I had a full right lung lobectomy in 2007

[Peyz33]

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.

[frisk]

So happy for you!

[bellaella]

I also had a right lung lobectomy at memorial sloan kettering 10 years ago

followed by 4 months of cisplatin chemo and I agree, surgery was easier than chemo. I had stage 1b small cell..so far so good. nine years cancer free.

[Kmkat]

10 years cancer free! Happy for you. I am going in two weeks to have my upper left lobe removed possibly the bottom lobe and I am a nervous wreck, your post gives me hope.

[Peyz33 in reply to Kmkat]

Are they doing VATS surgery. Visually assisted thoracic surgery?

[Peyz33 in reply to Kmkat]

The surgery was a walk in the park. Trust me. No worries. Breathe.

[Kmkat]

You know I'm really not sure I was brain fog when he was talking to me but he did say he was going in underneath my armpit and I should only have about a 4 inch scar

[AlisaB]

I had a lobectomy in 2000 (VATS was not regularly being done then, I had the full bells and whistles (large scar, went in through my back/ribs, the full thing) and I only had pain the first few days and it was bearable after the first day. I was in the hospital a week. I heard the VATS is a much quicker recovery with little pain. It sounds like that is what you are gonna have.

P.S. - I've been considered cancer free for 16-1/2 years!

[Peyz33 in reply to AlisaB]

Wow. Mozel!!!

[kri312 in reply to AlisaB]

That's so encouraging - can you share your story a little? I am a recent RLL lobectomy, R UL wedge resection with 2 small NSCLC nodules removed (1.5 and .9) no lymph involvement, no further treatment, just CT scans every 6 months. Still recovering from surgery which was easier than I expected. Now harder part is moving on!

[AlisaB in reply to kri312]

Hi, that was an old post … I’m now almost 18 years stable! I had chemo treatments after my lobectomy and then followed up with nutraceuticals (Chinese mushrooms; certain supplements). I still have nodules that the doctors have been following but they have been basically stable for the 18 years. I found out in 2014, when I asked my doctor to test my original tumor, that my tumor was EGFR positive. Back in my day we hadn’t heard of mutations and targeted therapy. I'm glad to hear the recovery was easier than expected. You are in a good place. Sounds like you were Stage 1 or 2, great success rate. I was Stage 3 and am very grateful! I'm thinking of having a wedge resection for one of the nodules they are watching because it's stressful knowing it's there but the doctors told me to wait another six months and scan again before making the decision. I would do it right now if they could guarantee the VATS procedure, but they said they cannot guarantee that because I may have too much scar tissue from my original surgery. I wish you a speedy complete recovery and remember you are in a good place with so many advances now.

[kri312 in reply to AlisaB]

18 years stable is amazing....I hope to be as lucky as you!! best wishes

[Gingerbeer in reply to kri312]

Similar story for me: 2 wedge resections, RUL and RLL, one in situ and the other stage 1a; VATS. No lymph involvement. Have been having yearly LDCTs for 11 years due to being a former smoker (quit 34 years ago) and strong and sad family history of LC.

No chemo or radiation needed, just follow up scans. Just now moving on from terror to hope three months after surgery. This site helps to see how well people can and do live with a LC diagnosis.

[kri312 in reply to Gingerbeer]

8 weeks later and trying to do the same....just trying to get rid of the cough that is a daily reminder of what I went through!! Did you have a cough?

[Gingerbeer in reply to kri312]

Yes! I did have a non productive cough that developed about a week or so after surgery and lasted about 6 weeks; some days worse than others and very concerning to me. NP told me to take Robitussin DM which did help. MD said surgical and chest tube irritation (which I for three weeks because I had an air leak) caused the cough but no one was concerned about it at all. It is gone now, thankfully.