Lung cancer

Hello Tiger204,

I'm very sorry to hear of your recurrence after 5 years. Having had the middle lobe already removed, if the top and bottom lobes are also removed it looks like the net result is that your right lung will be removed.

I had surgery to remove my entire right lung when I was diagnosed in 2014 and recovered quite well. My main worry, apart from the surgery itself which went fine, was how well I could breathe with just my left lung remaining. I was given physiotherapy straight away after surgery and when discharged advised to walk, starting gently and gradually increasing distance to continue recovery, which I did. 

There's no denying that breathing is different with just one lung but I soon got used to the new normal and continue to have very few physical restrictions.

If you have any specific questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer. Otherwise I wish you all the best for a successful outcome.

Derek.

Hi

Sorry to hear of your recurrence.  Unfortunately, although quite rare, recurrence on a suture line can happen in all cancers treated with surgery.  I worked alongside oncology surgeons for many years in the NHS and was told, even though all care is taken, just the tiniest drop of blood unseen by the naked eye from the scalpel when removing tumours can fall back into the excision site, and that speck of blood could contain cancer cells.

I had breast cancer many year's ago, and after surgery I was given a six week course of radiotherapy.  My oncologist said, although my breast tumour "came out cleanly", the radiotherapy is given to "mop up" cancer cells that may be left behind.  My suture line was especially targeted for that reason. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 and declined surgery for that small doubt, I just had SABR radiotherapy treatment. 

As I say, it is very rare, and 99.9% of patients have successful surgery with no problem.

I wish you well.

Regards, Ann

Hi thanks for your reply, can you please explain what you mean when you say that breathing is different, please explain. 

It's simply that, with reduced lung capacity, you get out of breath sooner. Exercising can improve things but I still get breathless at times.

Hi thanks for your reply, I’m having surgery on the 15th of April so I’m very anxious about recovering as I had middle right lobe removed 5 years ago and my recovery was months till I got back to pre op standard of living but like you I still get breathless on exertion, I do exercise and swim which helps greatly , hopefully my recovery won’t be as long , I had lots of ribb pain . The surgeon said it won’t necessarily be the same experience but I’m still anxious and try to remember the long term outcome.

Hi Excavator I had my surgery and my right lung has been removed, can you tell me how soon did you start phisio and do you still get breathless , what’s it like living with one lung and, I’m only 4 weeks post operative, and getting out of breath but managed to breathe with my breathing exercises, I have been told it will get better in time , sometimes the pain takes my breath away, what was it like for you ? 

Hello again Tiger204 ,

We had a physiotherapist visit the lung surgery ward who had us up and moving very quickly, gently walking round the ward corridor as soon as we were up after surgery. There were also some light stretching exercises (although it's 12 years ago now so my memeory is a little sketchy on pecise details).

I had surgery on Tuesday, was back in theatre on Thursday for a suspected problem (which turned out to be a false alarm) and discharged home Saturday.

The Physio gave me simple exercises (mainly gentle stretches etc.) before discharge and told me to walk, just up and down the garden path at first then slowly building up, which was very difficult at first but eased over time. The recovery process was gradual over several months.

I guess everyone is different and recovery times vary person to person. If you're not comfortable with your rate of progress I'd consider contacting the ward asking to see (or speak to) the physio again, although at only 4 weeks after surgery I was still quite sore too.

I was also quite breathless but again did improve, but being so soon after surgery it will be continue to be difficult until your damaged ribs and muscles etc. recover.

I hope you see some real progress soon.

Derek.

Hi excavator thanks for your reply it’s very helpful and reassuring, I know it’s early days for me but like you I did the same exercises plan and also walking , after 12 years what’s your day to day quality of life , also I have an appointment for possibly radiotherapy tomorrow what was the the radiotherapy like ? I really appreciate your help. Regards Tina 

Hello Tina,

My quality of life after 12 years if great. I really hardly notice that I am one lung missing, it does become normal in time, you just have to be patient, but it will pay off.

I'm currenly in the Canary Islands on holiday and am doing around 12,000 steps a day on the seafront before a cold beer as a reward. I never thought that would be possible again 12 years ago, but it really is.

I had chemotherapy after my surgery, which wasn't pleasant. I did have RT for a second unrelated cancer which occurred 2 years after my lung and found that relatively straightforward. Hopefully someone can join the conversation and give you some info on that.

Keep going and you'll get through it OK.

Derek.