Hi , I am new to the group
i have been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer which has spread to the bones and fluid around my heart , I had a Cough which started in October and would not go away
My doc sent me for an xray which showed a slightly enlarged heart and a lung infection , I had an eco gram of the heart which showed it was full of fluid , they sent me straight to a and e where I was admitted , I had a heart drain and then a ct scan which showed the problem was lung cancer, this was Jan 9th . Two weeks later I had a pericardial window in my heart sac as the fluid came back
I then had a chest infection so was readmitted and then my lung filled with fluid so I had a lung drain , unfortunately all this delayed my treatment which I started 15 days ago
I have a SR 1 form which I did not realise what it was until I googled it, I am struggling so much and my mind is full of so many negative thoughts , it is surreal , I look at pictures from Christmas and we were happy smiling no problems at all
i have 2 girls 23 and 27 and a partner of 31 years
Is anyone in a similar situation , the life expectancy and a similar diagnosis ?
do they guess , can they be wrong , I find it hard to actually ask the docs and nurses , who are lovely , because I dont want to hear their answer .
i am on targeted therapy , afatinib and after 2 weeks my breathing is better and i feel ( not had another xray yet) that the fluid has not come back to my lungs and heart, my collarbone hurts , the bonecancer and every day have a little niggle that didn’t have the day before !!,, but not major. The side effects, tummy , mouth and facial acne have all kicked in with a a vengeance but I have tabs and cream and starting to get them under control
I have always been such a positive person and people would come to me for reassurance , I need to turn myself around
I have not gone back to work yet as I have not felt well enough but I think I do now and am ready to start back part time
sorry for the long hello message but I have not spoken to anyone , I have been protecting my partner and kids and not told friends yet and stumbled across this group ,
thank you
Lisa
Hi Lisalouise you have certainly been through the mill in a very short space of time.
To answer your question about time, yes doctors can get it wrong. I have heard from many people who were told they had a certain time left, to then out live that time, and some have out lived the time by years not just months. It has been a topic on the site that I have seen discussed from time to time, and I have heard from people who said they wished they never asked. Once you are given a time frame, that is all you become focused on, and people have said that they felt they wasted their time just waiting for that “day” and they wished they had used their time better.
Targeted therapy is relatively new in lung cancer treatment, but it these new treatments that are changing the outcome for so many people. It is wonderful to hear that your breathing is improving after just 2 weeks. I hope that continues to improve for you.
Cancer can take so many things from you, but it cannot take your hope. And where there is treatment, there is always hope! X
Thank you , it cannot take my hope and I have always been a battler , I am trying to take day by day and defo the past coupe of days I feel i am ready to get back to some sort of normality
the targeted therapy as you say is fairly new so I cannot get a lot of info on fellow cancer patients who are on the same treatment , they did initially say chemo as well , like a combined therapy but then said the targeted on its own would be ok. Who knows .
You have been through so much yourself and your positivity is amazing
Positive thoughts
xx
