Hello everyone,
I’m new here.
my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer (non-small cell I think that’s right) well over a year ago. I went with him to his face to face meeting with the consultant when he got the news.
He lives alone and around 60 odd miles away from me. I’m disabled myself and have ongoing chronic illnesses, often need to be in hospital and to top it off I have an appointment to check a lump and change in size in my breast at the clinic along with a mammogram on the 15th.
I find it upsetting that I’m unable to care for my dad but at the same time I know mentally without the physical stuff I wouldn’t cope.
the immunotherapy treatment has been mostly 3 weekly with a few breaks and it has been successful. It’s stopped further cancer from growing and some shrinkage. It won’t cure him but it’s given him some time.
Unfortunately dad has had some rubbish side effects. The worst being what he describes as a burning sensation particularly all over his back and chest. And also bad rashes and itching to the point where it’s been agreed with his team for him to take breaks from treatment.
I am usually someone who Google’s everything but this is something I haven’t done regarding my dads illness.
He has some good friends where he lives who help him out at times. He is VERY against going into hospital until the very, very end. He’s still smoking, I’m an ex smoker and I refuse to go on and on at a man in his mid 70’s who has smoked since his teens and tell him he has to stop. He did try but he couldn’t and the damage is done. I also don’t want to spend our last amount of time together arguing or me nagging him.
I have the support of my fiancé whose own father dad of cancer. Our daughter is nearly 12 and is becoming aware that her grandad will soon be gone. I haven’t found the local Macmillian nurse to be helpful or supportive to me. But maybe that’s not her job and I know how stretched everyone is at this time.
I wondered if anyone else’s family member or other member had similar side effects and if there was anything that could ease it?
He has been given creams, when he goes one a break the put him on steroids although I’m unsure if that’s for the itching and burning or for the cough he has.
I am his next of kin and he has given his team permission to discuss his care with me. But they don’t seem to be being clear with my dad, so I feel I have no chance of getting straight answers.
I think he has just under a year left of treatment. Is there anyone else with similar side effects who have found things that help a great Deal.
excuse any mistakes or typos. I’m exhausted this morning
thanks in advance for any help.
HC
XXXXX
Hi HC41 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read that your dad is struggling with the side effects from immunotherapy for lung cancer and it must be very difficult for you both.
As you know, the online community is divided up into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you also join and post in the lung cancer group, as you'll then connect directly with others who may have similar side effects to your dad.
To join just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here, and join in with existing conversations by clicking on reply.
It would be great if you could pop something about your dad's diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
