Lung Surgery

CherM

Hi ,

I had stage one lung cancer in my middle right lobe. I had robotic lung surgery done on 12-20-23. They took out the mass, + the middle lobe along with a bunch of lymph nodes. It has been five weeks, and I am still having pain, and really have no appetite. I was wondering if anyone else has had this surgery? Also how long did it take you to heal?

Sharon5922

It takes time. It becomes less painful over time. For me, it was the cuts and scar healing more so than the lung. There were five cuts total with each around an each for my surgeon to do his thing. I had my upper right lobe removed. For some reason they didn't want me to get mine wet for around a month. At around three months, since I quit smoking right before the surgery, I was gaining weight and it was stretching the stitches/cut/scar. I started using palmers cocoa butter and it helped reduce scaring and that funny feeling from stretching. The only place I couldn't reach is a little puckered. (on my back) One cut in front took forever to not hurt. I think they went through more nerves right under my breast.

I'm trying to keep up with exercise and walking but I can tell I've had a lobectomy in cold weather and freezing winds. It's harder to breath. Need a scarf covering mouth and nose.

I had my surgery 12-19-22 so I am at one year recovery.

CherM

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712888#Comment_1712888

Thank you for the feed back !

DBC23

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327613/lung-surgery

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712899#Comment_1712899

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712899#Comment_1712899

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712899#Comment_1712899

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1712899#Comment_1712899

For me it's been 4 months, and I also had robotic lobectomy, upper right lobe. After about 2 months I was able to sleep in the bed instead of the recliner, as the incisions became less painful. The heating pad is my best friend, since much of my pain was in my back. I also used a small warming pad for my breast, which is still painful and partially numb. Got some new larger, looser bras too, but only wear them when I really need to. The only respiratory therapy recommended was using the Spirometer. But I found a YouTube series that I like, Breathing Easier with Elizabeth. Stamina is slow to return, but I try increasing my step count a little each week.

CEWB

I had robotic surgery on middle right lobe and they removed a wedge. It is a Stage 1 mucinous adenocarcinoma. Lymph nodes are clear. It's been 2.5 weeks and the incision under my breast is definitely the worst, with some pain in back shoulder area. I am sleeping and napping and still exhausted. My pain is manageable with naproxen but I am impatient! I keep hearing it will take 4-6 weeks . I guess we need to be more patient

CherM

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713112#Comment_1713112

Yes it does take time . It has been 6 wks now ,and I am definitely better . The only pain I am experiencing now is in my back. Still a little sore also in other areas . I do find if I do too much is when it hurts . I am still taking gabapentin at night to help the nerve pain in my back . I am also very impatient 🤣

10090

I had robotic lobectomy 5 months ago. I had no pain what's so ever. I had trouble laying flat for about 4 months. They say sometimes it takes a full year to totally heal.

I've been going to the gym to build mt strength back it has really helped me.

They do have cancer rehab.

SBG

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/327613/lung-surgery

I also had stage one lung cancer (lower left lobe). I also had robotic lung surgery on 12/20/23. The removed the cancerous nodule, nine clear lymph nodes, and some lung tissue with good margins (a wedge resection). It has been seven months. I felt it took me five months to get my strength, stamina, and breathing capacity back while the surgery pain subsided in 5-6 weeks. I haven't been able to exercise like I used to with sciatica/hip pain developing right after surgery. I still have odd sensations in my back, down my side, and into my abdomen. It isn't really pain, more like tightness, numbing, and prickly sensations. My pulmonologist said that might take a year or longer to go away. I feel I was left with some weakness and lower energy from the process. I am 77 and that might be expected at my age. However, I was pretty active before the surgery. I will have CT scans every 3 months for two years, then every six months, then yearly. Mine is a great outcome compared to many. And I am very grateful. I was told I have 3-4 nodules that could become a problem so they need to be watched, and more than 100 very small nodules at the bottom of both lungs. I wish I wouldn't feel I'm living around these CTs (anticipation, worry, relief, repeat) which is leaving me tense and not living as positively as I would like to think I would with a promising outcome. Despite being a positive and typically resilient person, I'm not moving on as I'd like. How do you handle the natural concern and keep it in perspective?

CherM

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1717251#Comment_1717251

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback. I have recovered really well and back to feeling like myself again. I just had my first 6month CT scan and all is good. I have to go every 6months for the next 3 yrs. That part is really nerve racking. It is hard not to worry and stay positive that is for sure. I still have some tenderness in my ribs because 2 of them were fractured, but other than that I am doing good. I have learned to just take one day at a time! East said than done (lol) I was just diagnosed with breast cancer last week so I now have that to deal with. They say it is not related to the lung cancer that was removed. I definitely don't have good luck. My only advice would be to not be hard on yourself and just take it one day at a time. I have learned to take baby steps and also to try and not to be so hard on myself. I wish you all the best!😄

SBG

Thanks for your reply. I am so sorry you have received a second cancer diagnosis (and unrelated to your first one). You have a wonderful attitude following your lung surgery. I am hopeful you will have a simple recommendation of treatment for your recent report. I wish you the very best and will be thinking of you. Susan

Sharon5922

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1717251#Comment_1717251

Hello SBG

I want to tell you what I know that may relieve some anxiety… First off, lung nodules are common. The older you are, the more you have. It's good to watch and monitor but you can have these existing for years and decades without being cancer. (I am 60) It's only a problem when they glow on the dye scan. And if it's an issue, they have caught it early if you do recommend preventative care on testing. Second… it is possible the sciatica (or nerve tingling elsewhere) could be from the position they placed you in on the operating table. Since I've had that before (childbirth issue) I know to make sure I am positioned with certain support during surgery. All nerves will heal naturally but it takes time. Physical therapy can help. See if you can get that to accellerate yourself back to active sooner. Get the kind that applies heat and tens pulse (great for nerve healing) and remember you can add heat on your own. My tip is to take a kitchen towel, get it wet and ring it out, then pop it into the microwave. You can wrap a towel around anything. Best if you have a buddy to re-heat so you can chill on it without repeatedly getting up Yes hot water bottle is good too.

It appears that most of us here are fortunate to have an early diagnosis and treatment! It appears that most of us have the slower growing adenocarcinoma. I don't know how easier this spreads or metastasises compared to other lung cancers, but the slow growing nature appears advantageous and in our favor. That's why we all have the 3 or 6 month follow up scans. Each scan is a milestone. Maybe we should celebrate the "no news is good news" values of it? lol Youre on the road to those 5 golden years, after that… freedom.

Aren't we all looking to pass the 5 year mark successfully and without issue?

I wish everyone continues without bad news but we can all support each other through these trials and we all expect it sooner or later. Even a long term survivor deals with bad news potential.

All I want is the 5 more years with everything taken care of in the first 2.

Then I can relax.

Sharon5922

Hello Cher

I am sorry you got diagnosed with a different cancer! If it means anything, I am on my second cancer...

Breast cancer was my first cancer and I was diagnosed with it in my early 40s. Both my sister and my mother were diagnosed with same, with my sister also being in her early 40s and mom around 80. I went with my daughter to do the bracha (sp?) gene testing because this suspiciously looked genetic. Discovered it was not genetic. I personally believe this indicates environmental exposure. We lived on a farm growing up and my sister and I would play in the fields. Yeah, we went through puberty in this environment and I think that has an effect of developing breast cancer earlier. No one ever considered the hazards of treating fields with chemicals back in the 70s. Mom, however did not do this but was still exposed from the drift. It took her longer to get breast cancer.

This too is survivable!

Hopefully they caught this cancer early and it is treatable with a lumpectomy. Those are great and not nearly as invasive as lung surgery making recovery quicker and easier. I think I had more of an issue with the ultrasound placement of a pin to mark the spot for removal than I did with the actual lumpectomy removal. I then did followup radiation. I do not think this was necessary. The tamoxafin was not tolerable to me and I only made it 1 out of the five recommended years. I am a 15 year survivor. After me and sis, mom just had the lumpectomy. I don't thing the add-ons are necessary on the early (stage 1 or 2) breast cancers. But. All cancer is individual. Your type of BC may be a different variety than my type of BC. Your mileage may vary. ;) Whatever decision you make should be based on your doctors recommendations. But do ask questions. Ask about how the extra treatments adds to your odds. I was told that surgery is 84 percent and the radiation added an extra 10 percent. I sometimes wonder if the radiation contributed to development of the lung cancer.