Patients experience with RATS/VATS Lung surgery??

[Hope2thrive]

I have been frantically trying to decide whether to proceed with my scheduled surgery this month. It seems like it is the most logical choice, but Im afraid it is too risky and recovery is difficult.

Can anyone share their hospital and/or home recovery experience with their surgery? Any advice?

Thanks in advance for any experience or wisdom you can share : )

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Mine was a VATS surgery. They went in to do a talc thoracotomy which had to be cancelled because the pleura was loculated ( think bubble wraps with fluid not air).

A couple of my friends have had one surgery or the other to have a lobe removed, a lung removed or a piece of the lung removed. And at patient conferences I have met many more who had either surgery. Most never had a problem. They are much easier than an open thoracotomy that cuts through many muscles and breaks ribs.

The surgery they are discussing with you is the least invasive and fastest healing of any lung surgeries. Please know that surgery is the gold standard in lung cancer treatment. It is only done with curative intent.

Recovery is more comfortable if you sleep in a reclining chair for the first week or two. There will be limits to the amount of weight you can lift. If an intercostal nerve gets injured there a meds they can give to manage that pain.

Surgery won’t guarantee that you won’t have progression later but it is the best treatment to prevent the possibility that will happen.

[Hope2thrive in reply to Denzie]

Thank you very much for your reply. I'm sorry to hear about your loculated pleura. I hope that can be resolved so you can have your surgery. Sorry, I don't know what talc means.I was reassuring to hear about all of your friends getting through their surgeries without problems. When I think rationally I know I am lucky to have the opportunity to have the less invasive surgery, but my emotional side gets very panickly at times. it helps to hear about people who have been through it.

Also thank you for the tips on recovery.

Thanks again

Wishing you all the best🙏🙏🙏

[JanetteR57]

I had open surgery (thoracotomy) in Dec 2010 and was back at work and swimming by end of March 2011. VATS/RATS is a less invasive procedure, less risk of infection and usually a shorter stay in hospital. I was admitted on 16/12 and discharged on 22/12. I've been eternally grateful that I was eligible for lung surgery usually undertaken with curative intent. The particular type I had I was told didn't respond to chemotherapy but since then due to its size 7cm (left upper lobectomy) chemotherapy would be discussed although in the UK during the pandemic many people chose not to have 'mop up' (adjuvant) chemo due to the risk of contracting covid 19 in the hospital each time they may have had to visit for what is suggested is a 5% protective benefit with many side effects and late effects.

I've been involved in lung cancer research since end of 2013 and learnt so much more and seen massive changes in treatment - the majority of lung surgery now in the UK is carried out via keyhole and older/less fit patients have been able to tolerate the VATs procedure including those in their 80s and 90s.

Fear can be very crippling and we often over imagine the surgical side effects and underestimate the effects that can be lasting from other treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This booklet was devised by my tertiary thoracic centre and has been adopted by the UK lung cancer charity Roy Castle lung cancer foundation and is regularly updated. There is a lot of useful information and hints/tips about the procedure and recovery. Good luck with your treatment. roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

[Hope2thrive in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you for responding! So happy to hear you've done so well after your surgery and refreshing to know you feel grateful for it.That was a big surgery and must have been quite an ordeal! It's hard to believe your were released from the hospital so quickly and recovered so well by March. You must be a strong person.

Thank you for your encouragement. I will do my best to focus on the positive aspects. Thank you also for the links and reference recommendations.

I hope you have continued success with your treatments!

Thanks again 💕

[JanetteR57 in reply to Hope2thrive]

I had no idea of the detail of the surgery and only having had my tonsils out aged 3.5 had no idea what to expect but my surgeon was very reassuring, saying that as I was younger and fitter than the average patient, I should do well. I think we often overthink surgery and am always surprised now I know how few are clinically eligible for it that some refuse it, despite its usual curative intent, preferring to have chemotherapy/radiotherapy that can have worse side and late effects in the longer term. If we needed heart surgery or appendix, gall bladder or similar removed in an emergency I doubt we'd go through such thoughts realising the alternative can be quite catastrophic.... good luck with your decision and treatment and recovery.

[Steph60]

I had VATS surgery in 2013, and was in the hospital 3 nights and 4 days. My recommendation is that you follow your doctors advise. When they say you need to walk each day to build up your strength, you walk each day and slowly increase the length of time that you walk. Just remember everybody’s experience is just that their experience, just take 1 day at a time and take care of yourself during this journey.

[Hope2thrive in reply to Steph60]

Thank you Steph. Its good to hear your hospital stay was short and that you did well with it. I have heard a lot about the importance of the walking. I am trying to walk as much as I can prior to surgery to hopefully help hasten my recovery. The one day at a time attitude is great advise. I will keep that in mind.

Wishing you the best,

Thanks again

[WalkingHorse]

In August ‘21 I had a 9.5 hour RATS lobectomy (upper rt). Removed a 6.5 x 5.2 CM tumor. Clean margins. Surgeon also pulled 30 lymph nodes and had them tested while in surgery, prior to the lobectomy, to confirm that it had not spread. Lymph nodes were swollen so he was suspecting there might be cancer spread but it turns out autoimmune disorders can present in swollen lymph nodes.

Surgery went great. Recovery was a lot easier than I expected it to be. Worst part was the cracked rib that occurred while “wrestling" the large tumor out. Surgeon felt it was necessary to make room to remove the large tumor undisturbed.

I stayed in the hospital for three nights. The most uncomfortable part beyond the broken rib was the drainage tube. I couldn't wait to get it out. Not horrible just very uncomfortable. Came out like a breeze and I felt 100% better. Again, recovery was remarkably quicker than I thought it would be. If you have any questions please do feel free to ask.

Wishing you the best from Texas!

😊

[Hope2thrive in reply to WalkingHorse]

Wow, that's a long surgery! I'm surprised that they did the RATS surgery on you for that size of tumor. Most of what I read says they limit RATS to 2 cm or less. You must have a very good and experienced doctor. Things seem to be changing quickly too.

I'm so happy to hear you did so well with your recovery! Especially after such a long operation. I know how much the ribs can hurt, I've broken ribs a few times. I'm sure its worse post surgery with holes in your chest, though.

I do have a few questions if you don't mind 🤔

How many incision ports did they make? Do they hurt for a long time afterwards? A lot of people talk about long term nerve pain.

I'm supposed to have 5, 4 for robot arms and one larger camera port

How long did your home recovery take until you could be up and around?

I appreciate hearing back from you.

I feel guilty about being so nervous about a surgery that is minor compared to the magnitude most others have endured.

I think its fear of the "unknown", so it is VERY helpful to hear of other's experiences and positive outcomes.

I hope you are continuing to stay in good health.

Thanks again and

Best Wishes

🤗

[WalkingHorse in reply to Hope2thrive]

I was up and about as soon as I got home. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital and in my own bed. I only took a pain pill at night for the first five nights and that was mainly due to my rib. I'm a side sleeper and I flip from side to side all night long.After about five days I was pretty much back to normal activities except for the gym and swimming. This restriction was due to rampant covid and getting ready for my four rounds of adjuvant chemo.

I had three incisions on my back. Kind of like dashes. One was around two inches long the other two were much smaller. I had one small "hole punch" under my right breast where the drainage tube went in.

Biggest hassle I had was wearing a bra. I had to order several new bras without underwire. I only mention this on the chance that you are female. I so wished that someone had given me a heads up before I had surgery. Wire free was the way to go.

Incisions really didn't bother me at all. I did have a bit of numbness and then minor nerve jolting over the next few months following surgery. My surgeon (who was VERY wonderful despite the fact that he looked 12 years old 🤣) told me to expect this due to the nerves healing from the trauma.

If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me! I am doing fabulous! I had my quarterly oncology check up with blood labs today and all is well. Next scan will be in October. I am currently working on getting my strength back and am now swimming a mile three times per week. Feeling very lucky to have caught this early and am going to fight this with all I have. Turing 60 in December and am planning on being around for a long time. 😊

Wishing you all the best!

[Hope2thrive in reply to WalkingHorse]

I’m happy to hear you are doing so well and all your bloodwork came out good. It sounds like everything went just about perfect for you, except the rib, but that’s awesome 🤩

Fortunately I sleep on the opposite side of where my my incisions will be. So that should help. I am a female underwire wearing gal, so the bra tip is good to know.

I wish I could have your surgeon. Sounds like Doogie Houzer. My surgeon has no bedside manner and is more like Dr. Spock. Hes supposed to be very good, so that’s what’s important.

I’m glad you caught your tumor early too! You’re still young and will have many more happy years ahead.

Have a good weekend 😎

Thanks

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

You mentioned elsewhere feeling guilty about being nervous. Please give yourself permission to be nervous. The idea of a surgery to remove part of the lung is daunting. Even with the minimally invasive technique it’s a trauma to your system.

It’s normal and healthy to be nervous. In all honesty I would be concerned for you if you didn’t have a tiny bit of fear. When you start to feel that nervousness or anxiety consider doing a bit of meditation.

[Hope2thrive]

Thanks for the tip for meditation. That’s exactly what I need, and exercise.I just keep cycling through different emotions about the whole thing. A large part of I is knowing how worried my kids (in their 20’s) will be. I’m a single Mom, so it’s tough to think about.

Anyway, thanks for you support ☺️ It’s so helpful to hear from people that have the same experiences.

Best wishes ❣️