Curt

I imagine they are referring to genetic testing when they refer to molecular testing. That is very important for forming a follow up treatment if one is necessary after surgery. Genetic testing can be the cancer Itself and the person (somatic). You’ll want to make sure sure they are planning a full genetic work up. Surgery is the most affective treatment. VATS is a very manageable recovery. I and others have written quite a bit about the surgery, what to expect and some tips post op. You should be able to find it on this forum with a quick search. Your mom will do great. .

Hi Alina. I had an upper right lobe lobectomy at 42. The recovery was much better than I expected but I was young, in pretty good shape and worked at the recovery. Tom is right. Surgeons want to treat cancer with surgery. Clinicians want to do it with their particular focus. Surgery is the gold standard but age does have to be considered. My grandmother had a lung nodule in her eighties. The doctors opted for surveillance to monitor its growth. They felt that her tumor was slow growing and that she would probably pass away naturally prior to needing any treatment. She passed away at 92 of natural causes with no ill affects of the lung cancer. If they are going to go in anyway to do a biopsy before SBRT then just doing the wedge reception might not be that much more difficult a recovery. At your moms age I’d consider quality over quantity. Which procedure is going to give her the best quality of life for the years she has left. Most major cancer treatment centers have a tumor review board that reviews the case as a group to determine the best approach with both quality and quantity of life in mind. If your mom is being treated somewhere doesn’t have that you might want to look into if there is larger cancer center close enough for you to get a second (or third) opinion. Having had cancer and a parent who had cancer I know that cancer is rough. I also know that helping a parent navigate cancer is rough. You are asking the right questions. Keep asking them until you get answers that feel right to you and your mom.

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Conor hearing you have a mass on your lung is very scary. Take it one step at a time. Mass doesn’t mean malignancy. While doctors can make well educated guesses based on scans an actual diagnosis can’t be had until a biopsy is done. The advice that Gary and Michelle are giving is good. When they do the biopsy insist on their doing biomarker testing. If it is in fact cancer the results of the biomarker test will drive treatment options. Let’s hope the masses are benign, but know that if they are malignant there are ever improving treatments available. Hang in there.

Hi Katie. I had a RUL lobectomy about 18 months ago. I also have return air duct plenums like Tom. I change those filters out every three months. I purchased a humidifier/air purifier. Dry air was rough when I was recovering. Here is the one I use. I change the filter on this monthly. https://www.honeywellstore.com/store/products/germ-free-cool-mist-humidifier-hcm-350.htm Good luck with recovery. The first few weeks are rough but you’ll start getting back quickly.

I had a right upper lobe Lobectomy 18 months ago. I was petrified. The recovery after surgery was not as difficult as I feared it would be and I am still NED. I was up and back at it three to four weeks later. Very minimal lingering things like numbness at the incision locations. Very minimal. Your aunt will do great. Hang in there.

Hi @Barbara H. I had a lobectomy about a year and a half ago. I was petrified of having the tube removed. It turned out to be a relief when it was taken out. It didn’t hurt at all.

@Lin wilki I wondered the same thing about whether she really did have COVID or not. Her husband said he had mild symptoms but that hers were more severe.

I spoke to one of my long time clients a couple of months ago during the peak of the COVID pandemic in NY. She was having an issue in her home that I helped her with it via Facetime. At the time she said that she believed that both her and her husband had COVID. They were both in their 70's and I was concerned for them. She said they were not feeling well, had symptoms of COVID but hadn't been tested. At the time in NY the common practice was if you exhibited symptoms you were assumed to be positive (testing was hard to come by) and asked to quarantine. Her symptoms didn't improve for over a month. She finally convinced her doctor to see her. It turned out the symptoms were from very advanced lung cancer. She passed this past Sunday. She was a really kind and generous person. I was not terribly close to her but her passing really hit me kind of hard. I really hate this disease. I also hate how difficult COVID is making getting treatment for it for some.

Hi @ChiMama. I had none robotic VATs in February 2019. The surgery was not as bad as I imagined it would be and I've made a full recovery with no follow up treatment. My lung capacity returned to pre-surgery levels. I have some residual discomfort, similar to what you describe from your biopsy, but it is manageable and still decreasing. You've gotten great advice from Lou and some others. You will do great.

Coughing up blood is not usually a symptom of a lifting injury. You could cough up blood if you had a more traumatic injury to your lungs like dropping a box on your chest. It could also be a symptom of plenty of ailments, cancer being one of them. It’s worth getting it checked out for sure.

Hi Cathy. I also had a Lobectomy. I hope your recovery is going well.

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis @Tbaker. Finding out is scary. Finally knowing what you are confronting and having a plan can bring some relief...and resolve. There are good treatment options available. Hang in there.

I was lucky enough to have a VAT surgery but still experience the nerve issues a little over a year post surgery. They get better then worse again. I haven’t been able to figure out why sometimes they are ok and others they aren’t. I’ve started to do core exercises to try and strengthen the area. I’m not sure if that will help or hurt. My surgeon just says maybe it will go away and maybe it won’t.

I remember when the wedding was the dream. I hope this time is as peaceful and calm as it can be. Your mom is lucky to have such an amazing caring person by her side. You and your mom will be in my prayers.