Ok to live alone during treatment?

TKSpunkster
TKSpunkster Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
Hey everyone I'm new here. I'm 28 years old, my name is Thomas. My doctor found a large mass in my lungs about a month ago during pneumonia, which i have been having alot of over the past 2 years and a pesky cough i can not get rid of as well as pain in my chest. I am actually going to Dr tomorrow to do more tests to see what's wrong, may possibly be lung cancer. i have been doing a lot of reading and research and just preparing myself for what may come. I can't seem to find anything about living alone during treatment.

I live away from my family who are about 6-8 hours away. I live alone and really can't afford to quit my job and move back home. Is it okay to live alone during treatment or should i move in with family or friends? Has anyone went through treatment living alone that could give advice? I am not diagnosed yet, but want to be proactive and be prepared.

Thank you so much. From reading these boards you are all awesome people with big hearts! I like that!

Comments

  • ncpiddler2u
    ncpiddler2u Member Posts: 6
    #2
    Living alone
    I had 2 brothers that both had treatment for lung cancer. they both went through chem and radiation and they lived by themselves. My sister and I live close enough by that we were able to go and check on them and drive them back and forth for treatment. The treatment will cause fatigue and in some cases nausea and vomiting. After going through this with the two that had lung cancer, I can tell you that unless you have really close friends to help you, that you might want to consider for your own well being moving back home for a while. And just so you know I am a newbie also. I had lung cancer that was removed in Jan after it was detected. I don't have to have chemo or radiation but there is no way I could have made through this without my family. As a sister of 5 that was lost to cancer I can tell you that your family will worry themselves to sick about you if you are that far from home and alone. My advise is to believe that all will be fine and you and your family will be in my prayers.
  • TKSpunkster
    TKSpunkster Member Posts: 10
    #3
    ncpiddler2u said:

    Living alone
    I had 2 brothers that both had treatment for lung cancer. they both went through chem and radiation and they lived by themselves. My sister and I live close enough by that we were able to go and check on them and drive them back and forth for treatment. The treatment will cause fatigue and in some cases nausea and vomiting. After going through this with the two that had lung cancer, I can tell you that unless you have really close friends to help you, that you might want to consider for your own well being moving back home for a while. And just so you know I am a newbie also. I had lung cancer that was removed in Jan after it was detected. I don't have to have chemo or radiation but there is no way I could have made through this without my family. As a sister of 5 that was lost to cancer I can tell you that your family will worry themselves to sick about you if you are that far from home and alone. My advise is to believe that all will be fine and you and your family will be in my prayers.

    Thank You
    Thank you so much for your advice and sharing your story. I'm sorry for your loss as well. My appointment is tomorrow for a CT scan and if I do get diagnosed i think I am going to take a week or two away from work and travel home to discuss options with my family. I do have close friends here that will help but i think you're right about my family worrying themselves sick. i know my mom too well and as a survivor of cancer, i know she will be terrified. Thank you again for your advice!!!

    God Bless,

    TK
  • ncpiddler2u
    ncpiddler2u Member Posts: 6
    #4
    TKSpunkster said:

    Thank You
    Thank you so much for your advice and sharing your story. I'm sorry for your loss as well. My appointment is tomorrow for a CT scan and if I do get diagnosed i think I am going to take a week or two away from work and travel home to discuss options with my family. I do have close friends here that will help but i think you're right about my family worrying themselves sick. i know my mom too well and as a survivor of cancer, i know she will be terrified. Thank you again for your advice!!!

    God Bless,

    TK

    God Bless
    I will definitely keep you in my prayers and your (mom)and your family in my prayers. Please let me know how your test results turn out and what you decide to do. Don't claim the disease until you have too. I know that you can't help but worry but there are miracles. I would have never thought that surgery is all I would need considering the fact that no one else in my family ever had that option. So I know that faith and prayers does work. And just believe that there are people that you have never met that are praying for you now.

    ncpiddler
  • ncpiddler2u
    ncpiddler2u Member Posts: 6
    #5
    TKSpunkster said:

    Thank You
    Thank you so much for your advice and sharing your story. I'm sorry for your loss as well. My appointment is tomorrow for a CT scan and if I do get diagnosed i think I am going to take a week or two away from work and travel home to discuss options with my family. I do have close friends here that will help but i think you're right about my family worrying themselves sick. i know my mom too well and as a survivor of cancer, i know she will be terrified. Thank you again for your advice!!!

    God Bless,

    TK

    God Bless
    I will definitely keep you in my prayers and your (mom)and your family in my prayers. Please let me know how your test results turn out and what you decide to do. Don't claim the disease until you have too. I know that you can't help but worry but there are miracles. I would have never thought that surgery is all I would need considering the fact that no one else in my family ever had that option. So I know that faith and prayers does work. And just believe that there are people that you have never met that are praying for you now.

    ncpiddler
  • catcon49
    catcon49 Member Posts: 398
    #6
    ncpiddler2u said:

    God Bless
    I will definitely keep you in my prayers and your (mom)and your family in my prayers. Please let me know how your test results turn out and what you decide to do. Don't claim the disease until you have too. I know that you can't help but worry but there are miracles. I would have never thought that surgery is all I would need considering the fact that no one else in my family ever had that option. So I know that faith and prayers does work. And just believe that there are people that you have never met that are praying for you now.

    ncpiddler

    Living alone during treatment

    My mom 78 went through chemo for ovarian cancer 3 years ago. She lived alone, although I live nearby. She had visiting nurses come in once a day. I believe her primary care doctor said she needed it. Maybe you could ask. Also contact the american cancer society local chapter. I know they have volunteers who will come and help with laundry cooking and just companionship. I know of 3 people at work who have chemo treatments and continue to work, maybe not always everyday. My mom scheduled hers on friday. By monday she felt pretty good. If not maybe you only have to miss a few hours or a couple of days.


    Stay strong and God Bless
  • Retiredsis
    Retiredsis Member Posts: 7
    #7
    Living Alone During Treatment
    I've been through 3 surgeries, chemo, radiation, more chemo, and now I am on Tarceva. I was diagnosed in Nov. 2007. You will need help if you have surgery because they send you home from the hospital after 4 days and you will be in a lot of pain and unable to fix meals etc.
    You can probably manage radiation alone. I had no bad effects from radiation.
    You more than likely can manage chemo alone. Be sure to take your anti-nausea pills in advance. I normally got sick the 3rd day after chemo. I took the anti-nausea pills on the 2nd day and continued for 3 days. If you can avoid the nausea, you have it made. If you have a close friend nearby who can take you and pick you up from chemo, that would be best. You may not feel your best just afterward and will want to go home and take a nap perhaps. Some people feel good enough to go to work afterward. You'll just have to see.
    I wish you all the best. I was stage IV adenocarcinoma and I am still here!
  • Pecosd
    Pecosd Member Posts: 3
    #8
    Hello TK
    I am living alone. I just posted my story on this web-site. I am living alone and have been for a month after living a month with family. At first it was necessary to live with my mother and I did for a month. I moved back home to Brooklyn as soon as I could.

    This has created complications such as having to find new doctors 2 times. I have a lot to deal with such as money, no job, cobra running out, dealing with disability and I have to do it on my own.

    I would recommend planning on staying with someone, especially at first. I lost a lot of weight, needed to eat a lot, was sick from the chemo-diarrhea/constipation from one day to the next and feeling quite weak.

    I also had lung problems-lymphoma with a pleural effusion which is fluid around the lungs. Lung problems make one very weak.

    I wish you the best of luck. The best part of my story is that I am in remission now with one more round of chemo.

    It's been a while so I hope it came out roses, Peter
  • TKSpunkster
    TKSpunkster Member Posts: 10
    #9
    Pecosd said:

    Hello TK
    I am living alone. I just posted my story on this web-site. I am living alone and have been for a month after living a month with family. At first it was necessary to live with my mother and I did for a month. I moved back home to Brooklyn as soon as I could.

    This has created complications such as having to find new doctors 2 times. I have a lot to deal with such as money, no job, cobra running out, dealing with disability and I have to do it on my own.

    I would recommend planning on staying with someone, especially at first. I lost a lot of weight, needed to eat a lot, was sick from the chemo-diarrhea/constipation from one day to the next and feeling quite weak.

    I also had lung problems-lymphoma with a pleural effusion which is fluid around the lungs. Lung problems make one very weak.

    I wish you the best of luck. The best part of my story is that I am in remission now with one more round of chemo.

    It's been a while so I hope it came out roses, Peter

    ty
    Sorry it took so long to come back, but been having internet problems and moving issues haha. Thanks for all your advice everyone. If I am diagnosed I will be planning on living with someone who can assist. Today, 6/22/10 i FINALLY got results from a CT scan which took forever for me to get. It shows a 9mm mass in my right lung.. i have a family history of cancer, i smoke, and i'm at high risk according to a recent blood test for heart failure, stroke or cardiac arrest. My doctor wants to wait 4-6 months to see if this mass grows.. i dunno if I can wait.. i've been stressed and waiting long enough. My mono tests came back slightly high but nothing too serious. only like a point or 2 over normal. Still, not sure if I should be waiting another 4-6 months. My mom called me last week and she has cancer again as well. Luckily it is small enough the Dr thinks he can remove it with no complications from her kidney.

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