Lung Cancer

2 replies
38 subscribers
277 views

Hi. I’ve just been told I’ve got lung cancer, I honestly thought I had a bad chest infection and this news has totally blown me away. I’m in shock and it’s not sunk in yet - I’ve had to go to a diagnosis centre for a breathing test, a walking test and an echocardiogram then on Monday I’m back there for a PET CT scan. The consultant told me I’d then have to have a lung biopsy and then they will decide what to do with me. I feel like I’m on limbo at the moment, and these next few weeks are going to drive me mad, all the waiting and not knowing what’s going on etc. I’m taking quite a lot of painkillers and that helps as they make me sleep. When I’m asleep I don’t have to deal with it. I just want it done, I want to know what I’ve got in front of me and most of all I want this “thing” out of my body.

latchbrook 6 months ago

Hi Welliboot 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 you've just been given a lung cancer diagnosis and, although I had a different type of cancer to you, I can remember how shocked I felt when first told.

As the online community is divided into different support forums I'm going to recommend that you join the lung cancer forum which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support from others who have a similar diagnosis to you.

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 put something about your diagnosis and tests to date 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.

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

YellowCoat 6 months ago in reply to latchbrook

Hi latchbrook

i am in the same position, I had chest pains and thought it was my heart - fortunately they x-rayed my chest and found a shadow.

After quite a few scans and a biopsy I was told the cancer had spread in my lung - so I was a Stage 4, though it has not spread any further.

it’s quite a lot to take in and, after all the tests, you then wait for results to be reviewed and treatment begin. That is the worst part, waiting. I’ve waited a week and have been told it will be another week before I get the date for chemo - surgery and radiation are not an option for me.

So far it has not been too bad, but the biopsy was problematic because, if you are like me, you will have to lie on your stomach for about 40 minutes and go in and out of the scanner a few times. The biopsy did not hurt, but you lie with your arms stretched out in front of you and you cannot move at all during the process.

My shoulder started aching and it was very, very painful and I wasn’t allowed to move. Be sure that you are in a comfortable position when you lie down otherwise it is not very nice. In my mind I kept taking myself to a happy place, in my case a table overlooking the beach on a Greek island, you may try something like this if you need to.

Good luck with your treatment, you are not alone