Small Cell Cancer

Hi Nymz, 

I was diagnosed with sclc end November 2021. I too have had same amount if Chemo & Radiotherapy as you,. The results were remarkable.  The tumour shrunk to be immeasurable & the lymph nodes have disappeared. Long may it continue.

In addition,  I am just finishing Radiotherapy to the brain. (just done day 9 of 10) & up til now, I've not rang that bell but I will be doing so tomorrow.  I hope you've been well throughout. 

Feel free to chat

Hi, thank you for replying .  I think on a scale of 1 to 10,  1 no symptoms and 10 horrendous symptoms  I would place myself at a 2 with minimal nausea and other side effects.  I have got progressively tired and breathless but otherwise I have done really well with the chemo.  On the other hand the radiotherapy has given my level 7/8 bad side effects - migraines, headaches, sore dry throat, alot of pain when swallowing.  I have been offered preventative brain radiation but I have nothing to base my decision on.  My instinct says No as at the moment there is nothing ahowing up so it's kinda "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  I have started to get some information but I'm really afraid of the side effects especially if they become permanent brain damage effects!?   Also, im 57yrs and don't have any family so I don't have anyone to "focus my attention" on or need to "be here for" (not saying life is not worth it, but in terms of family it is not important for me personally).  I hope that doesn't sound bad, it's hard to find the right words to explain really.

How did you make the decision to go ahead?  Has anyone else here declined or accepted the brain radiotherapy, if so how did you reach your decision either way?

Nymz  X

Hi Nymz

I had the 10 daily sessions of preventative radiotherapy to  the brain as part of my treatment plan for SCLC. During the treatment I had no side effects at all.  I arranged for my sessions to be done in the morning so I could nip in before going to work.

The purpose of this low dose radiotherapy is to zap any stray SCLS cells that have migrated to the brain before they start to develop into a tumor(s). Unfortunately the chemo has problems getting through the brain lining, so cannot find and destroy this stray cells.  My view was that this was simply the final piece of my treatment plan jigsaw and, the risk of not having the radiotherapy was far greater than having it.

That was 11 years ago  and I am leading an active life. I do get  some 'senior moments' but being 11 years on it is impossible to know if these are down to the radiotherapy or just getting older!

The decision to have it or not is entirely yours. I hope this helps a bit with the decision making process.

Kegsy x

Thank you Kegsy, that is so positive and I'm ecstatic that you're 11 years on   It is encouraging to hear that you have not had the side effects and you gave the best explanation of having the treatment, thank you.  I may be making too much of it and perhaps i need to see it a more simplistic way,   I started reading some posts and getting some stats from the internet but to be honest I'm not sure it helped that much.    

Nymz x