 | Exercises for breathlessnessA pulmonary rehabilitation program can help improve breathlessness and reduce the risk of a chest infection. A physiotherapist will show you how to do exercises. To continue rehabilitation after you leave hospital, talk to your surgeon or visit Lung Foundation Australia to find a program near you. See more simple strategies to ease breathlessness at home. |
 | PainYou may have some pain after surgery but this can be controlled. Ask for pain relief as needed. Managing the pain will allow you to do breathing exercises and help you to recover. Pain will improve when tubes are removed from the chest. |
 | Tubes and dripsSeveral tubes will be in place after surgery. They will be removed as you recover. A drip in a vein in your arm (intravenous drip) can provide fluid and medicines. Tubes in your chest drain fluid and help your lungs expand; and a tube in your bladder may check how much urine you pass. |
 | Recovery timeYou will probably go home after 3–7 days. It may take 4–8 weeks after VATS or 6–12 weeks after thoracotomy to get back to your usual activities. Walking can help clear your lungs and speed up recovery. |
See our general section on Surgery for more information about surgery and recovery.
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Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC; Helen Benny, Consumer; Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW; Kim Greco, Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Marco Salvador, Consumer; Janene Shelton, Lung Foundation Australia – Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD; Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Lung Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, Lung Cancer Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
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