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What’s reasonable wait time for surgery for NSCLC Adenocarcinoma?

Posted by dreams @dreams, Feb 2 9:43am

My husband’s Lung biopsy indicated he has NSCLC Adenocarcinoma Stage 1, size .3 x .2 x .1 CM on Jan 16. We met with surgeon on January 26, 2026. A RAT upper left lobectomy is scheduled for Feb 24. We are wondering if that is a reasonable time frame to get in for surgery. Thank you all for sharing your experience.

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dreams | @dreams | Feb 3 8:52am
In reply to @lls8000 "@dreams, It sounds like you have faith in your husband's team, and that's great. Having a..." + (show)
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@dreams, It sounds like you have faith in your husband's team, and that's great. Having a procedure like this locally, certainly has its benefits. There's no place like home.
If they believed that waiting a month would put your husband at greater risk, they would have found a way to do the surgery on an emergency basis. So, take a breath, waiting the month doesn't seem unreasonable at all to me. It gives you both time to mentally process what's to come.
Do you both feel prepared for surgery? In case you haven't seen this discussion, it may have some tips that are helpful: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lobectomy-surgery-preparation/

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@lls8000 thank you for the link which others have shared their experiences with surgery. It definitely is helping. We are so grateful to be a part of this support group! Thank you!

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dreams | @dreams | Feb 3 8:56am
In reply to @mamajite "@dreams it usually takes some time to get on a surgical calendar. that said, I agree..." + (show)
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@dreams it usually takes some time to get on a surgical calendar. that said, I agree with @bajjerfan that a lobectomy seems aggressive for a stage 1 tumor. did the surgeon/oncologist explain why removing the entire lobe was necessary v. a wedge resection? if not, I would use this time to get a second opinion.

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@mamajite
Thanks for your question about the planned lobectomy surgery. The surgeon explained that in the United States they prefer to remove the entire lobe when the cancer is this size and stage one. The research shows the long-term results are more favorable with a lobe removal versus section removal.

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rcerwin3 | @rcerwin3 | Feb 3 1:22pm

Your husband's tumor is the exact same dimensions that mine was in my RLL. They removed the whole lobe with 29 lymph nodes which all turned out to be negative for which I am very thankful. That was on October 27th after being diagnosed October 1st but there are so many tests I had to go through in between. Biopsy, PET/CT and many visits with surgeon, oncologist in case any of the nodes came back positive to ensure I would be prepared.
My opinion (and I am just a patient) that is normal, especially in my town. Good Luck!

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dreams | @dreams | Feb 3 4:39pm
In reply to @rcerwin3 "Your husband's tumor is the exact same dimensions that mine was in my RLL. They removed..." + (show)
Profile picture for rcerwin3 @rcerwin3

Your husband's tumor is the exact same dimensions that mine was in my RLL. They removed the whole lobe with 29 lymph nodes which all turned out to be negative for which I am very thankful. That was on October 27th after being diagnosed October 1st but there are so many tests I had to go through in between. Biopsy, PET/CT and many visits with surgeon, oncologist in case any of the nodes came back positive to ensure I would be prepared.
My opinion (and I am just a patient) that is normal, especially in my town. Good Luck!

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@rcerwin3 I wish you all the best with continued negative pet CT. Sounds like you had a thorough and competent surgeon and oncology team!

May I ask if you don’t mind how was your tumor diagnosed to begin with? Did you have any symptoms? My husband was found incidentally, on a chest x-ray because he was having some muscle pain. Thank you, and all the best.

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rcerwin3 | @rcerwin3 | Feb 4 11:50am

I went to a "cousins" reunion of my Dad's side of the family and a couple of my cousins and I were talking about how lung cancer killed my Dad, my Uncle, my Aunt and my Grandfather. SO I had a physical Oct. 1st and asked for a chest x-ray. There it was - no symptoms, not even a cough. I had a CT later that day and it was fast forward with pulmonologist for a biopsy to determine it was cancer and appts, appts, appts. until surgery late Oct. I still cannot believe it and am having genetic testing. Having some issues getting my Dad's pathology report but have my Aunt's and Uncle's. I doubt we will be able to get my grandfather's. I never smoked. Ran three marathons starting at 40, many 10K's and 5 K's. Not sure why my lungs decided to defy me now. Good luck. Surgery was not bad for me. I am 67.

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kenhorse | @kenhorse | Feb 4 1:12pm
In reply to @dreams "@rcerwin3 I wish you all the best with continued negative pet CT. Sounds like you had..." + (show)
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@rcerwin3 I wish you all the best with continued negative pet CT. Sounds like you had a thorough and competent surgeon and oncology team!

May I ask if you don’t mind how was your tumor diagnosed to begin with? Did you have any symptoms? My husband was found incidentally, on a chest x-ray because he was having some muscle pain. Thank you, and all the best.

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@dreams FWIW, my lung tumor was incidentally found during a PSMA whole body scan for metastasized prostate cancer (which it hadn't). I had zero symptoms from it.

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