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Dad has passed,worried about Mom
by MissDad, Nov 11, 2008 05:52PM
Hi Doctor,
Thank you in advance for you help. I lost my father 9 years ago to small cell cancer. He was the kindest man in the world...his one sin (i guess) was smoking. He was only 58 diagnosed and passed when he was almost 61. I was told by doctors that small cell was curable. If you were a horse..your odds would be 1 in 8.
My mother, who was also a smoker, we have both been quit for 6 years, has been very pro active with her lung health since. She is doing early detection screening at a hospital in Toronto...she had a Spiral Ct 2 yrs ago...and is going back for her 2yr follow up CT.Forgive me if I am pancing over something that hasn't happened, but I am terrified that they will find something. A couple of questions. 1.If they find small cell cancer at the earliest stage...are the cure rates REALLY that slim? I am starting to think that this screening program is only for Non small cell cancer.
2. I read earlier a doctor write the difference between localized and extensive small cell cancer could be made in a matter of a month. Does this mean that my Mom could have been clear 2 years ago and small cell cancer could have grown that quickly? Or can I be secure in the fact that her lungs were clear and if they do find something now, it will hopefully be in its earliest stages? 3. Mom was in Emerg. for a broken hip 5 months ago. They ordered xrays for her hip where they ordered preop chest xrays, surgery was delayed for 2 days and then they ordered more chest xrays....why do they need a second set of xrays? Did they see something?
Thank you for your answers...your replies to people are so caring. I wish I found a forum like this when dad was ill.
Corrie
Thank you in advance for you help. I lost my father 9 years ago to small cell cancer. He was the kindest man in the world...his one sin (i guess) was smoking. He was only 58 diagnosed and passed when he was almost 61. I was told by doctors that small cell was curable. If you were a horse..your odds would be 1 in 8.
My mother, who was also a smoker, we have both been quit for 6 years, has been very pro active with her lung health since. She is doing early detection screening at a hospital in Toronto...she had a Spiral Ct 2 yrs ago...and is going back for her 2yr follow up CT.Forgive me if I am pancing over something that hasn't happened, but I am terrified that they will find something. A couple of questions. 1.If they find small cell cancer at the earliest stage...are the cure rates REALLY that slim? I am starting to think that this screening program is only for Non small cell cancer.
2. I read earlier a doctor write the difference between localized and extensive small cell cancer could be made in a matter of a month. Does this mean that my Mom could have been clear 2 years ago and small cell cancer could have grown that quickly? Or can I be secure in the fact that her lungs were clear and if they do find something now, it will hopefully be in its earliest stages? 3. Mom was in Emerg. for a broken hip 5 months ago. They ordered xrays for her hip where they ordered preop chest xrays, surgery was delayed for 2 days and then they ordered more chest xrays....why do they need a second set of xrays? Did they see something?
Thank you for your answers...your replies to people are so caring. I wish I found a forum like this when dad was ill.
Corrie
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The goal of screening strategies is to reduce the mortality from the disease. In general, there should be a lowering of advanced stage over time. One of the problems with the experience in lung cancer is that there seems to be an increase in the early stage the numbers of advanced stage do not seem to be affected. Hence, your concern that the cancer can grow in the interim to a stage where cure is unlikely is valid and real. It is good that she is enrolled, as this is the best you could offer for those willing to participate. This is exactly the reason why there is no recommendation for lung cancer screening - as the strategy is still in evolution.
The simplest reason I can think of for repeating chest X-rays is a poor quality of the first study. This may be technical (exposure may be too little or excessive), it may simply be her breath wasn’t deep enough. It is also possible that the next set looks at the back bones more than the lungs. Odds are, if the finding would raise concerns for lung cancer – the second imaging would be a CT scan.
Stay positive.