Cancer Of The Lung
'I didn't fit the typical profile of someone with lung cancer'
Source: NHS
In this topic (11)
Peter Quinn was diagnosed with lung cancer after visiting his GPwith pain and swelling in his knees.
"My symptoms were quite unusual for lung cancer. It began with a swelling on my knee, so I went to my GP, who X-rayed them. There was nothing structurally wrong, so he gave me some anti-inflammatory drugs.
"It didnt seem to improve the situation. I have two small children, so Im up and down on my knees quite a bit, and it was becoming quite painful.
"I went to see a rheumatologist, who gave me a complete examination and checked my knees and my fingers. She noticed that my hands had digital clubbing, which is a swelling of the ends of the fingers.
"As a precaution, she ordered a chest X-ray, because this condition could be a sign of chest problems, such as bronchitis. 15 minutes later she came back with the X-ray, which showed I had a huge shadow on my right lung.
"I was referred to a chest physician, who did some further tests. Those confirmed I had a syndrome called hyper pulmonary osteoarthritis (HPOA), where the lining of the bones becomes thick. It'soften associated with non-small-cell lung cancer.
"80% of lung cancer cases are linked with smoking. I smoked 15 years ago, but I hadnt for many years because of the children.I didn't fit the typical profile of a lung cancer sufferer who smokes20-40 cigarettes a day.
"In the right lung you have three lobes. Surgeons cut a hole in my back and removed one of the lobes and basically joined it back together. They probably removed about a third of my right lung. But about four weeks after surgery, I was feeling better.
"I didnt have any major side effects from chemotherapy, so I was quite fit and active. But radiotherapy made my oesophagus very inflamed and it was incredibly painful for me to swallow.
"One of the things I found most helpful was the cancer nurse specialists. Theyre available at many hospitals and act as a support and link between you and the medical machinery.They were excellent atbeing sympathetic, answering questions and giving helpful advice.
"I would suggest that anyone going through the same thing should use all of the available resources and try to find something positive to focus on."
Articles for Cancer Of The Lung
'I didn't fit the typical profile of someone with lung cancer'
Peter Quinn was diagnosed with lung cancer after visiting his GP with pain and swelling in his knees.
'I was determined not to let the diagnosis spoil my life'
Shirley Smith went to her GP after she had coughed up a spot of blood. Within a week, she'd had a scan in hospital and been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
'I'm thankful I saw my GP as soon as I spotted the symptoms'
Ann Long, a retired social worker, had surgery to remove part of her lung after she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
'I've had full quality of life for a very long time now'
Geoff Williams, a retired language lecturer, had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Causes of lung cancer
Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, although people who have never smoked can also develop the condition.
Diagnosing lung cancer
See your GP if you have symptoms of lung cancer, such as breathlessness or a persistent cough.
Introduction
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Around 44,500 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK.
Living with lung cancer
Lung cancer can affect your daily life in different ways, depending on what stage it's at and the treatment you're having.
Preventing lung cancer
If you smoke, the best way to prevent lung cancer and other serious conditions is to stop smoking as soon as possible.
Symptoms of lung cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer develop as the condition progresses and there are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages.
Treating lung cancer
People with cancer should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), a team of specialists who work together to provide the best treatment and care.
