Lung met

Hi 

Sorry to hear about your dads latest development and for sure he has already had enough . I was so disappointed when my mum’s spot on her lung popped up . However when I said that to my mum’s oncologist she actually stopped me . I then realised she thought she was still doing very well . I said so and she confirmed her position . She was in fact still very well and subjected herself to frequent scanning to ensure anything picked up was small and potentially caught when there was options for treatment .

That was back in 2016 . She had a VATS procedure and was home safely two days later with a small two inch scare underneath her armpit . She recovered very quickly and back in the coffee shops two weeks later and never looked back . The actual operation was about an hour long but they kept her in recovery as they reinflate  the lung and kept an eye on her there .

Compared to her previous surgeries this was much easier . If they don’t use Vats it has a longer recovery and a bit more invasive surgery.

They actually could trace my mum’s back to scans two years ago when it was literally 2 mm . They removed it before it reached 8 mm . There has been no noticeable difference in her lung function . The surgeon could not even see the resection on a chest X-ray six weeks later . I was really frightened of it being in her lung but the stats were actually better than I expected and four years later she has been ok .

Sounds as though your dad has something along the same lines . The thoracic surgeon just said it was all part of the original spread . My mum did not require chemo afterwards as they were able to say it was slow growing unlike her liver tumours that were very fast growing . 

Hope your dad is keeping well and they get this quickly attended to and back to the golf course . 

take care ,

Court 

Hi Court 

Thank you for getting back to me, you always have such helpful advice and your such a credit to this group. 
Yeah was so shocked after having such a drastic op that he has a bit on his lung now, what’s a VATS procedure? They said my Dad would be in for 4/5 days and yeah they said they have to collapse the lung for the surgery. It’s just a worry with all this Covid going on and going to have a lung operation. 

That’s great your Mum recovered so well and quickly after and couldn’t even see the resection on the x Ray 6 weeks later. 

Your Mum seems to off done brilliantly throughout it all. Yes my Dad said he didn’t want to have to go through chemo again and I’m sure they said to him you won’t need chemo after they remove it so fingers crossed he won’t either. 

Yes my Dad is doing really well thanks and still enjoying his golf 3/4 times a week so hopefully he can get back to that not to long after this operation. 

Thanks again Court for your message and you and your Mum take care. 

Danni x 

Hi ,

Vats is a bit like keyhole surgery . Three small entry points . Open thoracic surgery has a longer healing time . 

Actually my mum had another procedure and thinking back he said only three place in the UK do it and there was only one small entry point but it is similar to Vats .

The Covid situation is awful for people going through treatment but I keep thinking there are still many operations still ongoing and only a few issues . Our hospital is making cancer care a priority.

The good thing about this type of surgery is the quick turn around . He should be home quite quickly . But I do understand . My mum is scanning this week and there is a wee voice in my head that makes me want to ask if it’s ok if I just pop in and give their equipment a right good scrub ! If only we could . The actual theatres are very safe . They wait for air filtration to occur between patients and use the full PPE . 

Does he have a date ? 
Take care ,

Court 

Hi Court 

Yeah they did say it would be keyhole so that must be similar to vats then. 
yes this Covid is awful and it’s so scary having to go to the hospital when places have good it quite bad. It’s such a worry but they say it’s all very safe in the hospital. 

Good luck for your Mums scan this week and yes I know exactly what you mean about going in there and scrubbing the equipment first for them. 

No the surgeon is phoning my Dad this week so hopefully he will get a date then. 
Thanks again Court and take care. 

Danni xx

Hi Danni

I completely understand your apprehension about visiting or having surgery in our hospitals at the moment.  I was the same, but I’ve been to one consultant appointment (not cancer related) and I found the precautions they had in place were very good, and I’m a waiting list for surgery.  I have an appointment with my cancer consultant on Wednesday and even though I have to attend Medical Outpatients I am not quite so concerned as I was when I went in last time, but as Court says iCovid is always in the back of our minds and many of us would be happier if we could supervise the cleaning in between patients.

I also understand that extra precautions are in place in our cancer centres and on our cancer wards, and I’m sure everything will be done to keep your dad safe and get him home as soon as they can.  He sounds very fit and that is a big plus for surgery of any kind.

Take care,

VickiLynne

Hi All, 

Just wanted to try and reassure you a bit about the measures that have been taken at the hospital where I have been having my radiotherapy.

It's not my local hospital, it's a huge city hospital about 15 miles away and it's so busy it made my head buzz!

I contracted Covid-19 part way through my treatment, and my consultant was very keen for me to finish the course.

All of my appointments were changed until the very end of the day, I called the radiotherapy unit when I arrived at the hospital and waited in the car. They called me back when they were ready for me. Sometimes this meant a wait of an hour or more if they were running behind.  When they were certain there was no-one left in the building a nurse met me by the fire exit and handed me a face shield to wear over my mask. I was then taken straight through and had my treatment. When the treatment was over they immediately started cleaning the bed and the equipment.

They were very very apologetic for having to bring me in the back door and for keeping me waiting. I did not mind at all, all I wanted was for my treatment to continue and for everyone else, staff and patients to be safe.

I was also in hospital having my bowel resection and and an ileostomy in April during the height of the pandemic, I honestly felt safe at all times, all of the wards were totally separate from the areas with covid admissions and we had covid tests before we were admitted.

Hope your dad soon gets a date for his operation Danni and I hope your appointment goes well with your consultant  Vickilynne.

Take care and keep safe all xxx

That’s very reassuring , both of us are having lots of hospital appts at the moment. I can see that they are taking all appropriate precautions, but there is still a niggle at the back of the mind. Thank you. 

Hi dankel82

I have been trying to log in for awhile now but it looks as though I receive notification emails and had to register again, here. 

Anyway, I am a long time lurker! I was diagnosed with bowel cancer 2010. Capecitabine tablets and radiotherapy. 2011 bowel op followed by oxaliplatin and 5fu. Lung met had grown, so, I had the operation 2012. I didn't have keyhole surgery and have a big scar on my back. I was in for 5 days and recovered really well. Went shopping a few weeks later, it wasn't until I had a routine CT scan that they said my broken rib had healed well! I didn't know about this and I didn't notice. I was 48 years old at the time and I am still surviving, I have had no further chemotherapy but I am still under surveillance. I just wanted to tell you to put yours and your Dads minds at rest. Xxx

Thanks Phoebe - I made a mistake, my appointment is on Tuesday.  Good job the confirmation letter came through, as I’d put in in my calendar for the Wednesday - another “senior moment” seem to be having more during covid!! 

Hi Seaspirit - It is so hard not to have that little niggle in the back of our minds when we go to hospital BUT it is so important that we attend our appointments.

VickiLynne x

Hi VickiLynn

Thank you for your message, yes my Dads operation is next week he only found out a couple of days ago.  Thank you for your reassurance about the hospitals as you would think they would try and be as safe as possible in them places especially for people coming for cancer treatments, but it’s still such a worry it’s like a double worry the op then Covid. yes I would love to go in and scrub everything to make sure all clean as I worry so much about things! But yes my Dad is very fit and active so he should be fine and think it’s quite a quick operation nothing like the first one he went through. 
I hope your appointment goes well on Wednesday for you Vicki. 
Take care Danni