true 2:54 Now playing LeAnne's Story: Up and Running After Beating Lung Cancer

[yemiw16377]

The first thing I thought was my father. He died of lung cancer two weeks after I graduated from high school when I was 18 years old. He lived only seven months from diagnosis to death. Because of that experience, my immediate fear was that I might not be able to celebrate another Christmas with my daughters. I also worried that my husband would have to take on both parenting roles if something happened to me.

My husband Justin, who worked in medical sales, had several contacts in the field, and through them we were referred to Dr. Sandeep Kandara. When we met him, we left with a completely different impression than we expected. What stood out was not just the individual doctor, but the entire surgical team. It was clear that success depended on the full system—nurses, technicians, and all supporting staff working together, not just the equipment or technology alone. While robotic surgical platforms and advanced tools are important, they are only part of the overall process.

The procedure discussed involved removing about two-thirds of the lung using a minimally invasive approach with two small incisions. The goal was also to ensure a faster recovery and discharge within 48 hours when possible. After meeting the surgeon, we wanted to proceed quickly because he was confident in performing the surgery using this less invasive method.

The surgery involved two small incisions—one under the breast crease and another small incision on the back. Through these openings, the tumor was removed successfully. Recovery progressed faster than expected. I was able to return to normal activity in less than two weeks after surgery. The chest tube was removed one week after the operation.

Shortly after, I went for a one-mile run with my eight-year-old daughter Kylie. It was physically very difficult, and I was extremely out of breath, but it marked an important step in recovery. I could clearly feel the change in my body after surgery, even though I was grateful to be healing and back to being active.