I have just been diagnosed with lung cancer, no chance of an operation as it's too near my heart. I had my first chemo, but fell ill

[Animula]

Now on steroids to build me up. Is anyone else going through this or has been. I am also having trouble with my voice?

[Sheeni27]

Hi and welcome sorry to hear no surgery can be done but we are all here for you,....

[hedgehoggy]

Hi Animula, I had lung cancer on my left lung but not sure how close it was to my heart, but I was operated on successfully. I also had chemo after that which was Carboplatin and Vinorelbine and the latter upset me and I was ill. I stopped after a couple of cycles and was offered a different combination which was much better for me and I also asked for a lesser dose. Instead of injecting in a 100% I asked for 80%. It may not be possible for you everyone is different and different hospitals treat patients differently, but it may be worth a try. Let me know how you get on and keep your chin up. There is lots of help out there and plenty of people in the same boat, even though at this moment you probably think there is only yourself. Ask loads of questions and go armed with a list and family or friend to go with you when you see the oncologist.

All the best

Hoggy

[Animula]

Thank you for your response. I do feel at a loss, and very tearfully all the time. It's so good to find this site to talk to people in the same boat. Am moving from Birmingham to Christchurch in two weeks so will be under different consultant. So wait to see what they think.

[Billculbard]

Hi there,

No easy answers because everyone's diagnosis is different. I had the same problem, with the tumour being too near my windpipe and other vital things. I was treated with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, neither of which was particularly enjoyable, but in all truth, not as bad as I had expected. This was in 2000 !! and things have improved since then. Just do your best to stay positive - easier said than done - but it helps. Keep in close contact with your cancer nurse specialist, who will do their best to help and advise.

Best wishes, Bill

[TrishLamb]

So sorry to hear your news. My hubby was diagnosed with ademacarsinoma t3n1m0 in January in the left lung and it was touching the pericardium (but they did not know until they operated) , they said that surgary wasn't an option to him at first but that was because of his lung function. He had three courses of antibiotics and his lung function improved and they went ahead with surgary in February and had his full lung removed and part of the pericardium. He's hust finished his chemo on Thursday but can not have radiotherapy because it affected the pericardium. He to struggles with soar throats and horse voice sometimes but we've never mentioned it to doctor as thought it maybe from all the prosedures he's had.

I don't know if it is possible to get a second opinion about surgary.

I wish you well.

[raspberry1979]

Hi,

My mum has lung cancer that has spread to the liver, it was diagnosed to late unfortunately so surgery isn't an option. She is currently on her 4 th round pf chemo which starts today, and after a scan last week ( the first since dygnosis) its showed that is has made the grows smaller, so that's good. When she had her first round of treatment her body lind odlf went in to shock, around day 5 after treatment, and she had a short stay in hospital, luckily all the treatments afterwards hasn't affected her so badly, bit like yoi, she did have problems with her voice for a few weeks, nearly went completely at one point. It must be a side effect of chemo? Good luck with your move, and take care.

Alice x

[Animula in reply to raspberry1979]

Thank you. I am glad your mum is doing well. Will be glad if my voice does get better, reading your reply give me hope. And encouraging to hear that the chemo is working. Please give her my regards nd good luck with it all. Mary

[MrsGres]

Hi, sorry to hear of your situation. It's frightening to hear news like this but you aren't alone so keep thinking positive.

My mom has just had the cancer diagnosis, not had further tests yet so we aren't sure about treatments yet but I wanted to say that she was diagnosed because of voice changes. You don't say how your voice has been effected but if you have a tumour pressing on a specific nerve it can lead to vocal cord paralysis which results in voice changes. As far as I can tell that doesn't seem to make prognosis any worse but can be annoying symptoms wise. Best to speak to your consultant team about it and maybe an ENT consultant. Best wishes.

[Animula in reply to MrsGres]

Thank you am seeing the consultant on Friday and will talk about voice. Can be very annoying. Have to have a bell to call husband now. Very funny he is not that impressed with it but I don't go overboard. Hope your mums tests go ok and she gets all the help she needs please give her my regards and know how she must be feeling at this time. I am still getting used to everything but not quite there in my mind yet. Mary

[MrsGres in reply to Animula]

Thank you Mary, please let everyone know what your consultant thinks. Positive thoughts, Sarah

[Animula]

O.M.G. Thank you all so much for your replies it made me feel so much better. Steroids seem to be giving me lots energy and able to walk more. The voice is so squeaky but no sore throat so you could be right about the tumour effecting it. See the consultant on Friday so will talk to her about it. Sorry to hear about your mums but sounds to me like they have lots of support from you all. Once again thank you all so much means a lot to me. Will keep you informed about the voice and the move to Bournemouth. Xxxx