Hi guys. Sending love to you all. We have just lost my mum to this cancer after only 6 months post surgery. My advice push for the chemo after and push for all the scans you can get after too. If this had been possible for mum then she might still be here. Xx

hi,

it,s sad to hear about your loss especially after your mum going through the operation i know its difficult to accept your loss especially when you read posts like mine telling others it will all be fine , god bless you and take care of yourslef and your family.

Thanks Milly. I've learned so much already, I'll be doing lots of background reading for sure. 
 

the conversations about her smoking have picked up - any tips to share on this front? She's smoked since she was 14 and also has COPD so obviously it's doing a lot of damage already. Can anyone share the impact of continuing to smoke or anything that has helped them stop. I have to say the health scares aren't enough, neither are the vapes etc etc. I think it's more about her managing anxiety and obviously that is at the highest at the moment. 
 

Love to everyone! 

Hi leechap - they certainly monitor everything post-op and went into a complete panic when my heart-rate wouldn't come down one day.  Lots of junior surgeons, doctors and nurses were flapping so much, they nearly took off. My surgeon swept in, decided to treat as an infection - took me off the oxygen mask, put me on an antibiotic drip - blood tested me for all kinds of stuff which had to be cultured for 24 hours before it was shown to be an infection.  All part of the rollercoaster, and as I like to say - with the odd bumper car thrown in for good measure.

cheers

bfg

Hi Andi - 2 steps forward, 3 back - sounds familiar - but you will have days when its just the 2 steps forward and after a while you realise that generally - it's going forward.  :-) 

cheers

bfg

Hi Scott - the GA messes the body around no end - even my missus who was only out for an hour a couple of weeks back took a few days to get over it.  I don't know whether he is on a liquid diet yet, but when he is all of the water that will be drunk should help.

cheers

bfg

Hi hopingforhope - you already know the answer to this one.  All of the current testing regimes are to see if your mum is suitable for surgery.  If she is, then the surgery is long at between 6 - 10 hours and involves deflating one of the lungs. 

There is a fitness test prior to ensure the heart can withstand the surgery and a significant risk of pneumonia afterwards.

The majority of the recovery from the op is in the 6 months after with incremental improvements for another 6 months after that.

I wouldn't like to pre-judge the MDT team, but I would say that it would be a factor in determining suitability for surgery assuming everything else is ok.

Thank you for this - didn't know any of this info yet so I'm feeling more prepared and it'll help me have the conversations with her

Hi BFG

I know - but day after day sitting here in hospital is soul destroying. I actually woke up crying this morning - never happened before.   Having a bad day - but I'll pick myself up again. 9 weeks today since I came in - the first just over 7 are a bit of a blur in ICU, but on the ward the days are so long!! 
 

I know I'll get there - it's because I feel so much better that I'm bored!!

Andi xx

Hi Andi - sending big virtual hugs your way and from a 6' 8", 18st, bfg - it'll give you a crick in your neck just thinking about it!

And you will get there - I've often been told that I go really quiet when I'm not feeling right, so the fact you are grumpy and bored and can't wait to get out of there is massive positive.  I even told the nurses that, nothing personal, but I never want to see you again! (Of course, I then went on to meet one of the them whilst doing the pcr testing during my final FLOT cycle).

cheers

bfg

Hi BFG

6' 8 " - at 5' 3" I'd need a ladder -but would manage to give you a hug - I still have the final chemo to get through - probably next year now!!  So want to go home 

Andi x

Hi Lee, 

Fear not, leaks are fairly common- I am assuming 'around the join' , quite fixable too i belive. It really is as BFG says 2 steps forward, some back n all. All the band of brothers have had some  issues along the way.

They will heal.

Keep keeping that faith.x

Hilts

Hi Lee, 

Fear not, leaks are fairly common- I am assuming 'around the join' , quite fixable too i belive. It really is as BFG says 2 steps forward, some back n all. All the band of brothers have had some  issues along the way.

They will heal.

Keep keeping that faith.x

Hilts