Just very worried

Hello,

My partner is having a PET scan this week to see if he has lung cancer. He has nodules in both lungs and enlarged lymph nodes in his chest. He also has fluid in one lung. He also has COPD. His breathlessness is increasing to the point where everything makes him breathless. This week I rang an ambulance as his 02 SATs were 68%. Spent all night in the ED, they wanted to admit him as his CO2 levels were very high in his blood. They started to talk about ICU and intubation but they decided against that. My partner then decided he wanted to go home and he discharged himself. Now he spends much of his time asleep and his SATs are consistently at 70/71%. He adamantly refuses to go back to hospital.

He is also still smoking!

I don't know what to do.

Thanks for reading.

  • Welcome to Cancer Chat, Sandybobs.

    I'm sorry to hear about your partner's health situation. It sounds like you're going through an incredibly difficult time right now.

    Hopefully other forum members who can relate to your experience will come along shortly to chat with you and offer advice but in the meantime it might be helpful to have an open and honest conversation with your partner about the seriousness of the situation, especially considering their refusal to go back to the hospital and the continued smoking.

    Seeking medical advice and support is crucial. Remember, you don't have to navigate this alone—reaching out to healthcare professionals and support networks can provide guidance and comfort during this time.

    The other thing I wanted to mention is that our team of nurses are a phone call away if you feel like having a chat with someone with a medical background. They're available Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m on this number 0808 800 4040.

    I hope this helps a little.

    Best wishes to you both,

    Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thank you so much for reading and being so kind. I had to ring 999 last nigh as his SATs had dropped to 51%. He has been admitted to hospital and so far is staying there!. Its looking like he has lung cancer alongside very severe emphysema. We have a long road ahead of us I think.

    Thanks

    Sandra.