Just diagnosed with 1.2 cm lung nodule

Hi, I know you’re very worried with the news and rightly so, cancer is a serious disease and it’s normal to feel this way. I was diagnosed in 2020 with cancer in the upper left lung and they also decided that surgery was the best treatment, I had VATS surgery so it was less invasive thanks to using video assistance, the incisions are small, I believe your surgery is the same except for the robotics. I didn’t need chemo or radiation because the cancer was localized and that made me very happy because I fear chemo. I’m a senior so it was a little rough in the beginning but I recovered pretty well and I’m here to talk about it. It sounds like they found your cancer early because the size of the cancer is small, they will also make sure that it didn’t spread anywhere near by. I think you will be amazed how quickly you get back to normal because of the type of surgery you’re having, I wish you all the best with your recovery.

Hi: I am saddened to read of your diagnosis. I felt the same way with the same diagnosis as you.

I am 5 weeks out from VATS and the cancer was completely removed. I was up and walking after two days and accept for the tube in my back which was tolerable, I really had no pain.

They did a risk test on me and I am high risk for reoccurrence so I am having a 3 week chemo course which makes me nervous but it is what is. I am 75.

I imagined a nightmare scenario before I had surgery and the reality was far less severe than I imagined

I hope with all my heart that you are as fortunate as me and there is no reason to think otherwise.

All my good wishes to you

Frank

Definitely a frightening time to be told of a tumor in your lung. When I was diagnosed I had absolutely no symptoms ... the tumor was considered an 'accidental discovery' in an x-ray of my elbow (go figure!).

I had a robot-assisted partial lobectomy a month ago, which sounds like what you'll be having. The recovery wasn't too bad -- only one night in hospital. The pain was manageable. Breathing for the first week or so was strange ... short, shallow breaths (kind of like a guppy fish) while my body adjusted to half a lung. But getting up and walking around the house a bit the first week and then taking short walks outside as I recovered really helped. One month in I'm able to walk my usual 2 miles every morning and breathing is 'normal',, as much as it can be.

You are in good hands -- human and robotic. Sending you positive, healing thoughts.

thank you so mush for responding.This is very helpful info

Thank you very much.I am hopeful at the moment.With Copd I am concerned of going under also.I am 69 need prayers

Wow nice to hear!!! Thank you for this info.I am feeling less scared now

Just to do some update here.
I am 75 year old female. I had surgery on 3/4 afternoon. Doctor had me discharged the next day early morning after X-ray & blood works.

I had 12mm & 6mm on the right lower lobe removed with Robotic Assisted Thoracoscopy.

BUT, there is the third 5mm nodule on the left upper lobe. Doctor decided not to remove it now, but monitor it. (I believe I will have to remove it sometime soon. That means the 2nd time surgery 😂😂）

Since the two malignant nodules are well-differentiated, doctor decided wedge resection.
He said there will be no radiation or chemo needed.

Thanks god, I am very sensitive to drugs, I don’t think I can tolerate chemo or Radiation.

Since I never smoke, none of family or friends are smokers, I requested NGS when Dr did biopsy on 1/29.
I recently received NGS result EGFR L858R.

I have not seen doctor after discharge from hospital 2 weeks ago. Don’t know what is the next after doctor saw the Genetic Mutation.

But I am in recovery everyday . I am able to get up every day,
Already stopped taking pain medicine. I walk, and make dinners. But just don’t carry heavy stuff.

Hope you all will do well.
Helen

I just had the 1.5 nodule removed and had surgery 3 weeks ago to remove it and I am so surprised how it was not anywhere close to what I thought it was going to be like. I am hardly ever short winded and able to walk a good distance. Today I am going to try to get back on my bike. It does hurt on the side of the incision but the pain pills are VERY effective. I am now taking one pain pill a day and soon will be off of it soon.
So thankful it was caught early. It was found by the radiologist performing a calcium score ct scan. God is so good❤️

I had a right lower lobectomy by VATS in April of 2023, 3 months after I had a robot assisted radical prostatectomy and recovery from both was much less traumatic than I feared either would be. In the case of my lobectomy, I went home after 1 night's stay in the hospital and it took nothing more than acetaminophen to manage the pain. Within a few weeks, I wasn't winded nor otherwise short of breath.
You'll likewise do fine.

I am years out from diagnosis (so far), had LLL surgery and all I can say is yes it hurts, take the pain pills the doctor orders for you and GET WALKING. Exercise will help you get back to your normal. It's hard but I was back going to zumba classes after 3 weeks. I pushed myself hard.......

I recommend a walking stick to help with the balance...amazon.com of course.