New Diagnosis for Dad - chemo & radio at same time!

hi - I was in same position as your dad last year - found by ‘accident’ - mediastinal lymph nodes. I had three round of chemo and then had the fourth round in conjunction with radiotherapy twice a y for three weeks. So far I’ve had two check up scans and all good . I was lucky and didn’t have too many problems with treatment . I lost all my hair everywhere - even up my nose! Hair has grown back now and I’ve now got curly hair which I’ve never had before ! Hope all goes as well for your dad. I’m 68

lorraine x

Lorraine

Thanks for responding and sharing such positive news!  I sincerely hope that life treats you well moving forwards.

Nance x 

• Hi nance sorry to hear about your dad , you can read my story if you click on my name and avatar … I had sux week chemoradiation…. It’s all detailed there, it might help x

Hi Nancehope

So very sorry that you have cause to be on here.

Chemo in conjunction with radiotherapy is the 'go to' treatment for Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).  I was diagnosed with limited SCLC back in August 2011 and had my treatment from October through to mid Decemberm2011.  It consisted of 4 chemo cycles (each over 3 days every 3 weeks) plus 33 days of high dose radiotherapy which started on day 1 of the second chemo cycle. The radiotherapy was Monday to Friday, with weekends off.

The first cycle of chemo was to reduce the size/area of the cancer to enable the start of the radiotherapy to better treat  a smaller area of the cancer.  SCLC does generally respond well to chemo in terms of shrinking the cancer.

My Consultant did warn me that the treatment would be "brutal", and he wasn't wrong!  For me the main side effect was the increasing  tiredness from the radiotherapy. The side effects and benefits of radiotherapy are cumulative and continue for some time after the treatment ends.  Two of my chemo cycles were each delayed by a week due to the levels of both my red and white blood cells falling through the floor - this is quite common and not a cause for concern.

The main point is that although brutal it was also doable.  Over 11 years on, no sign of the cancer returning (touch wood!).

Hope this helps a bit.

Kegsy x

Thank you so much for sharing the positive news!  Long may the cancer stay away!

Nance x

Thank you very much!  best of luck on your journey x