Cancer Survivors Network - newly dx - Comments

Recovery

cabbott — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:11:03 -0500

It takes a while to recover from major surgery. You don't want to over-do things by attempting too much too soon. It will take longer to recover if you have a set-back. Getting part of a lung removed is mighty major, even if it is a VATS procedure and you did well. I know I was "guarding" my right side through the end of October and my operation was during the first part of August. By the following summer I was feeling a whole lot better. Right now (two years later) you would never know I had part of my right lung removed (well, unless you saw me in a bathing suit. I have a couple of interesting scars in various places and they haven't disappeared completely). Anyhow, I had an job that didn't involve much lifting or carrying. Yours does. I may have recovered slower because I had two back to back surgeries before my lobe was completely removed, but it will still take a while for your stitches to heal. You will know you are over-doing things if they hurt. I tried pulling up a weed in my garden a month after surgery. One yank and I knew without a doubt that it was a very bad idea to proceed. Now I can yank as much as I want. (Too bad that isn't as often as I have weeds. But I digress.) You might consider calling your local American Cancer Society and ask what the disability laws are that might protect your job while you are recovering. A good lawyer in the field of disability could also explain what you could do, but lawyers sometimes cost a bunch. It would be great if they could move you to a position where you do something that didn't involve any lifting or carrying. Can you learn to use your left hand to sort the mail? Are there any machines or lifts you could use so that you could sort mail without using your right arm? The same laws that protect the handicapped protect folks with cancer, but they do need to get the job done. Think outside the box and see what might work. Good luck!

C. Abbott

I was wondering, it will be

catcon49 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:34:23 -0500

I was wondering, it will be 9 weeks since my vats surgery. My right breast is still sore underneath my back muscles are still weak. I also have a little shortness of breath after some activity. I am walking the mall (it's a small mall under 1 mile) 3 times twice a day. I also start very small exercise at curves. My doctor released me for work on 11/10/08, but my work is giving me a hard time about my restrictions that I have they say they have no light duty work for me. I have a very strenuious (?) job at the Post Office. My sick leave and vacation time are all used up. I have to use my right arm constantly to sort mail. This is one of my restrictions. Did anyone run into any of this at work?

Great news!

cabbott — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:11:54 -0400

That is really great news! I checked up on T1a when that was the diagnosis I got. Usually no chemo is recommended for that level. That is because surgery has a great chance of being sufficient at that level. If it comes back in another part of the lung, they can do more surgery if your lungs can manage it. If not, they can discuss whether chemo or something else that might work to stop or slow down the cancer. If it somewhere else in the body, you are dealing with stage 4 cancer and chemo and maybe radiation are usually used. Hopefully you will not have to go there, but many of my friends from this website can share how chemo and radiation are helping them survive cancer in spite of a stage 4 diagnosis. The doctors will keep a very close watch on you especially over the next two or three years. My surgeon warned me that I would continue to see him for probably 8 years because sometimes my kind of cancer can take that long to show up. That's if it ever does show up again. He doesn't want to take chances and neither do I. So I will make my appointments and get all my CAT scans done as scheduled. But the rest of the time I'm making plans for Thanksgiving with my family, skiing this winter, buying a new car, and ...well, you get the picture. Cancer happened, but it isn't all there is of me. The doctors worked hard to get me well enough to go do all that other stuff. So don't worry too much about cancer coming back and what you'll do then. That's what the doctors get paid to do. Thanks again for sharing your great news!

finally I got the

catcon49 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:38:21 -0400

finally I got the constipation thing under control 5 weeks later. Cancer type is T1a nomo. Adenocarcinoma. no met no lymphnodes involved. They said no chemo or radiation. I don't know what to make of this, but it makes sense that if the cancer was in that part of the lung and that lobe is gone what would they give me chemo for. I know it can come back in another area of the lung or body. I don't know what to think. Any body with any thoughts out there.

Constipation.

Greggriggs — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:47:01 -0400

Boy that is a tough one .
It was so bad I thought I would have to dig it out with a spoon.
try the beneful tabs an Philips.
Hope that works for you cause that is a miserable son of a gun.
you could also try fleet enama.
I had a complete lung removed left side an I am still kickin after two an a half years they were not all fun an still aren't
There are times I realy miss the old Me mostly for my Family.
You know warm prune juice is good also .
Golly listhen to me !!!
Hope every thing goes good with the path reports .
You are in my prayers .
Greg

need help after surgery

catcon49 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:36:50 -0400

what to do about constipation? tried everything

It depends

cabbott — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:53:55 -0400

Congratulations on making it through surgery. It sounds like you must have had the VATS procedure to come home so soon and already be up and typing. Right now you need to rest and recuperate. Take those orders not to lift anything seriously! You don't want to pop any stitches after all the work the surgeon took to put them in! Avoid getting colds and infections. That means lots of hand washing when you can't avoid crowds and sneezers, but for me it meant I had to give up taking care of the two's and three's at church (too many of them carried strep). On hot days, stay inside with the AC on. You are now part of the crowd with compromised lung function along with the elderly and kids with asthma. I don't know about you, but that bit when I realized that I had to restrict some of my previous activities. But exercise is still very much on my list. Right after lung surgery, my mom took me to the local mall to walk and recover my strength. It took awhile, but when I could walk the mall quickly and keep up with her, I knew I would be able to take the hills outside, at least when it wasn't too hot. When I got the okay from the surgeon a few months later, I went back to the gym. By winter, I was ready to go skiing. The following summer I went kayaking and body surfing. I'm no athlete, but I love doing stuff. Lung surgery requires some life changes, but exercise is not something you have to eliminate. In fact, keeping strong helps you fight cancer as well or better than some of the medicines that are out there. Exercise can keep your bones strong which lowers the chance cancer will spread to your bones. Exercise also strengthens your immune system which can reduce the number of messed up cells that can turn into cancer. So one thing that you can do next is get back in shape. Just remember to take it easy and don't do more than your doctor suggests is okay, especially at first.

As far as the medical scene goes, the next thing to happen will be checking back with your surgeon to make sure you are healed. Then he will probably refer you to a pulmonary oncologist or a general oncologist if the specialist does not exist in your area. A specialist in lung cancer would be better so that you get the latest opinions of what works for your particular kind of cancer. Either expert will read your report and let you know if you should probably have chemo or if you are not a candidate at this time. Not everyone gets chemo. I had stage 1a adenocarcinoma of the lung with BAC tendencies and they sent me home and told me I was too healthy for them to deal with. I still saw the surgeon: every three months with a CAT scan for the first year, a CAT scan flipped with an Xray every 6 months for the next two years, and then I will have yearly checks with either the surgeon or my primary care physcian. I may go for a chest xray for life should I be so lucky, but right now I'm just finished with year two.If you are having breathing problems (common after lung surgery), they may suggest you consult a pulmonologist. I had a clear Xray last month but I still have a bit of a niggly cough that won't go away, so I'm finally getting around to seeing the pulmonologist. Apparently that is who helps with breathing problems, not that mine are so much of a problem as just an annoyance. If your cancer is localized and now out, you won't need to deal with radiologists. If surgery complications show up, there may be other specialists you have to deal with, but mostly right now, seeing your surgeon and then the oncologist is up next. Good luck!

newwly dx

catcon49 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:31:42 -0400

Had surgery on Wednesday, came home on sunday. Now I have to wait for final pathologist report. till next week. I know I am impatient but I can't help it. What happens next? anybody know?

For me, it happened so fast

Loudon143 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:33:12 -0400

For me, it happened so fast that I did not have time to think things over. All I know is my doctor wanted to take the tumor as soon as possible.
Surgery was not bad bec you won't feel it :) It's when they wake you up in the recovery room. The Med Team will help to make you comfortable but it's still yourself that will help you. Choices. I need to be strong so I can go home, get well so I can move on with my life...
Well, 5 weeks after the surgery I already make changes with my life. I bought books like Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do by Greg Anderson and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I walk every morning, record food that I ate daily so I can monitor my intake of natural vitamins to fight cancer. I live everyday like it's my last. Support is very important. That's why I joined the American Cancer Society.
Good Luck and God Bless,
Nell

Yeah, now if I can get to

catcon49 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:43:19 -0400

Yeah, now if I can get to the surgery without a break down. I thought the dr. said she would take out the lower section of my right lung, now I don't know if she said the middle also? Thank god the dr. is a god send to me she gave me her email address and answers my questions within a couple of hours.

Do you know if there is a better part to get lung cancer in? Not better but upper lobes or lower or doesn't it make a difference.

What did you change in your life after cancer that you feel gave you the best chance for survival?

Great News!!!

cabbott — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:57 -0400

YEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing the good news!

C. Abbott

Great News!!!

cabbott — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:52 -0400

YEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing the good news!

C. Abbott

Thyroid test came back

catcon49 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:01:40 -0400

Thyroid test came back negative for cancer.

At first they tried VAT but

Loudon143 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:39:50 -0400

At first they tried VAT but they end up opening my left side. They will give you epidural for the pain. One of the pain killers they gave me is the one that you can control by pushing the button every 15 min. I don't like pain but my will power to get out of the hospital kept me endure the pain :) I was confined for 5 days at Stanford Hospital.
Dr. gave me 2 more weeks before I can go back to work. I am back to do my morning walks with my Ipod. Still trying to get rid of my cough everytime I talk. Still trying to tell myself to slow done and re-evaluate life.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for your

Loudon143 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:30:23 -0400

Thanks for your info.
Actually, 2 doctors already told me that I don't need chemo but after I read your comment, I will talk to them again. If you don't mind my asking, did the cancer went back to your lungs or a diff part of your body?
Nell

newly dx

catcon49 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:15:00 -0400

Anybody have adenocarcinoma of the lower right lung? Scheduled for vats surgery on 9/10/08. How bad is the surgery? They feel they caught it very early. But won't know for sure until after surgery.