I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer - large lump both types mixed - in December this year. I was taken into hospital after a CTscan which showed a 6 cm tumour in my lung and a cluster of cancer cells on a vertebrae in my spine. I had a collapsed lung. I was in hospital for two and half weeks and started chemotherapy at the end of January. My oncologist told me I had a life expectancy of 6 months without the chemo and a year with the chemo. I am 66 years old and was previously fit and lively and considered myself healthy. I gave up smoking 25 years ago but sadly I did smoke 2 packs a day at times.What a fool!!!
I have been put on a course of palliative chemo of cisplatin and gencitabine. I am on a 3 week cycle with the cisplatin and gencitabine together the first week of the cycle and the gencitabine on its own the 2nd week of the cycle. I have the 3rd week off.
I have had a very good response to the chemo. My collapsed lung which was a complete nightmare started to open the second week of chemo (the tumour had covered the bronchial tubes), the congestion stopped the first week and I have gradually been improving a lot. I am not nearly as tired, my shortness of breath is much better, I haven't needed oxygen etc. My lung has been fully open for about a month now. My appetite has improved a lot so at the moment I am loving the fact that I am feeling relatively normal for the first time since November. I do restorative yoga poses for an hour every day and have started to take small walks hoping to build up my resources so I can start walking my dog again. I have had fantastic support from friends and neighbours so I really count my blessings. I am on a 6 or 8 cycle series and will have another CTscan two cycles before completion. I have asked to have a second opinion from the Marsden which can be done at the end of the chemo cycles and I am willing to take part in an appropriate drug trail.
What I wonder will be the next stage. I am feeling so much better that the idea of going downhill again really depresses me. I am a fighter and am prepared to do the best I can in this mess. I have a lot of confidence in the hospital and the care they have given me. I wonder does anyone else have a similar experience. It would just be nice to trade information with others in the same boat. Out of all the websites MacMillan seems to offer the best support for lung cancer.
Crocus Rose
