Connect
← Return to Loss of voice after lung surgery
Discussion
Loss of voice after lung surgery
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Apr 21 7:46pm | Replies (43)Comment receiving replies
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for the welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm glad to have a community to learn from. I have multifocal (or synchronous primary) lung cancer. So far I've had 5 nodules removed - one large nodule (5.2 cm) 4 years ago through a full upper left lobectomy and four smaller nodules removed 6 weeks ago through robotic segmented surgery. The second surgery was much harder than the first but I'm progressing fine. I still have a gravelly voice and a bit of soreness in my side rib area but nothing that keeps me from my life. I will be having a nodule in the lower left treated with SBRT soon and the oncologist wants to discuss chemo and/or immunotherapy, which I'm concerned about. Multifocal lung cancer is a more complex type of cancer and I'm being treated at an academic hospital to be sure I'm getting all the most up to date care for my situation. Wow, what a ride! To be honest I'd really like off this train but alas..... I'd love to connect with others who specifically have multifocal lung cancer to share treatments/experiences and stories.
Replies to "Hi Lisa, Thank you for the welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm glad to have a community..."
Did you happen to wear a Philips CPAP machine prior to your lung cancer? What is the name of the doctor and treatment facility?
Connect
Welcome! Me too, I have multifocal lung cancer. I am happy to hear about the experiences of others.
Having these nodules in both lungs means we are also bilateral multifocal.
Diagnosed in Dec 2021. I have had two VAT surgeries (RUL and LUL) removing stage 1 cancers. They were in the 3 cm range. Lastly, I had SBRT on 2 nodules in RUL Several months later I had an episode of radiation-induced pneumonitis. Right now my other nodules are "stable", but I will be limited in choice of treatments going forward because of the pneumonitis episode. Immunotherapy and other cancer drugs may trigger new episodes of pneumonitis. And radiation therapy causes it. I have existing pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial disease in lower lobes and inflammation from SBRT which the Radiation Oncologist told me should decrease.
But my recent Pulmonary Function Test showed a severe decline in diffusing capacity in last 4 months, so future treatments need to consider all factors. I tell my doctors they need to plan strategically because there is always another nodule. That is why it is important to have a Tumor Board of specialists from different areas to discuss the pros and cons of any treatment option. Pulmonary Function tests are important.