Page 35 - Inspire Magazine

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? ? ? ? Simon Says...
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Lung cancer nurse specialist, Simon Bolton,
answers questions from our patients
“It feels like people with small cell lung cancer
only present with symptoms a few weeks before
diagnosis. Why is that?”
Ed King via Health Unlocked
Small cell lung cancer is considered to be the most
aggressive form of the disease and, typically, patients
become very unwell in a short space of time.
Chemotherapy can be very effective in terms of
improving symptoms and shrinking the cancer although
there is always a high chance that the cancer can
become active again very soon. Unfortunately, some
people are too ill at the time of diagnosis to be
considered for any active treatment. This would be a
‘classic’ or ‘text book’ case.
Sometimes however, for whatever reason, a person will
be diagnosed with small cell lung cancer that behaves
quite differently. They might have very few symptoms
or respond to treatment and have better long-term
responses. This tends to baffl e lung cancer nurses and
oncologists. In these cases, it’s not uncommon to go
back to pathologists and ask them to have another
look at the original biopsy.
“Am I more likely to get heart problems as I have
had radiotherapy to my mediastinum?”
Eleanor via Health Unlocked
In the recent past, the focus was often just about
getting through treatments. Now, many lung cancer
therapies aim at providing a longer-term survival.
Radiotherapy delivery has improved over the past
decade. This enables higher doses to be used more
accurately. The area of disease now receives more
radiation with less treatment hitting non-affected areas
of the body. Your clinical oncologist and their team of
physicists will carefully plan the radiotherapy to avoid
unnecessary doses reaching major organs or vessels
such as the heart.
It’s always worth talking to your oncologist or lung
cancer CNS about side effects.
“What help is available to improve your libido
after treatment for lung cancer?”
Kath via Health Unlocked
I’ve enlisted the help of my colleague Sue Makin, a
sexual and relationship therapist, to answer. She said:
“I am always mindful that everyone had
“I am always mindful that everyone had
a libido before their diagnosis,
a libido before their diagnosis,
sometimes low, medium or high. This is
sometimes low, medium or high. This is
something that is easily forgotten, and
something that is easily forgotten, and
low libido can be blamed on the
low libido can be blamed on the
cancer or its treatment.
cancer or its treatment.
The topic is huge and doesn’t only affect the person
who had/has cancer. If they are in a relationship I like
to see the couple for an assessment. Chemical
intervention can have an effect on one’s libido and
every individual will be assessed accordingly.
If the head doesn’t want sex, the penis won’t work
even if you’re prescribed Viagra.
If a woman has lung cancer and has low libido, like the
man, I would work with them to focus on themselves.
It is called self-focus and they are asked to go home
and undertake certain enjoyable exercises I have asked
them to complete. It is directive therapy, but it works.
I will also ask them to follow a sensate focus
programme. All sex is banned while they reconnect
with themselves and their partners intimately.”
lung cancer?
Have questions about
You can post them on our dedicated
lung cancer forum:
www.healthunlocked.com/lungcancer
Or call our Ask the nurse service:
0800 358 7200 INSPIRE 2018
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