Shadow on lung, changeable emotions since.

Hello. My husband, 77, has been seeing a gastrologist to try to alleviate stomach problems which caused him to lose almost 2 stone in 10 months, as he doesn't want to eat. He had a CT scan last week which also showed a shadow in the middle of his right lung. Things have moved very fast since then, he's been told it's in a lymph node and been booked for a PET scan tomorrow morning. His emotions are all over the place and I have called the ambulance twice over what seem like panic attacks where he almost passes out (though he does have low blood pressure). He is sometimes quite upbeat and talks things out with me, but sometimes angry and irritable. His stomach turns over, he says and also something in his head turns over making him feel dizzy. Sometimes he can't walk very well as his legs feel weak, sometimes he can. He has been in his chair with a blanket for two days which he likes to do when he has a cold or an illness but people visiting overwhelm him very quickly and have to leave. I know we will probably get some answers after the scan tomorrow but are these feelings/actions normal or a sign of something else?

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear sylviesinc

So sorry to hear about your Husband and how difficult it must be for you.

All these emotions are normal and everyone reacts in a different way, not knowing what the diagnosis is fuels the feelings of frustration, anxiety, anger, low mood and especially fear , which can impact physically on the body through panic attacks and even mobility.

However all physical symptoms are always best to be clinically assessed, and perhaps discuss this with your GP/Specialist.

It may be that when your Husband knows the diagnosis (which may not be cancer) his emotions and moods may settle down. If they continue do discuss this with GP etc. There is a lot of support out there for both yourself and your Husband.

Unless you are seeing the Specialist after the scan, your Husband may not receive the results today, just so you are prepared for any mood changes.

Do look after yourself and hope you have emotional support for yourself. Let us know how it all goes.

If you need to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Hidden in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you so much for replying. Things have happened so quickly it has been overwhelming but I am so grateful for the support we have had from our NHS and also from the Roy Castle nurses that I have phoned for support. One of your nurses was instrumental in encouraging me to insist on a change of anti-nausea medication and, as a result, over the past few days my husband has not had any feelings of sickness. He has also been prescribed anti-anxiety pills which have given him an appetite so he has gained a couple of pounds. He went for a lung biopsy today and unfortunately his lung collapsed so he is still in the hospital but I was encouraged by the nurse telling us that the cancer does not seem to have spread. Unfortunately, we have to wait until next week for the results but at least it's all progressed quickly and we have not been left without support. Thank you again.