VATS update for all you beautiful people

[Kanafapot]

I had an upper right lobectomy on 22nd of May and wanted to thank everyone for your pre and post operative support and suggestions for making recovery easier.

I’m feeling so much better now although my remaining bit of right lung seems to be making mucus. I spend a bit of time coughing and spluttering in the morning. It seems difficult to shift and it’s more annoying than painful. Is this normal post operatively speaking? Will my GP be able to help?

Towards the end of July I had my 6 week follow up appointment. He was very pleased with my progress and told me the whole cancer had been removed and the lymph glands showed no sign of cancer cells. I was referred to the oncology department to discuss follow up treatment. Having discussed some chemo and the possible side effects, I decided I would not take any further treatment right now. It seemed statistically speaking that the possible benefits were outweighed by the possible side effects. All I wanted was to be ‘normal’ again for as long as possible.

For now, I’m cancer free as far as can be known right now although I realise I may find myself with other cancers later on but that’s for the future. Right now, I’m one of the lucky ones. I wouldn’t have known anything was wrong unless I’d been for the lung health check as offered by the NHS in our area.

Thank you all again for your fantastic support and sharing your experiences. Sending love to all of you. 💐❤️

[ginkgo]

How wonderful and just the thing to cheer us all up and give us much needed hope. I wish you all the luck in the world, and hope you stay cancer free for many years to come.

[JanetteR57]

Well done on your surgery and it's always good to learn there are cases found from the targeted lung health checks. Regarding mucous and coughing, worth checking with your GP just in case you've picked up an infection. It's normal to have some coughing as you recover from your lung surgery but if you were ok and something then appears, then get checked out.

I was told that the specific rare type I had didn't respond to chemotherapy so didn't have it either - my tumour was 7cm and I had open surgery to remove my upper left lobe in Dec 2010.

Having been involved in cancer research since the end of 2013 and met many others with different cancers as well as lung who are living with side and late effects from their treatments (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), like you, I often feel relieved but also appreciate that very few UK lung cancer patients are detected early enough for surgery to be a possibility. Fingers crossed that more are detected like you to change that current statistic. good luck with your continued recovery - this booklet may help you regarding symptoms/milestones... roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

[Kanafapot in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi Janette

I was very glad to go for the lung health check as I had no symptoms of anything untoward going on. The tumour was 43mm but still removed by VATS.

Currently I don’t think I have an infection as the mucus is clear but sticky but I’ll obviously keep an eye on it. To be honest, it’s more annoying but it’s certainly improved tremendously since I’ve been recuperating. I just count myself as very, very lucky as do my family. I think only 15% are suitable for operative treatment.

This has been a great place to come for comfort, understanding and a place to get some perspective. It’s certainly changed my understanding and perception of what cancer can mean to so many different people.

In the future, I’d be very happy to help in any research etc.

Love x

[JanetteR57]

That's great to hear on all fronts. There are many opportunities to get involved in all sorts of ways - I had no idea such opportunities existed and have found it educational, stimulating and worthwhile - enabling me to feel that I'm putting something back into the system to help others.

Were you given an incentivising spirometer after your surgery or breathing exercises to do? they might help - hope it improves soon. good luck.

[Kanafapot in reply to JanetteR57]

Yes, I have a spirometer and found some breathing exercises online. I’m walking relatively quickly now and finds this helps my breathing. I get a bit breathless going up hill but all in all, I’m pretty much back to normal. I’m still a bit numb on my right hand side and find bras are not my friend. Fortunately I have a small bust so rarely wear a bra anymore.

Hope you are going well xx

[JanetteR57 in reply to Kanafapot]

Sounds all good. I asked for a piece about bras to be inserted in the latest version of the surgery booklet. I went for a fitting after my surgery and was told to increase the band size to avoid the scar area (which for open surgery was tender) I invested in a lovely non wired bra (expensive but worth it) but ever since have worn non wired bras - there are good selections at Royce (a Uk company) and others in online forums buy non wired and bralettes from M&S. As I returned to work I needed to wear one for clothes to have some shape but if I could have gone without, I probably would have.

[sassassas]

That's brilliant to read Kanafapot - I'm really delighted for you! Look after yourself and enjoy every moment xx

[Kanafapot in reply to sassassas]

Thank you. I know I’m really fortunate