hi there, newbie here who has just joined and who is looking to connect with some people who have experienced treatments for lung cancer, in this instance, surgery.
my mum has been diagnosed with stage 3a lung cancer and is in the process of gathering information in order to make a decision over what she wants to do. The options open to her are lung surgery, radiotherapy or no treatment at all (or alternative medicine).
Mum is scared of the lung Surgery option and scared of the pain involved. We have heard what the doctors and medical professionals have to say about it and about the post op experience but, in reality, it is those who have gone through it themselves who could provide the most valuable insights.
Has anyone here had lung surgery for cancer? Is it something you would recommend or is it something you regret doing? Please don’t feel like you need to sugar coat any of your experiences - we would all like to know the cold truth of it all in order to make the most informed decision. How did you find coping with the pain? How long was your recovery? How ‘back to normal’ do you feel? Is breathing quite easy or is it difficult? How is your mobility now? How did you find all the post op drug schedule?
Any information and insight you would be willing to provide would be sincerely and gratefully received.
Hope you’re well and thanks in advance.
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Chambertin-1
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Hi Chambertin-1 I can't help you with your question from personal experience but would suggest you contact Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation who are a specialist cancer charity. They also have a group on Healthunlocked which you may like to join. I found them very helpful when my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. I wish you and your mother all the best at this difficult time. Look after yourselves.
hi there, many thanks for the well wishes. It was through Roy Castle that I found this forum. Perhaps I have navigated to somewhere other than where they were pointing me! I’ll have another search for theirs as I find my feet about this place! Many thanks
Hi there so sorry to hear about your mum. I had lung surgery in 2012. Followed by chemo. I was told if they couldn't remove the tumour they would close without doing any further surgery. So didn't know until I awoke whether the tumour had gone or not. So to remove the tumour surgeon removed the whole left lung. Pain after was controlled by morphine initially slowly getting easier . I did breathing exercises and went onto do pulmonary rehabilitation and here I am today.
many thanks for the response and hugs!. I am glad it all worked out well for you. How do you feel all these years later? Does it feel like a bygone era and do you feel somewhat similar I’m terms of your breathing etc as you did prior to it all? Many thanks again for your response which is much appreciated.
My friend had lung reduction surgery to remove a cancer caused by asbestos, and was back playing his trumpet with our church band in 6 weeks. He was in his early 80s. The surgeon was able to remove the whole cancer, so he refused chemo after. There was some discomfort after but nothing he couldn't cope with, with meds. The surgery added an extra 5 years to his life, and he died of natural causes.
wow, that is a story and a half - a trumpet player in his 80s who made a recovery after only 6 weeks! That’s heartening. And a churchgoer too, with me and my mum will both appreciate. Thanks for sharing!
The consultant told him it was because his lungs were so fit playing the trumpet regularly and helping in my weekly singing for lung health group, that he made the quick recovery he did. Of course, he was only managing a verse here and a verse there at first, but he was definitely playing for services again about two months later.
I had an Upper Right Lobectomy almost 20 years ago now which very satisfactorily removed the cancerous tumour which had begin to grow in that part in my lung. I am under no illusions about how lucky I was that the medics caught the tumour at a very early stage (I was being treated for something else when it was discovered). The recovery took about 3 - 4 months and was certainly not a pleasant experience but I am still here to tell the tale, so go for it, be confident and listen to the advice you are given especially regarding pain management! Good luck!
Hi there, I am glad to hear that your I was caught and acted upon early. Yeah it’s the recovery side that has mum most worried. Unfortunately her cancer was only caught at the late stage of 3a so I don’t know how different the experience would be but thanks for your candour about the recovery phase and glad that you are well!
My name is Patrick and I also was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015. More than 30 years before I never been ill and never seen a GP. I had my right lung removed and later I had some chemo. I remember to do the stair test a couple of days later after the surgery and I was feeling ok. The cancer was gone and I have many thanks to the surgeon team. For me the most important thing was that the cancer / tumor was gone and now many years later still is. To be honest here I didn't take well to the chemo but again better that than cancer. I never had any pain because it was controlled by morphine and only for a week or 3.
Every person has to make it out for himself. No two cases of cancer are the same. I never wanted any help from charities but thats me.
many thanks Pat, I’m glad to hear you made a full and seemingly uneventful recovery. That sounds ideal in the circumstances. What stage was your cancer at when it was caught?
Chemo sounds the worst of it really but mum is more worried about the pain of surgery so the pain management in your own case may prove heartening. Thanks for responding.
Hi Patrick, I'm new to this forum so not so sure how this works. I was intrigued by your post of how well you are doing. I had half a lung removed in 2021 & I'm still not back to work. My scars are so painful & I have been on Morphine since I came out of the hospital. I also have difficulty breathing when I'm in a stressful situation. As you say every person is different but I never saw my situation going on for this long.
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