Question about Lung Cancer

Why did you have lung removed? MAC?

I had lung cancer

Hi @annette1, Welcome to Connect. I combined your question that you posted onto Diabetes/Endocrine to this discussion and moved it to the Cancer group so that all of the messages about lung cancer would be in one place. I'd like to introduce you to other members of Connect who are living with or caring for someone with lung cancer. Please meet @merilee @alvinw @llwortman @shortshot80 @mryzuch @amws and @burrkay.

@annette1, Have you discussed this concern/frustration with your physician?

Annette, My name is Merilee I was diagnosed and May of 2015 with stage 2A lung cancer, I had surgery where they did a wedge resection followed by chemo . some in the lymph nodes that were found later so had chemo and radiation. It has been 16 month since my surgery and about five months since my last radiation and chemo for the lymph nodes. I still have discomfort and numbness on the left side where they did my surgery. I also find it difficult to even lay on that side just very uncomfortable I'm a very petite person and I know I didn't have a lot of fat to work with when they did the my stitches.. so I assume it's from that...My Dr doesn't understand why I still have numbness and some discomfort,. but from what I've read a lot of people do..have been going for massages which help but only on a temporary basis so for now I live with it....and that's fine .. please feel free to ask any questions take care good luck to you...MM

Annette,
As someone with lung cancer who had half a lung removed two years ago, and who still has some numbness in one area of my rib cage, I can offer the following information. When I spoke to my surgeon about the numbness many months after the surgery, he stated that sometimes the nerves in this area are damaged during surgery, and that there may be pain or numbness afterward. Furthermore, he said, that pain or numbness may eventually disappear, or it may remain permanently. Apparently, it's not predictable ahead of time. Although some of us may have had an experience similar to yours, I would still suggest that you check with your own surgeon or family physician to confirm that your pain and numbness are normal, and whether there is some safe and effective way to alleviate the pain.
Good Luck!
Alvin

Hi Annette:
9 years ago I was shock d to hear the diagnosis, you have lung cancer (I never smoked)
I also had lung resection & nerve bundle pain. Due to deep pain it hurt to breath, sleep, sit, & walk! My husband tied my ski shoes & said, "Let's go, you belong outside"!" It took me 1 hour to
Slide 200 feet it hurt to breathe!
But everyday we repeated the drill.
Acupuncture gave me pain control, along with Dr Amit Soods "Paced Breathing Research Study" with a DVD ( I initially practiced many hours a day) that told me exactly how to relax my body, nervous system and brain. I know this helped me to save my quality of life and made me strong.
I continue Paced Breathing, Acupuncture, exercise, bicycle & run races. The pain is gone and only "twinges" if I am really ill with a respiratory issues. I am a 9 year survivor, lung cancer advocate and on a mission to stop the unfair stigma I know most lung cancer patients suffer.

Lung Health deserves much more attention. Because, lung cancer is anyone's disease!

I'm so glad you are bravely sharing your story! Thanks for joining connect!
Linda

I bought am adult trike and had full intentions on riding it every day. But it is still parked at where I parked it. No motivation and tired of the shortness of breath when I do try to do something. I wish it would end

not my surgeon since I seen him for my six weeks checkup and he said it was normal. I do not like him so don't really put much weight in his theory. I go see my oncologist again in two months and I will see what he says.

They took half of my lung, they say that they got it all, did not have to do chemo or radiation. It was a good thing because due to complications from surgery, my kidneys started shutting down and I had to have emergency kidney dealiyous (spelled wrong, I know). They say my kidney's are fine now but I can't have chemo due to that. I take an awful amount of Lasix to help the kidney
s so I spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Hopefully one day I can cut back on Lasix

Hi @annette1, I thought I would check in and see how you are doing.

I wanted to share Dr. Amit Sood's website that @llwortman mentioned. http://stressfree.org/happiness/ In this page you can sign up for a week of mindfulness "training" to help reduce stress and maybe give a boost to motivation. Perhaps you can use this to support a new year resolution.

Annette, have you had any changes in the numbness or pain this past month? Have you tried acupuncture or massage?