Hi I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) back in December 19 and have had 4 chemo cycles which I believe took in my stride and had a relatively good ‘journey’ until after cycle 4 - ended up in hospital with blood clots. I was put on apixabam and have to be careful not to cut myself etc and up until last week I had been feeling well and even managed to do some work.
last week I fell ill again in hospital this time with fluid on the lung which in turn was drained and I was told they couldn’t get all the fluid out so yesterday (Thursday 2 July 20) I was booked in for out patience to have it drained again and to have a line put in so I didn’t have to keep going to hospital and a nurse could come to my home to drain. Anyway I was on the table, the surgeon put the jelly on and did another scan and low and behold - no fluid so no draining and no line left in as this MAY NOT happen again!
today I had a meeting with my oncologist- whom not seen since January after telling me the cancer spread to my brain and told not a good prognosis. Anyways that’s another story!
today I was told the cancer aggressive and is back with a vengeance and I have 2-3 months to live - I asked can I have more chemo as in May this year the same oncologist said the chemo i had dramatically shrunk the tumor and ‘shouldn’t’ need chemo for another 12 months - hmmm how can they say that - that is false hope! So I can have Topotecan which is only 2% chance working - do I go for it and hope that i dont have side effects because like last chemo I was relatively well with minimal pain and have quality of life - or risk more chemo and as oncologist said potential pain and sickness for the remainder of life?
ps I am 49 years old, (young to have this type of cancer) I have a motorhome which is my happy place and we have it based on a park until November - right next to the sea - can stay there week in week out and be at peace between there and home? The 2% risk thing - based on whom? What type of cancer etc? I’ve always been told my cancer is not curable but treatable? Am i giving up? I don’t want to be that really ill cancer patient?
question - what to do????!
H
