Hello,
I am excited to say we met with a retired professor in London. Our daughter was enquiring about teaching hospitals to get further information and by chance got connected with this wonderful man who was willing to speak to us. Most of his time was in research. The information he passed was enlightening. I took lots of notes which was a challenge but I wanted to share something as I think it is educational.
1. It is understood that most cancers grow slowly to begin with, often for several years. They go through about 10 mutations and it is only in the last mutations that the growth becomes uncontrolled. The includes small cell.
2. Sclc often release chemicals which causes responses from other organs or immune system. This can happen in the early stages.
3. Once visible, sclc tends to grow quickly.
4 I asked if it was fair to say that ongoing symptoms for two years makes lung cancer unlikely. He said it is fair for most lung cancers but for small cell, the answer is a definite no, no, no. The reason being number 2 given above.
I have lots more notes but wanted to share this information because although the professor said point 1 was well understood I disagreed. In fact I think the opposite is the current understanding highlighted by point 4 and it is often stated that small cell lung cancer is not a cancer that creeps up overtime on you. It seems to be it can and probably does more often than we think.
I hope this information is useful.
Kev
Reply # - March 4, 2017, 08:25 AM
Hi Kev,
Hi Kev,
I'm so glad you had the chance to talk to an expert at length about these things. This info is succinct enough that a faculty should be able to comment and maybe expand on some of the points.
I hope your wife is feeling fine.
Janine
Reply # - March 4, 2017, 10:30 AM
I agree that the majority of
I agree that the majority of cancers are a product of a very large number of mutations that develop over time, and this is true of small cell. In fact, small cell is essentially always a product of dozens to hundreds of mutations, but that doesn't mean it exists as identifiable small cell for a long time. Instead, it crosses a threshold based on some perfect storm of mutations and then typically takes off, growing quickly.
However, probably the most common thing I've said on the GRACE site over the years is that cancer can do anything. I would never say that something can't be cancer. I would say that small cell is almost never, ever subtle, so if there isn't any visible mass on a chest x-ray or CT, small cell is exceptionally unlikely. But nobody on an internet forum can or should provide medical advice, and I have asked our moderators to not try to field questions of "could these symptoms represent X cancer?". There is a liability for this we can't accept.
Good luck.
Dr. West
Reply # - March 4, 2017, 10:49 AM
Hello Dr West,
Hello Dr West,
Thank you for adding to this. In fact the Professor we saw said exactly the same as you, he was happy to speak to us and give us information but could not give a medical opinion even if he was still practising without carrying out his own examination and access to all the tests. The moderators on this site too have been wonderful in providing information to us that allowed our daughter to search for someone to talk to us further. The internet can only go so far in conveying information, more so when we need to interpret it to our native language.
We thank you for providing this service and thank the moderators too. No where else on this planet provides this service.
From meeting with the Professor we did gain comfort in knowing my wife has been thoroughly investigated for malignancy and we should find a good doctor that will look to address her unpleasant symptoms. Without this site we would not be in this position. So it is a heartfelt thank you from two old "Cloggies"
Kev