Having a lobectomy

Hi Si, I had a lobectomy bottom right lung in Oct 2018 , I was 73 at the time ,I had keyhole surgery and was out in 3 days , had pain killers to take but did'nt really need them .You are given plenty of advice of what to do, breathing exercises ,and take things easy for the first week ,then  a little walk the second and then build up bit by bit. every one is different I know but  you should be fine , You should be given a lung nurse you could ring anytime I found mine very helpful, hope all goes well ,please let us know how you get on . take care Ellen.

Hi Sirfromdeal

I had upper left lobe removed by VATs June 2019- 3.5cm tumour 

The operation went well, although seven months later, the tumour has began to grow again. I am now taking immunotherapy, which is going well. Stable at last scan (yippee) 

Following having the lobe removed, I didn’t have any difficulty with breathing. I was told if you have breathing problems prior the operation, then some breathlessness may still remain, but if like myself, no breathlessness prior, then any discomfort, should be short lived. They show you how to cough to aid recovery and provide exercises for you to do at home. I would advise, to only do what you are comfortable with and not to rush yourself.

The lungs are strange, remove a lobe and the remaining lung, expands and fills the remaining space of where the lobe was removed.

It has not prevented me from doing anything I did prior the operation, other than being a little slower, but the consequences of not having this done outweighs speed.

I encountered quite a bit of nerve pain following the operation and still have some now, but it has got better with good old pain relief. Again a bit of pain is better than what could have been. 

I know a few people who have had the same operation and within 3 months, recovered and are back at work. 

Everyone is different, but if it gets rid of the tumour, and improves longitude of life, I feel any discomfort that I have encountered, was worth it. 

Obviously only ourselves can decide what the best course of treatment is for ourselves. Yes I was scared of having the operation, but on reflection I feel it was the best course of treatment for me.

I wish you all the best, whichever way you chose and please keep in touch.

There are lovely people on this site, others like myself, have had a lobe removed, had radiotherapy etc, and can be there for you. 

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning” (Albert Einstein)

Hi Marimba

Thanks for your reply, it is a great relief to hear your story. I think I am a bit afraid of the unknown.

Kind regards

Si

Hello Si, I'm sorry you find yourself here but there's plenty of good advice available from community members as you've already seen.

It is a real shame that you have not been able to discuss with your surgeon face to face, because when you read the list of what can go wrong it is frightening. However you need to be told so you can make an informed decision.

I was petrified before my operation and had never been in hospital before. I remember considering radiotherapy and think I saw that as an easier and less painful way through although from what I've subsequently seen on here I'm not sure that it really is. However I was convinced that surgery was the gold standard offering the best chance of a cure and I feel lucky to have been able to take this option. Six years later I'm even more convinced of that.

I had surgery on 10th june 2014 aged a bit younger than you, just about to turn 57. My cancer was also in my right lung but very high up so I lost the whole lung. I had open surgery rather than keyhole because the whole lung was involved. The operation was on Tuesday, I had to go back in theatre on Thursday morning due to suspected bleeding (which turned out to be false) and was discharged on Sunday. I imagine you are likely to have keyhole surgery so it's entirely likely that you could be home in only a few days.

I think if you follow all advice for recovery including taking painkillers as needed and exercising then you should make a quick recovery. I was out walking 6 miles at a time in a matter of only weeks.

As far a breathing is concerned I am left with my left lung (which has 2 lobes compared to the right with 3) and only get slightly out of breath going up steep hills. I couldn't run far at all but I do play golf, take long walks and do everything else without restriction. 

I hope your surgery goes well, it really is the way to go for a cure.

All the best,

Derek.

Hi Derek

Thanks for the message, I am pretty much resigned to having the op. I am having it at London Bridge Hospital because of Covid, my own room and good food is a bonus.

I have had a few messages from my post and feel a lot more confident now that Iv`e heard from people that have gone through it.

Kind regards

Si

Hi Derek 

firstly hope that this message finds you well , secondly I’m new to this site and still coming to terms with what’s happening so I apologise if I’ve not done this right!

i had read your response as I was looking for someone that had had the entire lung removed as I have no idea if what I’m feeling is normal.

i was suppose to only have a lower left lobectomy due to suspecting cancer (which it did turn out to be)

however during the op I was told there had been some vascualr complications and they’d had to remove my entire lung.

i was generally quite an active person working and going to the gym which slowed down a bit after having a few episodes of pneumonia over the last couple of years 

My op was on the 1st of May 2020 and I’m still struggling with breathing just going up the steps . I keep being told to be kind to myself but I’m so scared of this feeling of not being able to breathe being a permanent thing as I only have one lung now .

i read that you had managed to walk quite a distance within weeks of the op and I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong . I’m 47 and worried that I’ll always feel this tightening in my chest and throat and not be able to breathe properly .

Any help or advice would be appreciated so much 

thank you 

Nikki

Hi Si

I think when you read of any risk of any treatment we are offered it freaks you out. I have had radiotherapy and the VATs operation, to remove top right lobe and top right rib. 

Tuesday for the op and let to fly home the Sunday. I should have gone Saturday but the pain killers played havoc with me meaning I was side roomed for quarantine.

I did recover quickly and just ensured I did the breathing exercises, took the pain killers and adhered to the no lifting/driving for a month post op and I did get better. 

I have had to make three options for major surgery as well as a few options on radiotherapy and treatments Each one scared me but I have said yes to all of them and do not regret it. I have no doubt if I had refused the majority of them, for me, I wouldn't be here by now.

Good luck with your decision.

Hi Gina

Wow, you seem to have been on a journey. I am having my op on the 22nd and hope I can do as well as you have.

Like you say the list of things that can go wrong is a bit daunting but it has to be done because the alternative is worse.

Thanks for your message.

Kind regards 

Si

Nikki,

I had surgery on 10th June, left hospital on 15th June and began adjuvant chemotherapy (optional treatment sometimes offered depending on staging) just over 6 weeks later on 25th July.

On leaving hospital I was given some simple stretch and deep breathing exercises by the physiotherapist and told to walk as much as I felt comfortable with. I recall being told not to overdo things but at the same time to push myself and gradually build up walking distance. At first I was also out of breath walking upstairs in the house but gradually built this up progressing to walking to the end of the street and thereafter a little further each day. At this time I felt uneasy walking too far from home and worried if I would be able to make it back so my wife would join me foe reassurance. Within about 4 weeks I was up to 2 or 3 miles walking alone on the flat with rests on the way when I felt like it, and by week 6 this had increased to a maximum of 5 or 6 miles taking my time and restind when I felt like it. I remember often feeling discomfort along the bottom of my ribs and round the right hand side of my chest  but when I rested for 5 minutes or so this would go away. I do recall feelings of tightening in my chest and throat and a fear of not being able to breath fast enough which was my signal to stop for a rest. What you're experiencing sounds similar and I think you'll find this doesn't last forever.

Looking back I did push myself quite hard but I was desperate to recover as quickly as possible. I was never what you would call super fit but could play 27 holes of golf at a time so was used to walking quite long distances. At the same time I did have an insecure feeling in the background that I might hurt myself by pushing too hard but realised that my body would tell me if I was doing so, which it did quite often. My lung specialist nurse called me a couple of times during this period and was surprised at my lavel activity so I guess I achieved this quicker than some other patients. 

We all have different experiences in the recovery process and it's not really that long since your operation so still early days for you and I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would suggest you might have a word with your lung specialist nurse if you have one or, failing that, your consultant for some reassurance that there's nothing wrong and you can try to build up exercise a little faster. I'm sure you'll see some progress. 

I hope you make some progress soon.

All the best, Derek.

Hi there .I am 4 weeks post right lobectomy .  I am now doing more things and apart from being a bit out of breath when i do too much it is ok. I was a fit healthy person running 12 miles a week and walking 5 miles every day so being diagnosed with lung cancer was a shock back in March. I was told if the cancer hadn't travelled to lymph nodes then they could cut away the cancer from the top right lobe.

Didn't realise how big the top lobe was nearly half the lung. I am managing fine so please do not worry. I was in hospital for 4 days  only and the first week hardly did anything but I have made improvements every day since week 3.

regards