Hey Gang,
My Father was told his Stage 3b Small Cell Lung Cancer had begun to grow again and had grown onto a rib as per the CAT scan last week.
They will start him back on Radiation 5 times a week for 2 weeks then wait 60 days to see if the tumor has shrunk. If it has they wait and do another scan 4 months after that to see the progress. If it hasnt they will pursue Chemo again.
He has been cancer free for 1+ years and his last CAT scan in September showed up clean so this came as a shock. Looks like it took off in the last 2 months. He was complaining of some upper back pain which prompted his return to the Oncologist.
Has anyone heard of lung cancer doing this? Any idea on prognosis? He is 81 now so we always knew this would come back, we just thought he'd have another year maybe two before having to deal with it.
Any input of advice would be appreciated.
Shane
Reply # - December 8, 2016, 04:23 PM
Hi Shane,
Hi Shane,
I'm sorry to hear of your father's recurrence. Unfortunately this kind of pattern happens frequently; most recurrences occur within 2-3 years after initial diagnosis and treatment. It's hard to assess prognosis until we see how well he responds to treatment. If the radiation is successful and the follow-up scan shows no new growth, he may be what oncologists call a "responder", a patient who consistently responds well to treatment, even when a cancer recurs or progresses.
Just to clarify: from your previous thread I see that he was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer rather than small cell as stated here.
We will keep positive thoughts for a good response to radiation and a clean scan.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 06:45 AM
Did they biopsy the rib? I
Did they biopsy the rib? I had a CT scan and they thought a compression fracture I had in my spine was cancer related and a biopsy was done. Thankfully mine was not cancer but osteoporosis. If it is in fact a metastasis, I'd be surprised they'd wait to do chemo, since once it spreads outside the lungs, it's stage IV and he'd need systemic treatment a it can be to small to see yet anywhere else.
Take care, Judy
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 08:30 AM
I honestly dont know if they
I honestly dont know if they have biopsied. I do know they did a CAT scan and told him the cancer had attached to a rib.
They did say it hadnt spread to lymph nodes, other bones or organs so maybe we caught it early enough? There wasnt much time before the last clean scan and this one so we're hopeful.
He's 81 and a tough old goat. Went thru the first round of Chemo/Radio 2 years ago and he knocked it out of the park. Could hardly tell he was under treatment. We're hoping this is the same.
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 11:07 AM
Actually if the cancer is
Actually if the cancer is growing high enough in the lung that tumor can reach the ribs without being out of the gate so to speak (still local). This is what happens in pancoast tumors. Such as the one my husband had. One tumor in the lung reached into 3 ribs, bracial plexus, and almost into the spinal column and we know how that turned out. (Well you would know if my signature hadn't disappeared). He's alive and relatively well and 3.5 years out from treatment.
It's very difficult to biopsy bone and it can be all but impossible to biopsy a pancoast tumor. Again my husband being an example. Know that I'm projecting here but it does sound like he may have something similar to it.
I hope your dad does well.
Janine
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 11:14 AM
How would i know if its a
How would i know if its a Pancoast tumor? Is that something i can ask the Onco?
All i can tell everyone is they told us it reached into a rib but the tests showed no farther. I'm not sure how much faith i put in that but thats all we have right now.
He starts a steroid tomorrow morning. Not sure what thats about. Then heavy Radio Monday for 2 weeks.
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 01:36 PM
This is a recurrence.
This is a recurrence. Original diagnosis, if the tumor is in the apex of the lung, way up in the shoulder area this is called a pancoast tumor. It would still be adeno or squamous. Is this recurrence in the lung and had attached itself to the rib or are they saying just the rib? Take care, Judy
Reply # - December 9, 2016, 02:00 PM
Great questions.
Great questions.
I really dont know. They said the tumor had shrunk to where they couldnt detect it anymore then suddenly grew and found a rib.
Whats the significance if it regrew and found a rib?
Reply # - December 10, 2016, 05:43 AM
If it's the same tumor now
If it's the same tumor now progressing then it's considered a local recurrence with invasion into the rib.
Take care, Judy
Reply # - December 10, 2016, 10:21 AM
It's more probable to cure a
It's more probable to cure a recurrence that stems from the original tumor than it is to cure a metastatic tumor. However it's possible for either to be cured. The odds are heavily stacked against curing metastatic nsclc but if it's the only point of progression it's possible. Radiation is an appropriate treatment for either. Here is a link to a discussion about new information on what's called oligometastasis, http://cancergrace.org/lung/2016/02/02/gcvl_lu_sbrt_oligometastatic_lun…
Reply # - January 31, 2017, 11:29 PM
Phytoscience Double stemcell
Phytoscience Double stemcell for Treatment of Lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer is mostly treated with chemotherapy. Surgery is only suitable if there is no sign that the cancer has spread to the lymph glands in the centre of the chest (the mediastinal lymph glands). This is rare with small cell lung cancer. It has usually spread at the time of diagnosis. So chemotherapy is usually the main treatment.
For more visit
..............................................................
Phytoscience
Reply # - January 31, 2017, 11:30 PM
Potential power of Double
Potential power of Double stemcell to grow new cells.
Double stemcell has his potential powers to creat damage cells like- Every plant has stem cells. But different in humans, every plant cell has the potential to dedifferentiate to a stem cell and to grow into an entirely new, full plant, Stemcell also grow newly cell that man get healthier back.Potential power of Double stemcell to grow new cells.
For more visit
..............................................................
Phytoscienceteamasia