I would recommend find another more up to date surgeon. I am having my surgery for lung cancer, Robotic assisted Thoracic Surgery . The Surgeon is especially trained for this type of surgery.

I had surgery on both lungs done in 2021 using VATS. With each surgery my surgeon was able to test all the lymph nodes and get clean margins. It was not compromised because of the VATS procedure. My surgeon feels lung sparing is very important because as we age, we need more lung tissue. If you feel you want to have VATS or RATS seek out another surgeon. There is not a right or wrong way but it's less invasive than an open surgery.

Wishing you the best of good luck and sending positive juju to you.
~Karen~

I've had both of mine as you say the old fashioned way. It takes about a month to really start getting back to everything but I never had any problems and the doctors were able to check out other nodules while they were doing the surgery. Also, in both cases, they would have had to open anyway to get to the lymph nodes they needed so I opted to just go for it. I've had a right lower lobectomy 2019 and a left upper lobe wedge resection 2023. In both of my situations, it was about getting to everything I wanted them to get to vs. The invasiveness of the procedure. Before you assume this us just the same open approach, my doctor uses a muscle sparing approach so that the only cuts are between the 5th and 6th rib that allows all other muscles and tissues to be retracted out of the way. It is a very current approach when you need to. How do I know? I'm an operating room nurse and I'm paid to keep up on these things. If you prefer the VATS then find another doctor but..... being in the care of a person with that much experience should give a lot of comfort. They don't last that long if they aren't that good and it isn't their passion.

It is removal of a lung lobe. Not a fun surgery but a successful one for many people.

What is LOBECTOMY?