How soon should chemo start after having lobectomy?

Posted by julie67 @julie67, Aug 31 1:24pm

Almost 4 weeks post lobectomy and am not better. was scheduled for port in 4 days.
Saw pulmonologist yesterday and he agreed I am too weak for surgery and may never get better. Now what? I can't even drive for an hour to go see someplace nice to get out of here. lost and no idea what to do. surgeon lied to me abouot being 'back to norma' and i 'looked good' lmao just 3 days ago...

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denzie | @denzie | Aug 31 11:21pm

Have they received the results of the biomarker testing yet?

amyb5 | @amyb5 | Sep 1 11:39am

My chemotherapy had to be postponed after surgery, because I wasn’t strong enough to have it, yet, also. My labs were compromised & I was too weak, & in too much pain. My oncologist explained that chemotherapy stops healing & recovery from surgery. I ended up waiting about 10 weeks, before I was able. I got through 4 out of 6 courses before my body couldn’t take anymore. Hope that helps.

julie67 | @julie67 | Sep 2 5:13am

In reply to @denzie "Have they received the results of the biomarker testing yet?" + (show)

no, I haven't seen any test results on it yet. Just the lymph nodes. thank you. totally forgot about that. I see my insurance denied alimpta and keytruda unless certain conditions blah blah blah.

dedehans | @dedehans | Sep 3 2:55pm

FWIW my genetic (biomarker) test results came 2 months after my lobectomy. Then treatment prescribed.

sharon72 | @sharonsturdivan | Sep 20 8:55am

Julie,
I hope you are doing better. I am facing a lobectomy myself very soon. I am wondering if you had chemo before the lobectomy also?

julie67 | @julie67 | Sep 20 10:37am

Hi Sharon, no, not really doing better. I have more stitches coming out from my back! And I didn't have chemo before. They thought it was in just the lung. Then nodes came back positive. NOW they say I may not be a candidate for chemo due to past heart issues...heart failure w/ ejection fraction of 32-40, cardiomyopathy, frequent PVCs. Makes me question eveerything now. They WERE going to start chemo immediately after healing from the surgery and now this turnaround. So they are doing an ECHO next monday and another MRI of the brain next week. Just had one done in June. Guess they are thinking it's gone to my brain in just 3 months? Looking into Ivermectin now. Have no idea what to do.

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aprilradek | @aprilradek | Sep 21 4:16pm

In reply to @sharonsturdivan "Julie, I hope you are doing better. I am facing a lobectomy myself very soon. I..." + (show)

Hi Sharon, I had chemo before my lobectomy. Then radiation after the lobectomy-

When is your lobectomy?

sharon72 | @sharonsturdivan | Sep 22 12:59pm

In reply to @aprilradek "Hi Sharon, I had chemo before my lobectomy. Then radiation after the lobectomy- When is your..." + (show)

I have choose not to do chemo prior to lobectomy. Surgeon said that the mass is up against my rib and even if they do chemo to "hopefully" make it move away from the ribs, I may still wind up needing a open surgery rather then robotic which would of course be much easier to heal from.

julie67 | @julie67 | Sep 22 1:09pm

In reply to @denzie "Have they received the results of the biomarker testing yet?" + (show)

no, beginning to wonder if it was done!! surgery was Aug 6!! Should it take this long? thanks

julie67 | @julie67 | Sep 22 8:27pm

In reply to @sharonsturdivan "Julie, I hope you are doing better. I am facing a lobectomy myself very soon. I..." + (show)

no, they thought it was just in my lung since my broncho lymph node biopsy was negative. i was to be 'cured' but then the lymph nodes they took out during lobectomy were positive.. sigh