Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

What Is a Lobectomy for Lung Cancer?

A pulmonary lobectomy is a highly effective surgical procedure where a thoracic surgeon removes an entire lobe of a lung affected by cancer.

The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two lobes, so a lobectomy removes one of these sections without taking out the entire lung.

Lobectomy for Lung Cancer Quick Facts

• It is considered the standard of care for lung cancer that hasn’t spread
• Lobectomy removes all visible cancer cells while preserving lung function.
• This surgery offers the best chance of curing early-stage lung cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic.
• The average life expectancy is 72 months for patients treated with a lobectomy, according to a 2022 study.

Doctors can recommend a lobectomy or another type of lung cancer surgery depending on factors unique to your case. They may also use other therapies along with a lobectomy, such as chemotherapy or radiation, to destroy as much of the cancer as possible.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about lung cancer lobectomies and other treatments that could help you or a loved one live longer.

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Who Is Eligible for a Lung Cancer Lobectomy Surgery?

A lobectomy is most often recommended for patients with early-stage lung cancer who meet certain criteria.

This procedure may be right for you if:

• You have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is localized to one lung lobe.
• Your lung function is strong enough to support breathing with a reduced lung capacity.
• You are in good general health, with no severe heart disease or lung diseases that could increase surgical risks.
• Your cancer has not metastasized (spread past the lungs).
• You can tolerate general anesthesia and the possible complications of surgery.

Older, frailer patients with other health issues may not be good candidates for a non-small cell lung cancer pulmonary lobectomy.

However, other lung cancer treatment options like chemotherapy could still be used to improve survival if a lobectomy isn’t possible.

How Is a Lung Lobectomy Performed?

A lobectomy can be performed using different surgical approaches, depending on the tumor’s location and your overall health.

Here are the steps to receiving a lung cancer lobectomy:

1. Get tests: Doctors will use imaging scans (chest X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and more), heart tests, blood tests, and a physical exam to determine if a lobectomy is suitable in your case.
2. Quit smoking: If you are still smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis, it’s highly recommended that you quit before getting a lobectomy. Quitting will help your body recover from the surgery.
3. Receive a lobectomy: Doctors will put you under anesthesia before starting the surgery. They’ll then remove the affected lobe and all visible tumors they see.

Following a lobectomy, your health care team will help you to recover as quickly as possible and with minimal complications.

Lung Lobectomy Recovery

After undergoing a lung cancer lobectomy, you’ll be monitored for several days in a hospital setting. It can take anywhere from 2 to 5 days to recover enough so you can go home, according to Cleveland Clinic.

You’ll have access to pain medications and may have chest tubes to drain any fluid around the lungs. Doctors will also encourage light exercise like walking to help you adjust to living without the removed lobe. Chest X-rays will also be ordered to ensure the procedure was a success.

“Once the patient is up and moving around, doing well with their diet, and feeling better, we will discharge that patient home.

— Dr. Robert Herron, lung cancer specialist

Most patients return to normal activities within 6 to 8 weeks post-lobectomy surgery, but full recovery may take longer.

Following lung cancer lobectomy, you’ll have regular follow-up visits with a thoracic surgeon to check for potential recurrence (return of tumors) and monitor your lung health.

Types of Lung Cancer Lobectomy Procedures

Doctors can use several different types of procedures to perform a lung cancer lobectomy.

Some methods for lung cancer lobectomy include:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): A minimally invasive procedure using small incisions and a tiny camera to remove the affected lung lobe. Results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and fewer complications than open surgery.
• Robotic-assisted lobectomy surgery (RATS): Uses robotic surgical instruments for enhanced precision and smaller incisions. Reduces the risk of air leaks and damage to surrounding lung tissue.
• Thoracotomy (open surgery): Involves a larger incision along the side of your chest to access the lungs. Used for complex cases, such as large tumors or when lymph nodes need to be removed.

VATS and RATS lobectomies are used for most lung cancer patients since they’re less invasive and require a shorter recovery time. Your lung cancer doctor can determine which type of procedure will be the most appropriate in your case.

Lobectomy vs. Other Types of Surgery for Lung Cancer

Lobectomy is the gold standard for early-stage lung cancer treatment, since it effectively removes tumors while preserving lung function.

However, for patients with poor pulmonary function or multiple cancerous lobes, other surgeries may be necessary.

Other surgeries for lung cancer include:

• Pneumonectomy: Removes the entire lung if the tumor is centrally located and cannot be safely removed with a lobectomy.
• Segmentectomy: A lung-sparing procedure that removes only a portion of a lung lobe. It is used for smaller tumors or patients with reduced lung function.
• Wedge resection: Removes a small portion of lung tissue containing the tumor, used for very early-stage cancers or patients who cannot tolerate a full lobectomy.

Doctors can determine which surgery (if any) will be could help patients like you live longer.

Lung Cancer Lobectomy Surgery Prognosis

Patients treated with a lobectomy often have a very positive lung cancer prognosis (health outlook). In fact, Cleveland Clinic notes that early-stage patients can often be cured of lung cancer with a lobectomy.

Learn more about how lung cancer lobectomy can improve prognosis.

Lung Cancer Lobectomy Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is the average survival time for lung cancer patients. The lung cancer life expectancy for patients treated with VATS lobectomy was 72 months in a 2022 study.

Some patients can potentially live for decades if doctors consider their lung cancer to be fully cured after a lobectomy. For example, Deborah has lived for over 25 years following her stage 1 lung cancer lobectomy in 2000. It was the only treatment she received.

“When I was diagnosed I could not find a single person who had survived lung cancer long term. The good news is now I know lots of them!”

— Deborah, 25-year lung cancer survivor

Survival Rate for Lung Cancer Lobectomy Surgery

Survival rates measure the percentage of patients still living after a set period of time. The 5-year lung cancer survival rate is roughly 79%, according to a 2023 New England Journal of Medicine report. The study also noted that 64% of patients were still cancer-free 5 years after receiving a lobectomy.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn how lobectomies and other lung cancer treatments can potentially improve your survival.

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Side Effects & Complications of Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

As with any lung cancer surgery, a lobectomy carries risks. While most patients recover well, some may experience side effects or complications that require additional medical attention.

Potential side effects of lung cancer lobectomies include:

• Air leak from the lung
• Infections
• Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
• Pain and discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

Serious complications, including pneumonia, blood clots in the lungs, heart attack or stroke, and death, have also been reported.

Your lung cancer doctors will monitor you for any possible lobectomy complications during surgery and as you recover. Patients typically have fewer side effects if they receive VATS or RATS lobectomies.

“It’s minimally invasive, so the pain is much reduced compared to traditional open surgery with, namely, a thoracotomy. Having said that, it’s reasonable to expect some soreness and some pain postoperatively that gradually gets better and goes away within the first two weeks.”

— Dr. Robert Herron, lung cancer specialist

Lung Cancer Lobectomy With Other Treatments

A lobectomy is often part of a multimodal lung cancer treatment plan to improve your survival rate and reduce cancer recurrence.

Treatments used with a lobectomy can include:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often recommended after lobectomy or other lung cancer surgeries for stage 2 or stage 3 NSCLC to lower the risk of disease progression.
• Immunotherapy: Drugs like pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) may be used after a lobectomy to help the immune system recognize and attack remaining cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy: Patients with a higher risk of recurrence may receive radiation therapy after lobectomy surgery to eliminate any leftover cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy: For lung cancer patients with mutations in a gene called EGFR, a type of targeted therapy known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), like osimertinib (Tagrisso®), may be used following a lobectomy to improve progression-free survival.

Every lung cancer patient’s treatment journey is different. Doctors will recommend specific therapies depending on the unique factors in your case.

Cost of Lung Cancer Lobectomy Surgery

Getting a lung cancer lobectomy can be expensive. The average cost of this surgery ranged from $18,000 to $27,000, according to a 2023 report from The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Lung cancer lobectomy costs can be difficult to afford even with insurance. In addition, many lung cancer patients are treated with multiple types of therapies, adding even more to the cost.

Factors that often affect the costs of treatment include:

• How a lobectomy was performed (thoracotomy may be more expensive than VATS or RATS)
• If a patient needs other treatments
• The occurrence of a rare but serious lobectomy complication

Find Cancer Centers Offering Lung Cancer Lobectomy

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer, a lobectomy may be a lifesaving option.

This procedure is one of the most effective surgical treatments for early-stage NSCLC, and some patients have been cured following it.

At Lung Cancer Group, we may be able to help you:

• Afford a lobectomy and other lung cancer treatments
• Better understand which therapies will work best for you
• Explore other resources to help after a lung cancer diagnosis

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 now to see all the ways our team can assist you.