Birthday Ideas to help someone with cancer.

Hi and welcome to the online community

I'm very sorry to read that your dad has lung cancer and that he's finding the combination of chemotherapy and steroids tough.

As the community is divided up into groups I'm going to recommend that you join the lung cancer group so that the people in that group can tell you what sort of things make their lives easier.

To join just click on the link I've created and then choose 'join this group' on the page that opens. You can then introduce yourself and post questions after selecting 'start a discussion' and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

When you have a minute, it would be really useful if you could pop something about your dad's journey so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit 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.

Wish him a happy birthday from me

Hi

I am sorry to hear about your dad. That's a long old chemo session. I sympathise - I am having chemo too and while mine takes only four hours, it is still a long time to be alone in that chair. 

I wonder about the steroids being the cause of the pain, though. I am not a doctor so I can't advise other than to say he should mention this to his doctor at the next review. I do get aches and pains after chemo and I have been told it is due to the chemo affecting the cells in my big bones in my legs that produce blood cells. If anything, the steroids should be helping this pain. At any rate, please make sure he talks to his doctor about the steroids. They help with side effects and there is even some evidence they make the chemo more effective. I will say it one more time - he really must talk to his doctor about this. 

I find that steroids give me energy for a few days after I have chemo. It is usually a time I find I can get on with things like some gentle gardening before I flop on the sofa after a couple of days. I also find they interfere with my sleep and if I don't watch out they can make me very grumpy and snappy too. So personally I like to find things to do with my hands to use up that steroid energy. I am a knitter and crocheter but I imagine your dad isn't. Does he like any kind of crafting activity? Generally something that takes up both hands and enough of your brain are good. My daughter and I enjoy a good 1000 piece puzzle and we have invested in a puzzle mat so we can put our puzzle away between times. 

I hope this gives you something to think about in a useful kind of a way

All the best