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Suepm

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Posts posted by Suepm

    Traveling

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Thank you all for sharing your experience . I did have a VATS and my incision is quite small . My surgeon talked a lot about post op nerve pain before my surgery but I haven't experienced that . I am very grateful . Take care and I will post pictures. Suepm


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    Traveling

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    I am almost 1year out of right upper lobectomy and am doing pretty good . My question is I am planning a wonderful family trip with family to Wyoming , Grand Tetons and Yellowstone . I am a little nervous about flying . I was Stage 1a . And am excerpting and walking and am back to work and am doing well . Any suggestions . Thank you . This is my fist family tri since the cancer . Thank you . Suepm

     

     

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    Waiting too long?

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hi Lbelle ,

    I had asked my Surgeon if we could wait 3weeks for my surgery . I had been sick for several months and I was trying to clear up my lungs . He didn't have any problem with waiting . I will be interested in hearing about your second opinion . And praying for peace comfort and wisdom . Suepm


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    Upcoming surgery

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Lbelle ,
    Sorry you are going through this . This journey can be very frightening .My
    experience with the VATS robotic surgery was good . I have scarred lungs from a lifetime of asthma and pneumonitis. Even with my history of lung disease I woke up breathing on my own . I spent 2 nights in ICU , one night because they couldn't find me a bed in the step down unit until the next day . I was in the hospital about 8 days . A little longer then some . My chest tube was putting out a lot of fluid . I am a nurse , but believe me that goes out the window when you're the patient and the diagnosis is cancer . Anyway I did get IV Tylenol the first few days and it really helps with pain . Problem is it is expensive . The brand name is Ofirmev . I just wanted you to know my experience was good . I just had my 6 month visit with the oncologist and my CT and tumor markers are good . I had adencarcinoma Stage 1a and they did a right upper lobectomy . I hope that helps . This site has been such a help to me I hope it is to you as well .

    Suepm


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    Coughing up blood

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    I'm not new to the group , but I have a question . I am 5months out upper right lobectomy for stage 1a adenocarcinoma . Not feeling well this week felt like a virus . Fever , shortness of breath . Productive cough nothing colored . However today I started coughing up blood . Has this happened to anyone else ? Thanks Suepm

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    New here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Suepm,

    Welcome here.

    To your question, given a little more than a month after an upper lobectomy, should you be concerned about coughing and shortness of breath?  First a disclaimer, each of us responds or reacts differently in recovery from thoracic surgery, and my experience may not necessarily mirror yours.  I had a pneumonectomy, a complete removal of my right lung. I also had two surgical repairs of a fistula (an opening) in my sutured airway.  After the surgery and each fistula repair surgery, I indeed had a persistent non-productive cough.  My surgeon explained its cause as an irritated airway.  Additionally, before my surgery, I didn't have asthma symptoms but have them now because tissues in my airway are now very sensitive to irritation.  So my experience suggests coughing due to irritation, a dry scratchy feeling deep inside my airway, is normal.  How long did the coughing last?  That is hard for me to answer because I had almost back-to-back-to-back thoracic surgeries.

    As for shortness of breath, yes of course I experienced it post surgery and still experience it.  One half my lung capacity was removed.  About one fifth of yours was removed.  It is normal to experience shortness of breath after part of the lung is removed.  There is some recovery.  I now can do day-to-day activities without experiencing shortness of breath but climbing extensive steps or any kind of aerobic exercise has me gasping for air.  I think you will find a new normal activity level after your recovery as your body adjusts to your new lung capacity.

    One caution I'll offer, especially now with the turn of the season and the start of the school year.  Avoid school aged children.  I didn't and it put be back in the hospital about a week after discharge after my pneumonectomy with a very serious chest infection.  Do everything you can to avoid catching a cold.  If you do catch one, don't be surprised if it puts you in bed for a lengthy period and expect long recovery times.  Get your flu shot and pneumonia vaccination.  And if you develop cold or flu symptoms, see a doctor promptly.

    Keep those semi-annual CT appointments.  Lung cancer is persistent.

    Stay the course.

    Tom


    Thank you so much Tom . I am so glad I have this group turn to . No one to talk to , who has gone through lung cancer , is isolating. Thank you for this group it has been very helpful .
    Suepm


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    New here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hi, Suepm,

    Welcome to LCSC!

    Thank you for sharing a bit about you. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but like Donna said, it is a great sign that it was detected early while the cancer is still localized. Please feel free to explore the various forums and join in on some of the discussions. If you have any questions about treatment, side effects, etc. please post them in one of the groups.

    We are here for you!

    Lauren
    --
    Digital Community Manager
    LUNGevity Foundation


    Hi Lauren ,
    Thank you for your encouragement . I am doing ok. But still have a cough and shortness of breath . Suepm


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    New here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome to Lungevity.  How did they diagnose you ?  Sound like they found you early which is good news.

    Just a month since your surgery.  How are you doing?

    Follow up with CTs is standard.  Please keep us posted on how things are going. 

    Donna G


    Hi Donna ,
    I willTry to give you the Readers digest version . I have long history of lung problems . Asthma , hypersensitivity pneumonia is and bronchi thesis .My first pulmonologist moved and after several years I went to another . He wanted to do a CT scan since I hadn't had one in years .
    That's when they found the spot on my lung . After a while they repeated the CT scan spot was still there . Did a PET scan showed scar tissue thought I was in the clear . 6months later it was a pulmonary nodule that had grown . Went to a cardio thoracic surgeon and he recommended a VATS . He said he would do the pathology while I was under and if it was cancer he would do a right upper lobectomy . It was adeno carcinoma . I feel blessed margins and lymph nodes were clear . My oncologist doesn't recommend chemo or radiation at this time . CT scans every 6months .
    I have a question . Is it typical to have a cough and shortness of breath ?
    And thank you so much , you all , for sharing your experiences . All the information you share is great . You are warriors !!!
    Suepm



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    Resection for Adenocarcinoma in situ

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    I had a Ct guided lung biopsy last week and have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in situ.  The surgeon plans to resect the nodule laparoscopically.  Have any of you had this procedure?  if so, what was the recovery time?  What should I expect?  Prognosis?  At this time, there is no plan for chemo or radiation post procedure. Does that sound like routine protocol? 

    I have been told the likelihood that this would spread or metastasize is minimal but I read that often times adenocarcinoma does spread.  Is metastasis dependent upon the Stage of the cancer?  

    Any information on this topic/diagnosis would be helpful.  Thank you


    Hi Josie ,
    New to the group , and am only 4 weeks post surgery . My experience was a Bronchoscopy to tattoo the tumor so the surgeon could . .visualize it . Then he did a VATS . Video assisted thoracoscopy ,and mediostinal lymph node dissection and biopsy . I didn't have a biopsy prior to the surgery ,my tumor was small and they were concerned about getting it with a needle. While I was asleep they sent it to pathology . The surgeon had told me if it was cancer he would remove the right upper lobe . It was adeno carcinoma and they did a lobectomy . Mine was Stage 1a , margins and lymph nodes were clear . The oncologist said I didn't need chemo or radiation , but I 'm to have a CT scan every 6 months for 2 years .
    I asked for physical therapy they came to the house for 3 weeks for endurance . My insurance won't pay for the facility that has the only pulmonary rehab . Outpatient . So I will be going to a conditioning program . My big problem is shortness of breath and fatigue . I am a pretty bad asthmatic as well . But they say the best thing is walking and use the incentive spirometer . I hope My experience helped some


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