Hello Clarec87

I'm sorry to hear that your Mum has been struggling with her health these past few weeks. It's understandable that you're feeling worried about this decline, given that she has previously had surgery for lung cancer. 

You mention in your post that she has recently had a review MRI. I presume that at this point, she hasn't seen the specialists for the results of that MRI? 

Do talk with your Mum's GP and her clinical specialist nurse about the decline that you've noticed recently and the struggles she is having with keeping food down. It may be that they want to arrange fr your Mum to be seen sooner or that there are some additional tests that they want to request. 

If it would help to talk things through with one of our nurses, you're welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. I know they will be happy to listen and offer any advice, information and support they can. 

I hope that you have some answers soon and that things improve for your Mum. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Hi Clarec87

I just saw your post. I know it was a couple of weeks ago but if you haven't yet got any answers for your Mum, then maybe my husband's experience may help.

My husband had an upper left lobectomy a year ago to remove a 9cm tumour. Prior to the surgery, he had neoadjuvant chemoradiation to shrink the tumour. Like your Mum, he was given the all clear a couple of weeks after the operation and was improving. Then he started feeling ill, feeling sick and bloated every time he ate, then he started feeling nauseous most mornings and then actually being sick most days. He said food tasted like vinegar, he lost weight and spent most days dozing in the armchair. 

At his 3-month follow-up we asked about the sickness symptoms, his CT scan showed some consolidation along the suture line but no recurrence so the sickness was put down to late side effects from the chemoradiation. His sickness got worse and we struggled to get his consultant or the lung nurses to take it seriously. The attitude was - it's probably side effects and we were told "you are a cancer survivor, you should be happy". 

We both knew this sickness wasn't right, eventually we sat in the consultant's office and insisted over and over that this couldn't just be side effects. We also badgered our GP until they agreed and referred him for further tests. He had an ultrasound, MRI, endoscopy, chest and abdominal CTs. These revealed that the remaining part of his left lung had areas of consolidation and fibrosis caused by the radiotherapy and the extent of the surgery has meant that (as the consultant described it) the "whole architecture of his lungs has changed". This meant he couldn't cough up mucus efficiently after the surgery, which caused a hiatus hernia, which in turn caused acid reflux, which then caused an oesophageal ulcer. 

Hubby was quickly put on the maximum possible dose of antacids and carbocysteine to thin the mucus. Within a week the sickness and nausea stopped, he is eating again, putting on weight and has much more energy. He is regaining his appetite and says food is starting to taste better. He is visibly looking stronger and better day by day. He said today that he is starting to feel more like his old self before the cancer.

I know everyone says not to, but I have googled this and apparently, it is rare but not unheard of for lung surgery to cause a hiatus hernia and for radiotherapy to cause lung consolidation. Unfortunately, my husband suffered both, but thankfully, they have been easily treated. It is obviously rare enough that my husband's team were unaware of it and didn't immediately recognise it. 

I hope you've already got some answers for your Mum. Of course, everyone is different; your Mum's symptoms may be caused by something entirely different. But if you are struggling to find the cause then this might be something her consultant might want to rule out.

• Thank you for sharing this, Clarec87 and everyday.   My sister is going to be having her left lower lobe removed and I am concerned about her recovery.   
  having had extensive surgery myself over the years I know I had to self advocate and be persistent with medical team when I knew things were not right.  It can be very difficult as you say they say “you’re a cancer survivor, br happy”. But recovery support is essential to make surgery worthwhile.
  Do be insistent clarec87.