COPD will be oxygen dependent

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time with your breathing, it’s definitely very challenging to be short of breath from simply walking around. I wonder if the radiation is the cause of your breathing problem, they removed a tumour from your upper left lobe in 24/7, was it a large tumour, did you have any surgery with your treatment and are you an ex smoker? I asked these questions because it can explain some of what’s happening with your lungs. I had an upper left lobe removed for early stage lung cancer without chemo or radiation and a wedge removed two years later in my lower right lobe with no further treatment. I have poor breathing issues because I had COPD before the cancer so things gradually diminished with time. I’ve heard that there exercises that help strengthen your lungs, start stretching and walking more often and then try to slowly increase, don’t overdo it, just go slow and steady every day until you feel ready to increase it a bit more, your diet is also essential, lots of protein for building muscle strength, breathing exercises are good for strengthening your lungs, you can find information about this online. Also, I don’t always think that doctors know everything about what you’re capable of doing for yourself, I think that they don’t have all the answers, we’re all individuals and many people have gone far beyond expectations with their determination to do so, best wishes for your recovery.

Do ask about pulmonary rehab. It is designed to strengthen the muscles that support breathing. I know lung cancer tissue doesn't regenerate so I can't promise it can come back. I know I do see people at the YMCA working out using oxygen and again on trails that climb dunes to great heights.

@frouke I quit smoking 10 years ago. I have a stomach PEG tube because I cannot swallow normally from throat cancer surgery 5 years ago, I am living on Glucerna since that surgery. Glucerna is like Ensure but for Type 2 diabetic patients like myself. I see my chemo doctor regularly and my blood numbers right now are lower then the range. Right now after my chest xray there shows to be either scarring from the past tumor or something is growing there again 4.5cm. My lung doctor and chemo doctor are suppose to be working together on this because the chemo doctor wants to recheck my North Start blood test ( like a blood tumor marker) next month to see if those number have gone higher. If they do back to chemo and radiation again...Wondering if that is causing my breathing issues. Also CAT scan a few months ago showed a partial upper left collapsed lung which my lung doc said it is getting better...Radiation has to be playing a big part in this.

@gareee314, I would think that the radiation is the culprit, it’s the same thing with other treatments, they can do amazing things to help you recover but unfortunately they often leave a calling card too, however it’s all we have and we want to survive. There are many stories about people slowly getting better and stronger with better treatments results and newer ones are always coming out to give us better chances of recovery and longevity. I think that you’re strong and have had a lot to deal with but you have a desire to keep going and that is the best medicine you’ve got to keep moving forward.

@frouke Thank you.