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Breathing difficulty after radiation for lung cancer

Lung Cancer | Last Active: Mar 19 1:51pm | Replies (23)
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@fontspec

I had Radiation on left side, and yes a cracked rib which turned into a break over time. It has consequently healed but overlap-if that makes sense. When they took out 2/3 of my left lung it crack rib #5, eventually breaking when my lung. When they took out by lung, they also removed the muscle which is located between ribs. So yes it heals, but it is uncomfortable when I sit back in a chair or car.

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Replies to "I had Radiation on left side, and yes a cracked rib which turned into a break..."
trfb | @trfb | Mar 17 5:30pm

Thank you for your information. Was the initial crack a result of the radiation? And, if I may ask, why did they remove part of your left lung?

My recent scan referred to “thickening “ as a result of the SBRT radiation. I am currently waiting to hear from the oncologist with the hope that he will better explain this and what I can do to reduce the pain.

Thank you so much for sharing.

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vic83 | @vic83 | Mar 18 9:30am

My 7th rib was cracked at time of VAT surgery on left lung, and the next CT scan picked it up. I had more nerve pain with this surgery than my first VAT on the right. Fortunately, it got better, and I just have a little numbness still on the left.
When I had radiation on the right some months later, they advised me that radiation weakens the bones. And I guess being older with thinning bones is also a risk factor.

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