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Pain after lobectomy (lung cancer) surgery: When will it go away?
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Oct 4 3:50pm | Replies (177)Comment receiving replies
I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom, but I was having continued pain following a robotic surgery to remove part of a left lobe. I was diagnosed with nsclc stage 1b. Pain continued for months, and I was continually calling the surgeon's office, who told me some people just take longer to heal than others.
I had an oncologist keeping up with me, and ordering love those CTS every 3 months. Well it was coming up a year on the surgery, and something showed up on the loto CT. They sent me in for a PET scan which showed that I had progressed to stage 4. That's the stage I referred to as bend over and kiss your ass goodbye! The cancer was too small during the other CT is to show the cancer spreading, so it wasn't until it progressed farther along that it showed up on the low dose CT
You said they're running lots of tests, but has anybody ordered another pet scan on you? It can take a while for changes to show up on the low dose CT. In my next life, I'll make sure they do a pet scan earlier, and to stand up for myself a little better. Perhaps I could have been more assertive.
Anyway, good luck to you! And don't feel bad about bugging the doctors like I did.
Sandy
Replies to "I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom, but I was having continued pain..."
@asongofhands I just wanted to mention that my returning cancer being a result of scar tissue is my personal opinion, not a confirmed medical fact!
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Hi @allstaff—two months out can be a tricky phase. As nerves wake up and tissues settle, many of us feel new zings, stings, and soreness around the incision, back, or shoulder. What helped me was staying consistent with breathing work and walking, but easing the intensity a bit. I kept moving—just gentler—and the discomfort gradually faded. If anything feels worrisome or starts limiting your breathing or daily activities, loop in your care team; they can reassure you or adjust the plan.
Sandy—thank you for sharing your experience. I also want to offer another perspective. I’m past the five-year mark since my stage 2b metastasized to my brain, and I’m still working full-time in a job I love, staying active in lung-cancer advocacy, judging BBQ contests, and living fully. Statistics are real, but they’re averages—not individual destinies. A hopeful, optimistic, and determined mindset won’t replace medical care, but it absolutely helps many of us navigate treatment and recovery.
To both of you: ask your teams what symptoms should prompt a call, what would trigger earlier imaging, and how your rehab/exercise plan should be paced. Advocate for yourselves, seek second opinions if you need clarity, and keep going. You’re not alone here—and there’s a lot of life to be lived while healing.