Hi . Just been diagnosed with lung cancer & MPE.

Hello Geoff, 

I am Mike, 67 years old, and recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I star radiotherapy and chemotherapy next week and the doctor is quite positive of the treatment being successful. 

I am so sorry to hear that your outlook is not so good.

I am writing because I was so moved by your situation. Losing your wife after such a long time, and having to deal with the grief and loneliness, it hit home to me somehow.

I have been happily married for over 40 years, and am lucky we are still together. We have no children.

Since I was diagnosed I have been extremely emotional. I have never cried so much in my life. I cry because I am frightened. I am not frightened of dying, because for me, it would not matter. But I am frightened of how my wife would cope without me.

We are inseparable, and she is scared. Leaving her to live by herself haunts me.

I can't change your situation, and I can't solve it. All I can say is that, although our situations are different, the mental torment is similar.

I am always ready to write to you if it helps. 

Good luck 

Mike 

Thanks Mike for replying and openly sharing your story. I sincerely wish you and your dear wife all the luck in the world. 

Geoff.

Hi there...so sorry you have to be on here. Has the oncologist suggested any treatment? 

I too have lung cancer and an mpe. In total I had 17 litres drained and now it's finally dried up. Please don't give up hope...I'm currently on immunotherapy and fingers crossed it's working it's magic. Please don't despair... Xxx

Hi Elsie S.

I've refused all treatment apart from palliative. At 76yrs and tired of life  I don't want to simply delay the inevitable. The main problem is my breathing because of a continuous build up of pleural fluid. Ive had 1700mls (3pints) drained so far. I'm going to the pleural clinic tomorrow (20th Jan) to discuss the best way to deal with this  problem. 

Did you drain your own fluid ? xx

Hi there...I totally respect that everybody is different and that we all have very different lives and opinions.

My pleural effusion made breathing difficult for me and then I had a chest drain put in and was able to drain every day at home. This went on from end of July until November when it dried up. My breathing improved massively as time went on and I'm now back to normal and I'm walking 3 - 4 miles a day, something i didn't think was possible a few months ago.

As far as treatment goes, I'm on keytruda immunotherapy and have pretty much zero side effects. My treatment is every 6 weeks so doesn't impact my life too much at all.

Its overwhelming at first and there are so many thoughts that fly around our heads but please have a chat with your oncologist about treatments options and don't just write yourself off. The horrible disease may not be curable but it is treatable.

Just look into options and discuss with your family....but please give yourself a chance xxxx

Hi again Elsie S,

I had a pleural infusion chest drain valve fitted today. I can now drain off fluid for myself when the need arises. OMG! What a relief this has been. At last I can breath so much easier again. Thank you for your very inspiring post. I've still decided to let nature take its course and refused immunotherapy because it seems right for me. My son was with me to give moral support and my daughter is visiting this afternoon. They are fine with my decision. Thank you again xx

Geoff x

Hi Geoff, apologies I don’t think think I’ve said hello to you yet. A very warm welcome to the group, and the online community. I have seen that you have also joined the incurables group, which is good, we may bump into each other there as well, as I am also an incurable. 

I am glad you had the chest drain fitted successfully today, I am sure that will make things so much easier for you, and keep you comfortable. Cancer can sometimes feel like it has taken everything away from us, but the one thing it cannot take is our right to choose whether we want treatment or not. That is a very personal choice, and I am so glad you have the backing of your family.  

Take care, I’m sure we’ll chat again soon x 

Hi...and I'm so pleased you can breathe again....it makes such a huge difference. I think it's wonderful that your family are supporting you but it's a shame you won't give immunotherapy a go. Unlike chemo is doesn't make you feel dreadful, I wouldn't even know I was on anything apart from the fact I feel so much better. 

I won't go on about it as it's such a personal choice, but you may feel differently now you can breathe and don't feel as dreadful. Just keep your options open and see how you feel in a few weeks. Xxxx