Welcome to the forum. I'm hoping that someone who has experience with lobectomy surgery will see your post and reply to your message. In the meantime, you could try using the forum search function to look for the term "lobectomy" to connect with others here.
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I've recovered from one. Open thorasic removal of lower left lobe and wedge resection of upper right lobe with removal of 15 lumph nodes. Can't promise i can answer your questions but happy to try.
3 weeks post op, and I know it's early days. Have been advised walking and breathing exercises. Just wish there was a more structured approach. Have been advised that rest is just as important. I had massive heart attack exactly one year ago and the emphasis then was very much focused on strengthening your body. I know I have to let my body repair itself first. Any advice about dealing with pain and stiffness in the chest would be much appreciated.
Mmmm ok, based on your heart attack they only people you should be taking advice from with regards exercise is your medical team in my opinion. Also it depends on what level of fitness you had prior to the lobectomy, your age too.
I was 56 relatively fit meaning did about 10,000.00 steps a day, gardening, etc and my only other medical condition was mild copd or so I'm told.
About 10 days after the op i went out walking just around the block very slowly with my son for support and just built up gradually and little more distance and speed each day. I found pain under left breast was the biggest problem (tumor was pretty large and adhered to the back of my chest wall, so had more excavation there) i also couldn't get a bra on due to swelling, in fact i had to get one two sizes bigger and without underwires. It took the best part of a year before i could return to my post op usual ones. I did find myself constantly with my arm across my ribs supporting my left breast as i found it so uncomfortable if i didn't.
I was still on morphine x 3 a day until my post op assessment 5 weeks after surgery, surgeon said i shouldn't be so from that moment i cut it down to a week on x2 a day followed by a week of x1 a day then off it all together. It surprised me how easy it was and in my situation i believed the surgeon to be correct. On the morning of my 5 week post op assessment i walked 5 miles, although slower than what was my pre op speed. From then on it was onwards and upwards.
Rest is important and i did go with the attitude of when i felt i could do it, i did. When i didn't then i didn't. So basically didn't allow myself to stagnate but neither did i push myself to any limit. I took a firm stance of im not going to cause injury to myself just to prove any point, prove anyone wrong etc. I trusted my instinct on how i felt / what i could do on any given day.
The deep breathing i was a bit of a fail at, but the walking made up for it or at least i think it did. It is apparently important as it fills the space of the removed part. So keep that up if you can, just do them in front of the tv.
Did you have open surgery or VATS?
No idea if my rambling on is of any help, but feel free to ask specific questions if you need to, happy to try to offer advice.
Thank you for such a comprehensive reply. I had open surgery because of lesions sticking my lung to the chest wall. I am 73 and was deemed fit for surgery as I had made a good recovery from my heart problems. I was doing British heart Foundation aerobic exercise twice a week and 30 mins on a tread mill on the other 5 days. Since leaving hospital I have walked daily outside but am in discomfort.
I was interested to hear about the meds and have spoken to my GP whose advise tallies with what you were told.
I am in awe of you progress and with time will hopefully make gentle steady advancements. Once again many thanks.
Mine was open too and my tumour was 6.5cm x 5.5cm x4.9cm. It had burst outside the lung and was adhered to the back of the chest wall and aortic artery. A first class London surgeon took it on and only because i had no other health conditions and was fit.
It's final stage and grade after full pathology was 3b n2 non small cell ardenocarcinoma which means locally advanced and i was likely only a couple of months away from the final stage 4.
I've since had 4 cycles of chemotherapy and 12 months of immunotherapy, and can still walk that 5 miles and do the gardening. I was diagnosed September 2021 so coming up for two years.
I'm told i have an unusual genetic make up by my hospital as i managed to literally walk through a chemo regimen that usually floors strapping grown men, with only a bit of constipation.
Moral of the story for all reading. Take it first hand from myself and Unawatuna fitness is everything! Even if you can only do something small now and then, just do it.
Sending you much love, strength and if you need a shoulder...i have two.
