Linking you to resources and support in the lung cancer community!

Non-smoker with SCLC

Hi,

I'm in my early 40's, and have never smoked in my life, no work with building materials/ mining/ no radon gases etc, but I've "beaten the odds" and been diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer. I received the diagnosis last week, following CT scan and biopsy.

I have already seen a surgeon, but I'm not a candidate for surgery, cause its already in both lungs. But he was fantastic and organised the biopsy and oncologist appts. I see the oncologist on Wednesday to get our initial treatment plan.

From what I've read on-line, it is very rare for a non-smoker to have SCLC.... I'm wondering if there are any others out there in the same situation?

I'm hoping the fact that I'm relatively young and in good health should mean that I have a better prognosis. Certainly, the prognoses I've read on line are not good.......... but I'm ready for a fight! I plan to do all I can to "beat the odds" for survival as well!!

I'm surprised at the low survival rates for lung cancer and the lack of improvement of outcomes compared to other cancers. I wonder if the focus on quitting smoking has meant that there is a lack of resources/ interest in how to actually fight this thing.

I have great support networks around me, but it's good to hear from people who have experienced the same thing and particularly encouraging stories of survival and recovery.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by grdn4u on December 16, 2010 at 9:25am

Your journey is very promising. Thank you for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by grdn4u on December 16, 2010 at 9:22am

Thank you for sharing and your positive attitude is promising. My friend is a non-smoker with SCLC. I will know later this week on her prognosis. I know she will be starting Chemo soon. Good luck and God bless you.

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Permalink Reply by xenawarriorprincess on December 16, 2010 at 4:03pm

Hi grdn4u, sorry to hear about your friend. I would encourage you/ her not to look too much into the prognosis!! From all statistics etc, it is not very encouraging. So, she will need to determine that she is willing to fight the statistics and at the same time, take one day at a time. Every day is a good day! the good thing about SCLC is that it usually responds very well to chemo. so, if she is feeling sick now, she should feel better after she starts chemo. There is a small group of never smokers with SCLC on the GRACE forum and some good information there. If your friend needs any support, please point her in my direction. Having said that, I just finished all my treatments etc a week or so ago, and I don't have scans til January. So, I'm taking a "cancer holiday" and not really looking at forums etc for a few weeks... so it might take me a while to reply. But please pass on my best wishes to your friend and let her know that there is certainly hope for her.

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Permalink Reply by grdn4u on December 16, 2010 at 8:37pm

Thank you xena... Happy holidays!

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Permalink Reply by loni_fl_sclc on May 17, 2011 at 11:37am

I am another that "beat the odds." I am 44, Never smoked, no factories, no radon. I was disgnosed with SCLC that had metastisized to my brain, last December. I finished chemo in February, radiation to my lung & whole brain radiation in March.

Thankfully, little to no side effects from that. But I did have them from dexamethasone. I finished weaning off that at the end of March, and am just now feeling the strength and energy coming back. I lost my appetite after finishing the steroids and still can only manage ~2 meals a day.