Surgery for Lung Cancer Patients
Ben M. Hunt, MD, MSc and Brian E. Louie, MD, MHA, MPH, FRCSC, FACS

Introduction

Surgery is one of the main options for treating patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer. Sometimes
surgery is the only treatment necessary, and sometimes surgery is combined with chemotherapy and/or
radiation therapy. It is not always easy to determine which treatment or combination of treatments may be
necessary. Therefore, meeting with a surgeon who is specially trained in lung surgery is an important step
in the management of lung cancer.
Many patients are nervous about surgery. We hope that this chapter will prepare the patient and his or her
support team for meeting with a surgeon and for surgery.

This chapter has been divided into 7 sections to
address the following questions:

1. When is surgery used to treat lung cancer?
2. What types of surgery are used to treat lung cancer?
3. How do I prepare for surgery?
4. What can I expect the day of surgery?
5. What can I expect during the hospital stay?
6. What is the recovery from lung surgery like?
7. Am I cured?

When Surgery is used to Treat Lung Cancer

The first important decision about surgery is choosing when to operate and when not to operate, because
not everyone with lung cancer will benefit from surgery. There are two categories of lung cancer: small cell
lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (Figure 1). Surgery is not usually used to treat people with small
cell lung cancer, and most of this chapter will discuss non-small cell lung cancer.

MORE: http://lungcancercap.org/choices/pdf/2_ ... 052312.pdf

Katie, I was so blessed to be able to have surgery. When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know that surgery was a preferred option in situations like mine, where the tumor was only found in one lobe, and had not spread. The adjunct chemotherapy was used to ensure that if cancer cells had escaped that the chemo would destroy any that were left in my body.

What a blessing it was.

Judy in MI

_________________
6/07 DX NSCLC, Left Upper Lobe wedge resection: Stage 2.3/4, (2B?) Adenocarcinoma, measures 2.5x1.5x1.1cm. Involving visceral pleura but not through it. 5 rounds chemo, carboplatin and Taxol. Subsequent scans NED.

1/11 3.5 mm node found. 10/11 CT node now 8 mm, and new 6 mm node. 11/11 CT Pet shows slight uptake. 1/4/12 Biopsy - Pneumothorax complication. 1/14/12 Lobectomy of upper rt. lobe. NSCLC Adenocarcinoma in situ, nonmucinous (bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) 1.4cm involves pulmonary parenchyma.
3/14/12 Begin 4 cycles of Cisplatin/Navelbein, with Neulasta shot
4/6/12 Chemo changed to Carboplatin/Navelbine without Neulasta shot. Reduced chemo by 50% due to intolerance.
7/5/12 CT scan is clean, NED for lung cancer! There are issues with liver and stomach that will be investigated but not believed to be because of cancer. Wait and see!

*Avatar was taken 7/3/12 on our way out to see the Fireworks on a friends boat on their lake!

Mom dx SCLC 1/96, passed 10/19/96, age 62
Dad dx Brain cancer 4/87, passed 6/87, age 57
Sister dx Brain cancer 4/83, passed 12/83, age 25

Thanks for teh testimonial Judy. I'm so glad this was a successful option for you and it is also a successful option for many that find their cancer early or localized.

I wish for early detection testing for everyone so that surgery will be more of a curative option for the majority.

Thanks Katie for your comments,
Early surgery was indeed a factor in my survival,were it not for my daughters insistance to visit my GP because of what I regarded as having a trivial silly wee persistant cough,and did'nt want to visit my GP,I may well not be here today.Subsequent tests proved me wrong,I did in fact have a cancerous tumour in my upper right lung.
So,the moral of the tale,please, if you feel something is not right with your body,remember ,you are its expert,go and have it checked out,however trivial it may seem.Reassurance is important,particularly if you can appreciate the earlier cancer is discovered the prognosis is improved.

_________________
Regards,
Eric Byrne

To read my story, please follow the link : http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=43268

Thank you Katie,
Very valuable information. I was one of the stage 3A people who had chemo/radiation then surgery followed by adjuvant chemo. Surgery was in July, 2005 and I am NED today. I am thankful for this websites, my family, church, friends, co-workers and also the wonderful doctors that I had and have.

_________________
Carol
64 Year old former smoker
1/4/05 at age 56 DX NSCLC, upper right lobe.
Staged IIA by PET Scan.
Restaged to IIIA by surgeon prior to surgery, after he examined PET and CT Scan results.
4/7/05 Completed 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy (taxol/carboplatin).
4/29/05 CT Scan.
5/21/05 PET Scan.
5/31/05 Met with surgeon, PET Scan showed nodule in left lung lit up that never lit up before.
6/9/05 Biopsy=OK nodule is scar tissue.
7/1/05 BRONCHOSCOPY,
MEDIASTINOSCOPY, THORACOTOMY SURGERY=ALL MARGINS CLEAN, 20 LYMPH NODES REMOVED. PLUS ONE RIB BONE. ALL NEGATIVE FOR CANCER.
8/9/05 & 9/1/05 ADJUVANT CHEMO. 10/4/05 1ST CT SCAN="Defined patchy density at the superior segment of the right lower lobe. Findings are most likely related to recent surgery and/or posttreatment change, however, this should be followed on subsequent studies".
1/3/06 Brain CT=Clear;Chest CT=Scar Tissue.
1/4/06 ONE YEAR SINCE DIAGNOSIS
4/1/06 Brain & Chest CT=NED. 6/13/06 XRAY=NERD.
7/1/06 ONE YEAR SINCE SURGERY.
10/25/06 CT=NED.
1/4/07 TWO YEARS SINCE DIAGNOSIS
5/3/07 CT=NED.
7/1/07 TWO YEARS SINCE SURGERY.
11/6/07 CT=NED
PLEASE continue to keep me in your prayers.WHEN PRAISES GO UP, BLESSINGS COME DOWN.[/size]
1/4/08 THREE YEARS SINCE DIAGNOSIS
3/20/08 CT=NED
6/20/08 X-RAY=NED
7/1/08 THREE YEARS SINCE SURGERY.
10/27/08 CT=NED
1/4/09 FOUR YEARS SINCE DIAGNOSIS
3/26/09 X-RAY=NED
7/1/09 FOUR YEARS SINCE SURGERY.
9/17/09 CHEST X-RAY CEA BLOOD TEST=NED
1/4/10 FIVE YEARS SINCE DIAGNOSIS
3/29/10 X-RAY=NED
10/5/10 CT=NED
4/1/11 X-RAY=NED
7/1/11 SIX YEARS SINCE SURGERY
10/10/11 X-RAY=NED
4/15/12 CT/PET=NED
4/18/13 CT=NEW 3MM NODULE FOUND ON UPPER LEFT LOBE

Early surgery here too. I had a tumor in RML that was contained, however, there were several lymph nodes involved. Chemo to mop up stray cells. Went to doc for followup bloodwork today. 1 year and everthing still looks good. Chest Cat in Dec. and if it is all clear, no Pet till next summer. Yey for early treatment!!! I was lucky it was found on an incendental xray

Sandy: all looks good is always good news. Congrats on the good report! Hope your CT scan in December will be just as good. Early detection and treament are so important. Thanks for sharing your great news!

Susan

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

_________________
To read my story follow this link:

http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=47071

I also had surgery early on followed by chemo and then a clinical trial of Tarceva. I have issues as a result of the loss of lung capacity and copd. When my upper lob was removed they also took 22 (I believe it was) lymph nodes...17 were bad.. it was almost out the door. As you can see from my tattoo(inspired by three dear friends) I'm doing fairly well so far. I think that for sure the results were far and away better then the long term problems. As with Sandy mine was found by chance on a xray when I went to see my dr for a totally unrelated problem.

I had a lower rt lobectory Apr 2011, no aftercare needed, they said. Recurance discovered June 2012, watched until fall 2012 when it did the trick they thought they might see. (not a fan of that thought process) In my experience, surgery was nothing compared to chemo, and I am just getting started. I have one of the best onc in the region, I feel the same about the surgeon (who I have heard drs say the same of him) so feel I had excellent care. Now to learn from you and get through this.

_________________
2/2011- diagnosed BAC
4/2011- lower rt lobectomy
6/2112- 2 'spots' middle and upper rt lobes, will wait to see if they change, recheck in the fall (will wait to see if they 'do a trick'-phrase my own)
11/2012-spots growing, biopsy schedualed
12/2012-biopsy unconfirmed, dr wanted to wait another 2 months, patient refused to play the waiting game
12/2012-began complementary therapies in the form of supplements
1/2013-began chemo
2/2013-nurse friend started me on balanced PH water to support PH balance as cancer can not exist in an alkaline envoirnment, moving me up from acidic to alkaline PH reading
2/2013-most recent CT shows one 'nodule' disappeared, one a 'dead shell' and the 'thickening tissue around the heart' noticeably smaller-PTL!
2/1013-last chemo treatment cause such severe sickness had to discontinue supplements, then discovered I felt overall worse. Upon restarting supplements, I did feel better, proving that they are helping ☺

CURRENT SUPPLEMENTS:

Morning
Ibuprofen -200x3
Tylenol- 500x3
Atenolol- 50MG 1x
Black Cumin Seed- (essential oils) -2x
Trametes versicolor- 2x (polysaccharopeptide)
Curcumin (turmeric) 1x

Late Afternoon/Early Evening
Ibuprofen -200x3
Tylenol- 500x3
Black Cumin Seed- (essential oils) -2x (autoimmune and hypertension)
Trametes versicolor- 2x (polysaccharopeptide)
Curcumin (turmeric) 1x


Late Evening/Before Bed
Melatonin- 5g x4
Folic Acid-(prescribed) 1MG 1x
Atenolol- (prescribed) 50MG 1x

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=C ... ung+Cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151314/ (Advanced Drug-Delivery Systems of Curcumin for Cancer Chemoprevention
http://www.cancer-therapy.org/CT/v6/A/1 ... 17-130.pdf polysaccharopeptide
http://www.naturalnews.com/030800_cumin ... ealth.html (Black seed oil)

I had surgery the first time around...they said they got it all, and I guess they did, but my onc failed to tell me how high the chances were to recur at the spot between the lobes. I don't fault him, there was so much going on. I have two places, nodules he calls them. They are small. I get why they are classified as inoperable, but I just don't understand why, if I ask specifically, I cannot have them removed, knowing they will pop up somewhere else. These will at least be gone.

_________________
2/2011- diagnosed BAC
4/2011- lower rt lobectomy
6/2112- 2 'spots' middle and upper rt lobes, will wait to see if they change, recheck in the fall (will wait to see if they 'do a trick'-phrase my own)
11/2012-spots growing, biopsy schedualed
12/2012-biopsy unconfirmed, dr wanted to wait another 2 months, patient refused to play the waiting game
12/2012-began complementary therapies in the form of supplements
1/2013-began chemo
2/2013-nurse friend started me on balanced PH water to support PH balance as cancer can not exist in an alkaline envoirnment, moving me up from acidic to alkaline PH reading
2/2013-most recent CT shows one 'nodule' disappeared, one a 'dead shell' and the 'thickening tissue around the heart' noticeably smaller-PTL!
2/1013-last chemo treatment cause such severe sickness had to discontinue supplements, then discovered I felt overall worse. Upon restarting supplements, I did feel better, proving that they are helping ☺

CURRENT SUPPLEMENTS:

Morning
Ibuprofen -200x3
Tylenol- 500x3
Atenolol- 50MG 1x
Black Cumin Seed- (essential oils) -2x
Trametes versicolor- 2x (polysaccharopeptide)
Curcumin (turmeric) 1x

Late Afternoon/Early Evening
Ibuprofen -200x3
Tylenol- 500x3
Black Cumin Seed- (essential oils) -2x (autoimmune and hypertension)
Trametes versicolor- 2x (polysaccharopeptide)
Curcumin (turmeric) 1x


Late Evening/Before Bed
Melatonin- 5g x4
Folic Acid-(prescribed) 1MG 1x
Atenolol- (prescribed) 50MG 1x

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=C ... ung+Cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151314/ (Advanced Drug-Delivery Systems of Curcumin for Cancer Chemoprevention
http://www.cancer-therapy.org/CT/v6/A/1 ... 17-130.pdf polysaccharopeptide
http://www.naturalnews.com/030800_cumin ... ealth.html (Black seed oil)