Anyone know anything about small cell lung cancer?

[tedoll78]

My mother in law has been diagnosed with it. It's all over her left lung, and it hasn't responded to chemo at all. Her right lung has been half-removed from a previous medical problem. It hasn't spread outside of the lung. I think her doctors call it a "broncial alveolar carcinoma." (?) The options are looking thin, and I'm desperately looking for anything. Clinical trials, alternative medicines, etc.

What about combined chemo, or radiation therapy, or a combination of such?

Thanks for any info.

[Widgetsfriend]

1. Here's a link.

My sister has adenocarcinoma in the lung that has metastasized to her spine and brain. She was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. We've recently heard about something called hyperthermia treatments. The body is heated and it kills cancer cells. We had heard from someone who went to Mexico for this treatment (he also had metastasized brain cancer) and he had good success. There are some places offering this here in the US (do a Google search for "hyperthermia"). Otherwise, it is chemo and possibly radiation. A few years back there was talk about ozone treatments offering help, but I can't find anything on it now. Go to the Johns Hopkins Oncology site and look through their treatment options. I'll add her to my prayers!

Edit to add a link.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/treatment/small-cell-lung/patient/

[liberalnurse]

2. I'm sorry to share this information with you....

but chemo and radiation traditionally just buy's time. It seeds off to the brain then the bones.

Also known as "oat cell" carcinoma.

I'm not updated with the new drugs today...things have improved over the past 2-3 years.

I'm so sorry to hear of your family's hardship and will pray for your family to be spared.

[supernova]

3. Few more resources

Oncolink search on "small cell lung cancer". Oncolink is probably the biggest cancer database on the web. This list contains general FAQs, professional articles, current trials, conferences, etc.

http://www.oncolink.com/search/search.cfm


Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Someone mentioned hypothermia. Duke is one of the places doing it. But you may want to read the information for what else is available.

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_services/cancer_center.asp