Hi, back in August last year after episodes of pins and needles and seizures I was diagnosed with a meningioma (a non-cancerous type of brain tumour), I also had a chest CT scan as a precaution.
It found a nodule in my left lung, and I was sent off for a PET scan at the Royal Marsden. It didn't 'glow', so it was put down as 'one of those things', and I was scheduled for follow-up once treatment for the brain tumour was completed.
In December I had a craniotomy to remove the tumour. I woke up paralysed down my right side, but 4 months later here I am walking around and to all intents and purposes fit and well (to cut a long story very short!). I was called back to the lung clinic to do the follow-up, and the lesion in my lower left lung has now grown from 15mm to 19mm. They booked me in for a biopsy, and that came back as a Stage 1 Adenocarcinoma and I'm booked in for a robotic lobectomy. It's been a whirlwind of emotions.
The biggest one is relief that if it wasn't the brain tumour, then this wouldn't have been found for 4-5 years when symptoms showed.
I've been told to practice different breathing techniques to strengthen my diaphragm, and been warned to expect it to be very painful after surgery.
Anybody got any further advice?
I've been off work now for 5 months for the craniotomy and now been told to expect 4-8 weeks for recovery from this procedure.
T1b N0 M0
(Male, 56, treated at St. Georges Hospital south London)
Hi 
I also had a meningioma discovered after my NSCLC was discovered, they di a brain MRI as a matter of course and they’re not worried about it as meningiomas can be present for years without problems but they will be keeping an eye on it for changes.
I didn’t have robotic but VATS surgery (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) in feb 2024. I had my right upper lobe plus wedge removal and I didn’t find it too bad at all. The thing that was the most painful for me was the chest drain, so just make sure they don’t scrimp on the pain killers - although my hospitpal did. I also took some of my own medication with me - I had worked in medical for 20 years and know how to take medication safely plus my son in law is a surgeon so he advised me also. I wouldn’t recommend self medicating but you can ask the hospital if this is an option should you find their medication not helping much. They would usually allow it and stop their medication with you signing a disclaimer.
Unfortunately my cancer has returned in my lower lobe and I’m now facing surgery again but I’ve handled it once before so I know I can do it again.
Wishing you all the very best for a quick recovery - everyone is different and I’d read it took some people months to recover but I felt pretty much back to normal within six weeks and once the chest drain was out (7 days) I really didn’t have any pain at all.
Try not to take other people’s pain experience as a given because we all handle pain differently and hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well you cope - as I was.
hugs from Essex,
Freedz x
