Signs and symptoms

My wife was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last year. She has endured limited chemo last year, ( she contracted pneutropenic scepsis and c diff as a result, and the chemo was stopped after three sesions and some weeks in hospital), and then completed ten sessions of radiotherapy six weeks ago. Again, it went badly for her.

The last few days, she has become very tired and lethargic, sleeping an  lot in fact most of the day on the settee. She tells me she feels very very ill, but only has minor pain, sometime none at all.

The GP attended a few hours ago,( not her normal GP) was rather dismissive, listened to her chest...all good, took some bloods and then left declaring she was just depressed and slightly anaemic !

I walked to the car with the GP out of earshot, and asked what will be the signs that the cancer is taking hold and advancing as Maureen and I know it will. Typical GP, very vague and never really answered my question. Lets see what the bloods say...if anything at all!

I really need to know what signs and symptoms to look out for. There is currently only moderate pain behind her right lung she tells me,4/10, and is on oramorph with a morphine patch.

Perhaps somebody out there can give me more info as to how things MIGHT regrettably develope. I am trying to remain strong for her, but its that not knowing what might happen is making it harder to get my head round all of this.

Thankyou for taking time to read this.

  • Hi Derek

    This post could have my name signed to it because I have the same questions and have received the same "lack" of answers. My husband has renal cancer that metasisized to both lungs and lymphatics. He had two surgeries earlier to treat the kidneys but now that it has gone to other organs they consider him terminal.They offered him an oral chemo that could slow the growth down but not turn it around. He tried it but was too crazy sick on it, so he decided to go off and just live out his life with the best quality possible.

    I am like you,...I want to know, what's next? What symptoms will he have as the tumors grow? What things do we have to plan for and how soon? He sleeps more than the average person, rarely gets up before 11:00 yet still goes to bed at regular time. His appetite is quite suppressed and some days we have to all but coax him to eat. In many ways he looks healthy and has a good attitude. He loves to joke around but still experiences mood swings so there are days he looks depressed too. But then again, who wouldn't be under his circumstances? 

    So many unanswered questions and the drs don't give any answers other than, everyones different and so will be their symptoms.  Im not asking for definitive signs and dates but something to help ME process what is happening. Its like living with a big shoe over your head just waiting for it to drop and trying to be ready at all moments for when it does. Its exhausting. I guess if we know what the signs will be it may help us to program our feelings as we go along. I don't know,...its all so overhelming.

    Like you, I was hoping to talk with someone on this board that might be able to help us know what to expect? Maybe thats just too unpredictable but it doesn't stop me from trying to prepare myself.

    Hope you find some answers as well.

     

     

  • Hi Derekprideandjoy and [@Whytesands]‍, 

    I saw you were wanting to know what signs to look out for as the time nears so I just wanted to stop by and share some information we have about this on our website.

    Due to what's being discussed it can be a tough read so I'd recommend only reading through it properly if you feel you're ready to do so or have someone with you.

    I hope this helps and I wish you both the best at this difficult time in your lives.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator