Small Cell Lung Cancer

Hello, I need your opinions about my father who gets second line treatment for his small cell lung cancer. The cancer has spread to his liver, lymph node and his bone. His conditions after chemo is not good with low red blood count, white blood and also recently with low platelet/thrombosit count as well. He got 4 times blood transfusion to get to his normal conditions, after his conditions with his blood normal he receive the next chemo, then his conditions low again. He got metastesis pleural effusion which is now is fine. He has 2 chemo to go before he finish his second line chemo. I am just wandering, are we doing the righ way by allowing him to have second line chemo. I am just so concern about his conditions as well as about how the cancer cell has progressed. Please help us. Thanks

[PaulMD]

Hi there.  What is hapenning in between chemotherapy sessions is really a complication or consequence of cancer chemotherapy.  It is expected for blood components to drop and also for the patient to feel worse after the sessions, but there is a hope that after all the sessions are done and the tumor responded or resolved, that the patient will have improved symptoms as well as additional longevity in the patient's life.  I admire your father enduring all of these treatments, and I hope and pray that he can stand all the side effects and reap the benefits at the end.  Regards and God bless.