Surgery vs. CyberKnife

[dunnellon]

Had another PET 9/1 and the tumor grew from 1/8-2.2cm in three months. The needle biopsy I had in June was 'inconclusive'. The thoracic surgeon I went to for a second opinion wants to take the top lobe of my right lung. I looked into CyberKnife and had a consult with a radiology oncologist. She said she'd send me for another needle biopsy and have the marker implanted at the same time. I thought all this sounded good and was comfortable with my decision. I had an appt. with a medical oncologist yesterday and she wants me to talk to another surgeon, saying surgery is the only sure way. I'm angry, crushed and confused. I felt so very positive about the CyberKnife treatment and now have doubts. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated as I try to find my path.

[Bkin]

Oh, such a difficult confusing situation, I do feel for you dunnellon, the cyberKnife treatment does sound more positive, I would be asking why she thinks surgery is the only way and what actually are the odds / statistics on surgery and cyberknife. I think when it comes to cancer the decisions we have to make are so so difficult.

I think get clear about the fors and against with each treatment option then go with your gut or just trust the oncologist or thoracic surgeon best choice for your outcome and quality of life down the line.

Very best wishes to you.

[dunnellon in reply to Bkin]

Thank you for replying! The stats are confusing. The med doc says the stats are better with surgery but the radiologist says that's because CyberKnife deals with a lot of inoperable cancers, especially the elderly and people with comorbidities. The medical oncologist said she would support whichever decision I make. I hear so many horror stories about life after a lobectomy and really hoped to have an alternative and now I do, but now I'm second guessing myself.

[Bkin in reply to dunnellon]

So sorry you are having to deal with this. When you are satisfied you know all the pros and cons of each....

What I did when making a similar decision was. I asked myself the questions;

How do I feel inside if I had this treatment How does that make me feel. See what reaction in your body gut you get.

Then ask the opposite question, How do I feel inside if I didn't have this treatment

In your case you could ask the 2 above questions about each of your treatment options.

I think the body will tell you when presented with such questions/ choices.

I found the one I didn't want to do caused a bad feeling when thoughts of having it and

the I posed the question of how I felt not having it, it was such a relief.

Wishing you the very best whatever choice you make it will be the right one for you at this time.

[2greys]

Hi dunnellon,

I can truly empathise. What a disappointment after deciding that you would be happiest with radiotherapy. The only thing I can say with any positivity is that the top right lobe is the smallest lobe within the lungs.

I had it the other way around, I had psyched myself up for surgery but when I spoke to the surgeon he gave me a dire forecast of mortality, with the severity of my lung function and heart disease. I do feel your disappointment and I am so sorry.

Try and get as physically fit before any treatment (that goes for Op or Radiotherapy) and obviously, if you smoke quit immediately.

[dunnellon in reply to 2greys]

Thanks for getting back to me. I think I'll make the appt with the thoracic surgeon, but when I apply Bkin's decision making process, I still lean far towards Radiotherapy. This next surgeon recommended by the medical oncologist has got to be better to talk to than the first one that I nicknamed Dr Doorknob because of his patriarchal and unempathetic attitude. At the second meeting we had with him after the PET on 9/1, he actually told me to stay off the internet, "it's just upsetting" and when my hubs asked him approximately how many lobectomies he does a year, he said, "If I say 3, would you be upset? If I say 30, is that better? If I say 300, would that make you happy?" Condescending jackass.

Unfortunately, this next surgeon also practices with the same group and if I opt for surgery, I have visions of Doorknob sneaking in my room in the night and standing on my oxygen line!

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to dunnellon]

What a schmuck. I suppose you can’t go somewhere else?

[dunnellon in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

They're the best in this neck of the woods and we live in the woods! It's an hour to the surgeon's hospital and 2 hours to the CyberKnife. They are lung transplant specialists. Of course, that obviously doesn't mean they have people skills!

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to dunnellon]

Well it's good that their surgical skills are better than their people skills, and great that you're not far away from them.

[judg69]

Hi dunnellon, I had IIIA/IIIB non small cell lung cancer with 5 year survival projected at one in ten, at best. Had radiation, then a thoracic lobectomy top right lobe, then 2 years chemotherapy. Still kicking after 8 1/2 years. I am certain I would be long-ago deceased if I had not had the cancerous lobe surgically removed. You must make your own decision because like it or not every medical specialist has a bias toward his or her medical specialty, period. In my case it actually was not a difficult decision as I just wanted the cancer out of my body. Best Wishes to You, judg69

[dunnellon]

Thank you for your input! You've had it all, radiation, surgery and chemo. I admire your grit. I had a meningioma removed from my cervical spine in July and am still dealing with the pain from that. Everything I read about lobectomies mentions pain and nerve damage, and a lot of people have it for years. I'm so afraid to step into that situation.

[Dedalus]

I had a left lower lobe lobectomy in 2008 at Guys and St Thomas's (had small cancerous tumour). Had only very little pain on first day and none ever since. Had no other problems at all. Didn't realise others have had chronic pain etc after this procedure. Of course this is one person's experience, but can't believe I am alone; I would not hesitate in recommending surgical lobectomy. Very best wishes and best of luck for whatever you decide.

[dunnellon in reply to Dedalus]

Thank you! I would love to hear of some more positive outcomes of surgery and SBRT and/or CyberKnife. I am really torn.