Hi
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);
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
Hi Kegsy
Good to hear from you, even better that you are still doing so well.
I remember reading one of your updates not long after I'd been diagnosed and joined the site and it gave me so much hope after I'd scared myself silly reading the stats.
We do get people asking about sclc and I do say there is at least one member who posts here and has been doing well for years. I never like to tag you incase you wouldn't want to be. So pleased you come back to update us and give them all hope.
Hi Kegsy
i have just read your update glad that you have very good news. I was diagnosed April 2018 with stage 4 SCLC it is stable at the minute so keeping fingers crossed. What stage was yours? What if anything did you change when you found out you had it? Sorry to be asking you questions but it is great to hear that after 7 years it has not returned.
thank you
Bamber x
Hi Bamber
Well done you! 'Stable' is good, so you keep those fingers crossed! Although I refuse to use the term 'cured', preferring to stick with 'stable', my consultant is now starting to use the 'cured' word.
I never asked about the stage as I saw the initial x-ray and even my untrained eye knew it was extensive. Thankfully. although it was extensive, it was only in the one lung and hadn't spread beyond that lung. I didn't change anything following the diagnosis, in fact I tried hard to keep a sense of normality. One of my mantras was and still is " the cancer may take my life but it will not become my life".
Ask me anything you want, I realise that SCLC is the minority lung cancer on here so first hand experience of it is harder to come by.
Kegsy x
Hi. I found your post very uplifting. My hubby has lung cancer. Being treated with pembrolizumab after savage chemo!! Doing ok. Problem I have us I am very much like you. I question everything etc but find it impossible as hubby only wants to hear bare minimum
Heard fabulous testimonies Re The Manchester Christie. There was a man treated with pembrolizumab at The Christie by name of Bob Perry. Made the newspapers. Love to find out how he is.
Hope all continues to go well for you
Salval
There is hope. Don't give up..
Salval
Hi Salval
Thank you for the positive feedback; this is the reason why I do the 6 monthly check-up updates.
You do have to respect your Hubby's wishes; however with his permission his Consultants could provide you with the info he does not want to hear. A word of caution though; could you cope with the strain of keeping potential bad news to yourself?
I wish the best possible outcomes for your Hubby.
Kegsy x
Hi I’m trying to stop my bad thoughts everyday, I get so scared of my NSCLC return that it’s taking me over. I have just had an infection which started me off again. I don’t know how to cope with the fear. I had a lobectomy in Dec 2016. And Chemo In feb 2017. My oncologist was horrible he said that oh it’s very likely it will return in 2 years me and my husband were flabbergasted at his causal comment. To be honest no one at my clinic liked him and I think his awful manner has permanently scared me. I’m sorry to sound like a wimp but the fear takes me over.
Uglow xxxx
Hi Uglow
So sorry about your experience and about your Oncologist: Please trust me and I know this is hard to do, but here goes
Fear, Dread, worry sadness are all negative emotions, Completely understandable but very very negative:
How do I deal with that? I can only tell you, cancer if you let it will control your life: The beast as we will now call it needs to be tamed:
Now I know I have the beast, I have not got time to waste, my life as is yours is finite and we have no time to waste on sadness, fear and negative emotions: We have to focus on what WE WANT: set out the steps and goals we want to achieve, the time limits we ourselves put on these goals, the Positive people we lean on and the things WE want to do: Start by waking up in the morning go, for a walk, feed the birds in the garden, look at and admire the beauty of nature all around you and be glad you are alive to experience it, hold your husbands hand reassure him everything will be ok he will be far more frightened than you, be strong for him, show him that you are going to take control of the beast, you are going to push through, liase with your MacMillan nurse enlist her support in pushing your treatment forward, Together we can and will control and beat the beast. Think only positive thoughts carry through only positive actions. Trust me we CAN and WILL win, your husband and family will pick up on your positive thoughts and actions and will push you onwards and upwards, and before you go to bed at night thank your husband for his love and support and tell him how you look forward to wakeing up next to him and spending another day in paradise with him
Love to you both
Hi, I will try to do as you have said. I know your right. Most days when I wake up I do feel lucky to be alive. It’s just recently Iv relapsed. For any quality of life I need to do as you are saying. Me and my husband often takes rides in the car to observe the countryside. It lifts our spirits. I always him how glad I am to have him by my side and I truly am. My Cancer has crippled him too I see it in his eyes. I will try very hard to bring back his real smile. Thank you x
Hi GS38, that was wonderful and you lifted my spirits, thankyou.
Mick
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