Dads small cell cancer

User

Posted 06 Nov 2015 at 00:04

Dear Paula,
Thank you so much.... your words mean a lot to me. I have so much support from you guys,just reading your warm replies, thank you to all of you.
Paula, when you tell what you dad had to eat today- it breaks my heart! I know what you mean. Watch your loved one going down- and all the sudden - he (she) had a good meal!!!!! It makes us sooo happy!
Paula, enjoy every moment with your dad, every minute! That's what I try to do!
My husband lost 40 pounds since July 4th. Being healthy man, 210 lb- went down so fast!
I will pray for your dad, as I always pray for my hubby.
He is on carboplatin and etoposide too. This type of chemo they use for small cell lung cancer too.... And my husband has hormones too.
All I found online- that he might have not even a year to live. I cry and cry and cry- but not in front of him. Thanks God, he is not computer guy and ,probably, don't do as much research as I do... Well may be he knows too and just not to show it to me. What's a wonderful man he is! Cares about me even being so ill!
We live in small town, North Carolina, doctors are good, but it's not top line cancer center. We, however , get in touch with two top cancer centers in USA, and two doctors we talked to, agreed with treatment protocol. My husband is old school guy and he didn't want to go to trials. We(well, I) found one in USA for small cell prostate cancer- Aurora inhibitor, second phase and stats is not very encouriging.
Type of cancer your dad and my hubby have----- rare!!!!!! I wish I could find the cure. All my research online----- no luck.
Will have his second round of chemo Nov.11th. and radiation after that. His first chemo was relatively good, he is having some neuropathy, which he had before the treatment any way. That's when his primary care doc and his team treated him with neurological disorder, which made his half - disabled, he is walking with walker now. It makes me soo mad! This is America, dude! Not third world country, where they don't have good doctors. What did you do to him???!!!!
He was so independent, was running his own business and now----- he is my baby, I help him bath, dress, cary him around. Hard on me but ten times harder on him. My poor husband, he is great man, his spirit is up, and he is going to beat the cancer!
Hey guys, sorry if my English too American for your British:))) That's all I know. I am Russian girl, lucky enough to meet this wonderful American man, fall in love, marry, learn American English---- and ---- boom, that beast hit him---- CANCER! I had four wonderful years with him! And love him so much. I just don't know how to help him.
Let's stay strong, Paula. Pray for our loved ones.
And thank you so much for supporting me.
I don't have much help, even though my husband's sons live next door- they have they own lifes, young boys, just got married, I understand- but----------- IT's YOUR FATHER!!!! The best father I've ever seen, especially comparing to my ex and my own father, he deserves better for all he did for them. WELL, God will judge them, not me.
Thank you guys! All I need just warm words and some support.

User

Posted 16 Nov 2015 at 20:25

Dads on a good bit at the moment.the blood transfusion has perked him up and apart from some backache he seems like his old self which is great.He has his wheelchair and my sis got him a walking frame for when he needs it.Dad even drove to the shps with his blue badge on board fast tracked through so he can nip in for essentials and at least get out of the house.love to all and i hope things are good for you myhusbandswife Paula xx

User

Posted 16 Nov 2015 at 21:43

That's good news Paula.

Hope it continues for you all

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 17 Nov 2015 at 14:07

Hi,

Pleased things are going better for your Dad. Nice that he can get out more.

Steve

User

Posted 07 Dec 2015 at 21:54

Hi Paula,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. My dad was diagnosed with small cell prostate carcinoma last week and I have desperately been trying to find support and/or success stories. His cancer is currently in his prostate and bladder and he will have surgery to remove both on the 28th of December. I wondered how your dad came about his prognosis? I had no idea how aggressive this cancer type was until I started researching today. So heartbreaking :( :( :(

Sending your family love & strength from Colorado!

Kristi

User

Posted 08 Dec 2015 at 09:01

Hello Kristi and welcome to the site.

I am so sorry that your dad has this version of Prostate Cancer.

Paula in particular has up to date details of this so she will be able to compare notes with you.

There will be other members on here to offer support I'm sure.,

In the meantime, as I say, welcome, and best wishes

Sandra

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 08 Dec 2015 at 16:28

Thank you, Sandra!

This seems like such a warm & supportive group. I'm so happy to have found you all as I have felt like a babbling mess the past few days. Knowing others have or are going through the same thing is reassuring and comforting. The unknown of what lies ahead is beyond scary.

Best wishes to all!

Kristi

User

Posted 10 Dec 2015 at 20:01

Hello Kristi

I'm so sorry to hear that you have encountered the small cell version of cancer. I'm not even sure it's actually prostate cancer (although it affects the prostate), I had the idea that it stems from the lung but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be here by the way, you are very welcome. I know a couple of others whose husbands had this form of cancer and know that the treatment was a different kind of chemo than the PCA sufferers get. I must admit Paula's dad has done so well (despite everything), and I can only hope the same applies to your case.

I will ask my friend if there were any resources she used while her husband was going through this, in case there is anything out there that might help. I do think her support came from here though.

Though most here know little about small cell cancer we will always support you, please lean on us as you need to.

With love

Allison xx

User

Posted 16 Dec 2015 at 16:00

Hi kristi Dads caner is mixed adenocarcima and small cell he put off treatment as mum was battling stage 4 cancer.This was 3 yrs ago and peeing alot was his symptom.Miraculously he has had chemo twice and radiotherapy stopped in march and he is still here !!.Firstly they thought he had regular slow growing prostate cancer and probably had it for 2 yrs.His cancer is in his prostate,bladder and spine.today he has gone to eat at the new restuarant where i work.He has a hospice nurse on call as he has had repeated infections.I hope your Dad responds as well as mine has to treatment.Feel free to ask anything,Best wishes to you and your family and this is a great site .
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and im thankful to have my parents around for one more Paula xx

User

Posted 16 Dec 2015 at 16:54

We are wishing you a great Christmas that you will always remember Paula.
Chris and Elaine x

User

Posted 16 Dec 2015 at 17:25

Merry Christmas to you too Paula.

I know that you'll make much of this Christmas, hopefully building memories for the future.

Take lots of happy smiling photos of your dad and you !

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 16 Dec 2015 at 20:47

Chris and Elaine and Sandra ,Alison Lynne Steve and Mo and all you lovely people (too many to mention)
. Thank you so much for all the support and advice this yr as we continue to help Dad.I hope he gets a bit longer in his present condition and hope his journey is an inspiration to others that even when the cancer has reached the lymph nodes chemo can be effective in this aggressive type.
On an amusing note he bought a real xmas tree with white lights for the garden as they took the fir tree out this summer and turfed over the garden to make it easier for mum to get the grass done when he isnt here and he still is :) This will be a "bonus" xmas not a "last one" xx

User

Posted 01 Jan 2016 at 20:21

Happy New year to you all
,christmas was lovely with lots of photos mostly taken by dad but plenty with him in.he has been needing his stick to walk about and has pain in his leg now.the Gp thinks he has fluid retention which seems to come and go.His face looks puffy however he is in good spirits.new yr seemed emotionally harder to think of given Dads yr in march,I know these prognosis mean an estimate it just seems more real if you know what i mean.
Onwards and upwards the next goal is their 50 th anniversary in feb xx love to you all

User

Posted 01 Jan 2016 at 20:35

Paula

goals are good and a 50th wedding anniversary is a monumental one! I know all of this is probably so much easier for you to deal with now that you have a sympathetic and understanding employer.

As long as your Dad is feeling OK, eating as well as he can, staying mobile and having hope then why should anyone doubt that he will make that goal.

Happy New Year to you and yours

xxx

User

Posted 01 Jan 2016 at 20:47

Good god !! 50 yrs together. Now that has to be a love match. I'll leave that spare bottle of Cava in the garage.
Best wishes
Chris

User

Posted 01 Jan 2016 at 21:50

Having goals is a fantastic thing, I know it doesn't always work but it can be a really lovely incentive to keep going. I think a 50th anniversary is wonderful. As it happens my sister and her husband are celebrating their 50th today, she married at 17 and they said it wouldn't last.

Happy New Year

Love Allison xx

User

Posted 02 Jan 2016 at 11:46

I know water retention is an end of life symptom or can be.How much of a sign is it that things are progressing and do steroids cause it too ?

User

Posted 02 Jan 2016 at 15:28

Hi Paula, do you mean water retention or urinary retention?

Steroids can cause a person to look bloated but I don't think they are particularly associated with water retention. In advanced PCa the water retention is usually because the lymph nodes are too damaged to function (lymphodema) and/or as the soft organs like kidneys fail. Water retention is also an indicator of heart failure and must be taken seriously - if not already done so, get dad checked by the GP or hospice nurse. When Stan was in the final stages, his odema started at the ankles but progressed up his legs and then the whole groin area so it was hard to see where his legs started and his penis became swollen as well. The doctor drew a biro line across Stan's upper chest and said if the swelling reached the biro mark we must phone 999 immediately.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 03 Jan 2016 at 00:33

Thanks Lyn i meant water retention as in swellling.I think Mum is fed up as no one is doing much and my husband took him for his blood test and the gp said his bloods were better than last time.Just seems weird he can barely walk or stand for long and he goes back next tue. xx

User

Posted 03 Jan 2016 at 00:46

Ask the medics to check that it is water retention rather than bloating from the steroids - the difference in very basic terms is a) is the face moon-like (steroids) or b) when you push the skin in the swollen area, is it doughy (odema)

Might also be a good idea to start tracking how much he drinks and how much he wees.

Edited by member 03 Jan 2016 at 00:48 | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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