Lung Nodule - Surgery instead of Biopsy

Hi Pepper12,

Ooh, lots of stuff so I'll try to keep this to the point.

Weight gain:
You need high calorie stuff that tries to be more-or-less healthy/balanced and doesn't fill you up too much. As we're into cold weather now hot drinks are the norm so I'd advise Complan drinks instead of anything else you're having to drink. The plain flavour that comes in big tubs is usually cheaper on Amazon, though Tesco do it too. I have a liking for toasted cheese sandwiches as well.

Energy/fitness levels:
If you do one exercise at all, a rowing machine is king. This single exercise does arms, back, legs - all the large muscles, and has excellent cardiovascular benefit. At least 20 minutes a session every other day is optimum, more than 30 minutes is just punishing yourself for no good reason and not having rest days will hamper recovery. Argos have some decent ones on Black Friday sale at the moment (and you can sell at a profit in the post-Christmas exercise boom!) I do it watching the 6 o'clock news on TV to pass the time and I don't have to go out jogging in the cold and rain.

Try to stop smoking:
Incredibly difficult and you have no time to mess with stuff that doesn't work. Try e-cigarettes. All of the nicotine, none of the tar or carbon monoxide, win-win. My lung tumour shrank down to scar tissue and I was vaping all the time (still am) and weight lifting on top. It's a bit different to real ciggies but more like changing brands than changing altogether. Well worth doing. Go for the regular tobacco flavour liquid because it's the longest established with no problems and high nicotine for less of a shock after real ciggies. Go for liquid made in the UK because of safety/purity regulations.

Sorry, I can't help with the rest of your questions but hope this will be of some help.

kind regards
Steve

Thanks very much for your reply Steve, some very useful tips. I have just ordered a vaper from Amazon (do you think an e-cigarette would be bettter?) and will certainly look at the rowing machines at Argos. Just been for a 10 minute walk so have tried to make a start. 

Am already on Fortisp drinks and am trying to build up by eating little and often, bananas, porridge and mashed potato seem to go down well at the moment).

Did you have treatment four your lung tumour?  Whatever you've been doing it sounds as though you have done very well.

Once again thank you for your helpful reply and take care

Hi Pepper12,

Walking, if brisk, is a brilliant cardiovascular exercise. Build up gradually to 20 minutes or so for real benefit. Rather hard to keep up regularly now winter is nearly here.

I just searched Amazon for "vaper" - they all look like e-cigarettes to me so that seems good. They'll need liquid - I get mine from Totally Wicked, 18mg tobacco flavour, its UK made and UK standards compliant and my tumour shrank nicely while using it.

Fortisips can work out expensive unless you can wangle a prescription. Porridge is brilliant stuff, high protein and helps clean out cholesterol too.

I had Pembrolizumab for my lung cancer and surgery for the bonus tumour in my brain. So far, so good... nearly 5 years still alive now.

kind regards,
Steve

Hi Pepper i had the same op on the 22nd of july this year though ,my nodule had not lit up on previous scans when i had a follow up scan in may it had grown ,so this was what became the decision to operate .I must admit i was scared ,i had the middle lobe of my right lung removed ,after the op i had a chest drain on which took over a week to clear ,i had to go home with a portable chest drain ,which was uncomfortable more than painful .I must admit i am glad i had it done as i was told afterwards that 20 per cent of the nodule was starting to turn cancerous ,none in my lymph nodes which were also removed .I stopped smoking by vaping starting with 20 mlg of nicotine ,and i am now down to 6mig ,as for gaing weight i am sorry i cant help you there .I will be checked now for the next 5 years and even though it feels like a black cloud hanging over me for the next 5 years ,it better than what it could of been .i wish you luck 

just another tip pepper if you have a local vape shop go in and ask for advise from them this is what i did ,my local vape shop set me up with a vape that gave me the hit i needed with just a tobacco flavoured liquid first ,i now use tobacco at 6mg with vanilla flavour which has no nicotine ,i think its better than ordering your vape online as you dont know what will suit you 

Thanks very much for your replies which are very helpful. I have bought a vape and have an appointment with the smoke cessation nurse at my GP so hopefully I can stop before any operation.

Glad your op went well - I know it's the way to go but I'm absolutely terrified. How is your recovery doing? Wishing you all the best for a good recovery. 

Thanks Steve and am pleased to hear that your treatment has worked well for you - it's always encouraging to see these positive posts which help a lot. By the way I do get my fortisips on script so am quite lucky there.

• Take care

Just a thought Christine, did you need any further treatment after the op?

Take care ️

hi Pepper ,recovery is ok i am doing well physically it is mentally i have down days when i think what will happen if it comes back and do i need to buy that whatever will i be hear to enjoy it ,i just need to get my way out of this thinking and hope all my scans s over the next 5 years will be clear,good luck for your op ,you are in the best of hands

Thanks Christie - understand completely about the stress of thinking will it come back even if I have the op, it's horrible and nobody understands it if they haven't been through it. I know it's hard keep a positive frame of mind and keep the 'what ifs' at bay but we have to keep trying. At the end of the day what will be will be and although the next 5 years will be difficult try to stay posive and think how lucky you are to have got through the op which is an option not everyone has. Keep your chin up and very best wishes for the future.