@bogy, I had to do the radiation because there was still some cancer left on the edge after they did the lobectomy. You may not have that need at all. Over all the pain is bearable except when you're coughing. The nurse told me to just squeeze a pillow against my chest as hard as I could and know that it would be over soon. She was right. It hurts at the moment but then the pain goes away as fast as it comes on.

After the surgery I think I was more stiff than sore. It hurt to reach with my right arm. my surgeon gave me stretching exercises to help with the recovery but in hindsight I started them too soon and did too many of them too fast. It IS major surgery And we need to give our bodies time to heal first, then slowly start the stretching exercises. I thought the most helpful things were to walk and to use the spirometer they'll give you to help you breathe deeply again.

I'm not a woman but my wife assures me that childbirth is much more painful. Do let us know how it goes for you and I'll have you in my thoughts on the 5th.