SCLC: 7 years post treatment

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Several weeks ago I had my regular 6 monthly check up at The Christie and there is still no sign of the SCLC returning. As I have always said in these half yearly updates, that I have got this far post diagnosis has had very little to do with me but everything to do with the care, expertise and dedication of the medical professionals including initially my GP and local hospital, and subsequently to date the ever wonderful The Christie hospital.

Those of us who have undertaken this journey and/or who have recently been diagnosed will have probably started with that one question in their minds; "How the hell am I going to get through this?". Unfortunately there is no standard answer as we all need to find a way to deal with it in our own way and on our own terms. My personal attitude/approach was (and still is);

I am a great believer that my health is my responsibility, so therefore I felt it was also my responsibility to understand everything about the SCLC and the treatment plan. My most used words to the medical professionals during the diagnosis and treatment processes were "What, Where, When, Why and How". I am by nature a need to know kind of gal!
Even though my consultants provided me with full details of the treatment plan and possible side effects, I did Google everything which helped me to gain a broader understanding of what was direct cancer treatment and what was 'wellbeing' treatment (steroids etc). I believe that by sticking to the reputable and regularly updated sites such as Cancer Research UK etc, it is easy to sort the wheat from the chaff, and there is a lot a chaff out there!
A combination of pragmatism and bloody minded stubbornness; I quickly learned which aspects of the treatment I could control/negotiate and those where I just had to go with the flow.

The above approach will not be for everyone; as I said earlier this was/is my personal attitude/approach.

The main purpose of my 6 monthly updates is to provide a ray of hope for those recently diagnosed with SCLC and to show that it is no longer the automatic death sentence it once was.

Kegsy x

Kegsy over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Mick

Of course I don't mind you joining this thread as my updates are always posted for the benefit of others diagnosed with SCLC.

In terms of the radiotherapy treatment for SCLC, the brain radiotherapy is usually the preventative treatment (insurance policy) where there is no sign of spread. Radiotherapy to the lung is mainly used as direct treatment of the cancer, either on its own for small tumours or with chemo for the more extensive tumours. Both the chemo and/or radiotherapy can be extremely tiring which is probably why you didn't receive either after your op. That's the thing with this damn cancer lark, you do have to have a defined level of fitness to deal with the treatment.

The positive aspect is that the right lung is now clear and the three lumps in the left lung are very small. My guess is that your medical team was giving you time to recover from the op and you will have a treatment plan put in place after they get the results from your next scan. If it helps, I recently accompanied an elderly neighbour for radiotherapy treatment to a small lung tumour and the radiotherapy has seen off the tumour and the lung is now healing itself.

Stay strong and keep up the walking, especially now that the weather is improving.

I wish you the best possible outcomes.

Kegsy x

"If you are going through hell, keep going" ; Sir Winston Churchill

" Cancer may take my life; however it will not become my life" Kegsy August 2011

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Kegsy

Thanks Kegsy, I appreciate your comoments and I will let you know what happens over the next 6 weeks. Love walking and if it is in the sun all the better.

Mick

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to Kegsy

Hi Kegsy, thankyou so much for your reply. You sure do boost my thoughts. Sending hugs xx

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi all 5:30 Thursday morning had opp lower left removed got out of bed by 5 yesterday just got into chair now starting to exercise lungs with voldyne sucking machine feel fine so thanks to all for holding my hand it obviously worked now pushing on with exercise and looking at new diet will post more when rested a bit

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Gs38

fabulous. I remember the machine that puts air into your lungs. So glad op went well. When your ready a little walk helps too. I could only eat little and often but recovery was fairly quick. Keep going you will feel better soon. Xx

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Thanks just starting to get sore now eating and walking around

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi, How are you today Iv been thinking about you xx

Kegsy over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Uglow

I too very much hope that Gs is doing well. However, perhaps it would help you and others on here to follow Gs's progress if you set up your own thread?

To be honest I don't like my threads being 'front page' for too long, so setting up your own thread would allow this 'SCLC: seven years post treatment' thread to gently fade into the archives.

Thank you

Kegsy x

"If you are going through hell, keep going" ; Sir Winston Churchill

" Cancer may take my life; however it will not become my life" Kegsy August 2011

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi how you doing! Xx

FormerMember over 6 years ago in reply to FormerMember

On my feet moving slowly as pain is quite intense on drain point and operation scar however moving rubbish off my chest and down to 2 X 10 ml of oromorph pain relief a day so waiting to see district nurse tomorrow still very positive need to get rid of pain to stretch my lungs

Hugs for your help

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SCLC: 7 years post treatment