Surgery options for removing the tumor

The type of surgery I need will depend on the length of the tumor. Another Flexible Bronchoscope will determine if the tumor stretches too close to the lower lobe of my right lung. I do not yet know when I will have another Flexible Bronchoscope but odds are it will be conducted by the surgeon who will then do my surgery. The following are my options, which depend on the length of the tumor:

1. If the tumor is ONLY in the middle lobe then the whole middle lobe will be removed.
2. If the tumor is mostly in the middle lobe but also stretches to the lower lobe then the middle lobe will be removed and the lower lobe will either (A) be removed or (B) the tumor will be cut from the lower lobe than patched back together, called a "sleeve".

• If the tumor is ONLY in the middle lobe and the whole middle lobe is removed then a Robotic Surgery can be used, this is less invasive.
• If the tumor is mostly in the middle lobe but also stretches to the lower lobe then Robotic Surgery cannot be used, this is more invasive.

Here is some information about Robotic Surgery (Dr. Lee, Kennedy Hospital): (http://www.roboticsurgeryofnewjersey.com/dvs-system/)
Here is some information about Thoracic Surgery at UPenn (Dr. Cooper): (http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/thoracic.html)