Lung Removed

[Colin57]

Hi I’m Colin,

And I was diagnosed with lung cancer on the 25/04/18. Following tests I had my entire left lung removed on 04/07/18 . As you can see it’s early days for me and I now await information on my next treatments. I believe I can expect chemo in about five weeks now. I have a lot of pain at the moment in the broken rib department, but welcome it as I’m alive! I am already scared of recurrence.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Colin

Welcome to the forum, where you will find support and encouragement from those who have experienced lung cancer. Sorry to hear about your lung cancer and hope you are recovering well from your operation, which does take time. You may find our booklet helpful in your recovery:

roycastle.org/system/file_u...

There is lots of useful information on the treatments and living with lung cancer on our website roycastle.org

Information booklets can be ordered from the website, and posted out to you.

Your lung cancer specialist nurse will be a great source of advice, and support during your treatment and follow up, they will also direct you to any support services that you need. If you do not have a specialist nurse, this can be requested from the Specialist or GP.

If your painkillers are not giving you enough pain relief, do let your GP know.

It is understandable that you are anxious about recurrence, lung cancer care is improving with more research, treatment progressions and you will be well followed up.

Roy Castle have a variety of support groups in the UK, you can locate your nearest one from this link:

roycastle.org/how-we-help/s...

Other links that are very useful are cancerresearchuk.org and macmillan.org.

If you wish to discuss anything you can call our free nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[jillygirl]

Hi Colin, I hope you are coping ok. I understand you when you say you are afraid of a recurrence. I had my whole right lung removed back in 2012. I had adjuvent chemotherapy after the surgery. I was unfortunate to get a secondary tumour 3 years later on my adrenal gland. i had surgery for that and all is well now. I have been discharged from the hospital with the all clear on the lung and adrenal sites. I am sure you will be fine. Everyone is different , but like you say we have to be grateful that we are still here to tell the tale. I wish you all the best and try not to worry. (I know its easier said than done). xx

[Colin57 in reply to jillygirl]

Thank you for your reply. Sound advice!

[JanetteR57]

Hello Colin,

Well done on your treatment so far. As you say, early days yet. Yes, pain takes a while to go but great attitude. I still have that - I had half my left lung removed in December 2010. Try and get through each hour,day, week/month as you can - before you know it, you'll improve a bit each week. Being thankful is a great motivator to recovery. Stressing about recurrence less so - it could keep you awake! I found a really good couple of books that I read after my surgery - you may find them helpful - one is called 'anti cancer a new way of life by Dr Servan Schreiber and 'cancer is a word not a sentence' by Dr Rob Buckman. The latter in particular helped me put it into context and stopped fretting so much about recurrence. Like others have had a couple of suspected recurrences - thankfully they weren't - but there are ups and downs to the various health appointments as time goes by. Whilst you're in care pathway, do raise any concerns with your clinicians or cancer nurse specialist so they can be checked out. good luck and welcome to the forum.

[Colin57 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you very much

[jckjanetrosalin]

Let me know how you get on with your ct scanxx