Constant cough

Hi CharlotteAP1   I remember the cough from before I was diagnosed, and I tried all sorts of cough sweets, medicine and antibiotics, nothing seemed to help. I have been on this journey for a very long time now, so I have learnt a few things that do help me, although it doesn’t necessarily mean it will help dad. 

Make sure he is sleeping up right, lots of pillows or a triangle shaped pillow will help with this. This time of the year with the central heating in, the air becomes very dry which does not help the lungs. I have a humidifier next to me at night which pumps moisture into the air, it is very small and only cost £10 from Amazon, I think B&M also sell them. If he is having a bad coughing fit then get him to sit with a fan in front of his him. The air blowing in your face makes your lungs breath easier. Also speak to his doctor about an inhaler if he doesn’t have one already. 

Im so sorry you are having to go through this with your dad. The early stages before a full diagnosis and treatment are long and frustrating. The biopsy results are always the longest because they need to test it and see if it grows, which is a long process. Hopefully it won’t be too long before dad can start treatment. 

Thank you so much for your help. Means a lot and now we feel we can do something to help xx if he accepts it xx all the best and sending love 

Sorry to hear you’re going through this, currently going through the same with my mum. She’s had an awful cough for a while, but she does have known COPD, and recently diagnosed lung cancer. Since tests have started, she’s have 2 chest infections/antibiotics which have helped a bit.

Excellent advice. I use all of those things to help me which are very effective. I have recently found when sleeping If im lying too flat on the bed it effects my breathing. I have lots of pillows and a V shaped pillow. 
much better sleeps.

Thank you xx

Sorry can I ask something else. You seem to have been in this for a while and if you’re happy to reply and help I’ll be forever grateful. 

Dad is 65 so young really, and we find that he’s not accepting any advice and help. He just doesn’t seem to want to do anything to make this easier. I know he’s scared but he keeps telling nurses that he’s ok and he’s not. We feel a bit helpless for our mum but also it’s frustrating. As mean as that sounds we don’t want him to be disheartened. The biopsy result is this week hopefully. But a letter came through and they’ve confirmed lung cancer but not the stage. Is this denial part of the journey and what do we do to make him help himself? 

I am sorry to hear that dad is finding this hard. I think it is hard for a man that has seen himself as the provider of the family all his life, the protector, the head of the house, to now be looking to others for help. I can’t say if this is why your dad is the way he is, but I know this is exactly how my husband would be. He wouldn’t want me to be worried, and he wouldn’t want to make a fuss. 

I think you would benefit from calling the macmillan support line for guidance with this. It is a free call number and they are open 7 days a week from 8am until 8pm on 0808 808 00 00. 

Good luck with the biopsy results. Please let us know how he gets on. 

Hi Charlotte I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis, could I ask how they've diagnosed without biopsy results? My granddad is waiting for biopsy results and hasn't received any diagnosis as of yet x thank you x

Hi

I'm assuming your grandad has had all the previous investigations usually given, i.e. chest X-ray, CT scans, PET scan etc. before the biopsy was done. The biopsy is to determine what type of cancer your grandad has and at what stage it is. It seems unusual that he has not been given a diagnosis beforehand.

I initially had an X-ray which showed an abnormality in my left lung, so was then sent for a CT scan to get a clearer picture. I was then told by the respiratory consultant that it was cancer...I then went on to have a PET scan and then a biopsy which gave the type of cancer it was and at what stage.

Best wishes.

Hi, yes he's had all of them, actually 2 PET scans up to now as one was 2 months ago and they're still doing investigation! They still say they don't know what it is, EBUS bronchoscopy was negative but PET showed mild activity so they're a bit confused I think. On the letters they have said "potential T3 N0 M0 if diagnosis made". Biopsy was done Wednesday by a robot!! His "lump of rubbish" as the consultant calls it was picked up on a CT for something else, no symptoms at the time still no symptoms now x