not matter what. We have had 52 years of married life together and have raised three wonderful children. It is difficult when you know that your time with loved ones is limited. On the other hand it also puts a lot of living into perspective and at a time like this one begins to understand how stron love can be. Take great care and hope to hear from you again.
MM

8wall

That's the attitude..Be nothing but positive..I'm just 52 years old..not sure how to handle all this!..but it really is just falling into place..i'm just so sad for my Wife and my 2 sons the most!!!..I'm a little scared at times
but mostly for them..
Good Luck to you guy's..keep the faith up.I'll be praying for you.
dan

pattyp1

hi, MM,
no, I understand all too well - early on when sclc is forming, it tends to "sneeze" and blow cells around through the lymph system like blowing a dandelion. it is very common for the liver to be affected - the biggest description is that it looks like a string of pearls on the scans. and, yeah, it doesn't typically shrink a lot during chemo (except that the chemo cuts down on the pressure the mets cause a bunch).

please keep your sight on the other positive things - the tumors are shrinking! that's the important thing - and also that you are enjoying every minute with your sweetheart. keep the faith and hope alive - he's making progress!!!

hugs, sister
Pat

dallas80

Hi Pat,
Thank you, and yes we are concentrating on the positive each day.
MM

Annara

Hi,
My Dad is also 80 and just started chemo this week for extensive SCLC, liver and lung are all we know now, still waiting to hear results of PET scan. It was originally spotted while he was having a test for a couple of bad discs in his lower back. He only has one kidney, no one knows what happened to the other one, and he has had a quadruple bypass. He also has COPD and has had stints in a leg and an abdominal aneurism. But until his back started bothering him, he was doing pretty well. I'm glad to have found this website, because until now everything I've read has been pretty discouraging. It was worrying me that he lives in the country and has to go to a small town cancer center, but it sounds like they are doing the same things that you all are talking about. Anyway, good luck to you all, and thanks for writing. Annara

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

Help from Lung Cancer Alliance

Fundraising and awareness

Upcoming events
Visit Lung Cancer Alliance to learn about upcoming fundraising and awareness events.

Need financial help?

Cancer Care Co-Pay Assist Program
Medication co-pay assistance for non-small cell lung cancer.

Patient Access Network Foundation
Medication co-pay assistance for non-small cell lung cancer.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Prescription drug assistance programs for uninsured/underinsured.

The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
Searchable database of both medical and non-medical financial assistance (both national and regional) all over the US.

Patient Advocate Foundation
State-by-state information on various assistance, including transportation, utilities, and other products and services.

Need legal / insurance help?

The Cancer Legal Resource Center
Assistance with employment issues, medical leave, insurance, estate planning, advanced directives, patients' rights, and other legal issues.

Patient Advocate Foundation
Assistance with insurance and employment related issues.

Need emotional support?

Lung Cancer Alliance
Find a support group or learn how to get connected with a Phone Buddy here!

Want to find clinical trials?

Lung Cancer Alliance Clinical Trials Matching Service
Search for trials and talk to a specialist who can help you find appropriate trials for you.

You