david
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Posts:14
Hi,
Is GERD associated with SCLC. The reason I ask is that I had a period of gastric reflex just before diagnosis of sclc, I was not on any medication.
After a period of treatment and stability the GERD has returned, hopefully unrelated to the cancer. From what I read, some people seem to suffer from gastric reflux as part of the sclc symptoms. Is this something that you are aware of? I was wondering how GERD could be related to lung cancer.
Your site has well documented evidence of radiation or chemo (particularly Tacerva) causing reflux, thanks for all the information, although I never received Tarceva it did help me to be aware of the possibility of reflux.
I hope you can help, and thank you for all the information on this forum.
David.
Forums
Reply # - June 14, 2017, 12:40 PM
Hi David,
Hi David,
I've seen anecdotal reports of GERD symptoms with SCLC, but nothing that makes it clear that you would definitely tie the two together. Is it possible that you changed your diet while on treatment, but have gone back to a diet similar to your pre-diagnosis routine? That could explain a new flare-up of symptoms.
In any event, I don't think I'd assume that the returning symptoms of GERD are attributable to SCLC progression.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - June 14, 2017, 01:22 PM
Jim got to the answer quicker
Jim got to the answer quicker than I did though I came to the same conclusion.
In this study there does appear to be a correlation between severe gerd and esophageal cancer, "CONCLUSIONS:
Individuals with severe reflux symptoms do not seem to have increased all-cause mortality or overall cancer-specific mortality. Although the absolute risk is small, individuals with severe reflux symptoms have a clearly increased oesophageal adenocarcinoma-specific mortality." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27789657
All best,
Janine
Reply # - June 15, 2017, 03:38 AM
Hi Jim and Janine,
Hi Jim and Janine,
I don't feel that my diet has changed too much and that did make me wonder (and worry) about the cause. All I could find was some anecdotal relationship which you highlighted, so I'll stop worrying. If there were stronger grounds relating sclc and gerd I am sure it would have been studied and documented by one of the medical doctors or scientists who are always on the look out for new developments and information to share.
Thank you for providing this quality and trusted internet site.
David
Reply # - June 15, 2017, 09:56 AM
Hi David,
Hi David,
Sometimes the issues are not that we're sure of all the signs and symptoms but that they are more likely signs and symptoms of lots of other problems. Often symptoms we know to be related to cancer are much more likely to be related to something else. For instance my husband's shoulder pain wasn't thought to be cancer the first the 2 or 3 visits to the doctor because the odds were good that cancer wasn't the issue. GERD doesn't even have a solid connection to lung cancer. The best way to follow lung cancer after treatment remains to have regular CT scans and keep your oncology team aware of new or worsening symptoms.
All best,
Janine