Hello there and welcome to the forum.  So sorry about your mum.  While smoking is a major cause of lung cancer it does affect non-smokers also.  According to the lung cancer information on this website (I attach a link) 86 per cent of cancers can be linked to smoking.    Sadly if there is a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer it is likely to be correct although of course you need to ask questions of the oncologist when the appointment takes place.  Please do keep coming back here to ask any questions or tell us how things are going.  Annie

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../lung-cancer

Hi Annie,

Thx for replying . Yes definitely have a huge list of questions for the oncologist from how is this possible with no associated symptoms to asking for a second opinion. I just feel things have not been explained fully enough which makes any worry 10x worse :(

Will stay in touch once receive more info next week.

Hi,

After her pleural effusion about two weeks ago, we went back to the GP yesterday to have her stitches removed. Everything seemed fine for a while until she started leaking fluid quite heavily. She had to go to A&E and get bags for drainage as when the doctor did her xray again he said the fluid had come back. I'm guessing the bags will continue until her oncologist appt this Tuesday,  but what does this mean now ? Why has the fluid come back when we were told that the operation was going to seal that area and prevent anymore fluid build up :(

Sorry to hear that; I am afraid I don't know enough to answer the question you are quite reasonably asking about the fluid having returned.  I would suggest you give the nurses here a ring but they don't work on weekends; you could contact them on Monday on 0808 800 4040 Freefone and they may be able to help.   I can understand that you must feel that things are just going from bad to worse. 

I was just reading the MacMillan website (I tend to flit around the internet looking for relevant bits of information) and they were also saying about how people who have had no known exposure to any risk factors do get lung cancer (they put the percentage between 10-15% of diagnosed cases which they point out is similar to saying saying one person in ten who is diagnosed).  Hard facts to swallow I realise.

Hope your mum is not suffering too much and gets through the weekend okay.  Annie

Hi,

So tomorrow will be the appt for my mum to visit the oncologist.  I have a list of questions to ask, however what kind of information should I request or is important to know? I would like a copy of the reports in order to get a second opinion,  would that be possible?

Thanks in advance.

Sorry my response is a bit late; hope you get the answers to your questions.  Ask everything you want to know - not just the pleural effusions but anything at all that is puzzling you or you don't understand.  And about the probable progression of  your mum's illness.  Annie

Oh dear; it is one thing after another.  I am sorry to say that through reading posts on this forum this is not unusual - appointments being moved, reports not ready etc.  I can accept that the NHS is under enormous pressure but so are the patients and their families.  I think most of the people involved in the NHS are good people who are just not able to cope with the volume of work and lack of resources.  Did they give you any idea about when the reports will be ready? I suppose you will get a phone call as soon as they come through.   How is your mum coping?  Annie

Hi

I am so sorry to hear yur story and know how you feel.

My husband was told tonight that he has lung cancer and has to have tests etc.

I am sitting here in a daze and dont know what to do or say. I feel totally sick in my stomach.

I just wanated to know from anyone whever you can survive lung cancer as all I can think about is that my husband is going to die.

Just need someone to talk to.

@ Annie- thanks for your response,  unfortunately no indication at the moment but I will definitely chase it up tomorrow.  We're all treating it as no news is good news for now ;). Mum hates hospitals so was glad appt was cancelled lol :)

@suedno10- if there was anything I was told which holds alot of truth since I found out about my mother its this that every case is different. Though your hubby has lung cancer he may still live a long time. I don't think its fair or ethical to put a limit on life. Faith wise I know death is inevitable but why do we need to kill ourselves before our time? Stay positive as that will help your hubby and yourself.  I'm trying to do the same and take each day as it comes. Hope that helps ;)