Radiotherapy burns

[acedog]

Hi guys

After having my whole right lung removed I was doing very well and walking up to 20 minutes at a time.

Since having 10 days of radiotherapy a couple of weeks after I have developed very shortness of breath and can’t walk a few yards without gasping for air

I had a bronchoscope as there though I had a small hole in my wind pipe but this wasn’t the case I had scare tissue which I presume is related to my radiotherapy

I have been told this could last for a few years or permanently but as you can appreciate I cannot complete simply tasks like having a wash so I have no life and my wife has become a full time caterer

Has any one had this and have they been offered any treatment

Many thanks

Graham

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Graham

Sorry to hear you have shortness of breath at the moment, which seems to be affecting your daily activities. It can vary from person to person the degree and length of time there is shortness of breath after radiotherapy treatment.

This must be particularly difficult for you, given that you have been so active before.

It may be worth discussing with either your GP or oncologist if there is any medicine that can ease this for you, e.g a bronchodilator, which you can take as an inhaler or tablet form

Some people find breathing exercises help, especially before you do any activity, these can be found on our booklets 'Managing your lung cancer symptoms'

roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

You will find breathing exercises on page 6 that may help you.

This is the link to our booklet on Radiotherapy : roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

Your lung cancer nurse specialist may be able to advise and hope you hear from others on the forum to provide support and encouragement for you.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can either email us at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

Hope you feel better soon.

The Roy Castle Support Team

[acedog in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you for your advice 😊

[Bowie2017]

Hi my partner suffered painful radiotherapy burns ..he had 12 fractions on his lung ...even his own saliva was burning him...we tried everything from organic coconut oil...to honey..he was prescribed after 4 weeks of suffering a liquid medicine from the oncology department which coated his throat..windpipe etc..it worked after the first sip...racking my brains sorry to recall the name of the medicine

[Seaspray298 in reply to Bowie2017]

Was it Magic Mouthwash? That is what I used for the burn in esophagus and throat.