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.