Don M

I found a surgeon and a hospital that does video assisted lobectomys: Ralph Aye at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. But, if I stay with the team I have now, and go with the conventional full thoractomy, I can get the cancer out a week earlier. I guess I don't want to wait while the second surgeon evaluates my case. Tomorrow I consult with my team in Olympia, Wa., and I have all but decided to get it out using the original team some time in the middle of next week probably. I will still bombard them with a long list of questions I have prepared. My wife will go in with me to be a second set of ears. The Olympia surgeon is supposed to very good as is the hospital in Olympia. St. Peter's Providence Hospital. Bye.

I will definitely pursue video assisted surgery. At this point I am just getting used to the idea that I have cancer. But, I guess I am one of the "lucky ones" because PET scan shows it to be retricted to one of my upper left lobes.. I am 59 and have been healthy all my life and always considered that I had an excellent immune system. I smoked between ages 24 and 40 and am 59 now, My brother died of lung cancer. But I am really surprised that I have it. I am impressed by the courage people show in their postings here.

I will ask my doctors about it.

I have never joined a forum before and so will have to stumble around until I get the hang of the mechanics. I am about to have an upper left lobectomy. Does anyone know about video assisted lobectomy? Is it being done anywhere? My pulmonolgist says that video assisted techniques won't work for a lobectomy but i have seen some studys discussed on line.