Breathing
I am a fit person, 58, was cycling 250-300k's a week for years. Diagnosed with lung cancer and taking Iressa Gifitinib. It sems to be working so far. My breathing had declined btween diagnosis and the treatment starting. It has stabilised now i am the treatment. if the Gifitinibis working is it possible my breathing will improve, or is likely the damed done means i will have to tolerate some loss of breath?
Hi
, welcome to our community, it's great that you found us, we are here to support each other. I'm glad to hear your treatment seems to be working and your breathing is stabilized. Everyone is different, but it is possible your breathing will improve some more. I was diagnosed at Stage 3, twenty years ago, before targeted therapy, so I had chemo. I hope others who have had Gifitinib with join in on the discussion. Wishing you all the best, Alisa, LungCancer.net Team hello
hope your well. It would be good to talk, I don't find the doctors are able to communicate the feelings people have as obviously they are treating not feeling. I note from Ivy Elkins blogs that her targeted therapy actually reduced the cells to a point that allowed surgery. Obviously that's like a utopia moment, statistically hard to achieve, but a result that gives hope. I am not even sure if all targeted therapies are available globally, I am in Australia. I need to check my spelling too lol. One other thing, one of the main reactions is spots/skin irritation. These are a sign of the treatment working. But do they remain a constant, appear and disappear over months and years, or is their disappearance a sign the therapy has stopped working?
Hi there! You are right, I believe only those of us going through lung cancer really understand, others can try, but until you are there ... you can't really "get it".
Ivy is a good friend of mine and we are all amazed and thrilled that she was able to get surgery and going from Stage 4 to No Evidence of Disease! There have been so many advances. Also, although every case is different, many others have told me that the rash is worse at the beginning while your body gets used to it, so if it gets better, it doesn't mean it stopped working.
Another friend that I met through Lung Cancer lives in Australia and is on targeted therapy so I know it's available. Are you involved in any support group with other lung cancer survivors, whether in person or online? Are you interested? Look forward to hearing back. ~ Alisa
Thanks for that, useful info.Yes, very happy to talk to others and share expereience. Gerard
Where in Australia are you from? I'll reach out and see if the group is near you. I think it is near Melbourne, Victoria, but I'm not sure. Our community here also has a facebook page. If you haven't visited, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/LungCancerDotNet
hello, i am in Melbourne and attend Peter Mac!
, I'll check around .... , I wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing. Were you able to connect with a group near you? - Warmly, Donna (Team Member)
