After surgery for lung cancer
This page tells you about what will happen after your surgery for lung cancer. There is information about
After surgery for lung cancer
The nurses and physiotherapists will get you moving about as soon as possible after your operation. They will also show you breathing and leg exercises to help stop complications like infection and blood clots in the legs.
To start with, you are likely to have some tubes in place. You will have a drip into your arm. And drainage tubes from your wound, connected to a bottle. You will have regular chest X-rays to make sure your lung is working properly.
Painkillers
You will almost certainly have some pain for the first few days. If you are in pain, it is important you tell the nurse or doctor as soon as possible. With your help, they will be able to find the right type and dose of painkiller for you. Don't suffer in silence.
Rarely, some people have pain that starts a few weeks or months after their operation. This is usually because nerve endings that have been unavoidably damaged during the operation have started to grow back. This pain can take some time to get better. If you have any pain after your operation, do tell your surgeon. If necessary, your doctor can refer you to a specialist pain clinic.
Going home
You will probably be ready to go home after about 5 to 10 days. When you get home, it is important to exercise to get yourself fit again. Check with your doctor or physiotherapist about exercise before you leave the hospital. It is important to start slowly and not overdo it.
The nurses and physiotherapists will get you moving about as soon as possible after you have your operation. If you can't get out of bed, they will help you to do some breathing and leg exercises to help stop complications such as blood clots in the legs or chest infections.
To start with, you are likely to have some tubes in place including
- A drip (or intravenous infusion) into your arm
- Drainage tubes from your wound, connected to a bottle, and possibly a suction machine
The drip will be taken out as soon as you are able to eat and drink normally. This is usually within a couple of days.
The drainage tubes will be taken out when fluid from the wound has stopped draining out. This can be up to a week later.
You will have regular chest X-rays to make sure you can breathe well. To start with these will probably be done on the ward with a portable X-ray machine.
You will almost certainly have some pain for the first few days after your operation. There are different types of painkilling drugs you can have and different ways of giving them. If you are in pain, it is important to tell your nurse or doctor as soon as possible. With your help, they will be able to find the right type and dose of pain killer for you. Painkillers work best when you take them regularly. It is important that you are as comfortable as possible so that you can breathe properly and move around to lower your risk of chest infection.
Rarely, some people find they have pain that starts a few weeks or months after their operation. This is usually because nerve endings that were damaged during the operation have started to grow back. This pain will go when the nerve endings have recovered, but it can take some time to get better. If you have any pain after your operation, do go and see your surgeon to find out what could be causing it. If it can't be sorted out straight away, your doctor can refer you to a specialist pain clinic.
You will probably be ready to go home about 5 to 10 days after your operation.
If you live alone, or might have difficulty managing, let the nurses know when you first go into hospital so that planscan be made to help you when you go home.
When you get home, it is important to gently exercise to get yourself fit again. Check with your doctor or physiotherapist about exercise before you leave the hospital. It is important to start slowly and not overdo it. Once you are getting back on your feet you could try
- Brisk walking
- Swimming
You will be given an outpatient appointment before you leave the ward. This is usually about six weeks after your operation.
Remember
If you have any worries or symptoms before your outpatient appointment, contact your doctor or the hospital ward. You don't have to wait until your appointment.
Driving
After surgery to your chest you should not drive until the effects of the anaesthetic and painkillers have worn off and your wounds have healed well. At first the seat belt may press on your wound and make it sore.
Your doctor will tell you when you can start driving again but it is usually about four to six weeks after surgery. Some insurance companies also specify that you should not drive for a certain amount of time after chest surgery so it is worth checking with your car insurance company.
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