Hi,
The fact that his liver is not involved is a good sign. His lymph nodes, however, are involved. Radiation therapy is often added on after the second cycle or sometimes even a bit later in patients who are getting chemotherapy for limited stage small cell lung cancer. Treatment for extensive stage SCLC is with chemotherapy only.
Thanks Doctor. I am 5000 miles away from my father which makes things even more difficult. He has small cell lung cancer. I dont know whether the doctors have told him if it is limited or advanced other than they have said that his health is good in general, that they think it is in his lymph nodes and that his liver is completely clear. He started chemotherapy yesterday will get more today and tomorrow and then 2 weeks off. I have heard no mention of radiotherapy. Is the fact that radiotherapy has not been mentioned a bad sign? Im sorry to bug you. I am terrified that i will never see him again.
Hi,
Please discuss the diagnosis with your doctor first, and then we can talk in detail about prognosis etc. I can of course understant your anxiety, and your need to know, however vaguely, what possibly lies ahead for your father. THis must be a difficult time for you and your family.
Once we know for sure which cancer we are dealing with, and its stage, then we can have a more meaningful discussion.
Please keep me posted.
All the best!
Thanks doctor. If it is limited stage small cell cancer what is his prognosis like?
Hi,
The prognosis of lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, general condition of the patient, and some genetic/mutation characteristics.
Staging of the lung cancer depends on many features. First, we need to establish the type of cancer. Lung cancers are essentially divided into "small cell lung cancer" (SCLC) and "non-small cell lung cancer" (NSCLC).
Additionally we need to know the size of tumor (T), the lymph nodes (N) involved (number, and group) and if there is involvement of distant organs (M). NSCLC is then staged according to the TNM system. SCLC is merely divided into limited stage and extensive stage.
My guess, from the few details you have provided, is that your father has SCLC (limited stage), and that he is getting cisplatin-etoposide combination chemotherapy. However, you need to confirm with your treating doctor if this is indeed the case. Additionally, you may like to discuss the plan for incorporating radiation therapy into the treatment schedule.
All the best, and God Bless!