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Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Jan 22 8:18am | Replies (1013)Comment receiving replies
Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died when I was 57 really sudden. 2 years later I had colon cancer ..surgery, chemo and all that. When I went for my 10 year final checkup, I found out the colon cancer was still gone but I had lung cancer. They removed a lobe and hit a nerve and now I have a frozen diaphram and am on oxygen and the pulmonary doctors thinks its permanent.. I had surgery in Jan 2018. In March, my son (52 years old=only child) was diagnosed with stage iV pancreatic cancer. I now take care of him so his wife can work and I take him to chemo etc. Not much hope for recovery unless something new is discovered. I try to enjoy him while I can and accept life as it hits me but some days I am just overwhelmed. I am 70 now.
Its pretty hard to hide from other peoples sickness and often people just don't think. I try to go to the gym or at least walk every few days. I know it builds your immune system. Some days I just can't find the energy.
I have two adult granddaughters that I am very proud of and 5 siblings who try to help me as me as they can. I feel very thankful for those things. I live alone so it is always hardest when I think too much.
Pat
Replies to "Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died..."
Thanks for asking. Mostly it is a problem for breathing. I am on oxygen at night and most of the day. I've always been active and hauling around a backpack with air tanks is very frustrating especially when I want to go to the gym. I have to admit tho', I am glad they got rid of the cancer and that I didn't have to go thru' chemo again. I am still able to drive and take care of myself pretty much. There is a couple of fix-its but it is cost prohibitive (hope that is the right word) but maybe in the future. Pat
@pc2018 hi there, I had a lobectomy for lung cancer on May 30. I also had a stroke early January. This has left me with balance issues so I’ve got a walker. Not allowed to drive yet.
In the 3 weeks before the lung surgery I took 2 major falls at home, managing to crack 4 vertebra, 4 ribs, cartilage fractures in the sternum. This was pre-walker days before we managed to put the imbalance down to the stroke. Also, on the first scan follow up I had a noticeable spot on my liver. So went in for a liver drain to be inserted. They think this also happened with one of the falls.
Last night my temperature went to 101.5, so I quit eating, again. And went to bed. This morning the temp had not gone down significantly, so I decided I must have an infection and went to Emergency. After a few hours there, they couldn’t find signs of a blood or urine infection, so I had another radiation scan and they found I have some fluid in the lungs and also pleurisy, which was extremely painful. Also my O2 saturation had gone down to the low 80s, so they put me on O2 and a lot of pain killers.
I am back home again having sworn that I would readmit myself if I got worse. I sleep with a CPAP and Oxygen. We’re at quite a high altitude in CO.
Such fun I’m having! @marylou705
@pc2018 I'm wondering if you might help out a fellow member who just recently started a new discussion about a paralyzed diaphragm here:
- Paralyzed Diaphragm https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/paralyzed-diaphragm/
I'm sure John would appreciate hearing from someone living with a similar condition.
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Welcome to Connect, @pc2018. I marvel at the positivity that comes through your message despite the hand you have been dealt: loss of your husband, 2 cancer diagnoses, and now caring for your son with pancreatic cancer. Fifty-two is so young and cancer is so unfair. He and his wife must be very grateful to have your help.
Can you tell me a bit more what it feels like to have a frozen diaphragm? I can imagine it limits breathing capacity because your diaphragm is no longer flexible to move with breathing in and out. What else does it cause?