Lung Surgery

I don't know that our circumstances are the same, but I had single mets removed from each lung in 2007/2008.  One was a lobectomy and the other was a resection.  While I'm not climbing mountains, there have been few, if any, side effects.

I don't know that our circumstances are the same, but I had single mets removed from each lung in 2007/2008.  One was a lobectomy and the other was a resection.  While I'm not climbing mountains, there have been few, if any, side effects.

I don't know that our circumstances are the same, but I had single mets removed from each lung in 2007/2008.  One was a lobectomy and the other was a resection.  While I'm not climbing mountains, there have been few, if any, side effects.

Hi Sam, 

Is the next step for you surgery? Are you scheduled for a VATS surgical procedure? If so, has anybody discussed the possibility of participating in an 'adjuvant' clinical trial aftewards, like IPI? I don't know what trials for adjuvant therapy after surgical resection are or aren't available, but it might add a second punch to have a 1-2 combo.

If you're having a VATS, I had one in 2010 when there were 8 small mets spread in both lungs. They took 3 wedge sections from my right lung for biopsy (the next step was a systemic treatment, because it was not a single node). I was in the hospital for a night and a day aftewards. As this was my first hospitalization (since I had my tonsils out as a kid) it was a bit of an adjustment dealing with the hospital scene, IV poles, the single drain tube, beeping noises, crowded wards, shared rooms, and so forth. I realized (after the fact) was that it would have been easier if I had tried to relax and 'go with the flow' a little bit more, somehow. I was sore when I got home but not too bad and I only needed/wanted pain meds for a couple of days. They gave me a breathing exercise device but it didn't take long before my lung was fully normal again.

Moving up to today, after being NED for awhile (and for a long time in my lungs), I may be in a somewhat similar situation to you as there is a new single lung met, that they found it in January about 2cm in a 'paratracheal lymph node' in my right lung. In March it scanned at 2.4 x 3cm. As far as treatment choices, my doctors discussed surgery, cyberknife (apparently they can do this with a lung met, apparently the computer matches and adjusts the beam with the breathing?), 'watch and wait', IPI reinduction, or a look for a clinical trial.As I've had prior mets, I went for one of the systemic therapies options, a gamble mostly based in having had prior mets elsewhere.

Good luck and I would say, although this is naturally stressful, try to find a way to relax leading up to the surgery if you're having that, to the extent possible.

– Kyle

Hi Sam, 

Is the next step for you surgery? Are you scheduled for a VATS surgical procedure? If so, has anybody discussed the possibility of participating in an 'adjuvant' clinical trial aftewards, like IPI? I don't know what trials for adjuvant therapy after surgical resection are or aren't available, but it might add a second punch to have a 1-2 combo.

If you're having a VATS, I had one in 2010 when there were 8 small mets spread in both lungs. They took 3 wedge sections from my right lung for biopsy (the next step was a systemic treatment, because it was not a single node). I was in the hospital for a night and a day aftewards. As this was my first hospitalization (since I had my tonsils out as a kid) it was a bit of an adjustment dealing with the hospital scene, IV poles, the single drain tube, beeping noises, crowded wards, shared rooms, and so forth. I realized (after the fact) was that it would have been easier if I had tried to relax and 'go with the flow' a little bit more, somehow. I was sore when I got home but not too bad and I only needed/wanted pain meds for a couple of days. They gave me a breathing exercise device but it didn't take long before my lung was fully normal again.

Moving up to today, after being NED for awhile (and for a long time in my lungs), I may be in a somewhat similar situation to you as there is a new single lung met, that they found it in January about 2cm in a 'paratracheal lymph node' in my right lung. In March it scanned at 2.4 x 3cm. As far as treatment choices, my doctors discussed surgery, cyberknife (apparently they can do this with a lung met, apparently the computer matches and adjusts the beam with the breathing?), 'watch and wait', IPI reinduction, or a look for a clinical trial.As I've had prior mets, I went for one of the systemic therapies options, a gamble mostly based in having had prior mets elsewhere.

Good luck and I would say, although this is naturally stressful, try to find a way to relax leading up to the surgery if you're having that, to the extent possible.

– Kyle

Hi Sam, 

Is the next step for you surgery? Are you scheduled for a VATS surgical procedure? If so, has anybody discussed the possibility of participating in an 'adjuvant' clinical trial aftewards, like IPI? I don't know what trials for adjuvant therapy after surgical resection are or aren't available, but it might add a second punch to have a 1-2 combo.

If you're having a VATS, I had one in 2010 when there were 8 small mets spread in both lungs. They took 3 wedge sections from my right lung for biopsy (the next step was a systemic treatment, because it was not a single node). I was in the hospital for a night and a day aftewards. As this was my first hospitalization (since I had my tonsils out as a kid) it was a bit of an adjustment dealing with the hospital scene, IV poles, the single drain tube, beeping noises, crowded wards, shared rooms, and so forth. I realized (after the fact) was that it would have been easier if I had tried to relax and 'go with the flow' a little bit more, somehow. I was sore when I got home but not too bad and I only needed/wanted pain meds for a couple of days. They gave me a breathing exercise device but it didn't take long before my lung was fully normal again.

Moving up to today, after being NED for awhile (and for a long time in my lungs), I may be in a somewhat similar situation to you as there is a new single lung met, that they found it in January about 2cm in a 'paratracheal lymph node' in my right lung. In March it scanned at 2.4 x 3cm. As far as treatment choices, my doctors discussed surgery, cyberknife (apparently they can do this with a lung met, apparently the computer matches and adjusts the beam with the breathing?), 'watch and wait', IPI reinduction, or a look for a clinical trial.As I've had prior mets, I went for one of the systemic therapies options, a gamble mostly based in having had prior mets elsewhere.

Good luck and I would say, although this is naturally stressful, try to find a way to relax leading up to the surgery if you're having that, to the extent possible.

– Kyle

Hi,

I had a wedge resection on my lower left lung lobe in August 2011. I took my mandatory two weeker the last two weeks of August and scheduled a family trip on week one and the surgery for week two. Nice clean cut through the side. The doctor used a rib spreader and slipped a really interesting device through which cuts a wedge like section of the lung, cauterizes, staples and pulls the wedge section with the tumor in it right out like a little bag. I must admit I did feel like a got hit by a truck for about a week but it passed pretty quickly and I went back to work in 7-8 days. A little sore when back at work the week after but not terribly painful, more like a sore muscles feel. I exercised my lungs for a few weeks with a plastic blowing device the doctor gave me. Pretty amazing how fast it worked and my lung capacity recovered quickly. Zero after effect within a month or so and now almost three years later if I didn't see the thin scar when I lift my left arm I wouldn't even remember it. Don't be nervous just get that thing cut out and dont look back. Good luck! 

Hi,

I had a wedge resection on my lower left lung lobe in August 2011. I took my mandatory two weeker the last two weeks of August and scheduled a family trip on week one and the surgery for week two. Nice clean cut through the side. The doctor used a rib spreader and slipped a really interesting device through which cuts a wedge like section of the lung, cauterizes, staples and pulls the wedge section with the tumor in it right out like a little bag. I must admit I did feel like a got hit by a truck for about a week but it passed pretty quickly and I went back to work in 7-8 days. A little sore when back at work the week after but not terribly painful, more like a sore muscles feel. I exercised my lungs for a few weeks with a plastic blowing device the doctor gave me. Pretty amazing how fast it worked and my lung capacity recovered quickly. Zero after effect within a month or so and now almost three years later if I didn't see the thin scar when I lift my left arm I wouldn't even remember it. Don't be nervous just get that thing cut out and dont look back. Good luck! 

Hi,

I had a wedge resection on my lower left lung lobe in August 2011. I took my mandatory two weeker the last two weeks of August and scheduled a family trip on week one and the surgery for week two. Nice clean cut through the side. The doctor used a rib spreader and slipped a really interesting device through which cuts a wedge like section of the lung, cauterizes, staples and pulls the wedge section with the tumor in it right out like a little bag. I must admit I did feel like a got hit by a truck for about a week but it passed pretty quickly and I went back to work in 7-8 days. A little sore when back at work the week after but not terribly painful, more like a sore muscles feel. I exercised my lungs for a few weeks with a plastic blowing device the doctor gave me. Pretty amazing how fast it worked and my lung capacity recovered quickly. Zero after effect within a month or so and now almost three years later if I didn't see the thin scar when I lift my left arm I wouldn't even remember it. Don't be nervous just get that thing cut out and dont look back. Good luck!