Name: Chris

Age: 36

Primary Site: Central right Lung
Chris’s Story

Diagnosed in February 2022 after visiting a private GP after my NHS GP wouldn’t see me a persistent cough which worsened with shortness of breath over the space of about 12 months. Was told the tumour was approx 8cm in diameter and encroachment into the pericardium meant pre-adjuvant chemo with a likely surgery required after. The chemo had no effect and I was given a 50/50 chance of a successful operation.

September 21 I had a pneumonectomy with partial resection of the pericardium which was successful but I then encountered a herniation of my heart, pneumonia in my left lung and a fungal infection which resulted in a lengthy ICU stay and induced coma. After 35 days in hospital I was discharged home where I started to deteriorate and after 2 weeks I was readmitted with sepsis and spent another 30 days in hospital to fight the infections.

Move to February 22 and I was admitted for another procedure to have my cavity drained as it was full of puss. Another 2 week stay resulted and most recently I’ve had to undergo rigid bronchoscopies due to a small fistula on my stump.

Today I am back working but have issues with breathlessness, fatigue and chronic pains. The biggest things I struggle with is not being able to be as active as I was before the diagnosis and the lack of follow up support to try and get back to some level of physical activity and normality. Being a lot younger than most patients means the advice that’s out there doesn’t apply to me and I’m left to my own devices in terms of being able to work out if I can actually get back to any normality in the future and how long that may take.

Do you have any useful hints and tips that you would like to share?

I would say definitely talk to friends, families and health professionals about the diagnosis and treatment and don’t be afraid to have the what if discussions and understand what is actually happening.

Select here for support.