MODULE 1, page 47 on Lung Cancer
Patients typically will need to spend 5 to 7 days in the hospital after any major lung surgery. Full recovery from lung cancer surgery typically takes several weeks to several months. If the surgery is done through a thoracotomy, the surgeon must spread ribs to get to the lungs, so there may be pain in the incision site for quite some time after surgery. Activity should be limited for at least a month or two. People who have VATS instead of thoracotomy tend to have less pain after surgery and to recover more quickly.
• No lifting or carrying anything heavier than 10 pounds for two weeks after VATS (up to eight weeks for open surgery). Be careful when using the arms and upper body for the first six weeks.
Many lung cancer patients experience shortness of breath and have difficulty breathing. Restoring breathing will help with endurance and quality of life and will enable lung cancer patients to accomplish their activities of daily living with greater ease.
Teach diaphragmatic breathing through pursed lips as it will strengthen the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles. This will allow more air to move in and out of the lungs with less tiring of the chest muscles. When the diaphragm becomes weak, the patient compensates by using the shoulders and other muscles to help them breathe. Patients with shortness of breath and limited breathing capacity due to their cancer should perform upper body stretching exercises daily to increase lung capacity.
A stretching program will restore mobility in the chest and back that allows for easier movement of the lungs and diaphragm. Make sure not to apply pressure against the chest either in prone position or against equipment if there is pain or discomfort.
Potential side effects of lung cancer surgery:
- Pneumonia
- Infection/bleeding associated with incision
- Blood clots in legs or lungs
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
- Lung collapse caused by tension pneumothorax (air between the lungs and chest wall)
- Hemorrhage
- Air/fluid leaking into the surgical area (bronchopleural fistula)
- Accumulation of fluid in the chest
- Chronic pain
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Difficulty breathing and need for prolonged stay on the breathing machine
Types of treatment used:
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Somatostatin analogs
• Laser therapy
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
