Treatment plan

[Kayben21]

After the agony, anxiety and terrible fears whilst going through scans and biopsies, my partner finally met with the oncologist today. The oncologist was marvelous and explained everything to us and how the MDT have come to the recommended treatment plan of immunotherapy for his lung cancer with mets to adrenal gland. Whilst we know not curable and still part of a terrible journey, it has lifted our spirits to finally have a plan, with treatment starting in 3 weeks time.

[Bettyblue54]

You must be relieved that your partner has been offered treatment. My husband is stage 4, inoperable but has had one immunotherapy treatment so far. He had no noticeable side effects but has just spent a week in hospital witb a chest infection. How is your partner healthier and are you coping ok? It is scary and worrying and a journey that none of us want to take. We can only take one day at a time

[Kayben21 in reply to Bettyblue54]

Hello. It is definitely a huge relief to be at the stage of being offered treatment and to be starting in a few weeks. Sorry to hear your husband has been in hospital, but glad to hear the treatment hasn't yet given him any bad side effects. I haven't been coping too well but working at keeping this to myself so as not to have him worry about me. He has continued to eat well and has put on the weight he lost from liver issue hospitalisation back in Feb. His liver appears to have stabilised and blood tests are good. He has been sober now since beginning of April. So far he is not suffering from any obvious symptoms of the cancer. He does get a bit tired but could be part of the number of meds hes on. Totally agree with the one day at a time. I do hope your husband manages the treatment well, and also importantly that you look after yourself x

[Bettyblue54 in reply to Kayben21]

I don't know if you feel the same but the dynamics of our relationship are changing and I am very much acting as a carer. Yes we do have to look after ourselves but we are going to have our difficult days. How old is your partner. Have you got much support yourself.

[Kayben21 in reply to Bettyblue54]

My partner is 57, I’m 54. The dynamics have really changed as I too am now acting as his carer. He’s very intelligent and independent , but the liver issues have left him with short term memory issues and I’m run pretty ragged trying to balance caring, working, normal house stuff, winding his business up, hospital appointments and moving his business home and starting to wind it up. I don’t have any support other than by phone with friends and his family. Is pretty hard

[Bettyblue54 in reply to Kayben21]

It sounds a similar situation in that I am 54 and my partner is 59 . Are the liver issues separate to the lung cancer? We had to close our business once we had the diagnosis and live has changed dramatically. My husband's health seems to have deteriorated over a short period of time which has been alarming. Like you I have some good friends but really this is down to us isn't it buy the support is a huge help.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Kayben21

It is encouraging to hear that your partner will be starting treatment in the next few weeks.

Thankfully, for some, there are more treatment options that were not there before in the way of Immunotherapies and targeted therapies.

We have a leaflet on Immunotherapies for lung cancer: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

If you are interested there is further information on Immunotherapies from Cancer Research UK: cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Hope it all goes well for your partner and you are taking care of yourself.

There are many inspirational stories under our campaign section which you and your partner may find useful to look at:

roycastle.org/campaigns/

If you wish to discuss anything you can either email us at [e-mail] or call our freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Kayben21 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you so much for pointing me in the direction of further information . It’s good to know you are there if I need to know more or have questions. Thank you.

Michelle

[JanetteR57]

that's heartening and hopefully a relief that he can have immunotherapy .... there are different agents and some people react differently than others to them.... here's keeping fingers crossed that it works for him.... some have really good response..... hope he's in that category...

[Kayben21 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you for your response. His treatment will be Keytruda Pembrolizumab and keeping everything crossed he responds well to it. Still staying very cautious in that we will take it one day at a time.

[JanetteR57]

That's promising - I recently was part of a UK clinical trial (on its trial steering committee) for this treatment using this for patients of worse 'performance status' than most (PS2) and it proved better than standard treatment. For many now given this as first line treatment it has been really promising.... - a day at a time is a good way to approach it - good luck.

[Kayben21 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you