Hi, my mum is really struggling with exhaustion. She has stage IV lung cancer and had to stop chemo/ immuno treatment last year due to progression. However, though there was some extra nodules seen in lung at Xmas, her oncologist said the spread wasn't enough to concern them to the point of stopping treatment so she has started on some tablet-form treatment now now (it begins with T, just can't remember exactly what it is!)
However, for the past 2 weeks (this was BEFORE she started new treatment so isn't a side effect) she has been absolutely wiped out and her cough has got worse. It's not covid, she's had tests which suggest some inflammation and slight infection. She's awaiting some other blood tests but she just really doesn't know why she's so utterly exhausted. Obviously, the fear is she's experiencing a sharp decline due to progression. When she asks her Macmillan nurse, she seems not to know either .
If anyone else has had experience of this, even if it did turn out to be a decline, I'd be grateful if you let me know. Thanks.
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GoldieLoxB
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Dear GoldieLoxBSo sorry to hear your Mum is so exhausted and fatigued.
Hopefully the blood results will be available soon to perhaps determine what this is.
The Macmillan nurse would have perhaps know if it was a decline from the cancer, however any other related health condition may take a lot out on your Mum, hence difficult to know what is going on.
It could also be that whatever new medication she is on has added to her symptoms. I take it your Mum has had a Covid test when you say it is not Covid, and if it is infection or inflammation hopefully they can provide some treatment for your Mum.
If there is anything you would like to discuss you can either email us at lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200
Take good care of yourself also, as this must be very stressful and exhausting for you, both emotionally and physically.
The side affects from immunotherapy are unknown as to how to it can continue to keep working after stopping and also causing side affects , fingers crossed it is just this as done lots of research on every type before my mum started hers. Good luck I’m in the same boat worrying over my gorgeous mum xx
Sorry to hear about your mum's worsening fatigue - it could be many things and hopefully the blood tests will reveal more. I've been increasingly tired for more than a year after developing a virus that had me isolated in hospital (RSV) for a week in Jan 2019 then took months to recover. eventually after lots of tests found to have dysfunctional breathing which the therapists suggested may be contributing to my tiredness but recent repeated blood tests at the GP (postponed from last April after one in January 2020) has revealed an underactive thyroid. Try not to second guess that every symptom is due to the cancer or the treatment - we experience symptoms and infections throughout life - before and after our cancer diagnosis. It's 10 years since my lung cancer diagnosis and I've been in hospital with several severe chest infections in the last 5 years and each one takes longer to recover previous fitness/energy but thankfully none so far was more sinister than infection. Many people with stage iv lung cancer live for years despite experiencing side effects or other conditions... hope you/she get some answers soon. Her cough could be another infection and if the medics aren't concerned enough to stop her treatment, I'd take that as a good sign. good luck to you both.
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