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Terminal lung cancer

Susiq7
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I have cancer which has metastasised and I have been given 3-6 months to live. One month into the time span and although I have made all the necessary arrangements, funeral, legal etc., I find the whole diagnosis hard to believe. In November, just six months ago, it was diagnosed as a broken toe so you can understand my disbelief.

I have been disabled since 1981 so I have been on painkillers for years. I have very little or no pain at all now.

can someone please let me know what to expect over the coming weeks. I am being looked after by my local hospice and my gp's

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    Hi

    Welcome to the forum though sad to read the reason behind your joining us.  My husband had a terminal diagnosis (cancer of the lung linings -Mesothelioma) and most time scales are careful estimates.  It is quite difficult to say how or what you should be feeling, or even when, as from reading many posts here each cancer experience is very personal.  All I can tell you is that my husband was kept comfortable by our palliative care team (community nurses and GP as he did not choose hospice care) and any breakthrough pain was promptly helped with various painkillers.He always said he felt no more than discomfort and increasing fatigue. He actually had nearly three years to 'get everything in order' and it was only in his last week that he was unable to manage the stairs so we had a special bed supplied within 24hrs of asking and he spent his final days chatting with family and friends and watching tv when not sleeping. Our children/grandkids said goodnight around 7pm and to be honest we all thought he would be with us a little longer. His passing was 5hrs later and was very peaceful.

    I am sure you and your family will be helped and guided by the hospice nurses and your GP and they will appreciate your honesty as to how you really feel  so they can offer complete care. I hope others will be along for a chat soon. Sending a virtual hug. Jules54

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    Hi SusiQ,

    First off, welcome to the forum - though I'm sure you wish you didn't qualify for membership.

    Second, as Jules has said, these dates are at best educated guesses and are based on average survival rates and don't take variables such as your age and physical fitness/state of your immune system (important as this can affect the degree and speed in which your body can recover after chemo or radio therapy and avoid complications such as infections). From personal and family experience, the doctors sometimes get the prognosis right but they often don't and they seem to under-estimate as often as the over-estimate. I know this isn't the answer you would have been hoping for, but I'm afraid this has been my experience. 

    So for goodness sake, don't burn too many bridges. I went through a week of getting things in order in October 2013 after receiving a similar prognosis following a diagnosis of stage 4 oesophageal cancer. I still have stage 4 cancer and I know I could still die at any time in the next few weeks or months, but it hasn't happened yet. I realise I've been damned lucky so far, but I'm not the only one. By definition, half of us will live longer than the average we're given.


    Best wishes
    Dave

     

     

     

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