Hello, this is all very new for me.
It's taken me 6 days after joining to actually write anything because I read other peoples posts and they make me cry.
On 18th May 2026 I was in the Royal Brompton Hospital having a heart bypass. The following day , in my hospital bed,I received a call from the Lung Sreening dept where I'd been invited as a seperate thing with the result of my Lung screening.
On the 23rd September 17 days ago Ihad a lobectomy on my right lung, lower lobe. I await results of lymph node samples taken.
I realise I have been sooo lucky as I had no symptoms and the cancer was early Stage1. According to my PET scan it is nowhere else.
My ribs hurt all over ( amongst other things)and I know it's going to take a long time to 'recover '
I'm 70 with grown up Sons X 4, I live alone, quite happily. Very independent, strong woman. I love life!
But this has kicked the 'you know what' out of me! I'm scared, I cry, I get frustrated and angry at what I've been through. Then I see what others have written and it makes me feel humble. I am determined to get over this. Just not sure how or when.
Anyway, that's my introduction story albeit a long one. Best wishes and good luck to everyone on this forum 
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Karen
Hello Karen and a warm welcome to the online community, although I'm very sorry you have the need to join.
It is indeed a great shock to learn you have lung cancer when you think all is well, especially when you have no symptoms and no cause to suspect anything is wrong. However, in the longer term it is a stroke of good luck that the cancer is discovered, in your case via a completely unrelated procedure, because, if left to develop, it would eventually be discovered at a later stage when treatment is much more difficult and less likely to be a success.
The "good" news is that, at stage 1, you have an excellent chance to be completely cured following your lobectomy.
My own cancer was discovered at a more advanced stage of T2AN1M0 when I had surgery to remove my right lung. Unfortunately when surrounding tissue was checked after surgery it was also found in one nearby lymph node so I had chemotherapy as a precaution. The good news is that this happened over 12 years ago and I have been lung cancer free ever since.
Your ribs and surrounding area will ache for some time, and the best exercise at first is to walk, preferably on the flat, gradually building up distance. I think you'll be surprised just how quickly your recovery progresses.
It is very scary, especially when life is jogging along quite normally, and it takes a while to get used to the new you. However, you will get there.
I wish you all the best and if there's anything at all yu'd like to ask or talk about just let us know.
Derek.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
