Hello . . . I’m new here.

[Jagsmom]

Diagnosed 12/19 with stage 2B non-small cell lung cancer. It was caught early because I have a paralyzed right side diaphragm that was impacting my breathing. Wondering if anyone else has a paralyzed diaphragm and how it impacts you.

[Davidatp]

Hi, I don’t have a paralyzed diaphragm but I have COPD and am a stage IIIB NSCLC survivor. This is a great site. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way. God bless and keep the faith.

[Jagsmom in reply to Davidatp]

Thank you. Sending prayers your way too!

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Welcome to the Lung Cancer Support Board. I’ve no experience with a paralyzed diaphragm but I wanted to say hello.

[Jagsmom in reply to Denzie]

Hi back at you! Thanks.

[JanetteR57]

Welcome. I have been diagnosed last year with dysfunctional breathing/ILO (inducible laryngeal obstruction formerly known as vocal cord dysfunction) - this seems to have developed in recent years - I've been hospitalised several times with chest infections and Jan 2019 particularly bad, put into hospital isolation with RSV and breathing impacted since. In Dec 2010 I had an open lobectomy and Jan 2011 diagnosed with lung cancer but recovered well from that. I've been prescribed respiratory physio and Speech and language therapy to try and 'retrain' my breathing so I'm not breathing from upper chest/neck and use diaphragm down in the stomach area - I was breathing opposite from normal - i.e. stomach was going in on 'in breath' when it should have been going 'out'. My surgery recovery went well and I was already fit through swimming prior to surgery but found stairs/hills made me wheezy and breathless but over the years that improved. Then from 2015 had a series of serious infections that hospitalised me - first pneumonia for a week then later the next year 14 nights - (pseudomonas) an infection resistant to antibiotics so I was given loads of medication intravenously that took a long time to recover from (over a year) and didn't recover my swimming fitness to former levels when went down with RSV. This lockdown has been the longest since 1990 that I've gone without swimming but back there now.. I'm hoping you're being suggested specific exercises to retrain your diaphragm to help you breath.... my physio has suggested that once it's more regular, I should do things like yoga or pilates that focus on the 'breathing element' without lots of aerobic action at the same time so my brain retrains itself... but not until then... hope you find some support soon. good that your LC was detected early - mine was also 2b (now would be considered 3a as tumour was 7cm) - have you had lung surgery? did you have any pulmonary rehabilitation post surgery? good luck.

[Jagsmom in reply to JanetteR57]

Thanks for your reply and sharing your journey. Yes, I had my upper right lobe removed and then chemo. I’ve did not have pulmonary rehab post surgery because I was extremely sick from the chemo. Also, I’m concerned about human contact because of Covid. I’ve been walking pretty regularly since completion of my chemo but find walking outdoors seem to irritate my lungs. Hoping that improves with time.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Jagsmom]

Well done on getting through the chemo. I didn't have that - there was no evidence for the specific type that there would be a benefit but in recent years have learnt that the size of the tumour, it would likely have been suggested. I agree about shielding from other human contact - my lung physio is one to one - although last session was via video call as phonecall was useless. I've found walking easier since lockdown due to improved air quality - fewer cars, planes, trucks etc. you may find this link helpful.... good luck with your continued recovery..... blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

[Jagsmom in reply to JanetteR57]

This is great - thank you.

[JanetteR57]

You may also find this link helpful... roycastle.org/about-lung-ca...