Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which represents about 15% of all lung cancer diagnoses, is an often-aggressive form of lung cancer that has historically been difficult to treat. However, the science driving new treatments for SCLC is moving faster than ever before, with more drugs in development right now than in the last 50 years combined!
Dr. Jacob Sands from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School joined GO2’s August episode of the Lung Cancer Living Room to share current SCLC treatment options, exciting new SCLC research advances, the value of palliative care for people with lung cancer, and tips for educating and empowering yourself after a diagnosis.
Speakers: Jacob Sands, MD, Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Danielle Hicks, Chief Patient Officer, GO2 for Lung Cancer
Discussed in this episode:
- Small cell lung cancer is staged differently from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is considered to be either limited stage or extensive stage.
- Limited stage lung cancer is generally treated with chemotherapy and radiation.
- A combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is given to people with extensive stage SCLC.
- Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI) is a type of brain radiation that is sometimes used to prevent brain metastasis by treating all or most of the brain with lower doses of radiation.
- Transformed SCLC (tSCLC) is when NSCLC changes into SCLC.
- If you are diagnosed with SCLC, you might want to consider participating in a clinical trial from the very beginning. GO2’s LungMATCH program can help you to find the right trial for you.
- People who took advantage of side effect management and palliative care services while being treated for lung cancer did better and lived longer than those who did not use palliative care.
- GO2 for Lung Cancer offers a number of SCLC-specific educational materials to help people living with SCLC understand their diagnosis and treatment options.
- Everyone who receives a lung cancer diagnosis should consider getting a second opinion to confirm their treatment decisions or provide information about new choices for your care.
Please join us on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET for the next Lung Cancer Living Room covering “What’s New in Pulmonary Care” with Dr. D. Kyle Hogarth from the University of Chicago. You can join us in our San Carlos, CA office or watch on YouTube Live.
For more information on the Living Room, other GO2 for Lung Cancer programs, or for support through diagnosis and treatment, please contact GO2’s HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org.
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I’m a 17 year survivor of borderline Ltd/Ext SCLC treated with cisplatin/etoposide with almost concurrent radiation and prophylactic brain radiation. I have experienced multiple long-term side effects – heart failure and balance issues (inner ear damage) being the biggest. Less concerning is a basal cell carcinoma on the very top of my head which may have been exacerbated by PCR. But I’m alive. It’s helps to be lucky. I’m so happy to see some forward movement in treatment options for SCLC!
It was nice to see your name here, Nancy. I think of you often when I think of progress and improved survival in SCLC. I hope all is well!