Your Voices, Part 3: Managing the stress of treatment options

[MaddieHU]

There are more lung cancer treatments today than ever before. Ensuring you have access to information on the variety of treatments available to you is a key step in becoming actively engaged in your health journey.

Over the past few months, HealthUnlocked has been conducting research on the Lung Cancer Support Community. This is to learn more about the emotional impacts of a diagnosis on an individual and the ways that people reach out to find information, support and ways of coping. We’ve created a 4 part video series in which people with lung cancer discuss these topics in their own words. These videos will be shared in the community over a 4 week period. Today's video discusses the treatment possibilities and the ways in which people cope.

Part 3: Treatment options

youtube.com/watch?v=76KZxB0...(Not working as expected?)

61% of the people we surveyed were not informed by their doctor that treatment can stop working at some point, but this is a reality for 21% diagnosed individuals. You must actively search for treatment information to stay informed on the many advances in lung cancer medication. The top sources of this information for the people we surveyed were other lung cancer patients and personal research.

[judg69]

Yes, there are a number of ever increasing treatment options. It is imperative that you review treatment options with your oncologist to determine what is the optimum or optimum mix for your situation. That said, I firmly and fully believe surgical cancer removal is the 'gold standard' whenever available to You. Kind Wishes, judg69

[SusieJo1948]

Maddie your doing a great job and i feel bad that more people did,nt respond to the videos. what you and everyone on hu are doing a fantastic job letting others using there voices to tell how they feel about there lung cancer. so thank you and the rest of the people in the office and HU. Keep it up we would like hearing from all of you,getting to know you. This community is home and family to us. we care about each other and are there for the new ones. Thanks again susiejo1948

[MaddieHU HealthUnlocked in reply to SusieJo1948]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Susiejo. It's so great to know that the work we are doing is helping individuals such as yourself

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Great job!

[-Leonie]

Thank you Maddie .... these videos are very informative & helpful. I have not posted on this site before however I have found reading other people's posts so inspirational. So here's my story so far .... I live in Australia & have been living with Stage 4 Lung Cancer since May 2017. I am 58 years old & I have a wonderful husband, family & friends. I also have two gorgeous children age 16 & 18 & a beautiful 93 year old mum living in residential care with dementia however I am most fortunate that she recognises our close family. It's been a very challenging year emotionally for me & my family. I travel 2 hours to a specialist lung cancer centre in Sydney regularly for treatment. I have had various treatments since my diagnosis, including chemo, a trial oral targeting mutation drug, Opdivo & this week my specialist has changed my treatment to 4 cycles of Pemetrexed over the next 16 weeks, as the previous treatments haven't been working as well as we had hoped. I manage the negative thoughts surrounding my disease by taking one day at a time, creating memories & living in the moment. I also think of my lung cancer as a chronic illness that has good (mainly) & some bad (not often) days. I also try to live as well as I can - attending gym for exercise (not as strenuously as I use to though) & eating as healthy as I can. I have also found a wonderful social worker / councillor to talk with every couple of weeks - so helpful. Now that I have made contact with you I wold love to keep you in the loop with how I am managing. Keep up your wonderful work 💕

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to -Leonie]

Leonie,

Welcome, sorry you need us but glad you found us. It sounds like you have a good support system and a good cancer care team.

Please keep in touch, let us know how you are doing.

[-Leonie in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Hi Katherine thank you for your kind message. I will keep in touch & also wish you well with your ongoing treatment.

[MaddieHU HealthUnlocked in reply to -Leonie]

Hi Leonie,

Thank you for sharing your story. To second Feelingblessed2013 , I'm sorry that you have received this diagnosis but I'm glad you have found your way to this community.

There are many caring and supportive people here who really understand what you are going through. I hope to see you posting more so do let us know how you are getting on.

All the best,

Maddie