New to the forum and need somewhere to find information

Just over three years ago my wife Janet of 47years was diagnosed with lung cancer in her left lung. It was discovered early because she insisted that the continuas cough she had was not going away. After test she had surgery to remove the top third of her left lung and they also took some tissue to check if it had spread. The results came back that it was in fact cancer but had not spread to the nearby cell they had taken.

In June this year she again requested a x-Ray because of a silly cough she had. I did not even know she was coughing, it was so infrequent. She asked the doctor for a X- ray and when the results came back it showed nothing but the Doctor wasn't happy and sent her for a CT-Scan. from then on she had more test as it had shown the lymth nodes in her chest were enlarged and another location in her right lung had a growth. She had other tests and we eventually had an appointment last thursday with the lung specialist. The diagnosis was devistating for us both the cancer as come back and is incurable. We have got over the initial shock and trying to come to terms with it.  We are going to meet the specialist in Chemotheropy this week and will I presume find out more details regarding the chemo she will have. I am concerned about how it will effect Jan as she as suffered for years with Arthritis. Also a couple of years ago was diagnosed with Colitis. She takes loads of pills to alleviate the symptoms.

I do need to have some idea about her life expectance so I can do all the things she want's to do before the end comes. I realise no one can state for sure but cannot ask the specialist in front of Janet.

Parents
  • Brian,

    So sorry to hear about your news. The only good thing is that your wife went in with her symptoms as soon as she recognised them. Scant comfort I know. The word incurable is the last thing you want to hear under any circumstances.

    I'm in a similar position to Janet with an incurable cancer for which I have had palliative chemotherapy which has extended my life expectancy, but by how much no-one can tell. By coincidence I also have had ulcerative colitis for about twenty years.

    All I can suggest is that the two of you sit down together beforehand and plan what questions you want to ask the consultant, then write them down and write down his responses. You may find that Janet actually wants you to ask questions about survival rates on her behalf. On the other hand, she may be unwilling to hear in case it dashes her hopes. There's no right or wrong way to address this - just what works for the two of you.

    One thing that it would be useful for you to know is the TNM stage, the consultant will be able to tell you this when you next meet. This will help you with any online research you want to do into survival rates - though bear in mind that survival rates are only averages and mustn't be applied to individual cases. You've probably read this already, but there is some useful information at www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../lung-cancer-staging

    Good luck to you both
    Dave

     

     

     

     

Reply
  • Brian,

    So sorry to hear about your news. The only good thing is that your wife went in with her symptoms as soon as she recognised them. Scant comfort I know. The word incurable is the last thing you want to hear under any circumstances.

    I'm in a similar position to Janet with an incurable cancer for which I have had palliative chemotherapy which has extended my life expectancy, but by how much no-one can tell. By coincidence I also have had ulcerative colitis for about twenty years.

    All I can suggest is that the two of you sit down together beforehand and plan what questions you want to ask the consultant, then write them down and write down his responses. You may find that Janet actually wants you to ask questions about survival rates on her behalf. On the other hand, she may be unwilling to hear in case it dashes her hopes. There's no right or wrong way to address this - just what works for the two of you.

    One thing that it would be useful for you to know is the TNM stage, the consultant will be able to tell you this when you next meet. This will help you with any online research you want to do into survival rates - though bear in mind that survival rates are only averages and mustn't be applied to individual cases. You've probably read this already, but there is some useful information at www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../lung-cancer-staging

    Good luck to you both
    Dave

     

     

     

     

Children
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