Tom Galli

Cindy, You've got some good advice. My thought is surgery is a good first treatment. Depending on the type of radiation used, one may not be able to have surgery after radiation. So I'd hold radiation in reserve. I'm praying with you. Stay the course. Tom

Lauras, I use prescription strength lidocaine patches when my chronic pain kicks in. My wife applies two patches to cover my scars and it knocks my pain level down enough to allow me to sleep at night. They work for me. Stay the course. Tom

Colleen, When you figure out the specification for controlling lung cancer, copyright it! You'll be wealthy beyond your wildest dreams. There are so few things one can control about our disease. Having said that, I have engineer's disease and control is a particular passion. Depression intervened and tempered me a bit, but the force is strong and my name is a synonym for stubborn. In fact, not being in control is what led to my deep depression. Your self acknowledged disaster planning competency is miles ahead of me in terms of forthrightness. Let me digress about pre-surgical tests. Did your recent blood work include blood type determination? Most blood panels do not include this but it is very important before surgery for if they are "snipping nodes", you'll need blood. Ask the surgeon scheduler again and specifically mention blood type. If indeed the scheduler says it is not necessary, don't do disaster planning yet. You'll be at the hospital ahead of your surgery. Stop by the day surgery desk and ask the desk nurse about pre-surgical testing. You'll have plenty of time to get it done. Also call the surgeon on arrival and ask about including items you want or need on doctor's admission orders. Things like a hot pad for your shoulder, sustaining medication, laxatives, non-prescription pain reliever preference, use of your night guard etc. Do this at the day surgery desk. They can always reach the surgeon or the PA that does orders. So, how does one get through a lung cancer surgery? I've had 7 thoracic procedures and I still don't know. But, here are some tips and tricks. Tell the anesthesiologist you are nervous about the procedure. The magic injection will fix that. They typically stop around before surgery to assess your intubation tube size. They also are very good at explaining what is going to happen, so while the magic stuff does its job, try and listen to his or her explanation. But, before the stuff starts to work, tell the anesthesiologist about your bad shoulder. I bet they have a way of rigging you to avoid post-op pain. Speaking of post-op pain, you won't feel anything, at least for a couple of days. You may have a morphine push attached to your IV with a button to push. Anytime you start to feel anything, you press the button, and then you won't feel anything. Because of anesthesia and post-op pain meds, I'd start mild laxatives ahead of your surgery day. That will handle the pain of elimination. Post-op hygiene while in the hospital should not be a concern. You won't care for the first couple of days. Then if you do, ask the nurse for a bed-bath. During my eight week stay, I had one every other day. I got a good hair cut before each surgery but they did use the dry shampoo to avoid getting my head wet. When I was encouraged to get out of bed post-op, job one was brushing my teeth and I struggled because I'm right handed. So bring a battery powered tooth brush. Also, bring your own toothpaste. Hospital stuff is horrible. I couldn't floss because one handed flossing is near impossible. I'm not sure the nurses will allow you to use your night guard until you are able to keep the ball in the spirometer between the two lines. Oh by the way, nurses rule the hospital. Yes I wore compression stockings (ankle to groin) after every surgery for the entire length of my stay. I didn't have problems with my veins and arteries but the nurses insisted and knowing I'd push them off, always checked first thing every time they entered the room. Thankfully, my hospital experience was way before the invention of air-actuated compression sleeves (I had to throw some engineer speak into the conversation). I also did not have to inject myself with anything after discharge. I wish there was a better way to be sure of your cancer before surgery. I do know surgery will give you the best shot at NED (no evidence of disease). My pre-surgical conversation was about closing me up if cancer was discovered to be more extensive than shown in the scans. Engineers hate uncertainty and lung cancer is uncertain, in the extreme! In nearly 15 years of surviving a lung cancer diagnosis, I'm not any better at coping. So I completely understand what you are going through. I bet you are like our "Airborne Ranger" Shelby posting on the forum a couple of hours after her surgery was over! You'll get through this. Your son will be fine. No one will inspect your house for a good housekeeping award while in the hospital. Stock up on frozen diners. Get the good stuff -- lasagna, macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pies, ice cream, get lots of ice cream. One more important thing. Please stay away from school aged children after your surgery. The last thing you want is a chest cold. Coughing and healing incisions do not play well together. Stay the course. Tom