Hi Everyone
Due to begin my treatment next week, at last! (Chemoradiation) Seems so long ago since I went onto my two week pathway on 26th April. My upper lobe of the left lung collapsed as the tumour is blocking the airway (the pain which alerted me to contact my GP ahead of diagnosis) and the breathless is causing me a lot of trouble, especially during this hot weather. I spoke to the Oncologist last week about it but other than considering Salbutamol (asthma inhaler) he didn't seem to think there was much to help. He also sounded doubtful my lung would ever re-inflate.
I have skimmed through some threads on here and found a few older posts where low dose Oramorph helped. Has anyone heard of that and what type of drug is it? Does oxygen help?
I am currently only on Paracetamol and recently added Tramadol to help with breakthrough pain. I have breathlessness to varying extents since April. Otherwise, apart from getting tired more easily and a slightly more chesty sounding cough I am not too bad.
I might call my lung nurse tomorrow but rarely get hold of her as she is usually in clinic. Might be better when I eventually get my Macmillan Nurse allocated next week.
Thanks
Sal60
Hi Sal60, this hot weather is not good for us with this awful disease. I have spent most of this week sat in front of a fan. I do feel that my breathing is better with air blowing on my face. but I am struggling this week.
When I was first diagnosed, my breathing was awful, I had a job to walk to the bathroom it was so bad. Then I had radiotherapy, and within days of starting this my breathing did start to get better, so I hope you will start to feel better once your treatment starts.
Oramorph is a liquid morphine. I haven't had this, but I have had tramadol and did get some relief from that.
I wish you all the best for the start of your treatment. They will give you the contact details for your Macmillan nurse. Please do contact her with any concerns you have, no matter how small you might think it is, they would rather you spoke to them than sit at home worrying.
Take care
