Not what i wanted to hear !!!!

Hi

 

I have just read your post and your profile and just wanted to say how sorry I am that the news you have received is not good.  Obviously you are heartbroken but don't give up just yet, cancer seems to work in very different ways for people, some seem to get the lot very quick and for others it is slow growing and they have much more time than expected.  You don't say if the Dr's gave you a guesstimate with or without treatment.  My dear mum was diagnosed in April with lung cancer.  We were trying to get over the sudden death of my lovely dad who died in Jan and then came that bombshell too.  It has gotten worse as she has also been diagnosed with throat cancer last month.  Mum is not having any treatment, it would be too much for her so she has chosen to live her days as comfortable as possible.  At the moment she is quite well but they have said only about 6 mths so we are trying to enjoy our time together whilst we still can.  It is a truly dreadful disease that hs destroyed so many lives and I hate it with all my might.  When my mum had appointments it was the same for us, as soon as say about an hour had passed everyone was ringing wanting to know what was said.  As soon as I got in the house (in floods of tears) my aunt was ringing amongst others and I ended up on the damn phone for ages to everyone crying my eyes out.  They were just worried I know but like you say it does seem a bit selfish.  I wish I could say something positive to you but it drives me mad when people say to me things like 'Oh it'll be OK, they could be wrong' so I do not say it to others.  I could scream at them and say are you stupid did you not hear what I said but it isn't their fault really, I am just so angry sometimes.  It is a lot to get your head around in one go I found but once you have decided about treatment or not etc you will get a clearer picture.  We now know where we are at more or less and after loads of appointments it is a bit of a relief although not the news we would have liked either.  It is no good me saying not to worry about the family coping etc as you will worry it is only natural but you would be surprised how well people do cope when they have to.  It is all such a terrible shock to you right now and your head is in turmoil to make much sense of anything but you will eventually I hope.  I am really sorry for you all, rant anytime you like that is what we are all here for.  Thinking of you and your family love Tusk xx

Hi Lynn,

Shit news but not the worst by a long way, believe me. If you don't mind a bit of my history - I'd been over 3 years cancer-free, after having part of my lung removed and then chemo in 2011, when last month they told me it's back. This time it's in both lungs and a lymph node in an airway. Such a shock, as I feel fine, no symptoms etc.

So what to do? They've labelled me stage 4 and offered palliative chemo. I've accepted. I'm 70 and I want to see as many more years as I can get. I've a grandson doing GCSEs next year and a grand-daughter who's going into the Juniors at school next week, a lovely daughter & son-in-law, a partner who's always there for me ... I could go on but you'll get the gist.

Yes, the treatment will probably make you feel rough at times but it's do-able. No treatment and what have you got? You don't need me to spell it out.  

You're in shock, and terrified. To be honest, so am I. The only way I can cope is to absolutely refuse to let any thoughts of popping my clogs take root in my mind, and to keep myself occupied as much as I can. There are loads of jobs needing attention in this house, I can tell you!

While there's life, there's hope. Just keep that in your mind. You're not the sort to turn to the wall and give up. Once all this has sunk in and you have a treatment plan, things will feel less awful and you'll get your oomph back. Let's do this together, ok?

Love & hugs, Twirly xxx

Thank you Tusk and Twirly for your replies, I have had a few days to mull things over as it were. Yes i was shocked and yes i am terrified but im not about to give in and let this bugger take me yet. I have to have a brain scan on wednesday as i have been getting terrible headaches but i think that is due to all the stress, anyway we will see.

I have never heard of anyone having chemo and radiotherapy together so if anyone has had this any advice would be great.

i know both treatments can make some people quite ill so having both together seems a bit bizzare!

I see my Oncologist On the 11th so i suppose i will find out then when treatment is likely to start and for how long ect. I should also find out what type of non small cell lung cancer i have as that info wasnt back from the path lab at my last appointment.

The lung specialist nurse also said i would be getting a visit from a Macmillan nurse and that if i got some forms from the dwp for something called PIP then i had not to fill them in as the macmillan nurse will do this for me. its all a bit bewildering and i feel like im being swept along in some fast water and cant control when and where i can get out of it if that makes sense.

I have started to sort out a lot of things that have been put on one side for a long time, ive made a list and will work through it till its all done.

I allways used to say if i ever found out i had cancer i wouldnt have any treatment and would just take one day at a time but boy did i soon change my mind when it happened to me,bring it on , give me whatever you think might just work a miracle for me and so many other people who are in the grip of this horrible heartbreaking disease cos im not giving in and im not going anywhere anytime soon,

United we stand, bollocks to you Cancer.

Yorkshire Love and hugs to all on the site.xx

Hi Lynn, re the chemo/radio combination - one of our lung cancer group, Hazytron, has started this today and has begun keeping a diary. If you look at her profile & click on her activity, you'll find her latest post. She's having it as an in-patient but that's only because the nearest hospital to her that can do it is 70 miles away. At the moment she's on the chemo drip but later on today she'll be having the radiotherapy.

Hope this helps, love & hugs, Twirly xxx

Hi Lynn, I'm so sorry you find yourself here but just wanted to say that I had chemo and radiotherpy at the same time. I won't lie, it was tough going at times, but I am still here to tell the tale. Concurrent chemo and RT seems to be the most effective regime with some cancers and give the best results. I think Twirly's advice to follow the diary on the lung cancer group is a good idea. It may give you some insight as to how the treatment progresses. I wish you all the best with your treatment. Keep strong and hang on in there. We can defeat the beast!! Lots of love and sparkle to you hun xxx