Newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Never smoked. In shock....

In last 4 weeks i have had CT, PET, brain scan, ultrasound, mammogram, needle biopsy, wedge resection on right side and VATS to remove tumor and lower left lobe
They took blood a couple of times

Recovering from VATS now- much more painful than i expected- i am walking, but tire easily… seems to be common

Thanks for your comment! Im learning a lot on this site

Good morning Amy and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sure that this was a huge shock to you since you have never smoked. Hearing that you have cancer is a blow all by itself. I was 51 when I was first diagnosed and it is now 24+ years later. My cancer is different than yours.

Cancer has its own timetable, waiting to be the norm, your time is best spent doing exactly what you are doing. Exercise, but make sure that you walk when you get out of breath or begin coughing. Are you bringing up any blood?

Clean eating is the best and keeping busy until your next appointment. Have you had any bloodwork as yet? Other than a CT have you had an MRI or PET scan?

Welcome @corgimenow to Mayo Clinic Connect. Most people who have never smoked make up about 15-20% of cancer patients. There is a saying, that if you have lungs you can get lung cancer. But I think that this is true for all organs. It's just more of a shock for non-smokers.

There are also other reasons other than smoking that people can get lung cancer. Exposure to radon, secondhand smoke, air pollution, or other factors can cause lung cancer. Workplace exposures to asbestos, diesel exhaust, or certain other chemicals can also cause lung cancers in some people who don't smoke.

I have had 2 lobectomies, both done the traditional way- open chest surgery. Post-surgery recovery was very tough and it took a long time for me to recover from the first one. (lower right lobe). My second lobectomy was the upper left lobe. It started out with a VATS (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/treating-non-small-cell/surgery.html) but they wound up having to open up my chest due to a complication.

Cancer does alter the topography of the chest. So it will depend on how much is changed, the amount of lung tissue removed and other factors will depend on how quickly recovery happens. Recover with care, treat recovery as a special time to rest, and eat as cleanly as possible with lots of good protein. Drinking lots of water should help immensely. Also slowly let pain be your guide when exercising. Lungs need special care in recovery so don't push it. Slowly introduce each new exercise.

I was amazed at how much I could do!

Make sure that there is help with heavy lifting and home care. Follow what your doctors tell you. Do youhave any specific concerns?

Hi Amy-
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis, just know there is so much newer treatments today than just a few years ago. So stay positive and ask lots of questions.
Have your doctors done a lung needle biopsy of the tumor? If so, did they do a genomics or nuclear study of the biopsy to determine the type of mutation? In view of the timeline, I assume there has been no surgery on your lung.
My wife was diagnosed with two adenocarcinomas (1) 12 cm in right middle lobe and (1) 6 cm tumor in right lower lobe in May, 2015.
The Mayo thoracic surgeon removed both lobes in a VATS procedure after stage 3a diagnosis.
She had chemo as a just in case therapy…even though our surgeon was convinced that he had gotten it all!
She has been stage 4 since 2017 and is now on enhertu chemo.
The mistake made was not having a molecular study until 2016 when her cancer continued to grow after having had treatment with Opdivo therapy for the tumors which had reappeared and continued to spread... all the time thinking hers was the typical efgr mutation.
We found with the study of a needle biopsy that her mutation was a HER2 mutation and all along she had been treated for a typical EFGR mutation.
Bottom line….get a genomics study on the biopsy before the doctors give you any chemotherapy!
Keep your chin up. Stay strong. Lots of new science every day.
We find prayers help a lot!!!
Take care!

The better shape one is in going into surgery the quicker the recovery. Those initial days after surgery you MUST get up and walk as much as possible. No power walking of course, just enough to keep blood moving and lungs too. I did 10 minutes and hour, went back and rested, then up again next hour---- same thing. I used a walking stick for support. Also listened to (and tried to sing to) pop music. Lady Gaga got me go-going.

My husband is scheduled for a lobectomy on June 13. He has an 8mm stage 1 biopsy proven tumor in his right upper lobe as well as several cloudy areas that the surgeon feels may evolve into cancer. My husband wasn’t a smoker so, like others, this is a shock as is the drastic surgery we are looking at. The tumor is deep in the lung according to what we have been told. In passing there was mention of a type of targeted radiation but that we were told can come with its own problems. My husband is 65 and super active - biker, skier etc.
We are looking for more information- first hand accounts on what recovery from a lobectomy and activities afterwards is like for people who are maybe sort of like him.
We have had very sporadic contact with our team due to various reasons. Right now we feel things are moving to fast. Any thought or comments as well as personal accounts would help. Thanks. Mara

Thank you!
Are you done with chemo or more to follow?
I just hot out of hospital last night- they took out lower half of left lung monday

I was able to walk a mile this am but it tired me.

Im now waiting on treatment plan

How is your heart rate now when exercising?
Thank you!!

Mara
I was discharged yesterday from hospital following lobectomy to remove a fairly large tumor

I was in hospital two nights- they actually said they would discharge me after one night, but i opted to stay another

Decent amount of pain first day while chest tube was in- important to stay on top of meds!

Came home with a ton of meds but seriously doubt ill need them all
Hoping to wean myself down to just an nsaid in couple of days

Your husband being in shape will DEFINITELY help him recover faster!!

I was happy to get that tumor out of me! Normally i guess they say stage 4 is inoperable, but surgeon told me bc i am in shape they will be agressive. they said chemo first but just last friday they ( oncologist and surgeon) reversed course snd put me in surgery asap

Im guessing they will be agressive with your husband too

Best wishes- these first steps are fast and furious- and definitely a bit scary

My friends and i developed a slogan to keep positive during this unexpected chapter of life-
The Best is Yet to Come!!

You and your husband will get thru this too
🙂 amy

Mara
I was discharged yesterday from hospital following lobectomy to remove a fairly large tumor

I was in hospital two nights- they actually said they would discharge me after one night, but i opted to stay another

Decent amount of pain first day while chest tube was in- important to stay on top of meds!

Came home with a ton of meds but seriously doubt ill need them all
Hoping to wean myself down to just an nsaid in couple of days

Your husband being in shape will DEFINITELY help him recover faster!!

I was happy to get that tumor out of me! Normally i guess they say stage 4 is inoperable, but surgeon told me bc i am in shape they will be agressive. they said chemo first but just last friday they ( oncologist and surgeon) reversed course snd put me in surgery asap

Im guessing they will be agressive with your husband too

Best wishes- these first steps are fast and furious- and definitely a bit scary

My friends and i developed a slogan to keep positive during this unexpected chapter of life-
The Best is Yet to Come!!

You and your husband will get thru this too
🙂 amy