Hi DJS

i understand your concerns and they are valid concerns that we all encounter. hopefully you will have plenty of advice from this community 

I had upper right lobectomy 2018 for T1 squamous cell carcinoma. 
my surgery was straightforward and was not as bad as I thought it would be. I wished I’d known before hand as it was quite a worrying situation.
My Recovery was slow to start, getting pain managed sufficiently plus I got infection in drain the wound.
Sleeping was probably the worst part trying to get comfortable. I found that a “V” shaped pillow on top of my regular pillow really helped. 
I was off work for 18 months but that was due to my job ( railway) and fact that my role/ responsibilities and environment weren’t suitable to return to. If I had a less physical job I could have been back a lot sooner 

everyone copes differently. Age, existing health issues and mobility can affect how soon you’re up and about . 

as for financial help. You should qualify for employment support allowance from DWP and may get other help depending on your circumstances re family/housing. 

do think about all questions you may want to ask before your appointment and write them down 

I wish you well with your treatment and hope you get all the help and support you need going forward