Surgery for lung mets

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Trapbear
Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
HI everyone,
Just joined the network today. My partner (50 years old) (now husband) of 23 years was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in Dec 2007. He had surgery, then chemo (oxaliplatin, xeloda). In Jan of this year they found a nodule in one lung. This nodule grew a bit in June, and two very small nodules were found in the other lung. They tried to biopsy the bigger nodule by bronchoscopy, but failed to get a diagnostic biopsy. Our oncologist is talking about wedge resection of the bigger nodule (about 22mm). Does anyone out there have experience with this? One of the smaller nodules has grown a bit, but I don't think they can remove them surgically. His liver is clear. This is tough, but reading some of your posts helps, sometimes it just helps to know that we aren't' the only ones dealing with this.
Thanks,
Bill

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  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
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    Good Timing :)
    Hello Bill

    Welcome to the Semi;Colon side of the house this evening.

    Your timing is perfect for this topic.

    I am scheduled for a thoracotomy with wedge resection in 23 days - Oct 15th.

    I'll certainly be able to tell you more after that. What I can tell you is that are not alone - either one of you.

    We were watching 2 nodules, but one kept getting bigger slowly and showed the potential of cancer activity - it was in the pluera of my lung but as since moved into the lung itself just getting started.

    I turned down the biopsy because it is too much of a hit & miss proposition - if it is cancer then it's surgery - if it's not, then how do you really know the hit the spot? Exactly...you don't - and more importantly neither do the doctors.

    The surgery itself is the true determination in a case like this.

    I started out with colorectal cancer and was lucky to be resected - mets to the liver - mets to the lung. So, I think I understand what you are feeling.

    If it makes you feel any better, I am 5 1/2 year veteran of the cancer battle and was just scheduled last week. So when you say this is tough - well, I just know.

    Tell you what, please go and read the post I just opened about this last night.

    It is titled SURGERY Date Set for Oct 15th - Another Sundance Update

    You might get something out of it that will comfort you during this difficult time.

    We are all here for you to help during you and your partner's journies.

    I'm a Stage IV - 5+ years in the battle - still living to tell about it :)

    Best of luck to you both and let me know if I can help further.

    -Craig
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #3
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    my experience
    I have had three separate lung surgeries -- each time to remove a solitary nodule (met). Two of these were wedge resections. All three times, the surgery went fine and my recovery was good. But, the wedge resection is definitely easier. Lung surgery sounds so scary - because it is the lung! but it's really fine. Make sure you get good pain relief following the surgery (for example, on a patient-controlled pump). But I was off the heavy stuff and on to tablets within 24-48 hrs. Also, get up and walking as soon as you can, after the surgery. They wouldn't let me go home till I could walk up a flight of stairs -- so I practiced a lot! I was home within a few days, and walking around the track near my house (albeit gently at first!).

    Now I hike up hills. After 3 lung surgeries, my lung capacity is still 95+%

    Good luck to you.

    Tara
    (whose chest looks like a road map! Cool scars....)

    ps I've never had a successful lung biopsy -- several unsuccessful attempts!
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
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    Hi
    Bill,

    You're definitely not alone. I'm glad you found this site, and I hope we will be able to help you and your husband.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Trapbear
    Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member
    #5
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    tootsie1 said:

    Hi
    Bill,

    You're definitely not alone. I'm glad you found this site, and I hope we will be able to help you and your husband.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Hi
    Thanks everyone, we see the surgeon on Wednesday, I will let you know what we decide to do.
    Bill
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #6
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    Trapbear said:

    Hi
    Thanks everyone, we see the surgeon on Wednesday, I will let you know what we decide to do.
    Bill

    Hey Bill!
    I don't have experience with what you asked for, but just wanted to say HI! snd lend you and your hubby some support! my thoughts and prayers are with you both!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
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    Hi Bill
    Sorry to hear of his diagnosis. I've had a few wedge resections over the past 3-4 years that have gone well. One thing I would have him (or you) ask is if the surgeon can do the "muscle sparing technique" on him. This way they try to avoid cutting through the muscles that are there and the recovery time is quicker. They can't/won't always do that but it's worth a shot. Has a RFA been mentioned. It's a Radio Frequency Ablation and with that they stick a needle into the tumor during a CT scan and basically fry it. I've had that done and it's a cake walk compared to surgery. What he can expect is to wake up with a drainage tube in his side to let the fluid drain from the lung. That can be in anywhere from 1 day to 4-45 days depending on how many wedgies you get ;-)
    I hope all goes well.
    -phil
    PS - I wouldn't trust a biopsy. What if they miss by a millimeter and they say you're OK and you're not?
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #8
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    PhillieG said:

    Hi Bill
    Sorry to hear of his diagnosis. I've had a few wedge resections over the past 3-4 years that have gone well. One thing I would have him (or you) ask is if the surgeon can do the "muscle sparing technique" on him. This way they try to avoid cutting through the muscles that are there and the recovery time is quicker. They can't/won't always do that but it's worth a shot. Has a RFA been mentioned. It's a Radio Frequency Ablation and with that they stick a needle into the tumor during a CT scan and basically fry it. I've had that done and it's a cake walk compared to surgery. What he can expect is to wake up with a drainage tube in his side to let the fluid drain from the lung. That can be in anywhere from 1 day to 4-45 days depending on how many wedgies you get ;-)
    I hope all goes well.
    -phil
    PS - I wouldn't trust a biopsy. What if they miss by a millimeter and they say you're OK and you're not?

    RFA
    I would go for RFA first, if it doesn't work they can always go back in surgically.
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    #9
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    Hey there!
    I just had VATS
    Hey there!

    I just had VATS x4, which is video assisted thoracic surgery where they removed 4 nodules in my left lung. It went pretty well, and now I'm back on chemo to take care of the smaller nodules in the right lung. My liver was resected back in December and that is still clear. Rectum and colon were resected back in Feb and those are still all clear. So as soon as we take care of these pests in the right lung, I'll be good to go. Your husband will do fine. More importantly, as a caregiver, YOU try to keep a positive attitude...even when he can't. Good luck to you both!

    -Sheri
  • Trapbear
    Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member
    #10
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    luv3jay said:

    Hey there!
    I just had VATS
    Hey there!

    I just had VATS x4, which is video assisted thoracic surgery where they removed 4 nodules in my left lung. It went pretty well, and now I'm back on chemo to take care of the smaller nodules in the right lung. My liver was resected back in December and that is still clear. Rectum and colon were resected back in Feb and those are still all clear. So as soon as we take care of these pests in the right lung, I'll be good to go. Your husband will do fine. More importantly, as a caregiver, YOU try to keep a positive attitude...even when he can't. Good luck to you both!

    -Sheri

    Thanks all for your
    Thanks all for your encouraging words. We met with the surgeon today and will have VATS next Thursday to remove the biggest nodule and get a definitive diagnosis. The other two nodule are very small, no plans to remove them yet. IF it is indeed recurrent disease I imagine chemo is the next step? Thanks again and I will keep you posted.
    Bill
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    Unknown
    #11
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