Surgery or Radiotherapy?

Hi Once Bitten

I was offered watch wait and see

Sabre

Operation

I chose the operation because I wanted it in the bin  a.s.a.p

If you click on my name you can read my back story like you I was picked up through a scan 

I had my operation in March and I am making good progress 

Good luck with your decision 

Best wishes 

Hi,

I also went for surgery, mainly because that was described to me as the gold standard cure. Radical radiotherapy was offered as probably just as effective and a close second-best option. Why I was offered the choice baffled me - they're the experts, they should be telling me not asking me...

You've had the blood clot type of stroke so I'm guessing that you're on blood thinners. If so, your surgeon should be aware of this already, but double-check to make sure.

You need more information - it helps to know exactly what you're signing up to. The left lung has 2 lobes to it and the right lung has 3 lobes - the lower right lobe is by far the smallest. The less lung they remove the less you'll notice the loss long-term. The Roy Castle site has a good diagram of the lungs for you to visualise the situation. Surgery to remove a tumour can either remove the whole lobe or it can remove just a wedge section out of the lobe. While they are inside you they'll most likely take a few lymph nodes too, just to check for possible spread. Typically you would be in and out of hospital in less than a week, and you should be on enough meds to feel no pain. When you get home you'll feel like the stuffing has been completely knocked out of you, but that will pass.

The radiotherapy option would be a 20 mins appt every day for a few weeks (I was offered 4 weeks.) With no tissue removal there will be nothing to biopsy check after. As I understand it there will be a good chance of collateral burning that will need time to heal and may hurt. I did not choose this option.

Good luck. I'm sure you're worried to bits, but it sounds like they are aiming for a cure so take comfort from that. By Christmas this should all be behind you, apart from regular scans.

kind regards
Steve

Opted for surgery too,had upper lobe removed 1st time and then 2nd op was a wedge out middle lobe , lobectomy was keyhole bit 2nd op was open surgery  my recovery was quick with keyhole  then open surgery recovery  bit longer, tracy

At first full right lung removal was, I was told, my only option. Surgeon refused to operate, he said because he would either loose me during surgery or very quickly in recovery. I am now waiting to start radical radiation, 20 fractions over 4 week period. I read everything I could get my hands on, asked questions etc. If I had been younger with no underlying medical conditions I would have gone with surgery as my first choice. I'm sure whichever you choose it will be what feels right for you. Good luck on your journey x

Sorry about that ,I am 51 .was lucky both times without any additional therapies and no health problems b4,but I wish you  speedy recovery,  

I also chose surgery because it is the best chance of a cure, I had my right lung removed just over 9 years ago and am still doing well. I was home 5 days after surgery.

I wish you all the best for successful treatment.