Interview LC36

Age at interview: 72

Age at diagnosis: 72

Brief Outline: Diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in January 2003, followed by radiotherapy from outside the chest to the lung (CHART).

Background: Film librarian (retired), married, 5 children.

Explains how his granddaughter was told about his cancer and describes her reaction.

How has the family reacted to all this, all your children? 

Oh, they were very upset. It wouldn't happen to their dad, you know. But it has and that's it.

Was it difficult telling them? What would you recommend to people about telling children about serious illness?

Oh, tell them. Tell them. Because they will get very cross if you didn't tell them. It would hurt them. And even my grandchildren know. I've got one grandchild. She's nine, and she said to her mother, 'Is granddad ill?' So she said, 'Yes he is'. So she said, 'Has he got cancer?', so she said, 'Yes he has'. 'Is he being looked after properly?' she said, so my daughter said, 'Yes, he is'. And we're fine. And she comes in. 'Hello granddad, how are you?' And she sent me a card when I was going into hospital. 'I hope it doesn't hurt too much'. (laughs). So when I spoke to her on the phone, I said, 'No it didn't hurt at all'. I said, 'They're lovely, these nurses. I've never been helped by so many young women at my age!' (laughs), and we laughed about it. 'Ooh, I'll tell Nanny!' she said (laughs). And we, we still carry on normal. You've got to. I mean, when they come, you just carry on normal. 

He had CHART treatment three times a day, it was not painful in any way.

I had CHART treatment, which, I said to him, 'Is it painful?' He said, 'No'. So, anyway, I had this treatment three times a day. It's very intensive, every six hours. You start eight in the morning, then two in the afternoon, then eight in the evening. So your feet don't touch the ground. It only takes about ten minutes. The first time it's about half an hour because they have to chart you and mark you up, and everything like that. And, but there's no pain to it at all.

Is this in the Radiotherapy department?

Yes, yes, Radiology, yes.

Describes some of the side effects he developed after radiotherapy to his chest.

Could you say a little bit more about any side effects you had from the radiotherapy?

Yes, you, you get hoarse. But I was a bit hoarse before I went in, but it got a little bit worse, you get a dry throat, you get a little bit of nausea. Some people seem to get more than others. But I don't think some people cope with it so well. I'.

Was the skin sore at all?

Not until I'd been home, and it's getting a little bit sore on my chest now. But they've give me some aqueous cream to put on. But they warned me this would happen. And you would get a trouble in swallowing, which I have got a bit, but it's not too bad, I can still manage to get my food down (laughs). So, but you've got to be careful what you eat. You must not have anything too hot or, they say, spicy, but try to eat a healthy diet. It's all a part of the treatment, getting better. To get the right nourishment.

So, when exactly was all this radiotherapy?

I went into hospital on the 16th March and started on the following Monday, and it's twelve days intensive treatment, three times a day. And I came home on the Saturday after the treatment finished on the Friday, so obviously there's no, no ill-effects that can stop you going home. 

He describes the support and reassurance offered to him by his 'cancer nurse'.

Yes. When they told me that I'd got lung cancer, we were taken into a little room with a lovely little nurse. She is the Cancer Nurse, and she doesn't wear a uniform, she's quite informal, and she said, 'Would you like some coffee?' and we had coffee, and we sat and talked. And she talked to us about everything that was offered, and was we alright etc, and she said, 'You can phone me anytime, day or night, I'm always available. If  I'm not, I've got a pager.' She said, 'So don't be afraid.' And all so kind, these people, you know. They've got to be special people to do the job. You know'.