1. < Lung Cancer
Moderator

Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Mar 2, 2017

Welcome to the Lung Cancer group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with lung cancer or caring for someone with lung cancer. Let's learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I'm Colleen, and I'm the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you'll to be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jun 24, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @llwortman @burrkay @alicantina1 @merilee @alvinw @shortshot80 @mryzuch @amws @pearlgee @cheris @annette1 @cheris @windwalker @lesbatts @major..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @llwortman @burrkay @alicantina1 @merilee @alvinw @shortshot80 @mryzuch @amws @pearlgee @cheris @annette1 @cheris @windwalker @lesbatts @major @bestcare and @sistergoldenhair

I'd like to invite you to the new group dedicated to discussions about lung cancer. It's a space where we can ask questions, share tips and learn from each other. Whether you in treatment or caring for someone with lung cancer, or you're a lung cancer survivor, please join us.

Pull up a chair and tell us a bit about yourself.

Jump to this post

Hi,, I'm shortshot) What a wonderful way to "Choose to be thankful for the past, but choosee to resourceful in the present, and most importantlly choose to be hopeful for the future". My oh My Yes! I will share this with my kid's who will listen. Most people can have kids, love them and raise them to the best of their ability, and hope they have listened to some of the things you try to impart to them. My "kids" are all in their 60's, doesn't mean that they heard anything I had tried to tell them. But mostly hope they listened, heard and put into practice of what you tried to teach them. All this just has to take it's time for each one. Thank you much for the wisdom you shared today.
Nancy.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 27, 2018
In reply to @pc2018 "Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died..." + (show)
@pc2018

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

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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?

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pc2018 | @pc2018 | Jul 1, 2018
In reply to @pc2018 "Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died..." + (show)
@pc2018

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

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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

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marylou705 | @marylou705 | Jul 1, 2018
In reply to @pc2018 "Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died..." + (show)
@pc2018

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

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@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

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 2, 2018

You certainly are not having fun. I'm sorry that you are going through this. Do you know what your treatment plan will be?

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 4, 2018
In reply to @pc2018 "Nancy, I can't tell you how much my heart goes out to you. My husband died..." + (show)
@pc2018

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

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 4, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "You certainly are not having fun. I'm sorry that you are going through this. Do you..." + (show)
@merpreb

You certainly are not having fun. I'm sorry that you are going through this. Do you know what your treatment plan will be?

Jump to this post

@marylou705, I believe @merpreb's question above was meant for you. The question is "Do you know what your treatment plan will be?"

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lady1lake | @lady1lake | Jul 6, 2018

Hello Colleen, my name is Claudette. I was diagnosed with 3a small cell lung cancer in April. I have completed 1/2 of prescribed chemo & 1/2 of the twice a day radiation. Today I went for sonogram on liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys & aorta. Now anxiously awaiting results. Glad to find this forum.

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shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jul 11, 2018

shortshot
Ladies, I''m sorry for not being here as it really has helped me to cope with all sorts of issues. Grief, lonely, quietness, one of my "kid"s lying and creating all sorts of stress after my hubby passed/ Have had to consult attorney, update my will, you name it and it has been lots of loss! Today I have my new internet and am on here for the first time in I don't know how long. I finally have the password correct. Now hoping to get back in here and see who/what/how & why. I have also seemed to get "uti" a lot, will talk to both cancer doc & primary doc to see why and what to do with this. I have had one of my granddaughters here for several days, she is 28 and just received her masters degree in "Speech Pathology" I am so proud of her and we have had a really nice visit since last Saturday.
I will have "immune therapy"on Thursday morning and then same day in another city see my heart doc, checking my pacemaker. I will get back in here and see who to visit with. Gotta be someone I can talk to who is in the same boat. Thanks for listening ladies! Nancy

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jul 21, 2018

Hi Colleen, (Nancy Bush33) I haven't been here for a while, I have been overwhelmed with emotional feelings, lonely, not sleeping too well, I feel like I am a basket case at times. I do have a doctor appt on Tuesday to see if my primary care doc can help. Just feel lost. (nancybush33) Thanks!

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