Aggressive cancer - 1291449

gillbarnes1960
Posts:13

Hi,
I posted some time ago, before diagnosis, as I was very worried about some symptoms. It all seemed pretty non specific. Well, I now have been diagnosed with sclc, which I am told is aggressive. The tumor is very small with a swollen lymph node. I really question how this can be called aggressive given the time and small size and could it be a mistaken diagnosis.

Gill

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Reply # - September 9, 2017, 06:08 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Gill,

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Unfortunately, I would not expect the diagnosis to be mistaken, but if you want confirmation you could have the tissue sent to another facility for analysis. As far as the term "aggressive", I don't know the context in which it was used, but SCLC in general tends to be aggressive and that may be the reason your cancer was described that way. Usually you don't know the pace of growth of a cancer until you have had at least a couple of scans separated by an appropriate interval.

Limited stage SCLC, which seems to be consistent with the information you've provided, can be successfully treated. Please let us know if you have more questions, and we look forward to some good-news updates from you after treatment has begun.

JimC
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Reply # - September 9, 2017, 07:28 AM

gillbarnes1960
Posts: 13

Yes Jim, they are saying it is limited stage and they want me to start treatment as soon as they can. I believe the comment was regarding small cell being aggressive but I have been complaining of something for such a long time, that even last year one doctor commented that whatever we were looking at, it wasn't rapidly progressive. It seemed such a contradiction to be told that I had an aggressive type of cancer and I wasn't sure if my understanding of aggressive being quick growing was correct. Thank you for the information.
Gill

Reply # - September 9, 2017, 05:20 PM

catdander
Posts:

Hi Gill,

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. Like Jim said sclc is usually aggressive/grows quickly but that's typical. You will probably learn most everyone finds there's one or 10 things not typical about their cancer. I don't know if anyone will be able to tell you if you've had cancer for a couple of years. There's just so much we don't understand about cancer. Typically oncologist aren't experts at diagnosis since they treat people after they've been diagnosed. The good news here is you're limited stage so you'll have a good chance to be cured of all the cancer. That will probably consist of surgery and chemo or radiation and chemo or even all three surgery, radiation and chemo.

Please keep us posted.

Cheers for a cure!
Janine

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