Lung cancer op

Hi Big B and welcome to our little corner of the online community.  That’s great news that the cancer can be removed by surgery, but of course you will be feeling anxious about the procedure that is only natural. Are they removing just the tumour or the top right lobe? I haven’t had this kind of operation, but hopefully someone will come along and tell you about their experience.  

Take care 

Thanks chellesimo yes it's just the right upper lobe but the surgeon did say that once they are in if they feel it is required they will come a little way into the middle lobe ..thanks for your welcome it's much appreciated 

Hi Big B
Last July I had my lower left lobe removed and a wedge in my upper left lobe. (aged 66)
If I can give you a couple of pieces of advice.
After your operation you might find you need to cough and bring up sputum. It is very painful to try and cough but I found it better to cough as hard as I can, and get it up in one go, rather than doing lots of little coughs. I found going to the toilet for No 2s was awkward, but I soon found a way round the problem. The removal of my chest drain was not what I expected and absolutely painless!!
When you get home don't watch anything funny on the TV! Laughing is very painful for a week or two.

Saying this people react to pain differently I hope it isn't too painful for you
Good luck Big B

Hi Sonofjoe 

Thanks for the response. My op is this coming Thurs the 22/4 so its very close now & I am as ready physically & mentally as I think I can be & probably like everyone in this situation I just want it out of the way. I will certainly try to follow the advice you offered because its always better from people who have been through it .Your advice about watching comedy made me chuckle as comedy was part of my plan because I've downloaded some programmes to my tablet to watch whilst in hospital so I may have to have a rethink on that one.

Thanks for the good wishes & I have to say if I could get better on peoples goodwill I would be better now, can I just ask how long you were in hospital & roughly how long before you started to feel better I know every one is different but a few people I have spoken to say their recovery was quite quick considering how big the op is.

Thanks for the advice will let you know how it all goes

Cheers Big B

Hi Big B
I was in hospital for 9 days, that's the1st day getting in the room 2nd day having the operation (3hours) up and out of the bed after waking up from the anaesthetic within 2 hours and getting changed in to my PJs. I was in the high dependency ward for a further day, and the nurses made me walk (with help) a couple of time. I was then in a ward on my own (due to covid) for the rest of the time. (nurses were brilliant!!!) Each day the pain was ok as I had an epidural in my back but they took it maybe 2/3 days after being on the ward. The nurses changed my dressing on my drain every day. It was a bit awkward to walk around carrying the drain bottle and having a saline drip. 
I know I mentioned abut the removal of the drain tube being painless, however, one day while changing the dressing the nurse thought I was developing an infection where the drain went in. She called a Dr to have a look... Well he poked and poked and moved it around like a joystick!!!. He decided it was OK and left. the nurse continued to replace the dressing but when I sat up I felt as though a box of fireworks had exploded in my chest!!! (that is now my new number 10 on pain threshold!)

When I was at home and also in hospital I found it very hard to lay on my left side...I think it was around 6 weeks before I could bear to lay on it and that was only for about a minute or two. 
I was given surgical stockings which the nurses changed while in hospital, but my wife had to put them on for me. I think I had to keep them on for 8 weeks. 

It is now 9 months since my operation and I still get the occasional pain along my incision/scar/wound? I was told only a very few people get this for this long and the nerve tissues repairing themselves. Other than that I get a little breathless at times, but I do also have COPD.

I know this will be difficult for you but, I would like to know how you get on...but I know you will have other thing on your mind.

Regards Sonofjoe

Hi I am new to this forum and just saw your post, I am 4 weeks post op from keyhole surgery to remove a nodule from right lung in the middle lobe, I was in hospital for three days, surgery was about two hours, had a chest drain in with morphine drip for the pain (Patient controlled pump) so you can give your own pain relief as you need it. Up and about the next morning with assistance, chest drain was taken out on third day, eating and drinking was OK. I am now at home doing gradual exercise, one bit of advice would be to take regular pain relief so you can do breathing exercises, I got my gp to reduce my pain relief last week and I now take co- co- damol and paracetamol this enables you to do the exercise needed to help the lung recover, my advice would be to take it easy with the exercise ! I am currently doing short walk on the flat outside about 800 metres to the end of the road aiming to do this everyday this week. Good luck with surgery !I get my results on Wednesday ( I'm being investigated for secondary breast cancer in the lung ) so I know how stressful it is !!

Hi Big B.  I had my upper right lobe removed by keyhole surgery to remove a tumour 3 weeks ago.  Like you I was very lucky - it was caught early and was small.  It had not spread to the lymph nodes and I will get the pathology results by a telephone consultation on Monday - hopefully no more treatment.  I was in hospital for 5 days but only because I live on my own.  I was in ICU all wired up for one night with the pump for pain relief.  The chest drain was removed on the 3rd day - I was surprised also how painless it was to remove.  The pain was completely manageable and I am a coward.    Coming home I followed all the instructions and exercises. I am recovering really well. The wounds are healing well and were smaller than I expected.  I am doing a 20 minute walk a day now and will build that up.  Good luck- you will be fine.

Hi Sonofjoe, Thanks for the info when I read other peoples stories it does help to keep things in perspective & I think helps me to prepare better for the op. I wish you all the best in your continued recovery & the occasional pain you still get in time will disappear completely.

As I recover I will most certainly let you know how I get on.

Thanks Big B

Hi C001 Thanks for your response & telling me about your experience & I will certainly follow your advice regarding the pain relief. Keep up the exercise & I wish you the absolute best for your results on Wednesday & also thanks for your good wishes on my op.

Best regards Big B 

Hi RuthyB, Thanks for telling me your story. We sound to be quite similar on the diagnosis & both been very lucky it had not spread I do hope that your consultation on Monday is a good result & you don't require any further treatment. I had to smile when you said you are a coward when it came to pain because I am sure that behind my tough exterior there is an absolute coward trying to get out. I am also glad you are able to walk & are aiming to increase that because it is something I am looking forward doing as we go walking now as part of our normal routine. Finally thank you for the good wishes & to say I will be fine it is reassuring going into the unknown.

Best regards Big B