Answer Summary

Members shared diverse experiences with treating stage 1 NSCLC, with many who chose surgery reporting excellent outcomes and minimal follow-up... Read more

Members shared diverse experiences with treating stage 1 NSCLC, with many who chose surgery reporting excellent outcomes and minimal follow-up treatment, while those who underwent radiation instead described significant and lasting side effects including extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, and sleep difficulties that have persisted months or even years later. Several members emphasized that surgery allowed for complete tumor removal, accurate staging through lymph node testing, and often avoided the need for additional treatment, with one member discovering their tumor was actually much larger than scans had shown. A recurring theme was the importance of discussing all options thoroughly with your medical team, as individual circumstances vary widely, but many expressed that if surgery had been possible for them, they would have chosen it over radiation based on their difficult recovery experiences.