My husband is stage4 metasatic prostate cancer . Has COPD , high blood pressure. He has exhausted treatments for cancer. He has trouble breathing and can barely walk, because of this. He got pnuemonia in April that lasted thru June and was told by one doctor last week he had it again. He lost 25 lbs the last time. Can t afford to lose any more. weight. Does this sound like pnuemonia to you? He has had shortness of breath from COPD but this is worse and sudden. We were told to get oxygen in house but why?
The condition that you describe could easily be explained by the combination of COPD and superimposed infection (commonly called pneumonia). Presence of metastatic disease in the lungs is also possible which can compound the problem. Either way, the treatment remains the same. Preferably the treatment should be in a hospital, but if you need to treat him at home, then you should start him on antibiotics (Tab Coamoxiclav 625\u00a0mg twice daily + Tab Ninefold 600\u00a0mg twice daily), nebulization with albuterol and decor thrice daily (nebulizer is a small easily available instrument at any pharmacist and is easy to use). He should eat anything he wants (home cooked only). Oxygen requirement depends on if he is breathless at rest, or develops bluish tongue or extremities in which case you should give him oxygen.