Let me start by stating I am a BLESSED man. My journey began in early October of this year. It is my normal time of year for annual physical, blood work, and for last 3 years or so, a lung CT scan. This year's CT scan showed a small nodule had grown from whatever previous size to 1 centimeter. My pulmonologist was pretty concerned and suggested a PET scan. I kind of thought ok, maybe, etc,etc, but she said you need to get this done. I had the PET scan on October 19 and learned one week later that the nodule looked "suspicious" (nice way to say cancerous). She had already reviewed the results with a surgeon and this thing needed to come out. Met with thoracic surgeon that same week on October 29 and scheduled the surgery for November 12. The intended procedure was a thoracoscopy (visually assisted). Basically 2-3 small holes for instruments and a small incision. The pathology (on the spot) confirmed cancer and surgeon started a lobectomy (removing the lobe that contains the cancer). At some point there was a small bleed in my pulmonary artery – a BIG deal. Surgeon made a much larger (8 inch) incision and spread (read that fractured) my ribs to get things open to see what was going on. He told me he literally stuck his hand in there to find the bleed. Two units of blood later, the artery fixed, and minus one lobe of my left lung and I am good to go. Spent four days in the hospital and then home for continued recovery. I am blessed for so many reasons. Early detection put my cancer at stage T1A (the lowest possible). It is very possible that this will be all that is necessary meaning no chemo or radiation. I do scans every six months for now. Great doctors and surgeons got me through this (medically). Great nurses and staff that cared for me in ICU and then in the step down unit. My awesome wife is doing so much for me right now. Finally, I firmly believe God gave me and my surgeon a special blessing at approximately 1000am on November 12, 2020. All that in about 2 months during this crazy Covid pandemic.
Four Weeks Post Lung Cancer Surgery
- Thread starter robrossk
- Start date
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Rpg
Member
Good for you!!!!!
Erich
Member
What a blessing - even though it sounds as if you've been through a great deal of unpleasantness. Please accept my prayers that things go well and that you and your loved ones enjoy the blessings of each day with renewed enthusiasm.
Glad you're with us, amigo!
Glad you're with us, amigo!
Geronimo Jim
Member
God bless you. I spent 5 day in the hospital this year.
Worst 5 days of my life. I went through chemo and radiation
15 years ago.
Worst 5 days of my life. I went through chemo and radiation
15 years ago.
Glad you found out and had the problem treated! I wish you nothing but the best and will pray for your healing.
PPS1980
Member
Very glad you came out of it well. Just remember that a lobectomy is no laughing matter and watch your exertion until you get used to the lower oxygen processing capacity.
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Prayers that it stays away.
15 YEARS!?
I pray that I make it that long! Good on ya! In the past six years I've had 2 different rounds of chemo & radiation and 3 years of immunotherapy for 3 different cancers.
I'm thankful that I tolerated it fairly well but the first round of chemo I did spend quite a bit of time on the kitchen & bathroom floors.
Please accept my congratulations on your successful procedure and my prayers for continued healing.
Happy holidays.
Happy holidays.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
You did great. I pray your follow-ups are always clear.
Glad all has gone well..........Prayers that all continues well for you and your family. God Bless.
Don
Don
Prayers for a complete healing.
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I am glad it worked out for you
A couple years ago my Dr ordered a chest Xr ay as part of my physical. Came back abnormal. A cat scan showed 3 small spots on my lungs. Pulmonary Dr said they were not likely to be anything. but had another scans done at 3 months, then another 6 months and finally a year interval. The spots remained the same and after the last one he informed me there was nothing to worry about from them.
But, when you have a history of exposure to asbestos, working in refineries with lots of methyl ethyl bad stuff, smoking and mother dying of lung cancer it certainly makes you check your hole card when you hear abnormal chest X ray
A couple years ago my Dr ordered a chest Xr ay as part of my physical. Came back abnormal. A cat scan showed 3 small spots on my lungs. Pulmonary Dr said they were not likely to be anything. but had another scans done at 3 months, then another 6 months and finally a year interval. The spots remained the same and after the last one he informed me there was nothing to worry about from them.
But, when you have a history of exposure to asbestos, working in refineries with lots of methyl ethyl bad stuff, smoking and mother dying of lung cancer it certainly makes you check your hole card when you hear abnormal chest X ray
Way to go...
..catching it early. I hope and pray that that is the last you have to hear about it.
..catching it early. I hope and pray that that is the last you have to hear about it.
I'm glad they caught it early for you. These preventive maintenance checks are nothing to thumb one's nose at. I'm happy you're going to be okay; hope for your continued recovery.
Thank you for sharing this. When I worked in the mill the By-product/coke dept., there was asbestos literally everywhere. I'm going to ask my doctor about that lung CT scan, see what she says, as I have a checkup coming in March.
Good health to you!
Thank you for sharing this. When I worked in the mill the By-product/coke dept., there was asbestos literally everywhere. I'm going to ask my doctor about that lung CT scan, see what she says, as I have a checkup coming in March.
Good health to you!
CQB27
US Veteran
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.
Huskerguy
Member
You are a blessed man! I have had two separate lung diseases, good now but they are nothing to mess with. When the lungs don't work, lots of other things follow.
Sounds like you had great docs. Heres to many more years and posts on this forum.
Sounds like you had great docs. Heres to many more years and posts on this forum.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!! Really all I can say
congratulations on your road to recovery... I had the top of my lower lobe removed for the same reason... my surgery did not go as planned either.. was to be full robotic.. but robot could not reach.. really smart doctors forgot to use a ruler.. I apparently have a huge chest cavity & lungs.. something the scans should have made obvious.. I can laugh at it now... but after they started the surgery and went "oops" they had to stop.. rearrange me and let my wife know it will take a lot more time.. glad I was asleep... oh they did not tighten the knot on my drain tube properly either so when they turned off the vacuum to see how I was healing my lung collapsed... took 8 days in ICU to figure that one out.. ugh... snugged the knot.. I was ok to go.. thankfully no radiation or chemo was required this time...
do the breathing exercises, they make a big difference in recovery time...
do the breathing exercises, they make a big difference in recovery time...
pittpa
Member
Congrats robrossk! How many years ago did you quit?
I invited myself into a local study on these scans after reading about it in the newspaper.
My private health insurance, and then Medicare have been covering these low dose CT scans for years under the following criteria (from the CMS website). I just scheduled my last scan for next week, as it has been 15 years since I quit.
I hope you all will check the criteria in case you meet it and have not had scans. If so, you should talk to your doctor and insurer about it.
I also read that if in network, private insurance won't charge a copay. The scan does not take long and I find it very comfortable. I have read that without early detection, only 1/5 to 1/6 of patients survive 5 years.
"Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers lung cancer screenings with Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) once each year if you meet all of these conditions:
You're age 55-77.
You don't have signs or symptoms of lung cancer (asymptomatic).
You're either a current smoker or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.
You have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 "pack years" (an average of one pack (20 cigarettes) per day for 30 years).
You get a written order from your doctor."
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for this service if your doctor accepts Assignment.
Things to know
Before your first lung cancer screening, you'll need to schedule a lung cancer screening counseling and shared decision-making visit with your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening. You and your doctor can decide whether lung cancer screening is right for you.
I invited myself into a local study on these scans after reading about it in the newspaper.
My private health insurance, and then Medicare have been covering these low dose CT scans for years under the following criteria (from the CMS website). I just scheduled my last scan for next week, as it has been 15 years since I quit.
I hope you all will check the criteria in case you meet it and have not had scans. If so, you should talk to your doctor and insurer about it.
I also read that if in network, private insurance won't charge a copay. The scan does not take long and I find it very comfortable. I have read that without early detection, only 1/5 to 1/6 of patients survive 5 years.
"Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers lung cancer screenings with Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) once each year if you meet all of these conditions:
You're age 55-77.
You don't have signs or symptoms of lung cancer (asymptomatic).
You're either a current smoker or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.
You have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 "pack years" (an average of one pack (20 cigarettes) per day for 30 years).
You get a written order from your doctor."
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for this service if your doctor accepts Assignment.
Things to know
Before your first lung cancer screening, you'll need to schedule a lung cancer screening counseling and shared decision-making visit with your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening. You and your doctor can decide whether lung cancer screening is right for you.
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