My experience upper right lobe lobectomy.

[u/Most-def-dope-1]

Non small cell lung cancer - upper right lobectomy. Robotic assisted thoracic surgery. Cancer was Stage 1a

Preop 6am: preop nurse inserted IV in arm. Anesthesiologist gave epidural shot in back (uncomfortable prick, but no painful). Talked to anesthesiologist and surgeon. Breathed in sleep potion once rolled to surgical room.

Day 1: woke up with 1) IV in arm 2) IV in artery front wrist. 3) IV in back of wrist 4) urine catheter 5) chest tube 6) 4 incisions plus chest tube incision. Placed me in room and chair. . Took chest xray in room. Stayed in chair until morning.

Day 2:. Morning. Removed artery IV. Removed urine catheter. Later. Took chest xray in room. Removed chest tube ( surprised didn’t hurt). Walked a little. I checked off all boxes. Took off all IVs and sent me home.

Day 3: sat up in recliner at home. Back burning and itch pain. Incisions fresh - pain. Walked and did breathing exercises.

Day 4: husband realized bumps along my right side and back -same side as incisions. Sent pics to doctor. Said come in right away. Have shingles too! Pain of shingle is rising. Day 5-14. Shingles pain went to #9 and incision pain blended in with shingles. Shingles trumped the pain.

Day 15-22. Shingles are clearing up and itch and pain is at a #2. Now I can feel my incisions healing up instead of shingles pain.

Day 23 (now). I feel like I am on my way to the rest of my healing journey. Now able to lay in bed. I have energy. Just able to put on bra 2 days ago. Cloths don’t bother me as much. Looking forward to brighter days.

Pathology. No cancer found. Lungs are inflated properly. Chest xray looked good.

Thought I’d contribute to community. I read countless experiences prior to my surgery and it helped me.

[u/Anon-567890]

They sent you home at the end of the second day?!? You’re a rock star! I’m so sorry you developed shingles so quickly after the surgery! What a horrible, unexpected complication! Glad it’s resolving and you are healing well! Thank you for sharing your story. It will really help others! How were you diagnosed at such an early stage? What a blessing that is!

[u/Most-def-dope-1 → u/Anon-567890]

In 2020 went to urgent care for something else and took an image. Dr. came in and talked to me about my illness at the time and at end said btw I saw a couple small nodules on your lungs. Probably no big deal but follow up with primary care. My primary care doctor started getting me ct scans once a year. No growth on the nodules and even shrunk once. Last 2 years they grew she said let’s get you to a lung dr to follow your lungs from now on. Lung dr did a biop and found the nodules was cancerous. Never smoked. Even hated to date guys that smoked. Have no clue how this happened.

[u/Anon-567890 → u/Most-def-dope-1]

So grateful they spied the nodules so early, and there was no spread! When I found mine (in lymph nodes in my neck) it was already stage IV. I never smoked, checked my house for radon. Then I quit asking why because it doesn’t serve me. People always ask and I say, “If you have lungs you can get lung cancer.” I wish you the best as you continue to recover and hope you are CURED! 🤍🤍

[u/Most-def-dope-1 → u/Anon-567890]

Wish you all the best. They have no way of telling where lung cancer comes from dr says. They say it’s not hereditary cause my mom died of lung cancer (non smoker). And no way to tell how environmentally. So all you scientists out there looks like this study is wide open.