Has anyone with Lung Mets had a VATS to remove a lobe ?

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adc21791
adc21791 Member Posts: 8
edited September 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Has anyone with Lung Mets had a VATS to remove a lobe ? I am having that done on Sept 30th , 2016. A little nervous about this. It is my right lower lobe with a 3 cm mass. I was on TCH Chemo which was stopped due to not working. I was first told due to mets surgery was not an option.

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited September 2016

    Lady I met through our son's rec sports had part of her lung removed and a small tumor on her spine. They found a surgeon willing to operate....she has been on Hercepton ever since. That was five years ago! Her husband, wonderful man, talked me down off a ledge when I had an axillary lymph node recurrence this spring and admitted I don't know if they classify me as stage 3 or 4.

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited September 2016

    HI Adc,

    Back in April 2012, I had a VATs procedure, not to remove part or all of a lung lobe, but to seal the lung linings together in what's called a pleurodesis procedure to stop pleural effusion from accumulating.

    So, while I can't speak about the lobectomy procedure, I can about the VATS. My procedure required a 4 day hospital stay and about a six week recovery. It was quite painful, but also quite successful.

    Recovery time varies, so make sure you speak with your thoracic surgeon about it and arrange help for home, time off work, adequate supplies, etc. before going into it. I didn't drive for 2 weeks, due less to pain (didn't require pain meds beyond OTC drugs) than to not trusting my reactions in case of an emergency.

    Plan while you can!

    Wishing you a successful procedure and recovery, Adc, Stephanie

    PS, at the same time my friend with a different primary cancer & lung mets had a VATs lobectomy and recovered in about the same time period as I did. We were glad to compare notes!

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  • adc21791
    adc21791 Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2016

    Thank you both for the information. This is scary because it seems like it must be done quickly. I am still trying to soak it all in. They can't take off my breasts due to mets but they can take a lobe from my lung. I am confused.

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited September 2016

    Hi Adc,

    It sounds like they think you have mets in only one place, your lung lobe.

    Oligometastatic disease is when the cancer pops up in only 1 or a very few places and can be treated by removing that one or those few mets. Then systemic treatment like anti-hormonal for ER+ or anti-HER2 drugs for HER2+ are used to prevent new pop-ups.

    You did seek a second opinion before being rushed into this???

    I ask because your first post here made it sound like a done deal, but you're concerned about being hurried. Are you fully informed and ready to go ahead with the fairly big procedure?

    My palliative care doctor advised me to have the VATs in 2012, because it would reduce my symptoms. It did and I think also extended my life span. So, it's been worth it for me. But we really thought it over - my palliative care doc, my oncologist and the thoracic surgeon.

    Adc, if you haven't had a second opinion, please consult with another oncologist or palliative care doctor...so you can rest assured and are not hurried, harried or rushed!

    I'm not a medical professional - my best medical advice is always to seek the best medical advice. :)

    healing regards always, Stephanie

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  • adc21791
    adc21791 Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2016

    Hi Longtermsurvivor

    My oncologist started me on chemo, after 4 rounds he said it was not working, after two CT Scans and one PET SCAN and referred me to a cardio thoracic surgeon, he said yes I can take it out on Friday. Now there seems to a question by my oncologist that I may have two primary cancers however the path report from the breast and lung show the same HER2+ cells. I had no signs of illness when first diagnosed May 20th 2016. I do now after.

    Kim

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited September 2016

    Hi Kim,

    They say two heads are better than one and you've got three thinking about your situation.

    But it's hard when your doctors go head-to-head about your best next steps for success.

    Can you sit down with your oncologist and really talk about the advantages of doing this procedure?

    How much of a hurry are you in? Can you get another oncologist's opinion? Will this cure your cancer (if oligometastatic)? Reduce symptoms to a tolerable level? If the first chemo you tried failed you, what are your next treatment steps?

    I imagine you're on Herceptin and/or other anti-HER2 drugs? Have you checked in with that community? https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    The lung mets community? https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    Not everyone reads all the new entries on this forum, but many of the communities have strong members that can help you trouble shoot your course.

    It's hard to face any surgery, but especially one that you feel uncertain about.

    Beware of those docs with different opinions. They can frizzle our circuits, if we're not aware of their vantage points!

    healing regards, Kim, Stephanie

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited September 2016

    I had this procedure done in mid June. I was stage II when diagnosed 7 years ago, and then they found a large isolated mass in my upper left lobe this spring. We weren't sure what it was, but pathology after surgery confirmed it was breast cancer :(

    I was in the hospital for a week. It was supposed to be 3-5 days, but there was still a lot of fluid where the lung was that took a long time to drain. I won't lie to you, the pain is pretty severe. I had a dilaudid pump epidural, but it fell out after three days. After that they'd shoot stuff into my IV.

    I have one large scar and two smaller ones where the drains were. They don't want you to lift anything over 10 lbs for 3 months. In the beginning I would get out of breath climbing stairs and such, but now I'm ok. The pain comes and goes but for the most part is tolerable. I've been off painkillers for 2 months.

    I had a scan in July that showed things had healed up OK but there was still a fluid pocket. When they did the surgery they found cancer in the lymph nodes nearby, and that area lights up on the PET but there is no corresponding tumor. I have my next scan in October, and if they find anything it's on to Xeloda.

    If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!



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