I was DX with stage 3a NSCLC in October 2007. In November I had my right lu g removed via VATS surgery at NYU in New York. I was fully capable of doing everything I did before and am now heading into year 10 of being cancer free. If you have a great thoracic surgeon you should be fine. I will say that I also had 16 weeks of Cisplatin and Navelbine chemo afterwards - the surgery was easier.