Your questions for lung cancer nurse specialist for Inspire magazine page Simon Says for Spring 2017 edition

[DavidRCLCF]

Hi,

We are looking for questions for Simon, a lung cancer nurse specialist to answer in the Spring 2017 edition of Inspire for Simon Says.

If there is a question that you would like answered, please share it with us and we will do our very best to include it in the next edition. So if you have a question that you would like answered, please post here or email it to [e-mail].

However, I can't guarantee that we will use every submission, as we have very limited space, although every question will be considered by Inspire's editorial board.

Many thanks,

David

[jillygirl]

Hi David and Simon, I havent got a question as my lung cancer specialist was brilliant when I needed him.

However I have come across the odd post where relations are not aware they too can contact the Lung cancer nurse specialists. They seem to think they are for the patient only.

Perhaps a mention somewhere in the brochure would help. : )

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to jillygirl]

Hi jillygirl

It is a good point on relatives being able to contact the lung cancer specialist nurses. The nurses are happy to give out general information, but anything pertaining to a particular patient, the patient would have to give permission to the nurse that a certain relative can discuss their care etc due to confidentiality.

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Jill83]

My fathe has stage 4 lung cancer. It was staged 4 as it's in his pluera. How is this the case? No tumour but cells I don't understand.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to Jill83]

Dear Jill83

A pleural effusion is defined as an abnormal amount of fluid in the space between the layers of tissue (the pleura) that line the lungs. If cancer cells are present in this fluid (the pleural cavity), it is called a malignant(cancerous) pleural effusion. Stage 4 means that there are cancer cells in the fluid of the lining of the lungs (Cancer Research UK). I have attached a link which may be helpful.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Helpline

[Glynn2890]

My husband's only symptom of the lung cancer was back pain. No one caught it! 2 chest X-rays didn't show it & he was misdiagnosed for 3 months. Why aren't more doctors aware of this symptom???

[adanove1960]

Hi, Just wondering if you can answer a few questions...I had right lower lobectomy for Atypical Carcinoid on Dec 4th last , been hospitalised about 3 weeks ago for 7 days trying to control pain...apparently caused by moderate pleural effusion and lung not filling with air in the base. I have been doing everything to regain health as I have to have major heart surgery at the end of this month (was supposed to take place on Feb 28th but lung needed more time to heal etc. I'm still up and keeping as busy as I can and have improved somewhat yet need pain relief quite a bit. Firstly how will I know effusion is improved enough? secondly will taking 10mg slow release oxycodone & 75mgs Lyrca & co-codamol 30/500 morning aswell as co codamol &5 mgs oxynorm afternoon, 50mgs Lyrca, xo-codamol night hinder pain control after next surgery? also wondering why oxygen levels drop when I do much esp if bending/stooping?