Lung Cancer Surgery: Why and How It’s Done, How to Prepare, What to Expect, and Post-Surgery Care
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What Is Lung Cancer Surgery?

What Is Lung Cancer Surgery?
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Published on July 11, 2025
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Lung cancer surgery is the primary form of treatment for most cases of early stage lung cancer.

Surgery is particularly effective in cases where the tumor hasn’t spread. It can help treat the cancer, improve outlook, and help patients live disease-free for a long time. In some cases of early-stage cancer, it may even cure the disease entirely.

Types of Lung Cancer Surgery

Lung cancer surgery is also called lung resection, which means that part of the lung (or an entire lung) is being removed. These surgeries are performed by thoracic surgeons.

Graphic titled Types of Lung Cancer. Illustrated points include wedge resection: a small wedge-shaped piece of lung tissue is removed, along with a bit of healthy lung tissue around its edges. Lobectomy: an entire lobe of the lung is removed. Segmental
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Wedge Resection

During a wedge resection, the surgeon typically removes a small or wedge-shaped piece of lung tissue, which includes the tumor and a bit of surrounding healthy lung tissue.

A wedge resection is considered a “nonanatomic” procedure. This means that the intervention is less invasive, only a limited amount of tissue is removed, and the surgeon doesn’t follow along the lung’s anatomical lines when they perform the incisions. The procedure is usually done only on the outer parts of the lung.

A wedge resection keeps most of the lung intact, but there is also a higher risk that the cancer can return because cancer cells may escape into the tissue that’s being preserved.

Lobectomy

Your lungs have a total of five lobes: three on the right lung and two on the left. Lobectomy is the removal of one of the lung’s lobes, and it is the go-to surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of lung cancer.

Segmental Resection

Segmental lung resection, also known as segmentectomy, is a procedure in which only a small part of the lung’s lobe is removed, along with some nearby tissue.

Segmental resection is often recommended when the patient can’t have a full lobectomy, because they have other conditions that have affected their lung capacity too much. Segmental lung resection is often recommended in early-stage lung cancer.

Compared with wedge resection, segmental resection is more demanding on the body, but it can also offer a better outlook in the long run.

Pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy means removing an entire lung. It is a higher-risk procedure, with complication rates as high as 27 percent, according to some estimates.

Pneumonectomy is usually recommended when other types of surgery aren’t suitable or when the tumor is too close to the center of the chest.

Who Typically Needs Lung Cancer Surgery?

People with early-stage NSCLC and carcinoid tumors usually need lung cancer surgery to remove the tumor and affected tissue. Surgery is the best choice when the tumor hasn’t spread, and some patients may not need additional therapy (like chemotherapy or radiation) to treat their cancer.

In contrast, patients with a more advanced stage of lung cancer will need other treatments in addition to surgery.

How Is Lung Cancer Surgery Performed?

Lung cancer surgery can be performed in one of two main ways: through a larger incision between the ribs (a procedure called a thoracotomy), or through minimally invasive surgery. In a minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon makes very small incisions and uses a small camera and tiny instruments to reach the lung.

The choice between these two ways of performing the surgery will depend on several factors, including the extent of the cancer and where the tumor is located.

Thoracotomy

If you’re having a thoracotomy, a healthcare professional will place a breathing tube into your airway while you’re under anesthesia so that your lungs can continue to “‘breathe”’ during the surgery.

Then, your surgeon will make a six-inch incision on the side of the chest that’s being operated on, just below your shoulder blade. This is usually between the fifth and sixth rib. You’ll have a chest tube inserted on the same side to help drain any excess fluid.

 Your healthcare team will also use a device that gently spreads the ribs so that the surgeon can access your lung.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery usually requires one to four small incisions.

 The surgery can be video-assisted or robotic-assisted.
In video-assisted surgery, a small tube with a video camera at the end is inserted through a small incision between the ribs, offering the surgeon a magnified view of the lungs.

 In robotic-assisted surgery, your surgeon sits next to you and controls the robotic surgical system through a console. The system has several arms that hold surgical instruments and one arm that holds the camera. The robotic system replicates the surgeon’s hand movements with extreme precision.

Compared with thoracotomy, minimally invasive surgery often involves a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.

How Do I Prepare for Lung Cancer Surgery?

Before your lung cancer surgery, there are a few things you can do to ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

  • If you smoke, quit. Quitting smoking improves your chances of a faster recovery.
  • Arrange for someone to take you to the hospital and pick you up when you’re discharged.
  • Arrange for someone to help around your home while you recover.
  • Take time off work to ensure you have plenty of time to recover.
  • Ask your healthcare team what you’re allowed to eat and drink before the procedure.
  • Make sure you understand what’s covered and what’s not covered by your insurance plan, and ask questions if anything’s not clear.
  • Continue to take your current medications, unless your doctor says otherwise.

  • Follow any other instructions given to you by your doctor or healthcare team.

What Should I Expect During Lung Cancer Surgery?

The surgery can last anywhere between three and six hours, depending on the type of surgery you have.

 Before the procedure, the area that will be operated on may be cleaned and shaved to avoid infection.

 During the procedure, you’ll typically be sedated (under general anesthesia).

After the procedure, you will be moved into a recovery room and eventually to your hospital room. It’s common for people to wake up feeling pain and grogginess. You will receive medication for the pain.

What Are the Potential Risks and Complications Associated With Lung Cancer Surgery?

No surgery is without risks, and lung cancer surgery is a major procedure. Short-term risks (which may occur up to 30 days after surgery) include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Pain
  • Air leakage from the lung
  • Pulmonary edema (a buildup of fluid in the lungs)
  • Hemothorax (a buildup of blood in the pleural cavity, the space between the lungs and the chest wall)
  • Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  • Pneumonia
  • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
  • Blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Other possible complications that can occur at a later stage include:

  • Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome, which causes chest pain from nerve damage that may continue for months after surgery
  • Bronchial stenosis (narrowing of the airways)
  • Esophagopleural fistula, an abnormal space between the esophagus (food pipe) and the pleural cavity
  • Bronchopleural fistula, an abnormal space between the airways and the pleural cavity
Life-threatening complications or mortality from surgery are rare.

What Type of Care Is Needed After Lung Cancer Surgery?

Most people stay two to three days in the hospital, but some may stay for longer, depending on the type of surgery they’ve had and how well they’re recovering.

Chest tubes are commonly used, and your healthcare team will have placed those during surgery to help drain fluid from your chest. The chest tubes are usually removed after a couple of days, although some patients need to be discharged while still carrying them. If that’s the case, your healthcare team will explain how to care for the tubes at home.

Your team will also give you other instructions for recovery and will show you how to change your bandages at home. You may also have a respiratory therapist available to help improve your lung function after surgery.

Recovery can last anywhere between a few weeks and a couple of months. This will depend on various factors, like your overall health and the type of surgery you’ve had. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time off work, if possible, and patience to recover.

What’s Next

Your doctor will schedule follow-up appointments, usually a few weeks after surgery. These are important to keep.

 During the appointment, your doctor will share with you the results of the surgery, examine you, and ask how you’ve been feeling and getting along in your recovery.

Certain symptoms after surgery could signal complications and require medical attention. Contact your healthcare professional if you have of the following symptoms:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Coughing up excessive mucus
  • Bad-smelling discharge from the incisions
  • Fever
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain that won’t go away with medication

The following symptoms require urgent medical attention:

  • Sudden chest pain
  • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood
  • Loss of consciousness

The Takeaway

  • Lung cancer surgery is the most effective way of treating non-small cell lung cancer that hasn’t spread.
  • There are several types of lung cancer surgery, including wedge resection, lobectomy, segmental resection, and pneumonectomy. These can be performed as a thoracotomy (open lung surgery) or minimally invasive surgery.
  • Lung cancer surgery is a major operation that comes with risks and a significant recovery period. Your healthcare team will support you throughout the process, so don’t hesitate to ask questions and reach out for help.
  • Depending on the extent of the cancer and your overall health, lung cancer surgery can help you live disease-free for many years or even completely cure the cancer.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Gorton A et al. Segmental Lung Resection. StatPearls. August 11, 2024.
  2. Stefanidis K et al. The Evolving Landscape of Lung Cancer Surgical Resection: An Update for Radiologists With Focus on Key Chest CT Findings. American Journal of Roentgenology. August 18, 2021.
  3. Surgery for Non‑Small Cell Lung Cancer. American Cancer Society. January 29, 2024.
  4. Lung Cancer Surgery. American Lung Association. September 26, 2024.
  5. Treatment Choices for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, by Stage. American Cancer Society. October 29, 2024.
  6. Thoracotomy. American Lung Association. November 20, 2024.
  7. Surgery Preparation Worksheet. American Lung Association. 2020.
  8. Lung Resection. Cleveland Clinic. January 15, 2025.
  9. Life After Lung Cancer Surgery. Cancer Research UK. January 31, 2023.
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Nimit Sudan, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Nimit Sudan, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist with UCLA. He is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA and serves as a lead physician at the Encino community practice. He has a special interest in integrative medicine and oncology.

Dr. Sudan provides comprehensive care for adult patients with all types of hematologic and oncologic conditions. His mission is to treat every patient with the utmost compassion and care, and to develop a strong doctor-patient relationship. He is passionate about patient and family education, and educating larger communities on cancer awareness and prevention. He also has a special interest in integrative medicine, and is certified in acupuncture.

Sudan is from the Midwest, and received both his medical degree and bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and his hematology/oncology fellowship at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh.

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Ana Sandoiu

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Ana is a freelance medical copywriter, editor, and health journalist with a decade of experience in content creation. She loves to dive deep into the research and emerge with engaging and informative content everyone can understand. Her strength is combining scientific rigor with empathy and sensitivity, using conscious, people-first language without compromising accuracy.

Previously, she worked as a news editor for Medical News Today and Healthline Media. Her work as a health journalist has reached millions of readers, and her in-depth reporting has been cited in multiple peer-reviewed journals. As a medical copywriter, Ana has worked with award-winning digital agencies to implement marketing strategies for high-profile stakeholders. She’s passionate about health equity journalism, having conceived, written, and edited features that expose health disparities related to race, gender, and other social determinants of health.

Outside of work, she loves dancing, taking analog photos, and binge-watching all the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises.

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