Get Well Soon

Helping you to make a speedy recovery after surgery to have part or all of a lung removed

Who this leaflet is for

This leaflet is for anyone who is recovering from, or is about to undergo surgery to have part or all of one of their lungs removed.

The technical term for your operation is a lung resection, which is how your surgeon and other health professionals who are helping you may refer to it.

Knowing what to expect after the operation can help you to make a quicker recovery and get back to enjoying the best possible quality of life. In the pages that follow, you’ll find information that will help you to do that.

The advice in this leaflet offers broad guidelines for people who do not have any complications with their surgery and whose job is not physically demanding (i.e. does not involve heavy lifting or long periods of standing up).

Obviously, every individual has different needs and recovers in different ways – so not all the advice in this leaflet will be suitable for everybody.

As always, if you’re in any doubt, take professional advice. Everyone who undergoes a lung resection for cancer should have an allocated keyworker at the hospital who helps co-ordinate all aspects of your care. They will help you to make the right choices for a safe and speedy recovery.