Got my diagnosis on New Year's Eve - support, ideas, or suggestions would be very welcome.

Morning Clive Blackpool, 

Firstly welcome to the Macmillan Online Community. I am so sorry to hear about your prognosis. We are all here to support you whilst you navigate your way through all the information given and planning what is next. 

I would like to suggest a couple of groups which can offer further advice.I will include the links here and all you have to do is press on the link and it will take you directly there. 

The first one is Living with incurable cancer forum - patients onlyyou can then if you wish share you journey with others and hopfully give you more practical advice and support. 

The second one Lung cancer forum because you mentioned the initial diagnosis was lung cancer. This group will offer help and support with dealing with symptoms and the affects of treatments. 

There is also the helpline and they can offer some personal support over the phone and may direct you to other services and support in your local area. They can talk through benefits and working. I found them to be very helpful when I started my unexpected dignosis of stage 4 kidney cancer and I didnt know where to turn. 

Please let us know if there is anything else we can support you with. 

BW 

Jamie 

Hello CliveBlackpool,

A warm welcome to the community, although I am very sorry indeed that you have the need to join, especially in your own personal circumstances. I'm Derek, one of the community champions on here.

My lung cancer was non small cell, but we do have members with small cell and I'm sure they will be replying to your post shortly.

In the meantime, Macmillan provides a wide range of free services to help navigate treatment, provide practical and helpful counsel and advice as well as help with many other issues you encounter. I'd like to suggest you have a look at these (if you haven't already of course) to see if any will be useful to you and help you with some of the many issues you are facing right now.

I've inserted a link below for you to access this easily.

It would also be useful if you could write a brief profile of your journey so far (click on small logo at top right corner of your home page and follow the link) just so that others can see this and you don't have to keep repeating things in your posts etc..

Come back to us when you've had a look and we can talk further as necessary.

Derek.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/macmillan-support-line

Thanks Derek. Very useful information  

Hi Clive , I have the same diagnosis with where the cancer is but I have non small cell . I was diagnosed January 12th.

it is so hard to take in , I am on a afatinib , which is a targeted therapy , I take 1 tablet every  day

i read stories where people live longer than expected and keep hoping that this may be me and you as you sound strong and determined , not sure what determines this , I am up and down and have had a couple of chest infections , I was wondering why some people are on chemo and some on targeted therapy ?

are you able to still work , are you feeling ok 

I find this group really good and supportive ,

Lisa 

Hi Clive Blackpool,

I'm really sorry to hear your diagnosis, it's such a massive shock being told. I've just been diagnosed with stage 3b none small cell lung cancer and it's such a scary prospect.

I wanted to give you some hope because my Dad  who was a very unhealthy 79 yr old at the time was given 3 months with small cell lung cancer. He lived for 3 years. It was covid that unfortunately got to him.

He struggled with Chemo and we had numerous calls to get there quickly because it was touch and go so they reduced his dose by half and then he had radiotherapy. Incredibly he got the all clear. Please don't give up hope.

My brother keeps telling me "if Dad could beat it with his age and health issues, you can too" and I'm going to say that to you too.  Try to stay positive.

Big hugs to you

Bex

Pugs can be the best therapy

Dear Clive, 4-6-12 months are just statistics, don't lose your courage and hope! The name "cancer" means "crab" and crabs could walk backwards.Two books helped me a lot: "Anticancer" by Dr. David Servan Schreiber and "Getting well again" by O Carl Simonton. A huge hug! Maria