Immune system

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am so sorry to see the circumstance that brought you here and so sorry to hear you are to have treatment for Lung Cancer.

Over my many years treatment it’s all about being carful but at the same time not locking yourself away from people.

My cancer journey did require me to be extra carful due to the type of treatment used but I would always say follow the guidance from you team as they know how long your immune system will be weakened.

Some bed time reading for you.

Nausea

Fatigue

Avoiding Infections

Eating and Neutropenia

A cancer diagnosis can bring a lot of stress on a family but talking with people who are on the same journey will help a lot.

You may like to follow this link to our Lung Cancer Forum where you will connect with people who understand the journey you will be on. You can ask the folks questions about treatments, what to expect including questions about infection risks.

Follow the link and join the group. To do this hit the ‘Join the Group’ tab just under the main group name. At this point go to the right on the group home page and select how you want to receive email notifications when someone answers your posts. If in the future you don’t want to receive notifications just switch off the email notifications tab.

The BEST WAY to get support is to go to the 'Start a Discussion' tab just under the main group name. Set up your own Discussion and Introduce yourself to the group - you could just copy an paste what you have in this first post.

Have a look through our various Macmillan Support Line Services then call them on 0808 808 00 00 to be very helpful covering Emotional Support and Practical Information. Clinical Information and Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.

We also have our ‘Ask an Expert’section where you can post questions to our mostly Volunteer Experts but please allow 2 working days to get a reply.

We also have our Online Information and Support Section where you will find some great pages covering the cancer diagnosis, treatment and information pages covering most types of cancers.

Talking to people face to face can help a lot so check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support Groups in your area or a Maggie’s Centre as these folks are amazing.

It is worth putting some information in your profile. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself.

To do this click on YOUR username, look to the left and select 'Edit Profile'. Put as much or as little in your profile and you can amend it at any time - REMEMBER hit the big green SAVE before you leave the page. If you're not sure what to write you can take a look at any members profiles by clicking on their username.

All the best.

Hi Idano

I have a different cancer to you, but had similar thoughts when faced with 6 months of chemo treatment. You are very likely to lose the plot if you isolate! I have found just being sensible about not being in large groups of people eg meetings and making sure people know not to come visiting if they have a cold suffices. 

I made it my business to know the best foods to eat to keep me healthy and also realised I was more vulnerable one week after each chemo session than at any other time. I hope this helps you as I think isolation is not good for mental health!

Best wishes

Izzy

Thank you Mike.  I have looked at a few of the links you sent, which were very helpful.

Hi Idano, with non small cell lung cancer surely you will have pembrolizamab (keytruda) for treatment, I have been on it for 2 years and I have done well on it.