Surgery Soon

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

I am a 49 year old male diagnosed with NSCLC. It's a 3.5 centimeter mass in upper left lung caused by heavy smoking for many years. I have had the PET scan to see if it has spread and so far it has not. The surgeon is either going to to take the lobe or do a wedge. I was wondering if anyone has already done this and what i can expect? Will I have to do chemo afterwards?

Thanks

Bill

karibrenmom · Regular Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 36

Hi Bill - my mom underwent a wedge resection in November. Her tumor was in the upper right lobe of lung. She is 59 and a heavy smoker for 50ish years, she says. Her tumor was smaller, around 1 cm. She was in the hospital for 5 days and came home on oxygen - she used that for about a month - they wanted her to have it 24/7 but she only did it at night. She has had a pretty easy recovery - she is a doer - so she has over done things a few times. She just had her 6 month follow up on Friday and she is still healing - sore ribs. She chose not to have chemo as her tumor was staged 1b and her Dr said that chemo with the low stage didn't offer too much extra 'protection' for it to be gone completely. She chose not to have it as she didn't want to be sick, etc for such a small assurance that it could help her. Feel free to ask questions and I will try to help. One thing I have learned while on this board, everyone has had different experience!
_________________
My mom was diagnosed with NSCLC Squamous Carcinoma 10/23/2007. Wedge resection 11/20/2007. Final pathology showed poorly differiniated large cell carcinomawith invasion of visceral pluera, T2NxM0/stage 1B. 12/14/2007. No chemo elected.

ksplat · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: Surgery Soon

Dear Bill

I am so sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis! You are such a young person, I hope you are strong & well otherwise. I pray for a positive outcome for you.
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Lung Cancer but I know you will receive replies soon from our more knowledgeable members on this thread.
Please keep us updated on your progress & treatment.
Kindest regards,
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

Thanks for the replies and I will post what the surgeon says on Wednesday after I meet with him.

Bill

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1302

Hi Bill,

Gosh darn -- I'm so sorry to hear about this diagnosis, but it's a very good thing that they will be able to do surgery as part of your treatment.

Will they be doing VATS or regular surgery? VATS is far less invasive and recovery time is speedier.

Best wishes and we'll wait to hear from you about your surgeon's appointment.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

What is VATS?

Bill

karibrenmom · Regular Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 36

I think it stand for video assisted thoracic (?) surgery - FYI my mom had the regular surgery
_________________
My mom was diagnosed with NSCLC Squamous Carcinoma 10/23/2007. Wedge resection 11/20/2007. Final pathology showed poorly differiniated large cell carcinomawith invasion of visceral pluera, T2NxM0/stage 1B. 12/14/2007. No chemo elected.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1302

Bill,

Oops -- sorry! Karibrenmom gave the answer. They make three incisions and go in with a camera and tools (no wrenches or hammers involved Wink

). My husband had his wedge section biopsy done in this way. Then the fourth hole is for the chest tube to keep your lung inflated. The tube stays in for however long it takes to make sure your lung won't collapse when they take it out. My husband has his tube in three days. So, he ended up with four scars. VATS is far less invasive surgery, that's why the recovery is speedier.

Also Bill, please don't beat yourself up over smoking -- it doesn't do you any good mentally or emotionally and I cringed when I read your first post. There are plenty of people out there who quit smoking ages ago or never smoked that develop lung cancer. Deal with the here and now.

Many good wishes,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

brainman · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Surgery Soon

Hi Bill. I am very sorry about your Lung Cancer. Surgery is your best option so I am glad that you qualify. VATS means Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery. It is a very good option for those who qualify. Not every surgeon can to that procedure so you need to ask two main questions for your surgeon: 1. "Do I qualify for VATS surgery?" and 2. "How much experience to you have in performing VATS for my condition?"

Keep us informed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

jim1 · New User Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 1

Bill,

I had my upper left lobe removed Dec 11 of 07. No VATS , was out of the hospital in 5 days. Went back to work on Feb 4th. My job includes working on industrial machinery ( printing presses ) so it is somewhat physical.

Words of advice use your pain meds don't wait till your in pain to use them
stay on the schedule ( trust me on this ).

Do your breathing exercises after the surgery Like everything else in this world you get back what you put in.

The surgery is not a walk in the park but is definitely doable.

You didn't say what stage you were dx as. I was very lucky in that it was caught very early ( Stage 1A ) so was only surgery w/out chemo or radiation.

Good luck to you

jim

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

I am a T2. It's 2 because its over 3 centimeters. Thanks for everyones replies.

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

Well I met with the surgeon today. I am having the left upper lobe removed on the 29th of May. So we'll see what happens next...

maryaz · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Surgery Soon

My husband is set for surgery. I can only share what we were told and that if all goes well, it will be 5 to 6 days in hospital. Surgeon actually says 7 to 10 so patient is not upset if not out by 6. Won't know for sure what is being taken out until open up. Expect to remove the tumor and Right Lower Lobe and possibly middle lobe. Should take 2 to 3 hours. He was staged 3B. Surgeon feels that can see better just what is there by doing with incision. We were told 6 weeks cannot lift over 10 lbs and has to do with the cutting of the ribs and healing properly. Also 2 to 3 months recovery. Possible Chemo but wait and see. We were told maybe oxygen for about month.

I was a little discouraged by karibrenmom's post and Mom not doing so well at 6 months. I didn't think it was suppose to take 6 months. Not wearing oxygen when you are told, is not always a matter of how you feel, but that if it is really needed and you don't use it, you put a strain on other organs such as your heart.

Jim, I am printing out your post for my husband to read. Good advice from experience. I like that.

Bill, best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery. I will be posting on my husbands and his is Friday. Another thing that I personally believe is important with surgeries, is that the people that are in better health, physically fit, do better.

We are actually blessed with surgery as there was not a big chance of getting to it. You can read his story using the link below.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

ki4ncw · Regular Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 30

I need to correct myself on my previous post. My correct current stage is 1B.

Bill

bahenry · New User Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

My mother 74 was also stage 1B surgery was March 31, came out of surgery with no oxygen needed. upper right lobe removed. Is not having any chemo. Is beginning to eat better has lost 45 pounds ( but was on the heavy side.) she is happy with weight loss I say enough. she is now driving, doing her marketing, getting her hair done. It does take a toll on her pretty much wipes her out for the afternoon and the next day but sounds good, cough almost completely gone, her cough was horrible before surgery. Is still taking pain pills but going a little longer everyday. You are in our prayers we were lucky and it sounds like everything should turn out very well for you. Do everything they tell you to. before surgery my mother did breathing excercises to build up her lungs, I believe this helped her after surgery.

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