Doris

Age at interview: 80

Age at diagnosis: 80

Brief Outline:

Doris developed a cough and went to the doctor. A scan revealed a shadow on both her lungs, which turned out to be adenocarcinoma. She had part of her right lung removed by video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and has been taking Gefitinib.

Background:

Doris is a retired care assistant. She is married with two children (aged 57 and 55), 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Doris recalled how she felt when she woke after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). During the procedure part of her right lung was removed.

So what was it like when you came round from the operation?

Well I don't remember much about it but I wasn't sick or anything. Didn't feel unwell at all. I was fine. And I didn't have any severe pain or anything. That was why it's alright, I couldn't get out of bed for the first day. They did help me to the toilet but that was, I only got out of bed once during the day but I didn't have any terrible pain or anything like that. No. It was quite alright.

Doris is taking a three month course of gefitinib. She takes tablets every morning. Apart from losing a little hair she has not had side effects.

And what has it been like taking the tablets?

 

Quite alright, I take them at quarter to seven every morning at the same time well, within a few minutes of each other. But I take them regular and there's nothing to 'em. And I've had no side effects, no side effects whatsoever. No sickness, no nothing. So I've been one of the lucky ones I suppose. Yeah.

 

How many tablets do you take?

 

Only one day, yes.

 

And there have been no side effects?

 

No side effects whatsoever. I have lost a little bit of hair, but that's don't bother me at all. So…

 

During the biopsy Doris experienced a collapsed lung, which was painful.

With my first biopsy, I was told all about it and I was told that it was only one in twenty that the lung could collapse with having the biopsy but as it happened it happened to me. And my lung collapsed so they had to insert a small tube in my shoulders, somewhere around my shoulder and they withdrawed just over a litre of fluid. Fluid or air I don't really know what they withdrawed but they did say just over a litre.

 

How was that? Were you-

 

It wasn't too bad, it wasn't, the biopsy itself was nothing. All you felt was just a sting but the withdrawing, that wasn't too bad neither after he'd got the little tube in that wasn't- it didn't feel at all bad. They're very nice though, They all these doctors and nurses are when they're dealing with you.

 

Did it worry you when they-

 

Well, when the lung did collapse it was very pain- it's painful but when, once they withdrawed the whatever they withdraw it goes back to normal and you feel quite alright. I was allowed to go home then straight away. So there's nothing to worry about with that.

 

So you were aware that something had happened?

 

Well, I was aware after they'd done the biopsy I was aware that something had happened because I felt in pain when I moved and they told me to sit still. So… That's all.