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My thoughts are to never, ever feel bad about any emotions connected to this Teri. Emotions that have even been experienced before seem to come up, and then they fade (and sometimes recur). When my husband was dx, lung cancer was not even a distant thought in our minds. He was so healthy and no symptoms (and he has never smoked). We lived a totally surreal existence after the dx waiting for the pneumonectomy. As I mentioned above, the waiting was by far the hardest part - it is easy for the mind to go a bit 'crazy' at times. I actually asked my husband's surgeon if he had ever lost a patient on the operating table and he said 'no'. That set our minds at rest - somehow I didn't think my husband was going to be his first! After the major surgery (he had the full thoracotomy) everything has been so much easier to deal with for us both. He has just completed 4 cycles of adjuvant (mop up) chemotherapy to hopefully zap any stray microscopic cancer cells and that has gone really well too. Scans last Tuesday and results in a week. It is a whole new world - new emotions, new vocabulary, new everything. All the very, very best, Judy

Hi Teri, I'm from New York and two years ago had the very same thing. My tumor was completely blocking my lower right lobe and pushing into my mid. I was terrified, but wanted it out as soon as possible because the thought of it spreading was unbearable. And like your doctor told you, carcinoids don't respond to chemo and I wasn't interested in possibly shrinking it with radiation (radiation has loads of other potential side effects which I wanted to avoid if I could)- I just wanted it out. My surgeon performed a bi-lobectomy with VATS the week after I met him. It was really not that bad. I had issues with morphine afterwards, but I was determined to get up and move so I could get home to my family. Which I did five days later. A week after the surgery I got a call from my amazing surgeon with the pathology results- clear margins and no node involvement. My scans have been good since then. Please reach out if you have any questions. You are so brave sharing your story! All the best to you.

Hi Teri, my husband (aged 71) had his left lung removed in October and he is doing fine. The pain was really well managed and he was up and walking and doing exercises with a physiotherapist the day after the surgery. He had to sleep propped up on a wedge pillow for some weeks after coming home and could not do any lifting. Walking and exercise were really important. Waiting for the surgery was really, really difficult. Very best wishes Judy

Hi Teri, I didn't have my whole lung removed but I know of 3 people who did and they are all doing fine now.  I'm going to share your post on my FB page and share it privately with my friend who had her whole lung removed.  Hopefully she will give you some input.  The fact that the doctors feel surgery applies is a good thing!
 
Warmly,
Alisa

Hi Teri, my name is Cathy and I am from Florida. I completely understand your fear. In 2008 I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. I had a bilobectomy of the right lung and was terrified. Everything went well with the surgery and I had follow up chemo for several months. Surgery is not always an option so this sounds positive.

Hi Teri, 
Welcome to the LCSC message boards. I too am glad you seeked out 3 opinions. I have met a couple of people at the LUNGevity HOPE Summits who are living well with one lung if that helps any. I hope someone with surgery experience will come in and comment soon. LUNGevity offers a one-on-one LifeLine Program that will connect you with a personal mentor who has gone through a similar experience as yours. This is a free service. Here is the link to sign up http://lungevity.org/support-survivorship/get-connected/lungevity-lifeline
 
I look forward to your updates. Sending positive thoughts your way. 

I can certainly understand your fear.  I'm glad you did get 3 opinions on this.  I don't have personal knowledge regarding surgery but I'm sure others will follow that do.  Please keep us updated ((hugs))