Hi all. I recently had a chest x ray in September, a mid way request as my scan is not due until February. It was fine. However I have noticed that occasionally it feels as if something has hit my respiratory system making me cough, it could be a smell that I am not familiar with. I am reluctant to keep bothering my Consulatant but I have really bad health anxiety since a small cancerous tumour was found in 2017 with subsequent upper right lobectomy. Also I still experience really bad pain in the right side especially if I sneeze it is like a punch. Will it ever go away? Any advice would be relly appreciated.
thanks
Benjy2018
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Benjy2018
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It is encouraging that your recent chest x-ray is fine. After any cancer diagnosis, it is very common for any new symptom to increase your anxiety, even though it may be nothing serious.
Anxiety as you may know, can heighten the body's senses. Strong smells can cause the lungs to cough, it could be the chemicals that are in the scent, but also there are pulmonary endocrine cells in the lungs which have been shown to be sensitive to environmental stimuli i.e. odors and smells, which causes people to cough when they smell certain odors or fragrance.
It may help to support your side with your hand if you need to sneeze or cough, although it is appreciated that we do not always get enough warning to do this with a sneeze. If this is a recent pain then it would be good to discuss this with either your GP or consultant.
You should have had a lung cancer nurse specialist allocated to you from when you had your cancer, you could still give them a call to discuss your concerns with them.
It may be worth having a chat to your GP about how you have been feeling and the anxiety with your health. Anxiety can impact on pain and any symptom in the body, and you may find the following link from the NHS on breathing exercises to reduce your anxiety:
If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can either email us at lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org or call our freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200
Thank you for your reassuring and helpful message. My Consultant has referred me for counselling, but I have not received contact as yet. I may chase up tomorrow. Yoga is helpful, but it is not available at present.
Hi Benjy, it's natural to worry after a diagnosis that everything might be related to your cancer diagnosis and treatment. However we have niggles and symptoms before that and often continue afterwards. I had an upper left lobectomy in Dec 2010 and initially recovered well but then developed a chest infection and had similar symptoms that reminded me of the original symptoms and they were investigated. I've since had several nasty infections that have resulted in lengthy hospital stays but all were not related to the cancer and eventually responded to the appropriate treatment. I had childhood and early adult asthma and hay fever but not had them in years but a sensitivity to perfumes, pollens and cats remains - and smoke - often resulting in coughing or sneezing. I had allergy tests in 2018 and most of the allergens (apart from cat) that had previously been an issue have reduced as evidenced in my lack of hay fever type responses in many years. However I have been told I have bronchial hypersensitivity. I found the book 'cancer is a word not a sentence' by Dr Rob Buckman really helped me put symptoms and fear into perspective - probably a useful read anyway now due to the pandemic. I can still get winded and sharp pain if I bend down suddenly on my left side and been told it's likely scar tissue and nerve damage but most of the time I'm unaware of any post surgical effects. I was told that my recovery was up to me - and that keeping active would really help my lung develop and my body heal. no mention made of mental health but I can vouch that keeping active distracts the mind by focusing on the activity for me it's swimming. I also believe that keeping supple and stretched can help unravel those niggles and knots that sometimes develop from tension. even if your breathing is less than optimal, there are exercises and activities you can do that may help. I'm grateful for every day and have got to know others who have far worse side effects and late effects from their cancer treatments so try to move on as best I can from the experience. hope you can too before long. good luck
Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I certainly have had a few chest infections too. My local Leisure Centre has now closed its doors which is very sad as I attended many classes and used the gym. I will have to find another way to keep fit. The yoga class I attended there was very helpful for deep breathing too. Maybe someone will buy the centre fingers crossed.
Yes, it's sad - I'm hoping to swim for the last few days before lockdown but then ... who knows? my respiratory physiotherapist suggested nhs.pilates. I've not yet had chance to have a look but maybe this helps?
nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitne... alternatively British lung foundation has some good exercises for those with lung conditions . good luck.
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