Hi,my mum was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer just over 18months ago, she also has it in her lymph nodes and rib,she has had immunotherapy and radiation therapy,she seemed to pic up a little bit,but now she is in a lot of pain and lost loads of weight, last few days she has spent most of it in bed, she in 40 mg morphine twice a day plus the liquid when needed, the consultant said he is considering cemo but thinks the side effects would be too much, can anyone tell me if this could be the end or could she pic up again,im at a loss as to what to expect 

Hi Loo1512, I'm sorry to hear that. I can't really help on what could happen next. I know Jolamine will be able to help you more. From my experience with my mum once you are too weak for treatment it usually means that there isn't too much more they can do. I know everybody is different though. Try and savour every moment you can with your mum. All the time you can spend together is special. My thoughts are with you and your mum. X

Simon 

Hi Jolamine, I can only imagine how many patients you have seen over that time! That is really nice that so many people brought you gifts. You are right Jolamine, you can learn pretty much anything over the internet these days! My sister does give me pointers aswell with bits. I was pulling the weeds out of my mums little garden and I wasn't sure which ones to pull but my sister showed me which ones so I have been learning bits and pieces

Thanks Jolamine, yes I was a bit surprised too. They haven't given the results of the scan yet but they did send a letter saying they suspect it's cancer so I think they must be pretty sure to send that letter. I think we will find out shortly as the results are due. I will let you know, thank you Jolamine.

I totally understand, it must be very different for you. You are busy but not in the way you used to be. I imagine it must be difficult after having the much contact with people over the years. I guess over time you will get used to it a bit more. Ah I hope it goes well for him. My dad has diabetes too, you have to be really careful with those hypos don't you. There's been lots of times he's had to eat a mars bar quickly to get his sugar back up! I hope it works well for your husband. 

I will off course let you know how my dad goes on Jolamine, thank you. You take care. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

One of my colleagues worked out the number of patients before I left and it was well into the millions. Still, I'm fortunate in that I've always enjoyed my work and found it very worthwhile.

Has your dad had his Pet scan results yet? We were at the hospital with my hubby today. He has been very sleepy and had a lot of dizziness and palpitations since he started on his new medication. His blood pressure was also very low today, so they have reduced the strength of one of his tablets until things even out. 

It is good to hear that your sister is keeping you right with your garden and you can always learn more from the internet, if you want to. You can do so much with the internet these days. We are about to try and learn Italinan this way, as we are going to Italy for my godson's wedding in September. I speak French, German and a little Spanish, but Italian is a totally new language for me.

I hoope that you are keeping well.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, how are you? Wow is it really that many, that's a lot of people! No wonder it feels strange for you not being around so many people now! I hope you are getting more used to it.

We did get the results. It is lung Cancer. It's stage 2 and they said they wouldn't operate because of his health. They said that he can have radiotherapy so he will have 4 weeks of that in a few weeks time. I'm not sure how he will manage with it with all his other illnesses. It sounds mostly like the problems come after the treatment has finished. We just have to hope he can get through it and it helps.

I'm sorry to hear that Jolamine, I hope your husband is doing better now.  Hopefully he is ok and they have got the medication sorted for him now. I know dizziness is awful so I do feel for him. Hopefully he is a little better now.

You are right Jolamine, there is so much information out there. You can pretty much learn anything these days. I have been looking at plants. We have a few house plants so I've been learning to maintain them. It's mostly just watering but I have started to pull the dead leaves off now! Ah that sounds really nice Jolamine. I'm sure you will have a lovely time! Do you speak all those languages Jolamine, that's impressive! I believe Italian isn't easy but as you already know the other languages I'm sure you will pick it up quickly! I bet you are looking forward to it! 

Thankyou Jolamine, I hope all is well with you too! You take care. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having to go through this all over again. How is your father coping with the results? I do hope that he can cope with the radiotherapy and that he doesn't have too many problems with it. My Italian is limited to just a few words at present, but I am gradually adding to my vocabulary. I do about 20 minutes every day and it's amazing just how quicklyI'm beginning to pick up a few phrases. We are really looking forward to our trip.

The other thing that you need to do with your plants is to feed them occasionally. The plant gradually takes the nutrients out of the soil and you need to replace these from time to time in order to keep the plants healthy.

I hope that all goes well  over the next few weeks. Please keep me posted.

Look after yourself.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, he seems to be ok at the moment. It doesn't quite feel real yet as he has no symptoms. I'm sure it will become real once he starts the radiotherapy. He has just been today for the first appointment and the treatment will start on the 15th for a month. We will have to see how it goes, hopefully he will manage to cope with it. I will let you know how it goes.

Wow do you really learn the words that quick Jolamine, It sounds like you have a knack for it! I think after 20 minutes you wouldn't pick that much up but if you do it everyday I'm sure some of it does stick! I'm sure you will be quite good by the time you go! I bet you can't wait.

Ah ok I must admit I haven't fed the plants. I need to look into that, I have just been watering and they seem to be ok but I can imagine how it helps them and the soil. It's another thing for me to have a look at on the internet! I'm learning bits here and there. 

Thank you Jolamine, I will do. I hope all is well with you. You take care. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

It must be difficult to take this in when he has no symptoms. I am glad to hear that he doesn't have long to wait for his radiotherapy. Here's hoping that all goes well for him. 

Please keep me posted. 

I hope that you are enjoying this lovely weather for the Jubilee holiday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine x

Hi Jolamine, yeah I'm trying not to think about it too much at the moment. Hopefully it goes well. He's starting the treatment this week and it lasts for a month so we will see how it goes. Thank you, that is very kind of you.

The weather was really nice for the Jubilee wasn't it! I hope you had a nice time. It's expecting to be warm again by the end of this week I think. I hope everything is going ok with you Jolamine. I will of course let you know how everything goes. You take care Jolamine.

Simon x

Hi Simon,

I expect that your Dad is feeling quite anxious at the thought of starting radiotherapy, but I hope that all goes well for him. A month is a long time, when he is not very fit, so I hope that it doesn't take too much out of him. 

The weather was a real bonus for the Jubilee . We just enjoyed it - got a lot done in the garden and had our meals outside - a real treat up here!

As you already know, I am always here any time you need to chat.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, he seems quite relaxed but he's never been one to worry about his health. Even with his diabetes he pretty much ignored it, I sure he is a little worried deep down though but he wouldn't admit it. Yes that's the biggest concern, 20 sessions does seem a lot. With his heath already not being great I'm sure it will be hard. He also has to travel to wythenshae which is about an hour away. They have provided transport to pick him up though which is good.

It was very nice! That sounds good Jolamine, yeah we don't get many opportunities to eat outside in our climate! We have to take advantage while we can! It sounds like you made the most of it. I believe the next few days will be quite warm too. Thank you Jolamine, that means a lot to me. I hope everthing is ok with you. You take care.

Simon x

Hi Simon,

How is your Dad's treatment going so far? It's helpful that they have provided transport for him. but a two hour journey every weekday will take it out of him too.

Thinking of you both.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Simon,

How is your Dad's treatment going so far? It's helpful that they have provided transport for him. but a two hour journey every weekday will take it out of him too.

Thinking of you both.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, how are you? Everything is going ok thanks. My dad is getting tired now as expected but he is still managing ok. He's had 7 sessions now so still a while to go. I think as you said the travelling is taking a lot out of him. I expect him to get more tired as we go along but he is managing at the moment. Yes the transport is hit and miss, sometimes quite early and other times late, it is all in a morning though so he's usually back by 11:30 which isn't too bad. I hope you are enjoying this hot weather, it's been really warm today hasn't it! Thank you for the kind words Jolamine, I hope you are doing ok. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

I am glad to hear that your dad is managing ok so far. It's a pity that his transport is so hit and miss. This must add extra pressure on him, which he could well do without. I'm afraid that we haven't had the good weather that you've been having - plenty of rain and high winds are the order of the day here.I'm not doing too badly at the moment, thank you.

Keep in touch.

Jolamine 

Hi Jolamine, did you not have the nice weather, that's a shame. It was really warm for a while, back to normal pretty much now though! I hope all is well. He is managing ok but it's taking it out of him now. I think a lot of it is the transport as you said, some days he can be at the hospital an hour early so he is waiting around. We did have a bit of trouble last week where he was coughing up some blood but they said it can happen. They checked him over and said he's fine to carry on with the treatment. He coughs really hard which doesn't help as he could have ended up doing some damage. The cough is a known side effect from radiotherapy I believe. He has done 14 sessions now so just 6 left. I will let you know how he goes on. I hope everything is ok with you Jolamine, you take care. x

Simon

Hi Simon, 

Sorry for the delay in replying. My hubby wasn't well this week and we had to call the heart failure nurse. She came out to the house and took bloods, his blood pressure and has referred him for an ECG.  She phoned me today with the blood results and all is clear, thank goodness. She has advised that we reduce the frequency of taking one of his tablets and she will phone us again next week to see how he is coping. This all seems to have come about as a result of putting him on a new tablet to try and reduce the swelling in his legs

We are still waiting for the nice weather promised this weekend. I am glad to hear that your Dad is managing his treatment, even though it is taking so much out of him. I am sorry to hear that he was coughing up blood last week, but understand that this can happen. It is so good to know that he is almost at the end of his radiotherapy now. I'm sure that he'll be glad to see it all finished.

Take care and keep in touch.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I'm so sorry to hear that. How is he doing now. It is really annoying isn't it when you try and correct the medication and something else goes wrong. I'm glad the results are clear and hopefully he starts to feel better soon. It sounds like you have had a hard time with everything going on. I do hope everything settles down and he feels better. 

Did you get the hot weather Jolamine, it's expected to be really hot this weekend. I must admit I'm not a fan when it gets too warm. We either get no heat or it's boiling! It's never just right! 

Thanks Jolamine, yes he has finished now. He finished yesterday, he seems relieved, I think he is too tired to really know at the moment. He does seem to be glad it's done though. I think it's a 3 week wait now before they get in touch about having another scan done. The coughing up blood wasn't nice  but it is something they had told us about so that made it less of a worry. It hasn't happened again so that's a good thing I think. I will do Jolamine, I hope your husband is feeling better. You take care. x

Simon
 

Hi Simon,

Hubby is a bit better, but still not himself. His blood pressure has risen a little since reducing the dose ofone of his tablets. He is waiting for an ECG and has an appointment at the hospital at the end of this month.

I am glad to hear that your dad has finished the radiotherapy. I understand that the tiredness can last for some time after the radiotherapy stops, so it will take a while to see what benefit he has had from it. I hope that his next scan shows that it has all been worth it. I am glad to hear that there has been no more bleeding.

We got to see what the good weather was like on Sunday last week. However, that was just a teaser, as we haven't seen it since. We've had a few heavy showers today, but we're ever hopeful of seeing the good weather back for another day or two. I hope that it's not too hot for you.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they can get his blood pressure sorted out. It's so difficult when changing tablets isn't it, my dad is like that when they start new medications, it's always difficult to make sure something else doesn't go wrong. I do hope the ecg goes well and they can help him.

Yeah they did warm us thst the tiredness can happen at any time, I think they said the first 3 weeks there's a good chance of some symptoms. I know these can happen at any time though. It is strange that it's just a waiting game now and hopefully there's some good news down the line. Thank you Jolamine, yes he has been fine since then. 

I'm glad you did get a little bit of the hot weather finally! I believe we will all be hot this weekend. There's a warning for very hot weather so hopefully you do get some sun! Thanks Jolamine, I like a bit of sun but that does sound too hot for me! I hope your husband feels better soon Jolamine. You take care. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

I hope that your Dad is doing ok and that he doesn't have too many nasty symptoms. I sincerely hope that he gets some good news when he goes back to the hospital.

We have finally had a few days of continuous hot days, intersperced with light showers and accompanied by a strong wind. This has made the heat bearable. Admittedly our weather is still only in the low 30ies, so nothing like I expect that you have. I hope that you're coping ok.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I hope you are well. Sorry for the late reply. My dad has been doing ok thank you. He has been tired but has been lucky so far with not too many symptoms. Thank you Jolamine, It will be a while before we find out but hopefully it's good news.

Ah that's good, I'm glad you have finally had some nice weather. It was pretty awful last week, far too hot. Once it gets past 30 it's getting too hot for me! How is your husband doing Jolamine, I hope he's feeling a little better. You said he has a appointment at the end of the month didn't you, I hope that goes well. You take care Jolamine. x

Simon

Hi Simon,

I'm delighted to hear that your Dad is doing ok. It is great to hear that he hasn't got too many side-effects, apart from the tiredness. It's now an anxious wait to find out how successful his treatment has been.  As you say, this may take a while but let's hope that it will be good news.

The highest temperature we reached here was 34º, so nothing like the temperatures that you've been having - and this only lasted for one day. Hubby is still not doing well. The heart failure nurse came out to see him when his blood pressure was so low. She was very thorough. She took his blood pressure, discovered that he has an irregular heart beat, took various blood tests and phoned to tell me the results the following day. She said that she would arrange another ECG for him. She then advised him to reduce one of his tablets and said that she would phone back the following week to see how he was coping. Unfortunately, she never phoned back.

I haven't phoned her back, because he has an appointment with the heart failure nurse at the hospital tomorrow, so we'll see what she has to say tomorrow.

Look after yourself Simon.

Regards,

Jolamine xx