I have had two lobectomies, the first in December 2019 to treat a large single tumor (RUL) and the second (LUL) in March 2020 to treat multi-focal lung cancer that showed up six months after the first lobectomy. I had pain (pressure-like) and a persistent cough, especially when I spoke, after the first lobectomy. Six weeks after the surgery, I started acupuncture, which at first improved and then completely resolved both issues (appointments every week or two over possibly two or three months; I can't find my old wall calendar, which I was sure I had kept). I had read that acupuncture is commonly used in China for both pain and coughing after a lobectomy and I was lucky to know a talented acupuncturist (who had once successfully treated tendonitis in an ankle).

Oddly, I had very little pain (which resolved quickly) and no persistent cough after the second lobectomy (both done by the same brilliant surgeon). I guess practice (by the patient) makes perfect. Both surgeries were VATS.