Stage I Lung Cancer Survivor Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage I
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery
- Outcome
- Survivorship / Completed Treatment
Treatment course, step by step
- January 2007 abnormal health screening and second opinion
- Stage IB lung cancer diagnosis
- left upper lobe resection on February 9, 2007 after preoperative testing including bone scan
- discharge on February 17
- postoperative pain treated with warm compresses, pain medicine, cough medicine, and hot-spring rehabilitation.
What happened, in summary
In January 2007, this woman received a notice after a health screening that she needed more detailed testing. The first hospital raised concern for lung cancer and recommended removal of the left upper lobe. She felt stunned and sought a second opinion, hoping surgery might not be necessary. At that visit, the doctor explained that the cancer was Stage IB and again recommended left upper lobe resection as soon as possible, reassuring her that she could become active again after surgery. She returned to Iwate for treatment. Preoperative testing, including a bone scan, was completed quickly, and surgery was scheduled for February 9. The operation lasted a little over 4 hours, and she began standing and walking the next day to prevent complications. She was discharged on February 17, but recovery was difficult. The long car ride home was painful, and pain along her side, back, underarm, and breast area made sleep and movement hard. Her doctor prescribed warm compresses, pain medicine, and cough medicine. Hot-spring therapy helped more than she expected; after a few days, the pain eased and she could sleep. About 2 months after surgery, the pain had greatly improved and she felt hopeful about recovery, even though tenderness and daily adjustments were still part of healing.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by AZ Oncology Japan. Read the original in full
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team.