Merry the doctor has given me trelegy and that could be the reason I am feeling better. Answers are hard to find come by but we try

@jo54– I actually was very surprised that my breathing was better too! If you can get beyond the taste (I rinse my mouth) it's ok. It's also better than using 2 inhalers 2x a day! How does it make you feel better.

Merry I am breathing easier and I find that I am not grabbing for my emergency inhaler. In fact I had a stupid idea that I didn’t need it any longer when I realized I felt good because of it. Once in the morning and then rinsing the mouth and I am good.

@joelars Getting back to a semblance of doing most things took about a month int total. The main thing for me, was working on breathing so my right lung would learnt o compensate for its missing lobe. And it has! Yes, I was tired after the surgery, but I'd do things when I had energy–usually int he morning and then rest int he afternoon. I walked a lot around the back yard and slowly worked up to doing light gardening, etc. I was driving after two weeks and although came home on oxygen, was off it completely in about three weeks. It is doable and with the VATS surgery, the pain was tolerable at first and improved almost daily. I actually feel better than I did before the surgery. There were no symptoms prior tot he surgery and I would not have lucked out with doctors finding the carcinoma had I not gone for a heart CT scan. Hope this helps and I'll be glad to answer any other questions you might have.

I had to have a follow-up chest x-ray because the last one disclosed an "infiltrate". i had my repeat x-ray Tuesday morning. My doctor's appointment was Friday evening to review the results. I sweated out that week. At my appointment today my doctor conducts a physical but never mentions the x-ray. Finally I insist on an answer. He looks surprised than admits he forgot why I was there but assured me the x-ray results would be on his computer and he'll read them now. Checking his computer he finds the radiologist never sent them, (amd my doctor never asked for the report). I'm assured he will track down the report next week (the radiologist was closed) and "good or bad" call me. This is another example of why I have no faith in our medical system.

@joelars– And with this examples I agree with you. This is horrible. Looks like your doctor's mind was on something else. And so was the radiologist's. I don't know where you live or if it's possible for you to go somewhere else but if you can I suggest that you do. In my opinion this isn't just about having faith in the system but a break down in training, including protocols and patient doctor relationships among a few. Can you tell that I am furious for you? He came right out and said that he didn't know why you were there…. Oh man, I am so sorry this happened after all the anticipation.
I'm holding back with my fury. Are you ok? can you look somewhere else Joe?

@merpreb
Hi. my name is larry joel is my middle name.
Thanks for the empathy.
I conclude that many doctors don't know how common lung cancer is in former smokers and also the "business of medicine" subsumes much of their time.
In defense of my primary (I like him) he didn't remember why I was there because the imaging company didn't send him the new x-ray. His procedure is common practice: when he receives a new test (often they're blood tests) he reads the reports and only when they contain abnormalities he calls me in. But this time (the only time) I scheduled the appointment to take place after the results were in regardless of the results. The "lucky" part is if I didn't, since I wouldn't have gotten "the call" I would have concluded the test was negative, when it's maybe positive, and that positive test would have sat in the imaging office indefinitely. Worse, as I developed symptoms I would have ignored them reassuring myself I recently tested "clean." and it is "only" my COPD.

I just read (on the net) 60% of new lung cancer diagnosis" come from ex-smokers. Of those 60% about 30% are people (in my group) who quit between 10-20 years. Moreover, my group's chances of lung cancer is still 7 times higher than a never smoker. Even 30 years after quitting my odds are 3x higher(that's as low as it gets).
I'm not even considering not getting cancer as realistic. I (have to) put my hope in early detection. My primary can't help much there. I would need to see an oncologist to arrange yearly scans? They would take it seriously?

Larry, I would suggest scans every 6 mos. I am a breast cancer survivor. Mine was found because of scans every 6 mos. I had one nodule and a wedge resection. 6 mos. later, 2 more nodules were visible but too small to biopsy. I am now getting a scan every 3 mos. waiting for them to be large enough to biopsy. My next scans are next week. I too am a former smoker but only quit 8 yrs ago. Before I can have treatment, they need to determine if it is lung cancer or breast cancer since I have had both.

@merpreb as a follow-up, I don't want to appear self-righteous or hypocritical when criticizing medical providers. I'm a lawyer. None of us, me included, can extricate ourselves from conflicts of interests inherent in professional relationships. In this case, that doesn't excuse the imaging company. They hurt their self-interest by not faxing the report and gained nothing.
But doctor's are used to not having to memorize the details of a patient's history and they rely on the specialists who provide them the reports they interpret for us. Without that report my doc wouldn't know that I had the x-ray.

Although, wouldn't it be nice if in addition to the numerous computer generated messages reminding you of your appointment they took a moment to think about why you are coming, and not just worry about a no-show, missed fee?

@cwi thanks for your response.
I will lobby for 1x a year but I'll take the docs recommendation. Do you think I should use an oncologist to oversee the scans even though I have never had cancer or a pulmonologist (even though mine dismissed me years ago)?

@joelars– Hi Larry, it's finally nice to meet you! 🙂 I understand about liking your doctor and you have a valid point about his routine. I just got so mad.. Anyway it looks like you wont stay away form all of the statistics about lung cancer. Not everyone who has smoked will get lung cancer. This from the National Cancer Institute: Lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon and rectum, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.
If you are a former smoker you will definitely have emphysema or COPD or COPD and emphysema, which I have.
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/who-should-be-screened-for-lung-cancer.html
http://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/ct-scans-to-find-lung-cancer-in-smokers/
I would suggest getting a pulmonologist and at least have breathing tests and if you don't already a rescue inhaler if you should need one. Can you get a referral?

@cwm1– I'm so sorry that you've been hit with cancer in two places. For years I had a scan once a year because my scans were clean after my first lobectomy. That lasted about 5 years. I am every 6 months now because I am stable enough. The number of CT scans and the time in between have to be carefully measured because you might have to return over and over again like I have needed to for 21 years and run out of options.
I wish you good luck with your scans next week so that you can get on with being treated and get rid of it all. How long do you wait to find out the results?