Breast surgery

My lumpectomy wasn't any problem. I was lucky that the tumours( three small) were on the outside of my breast so the surgeon has done a very neat job. He is also very empathetic and wants his patients to feel happy with their appearance after the treatments are finished. He felt at my age.....early 60's on diagnosis.....a balanced cleavage was more important as he thought it was unlikely I'd want to walk around topless. I think he was right.....

I took painkillers for a few days after the op. I bought front fastening pj's so I didn't need to lift my arm. I had had the sentinel node removed for testing. They were baggy and made of bamboo. They became invaluable during later treatment. 

I didn't find Macmillan until several months after the lumpectomy and chemo had started so I was a little apprehensive about the wire marker insertion and the radioactive dye used to locate the sentinel node but actually they were straight  forward.  The wire was done by the biopsy doctor and she explained what she was doing all through.

I was worried about the dye injections because I couldn't  imagine what was going to happen but in the end it was a tiny prick. Probably the worse part of that for me was that the radioactive bit was done in a different hospital because that's where the nuclear science unit was but I hadn't understood that so when at 7.0a.m. I was woken by a nurse, put in a coat and then taken by taxi to another place, I wondered whatever was happening!

I was home by 6.0p.m. with it all done and had to wait 2 weeks for next appointment which had all the analysis and future planning. I was lucky....I didn't need a drain so I didn't need a nurse to change my dressings and my husband gave me my anticoagulant injections. He has been insulin dependent 40 years so an injection expert!

I hope my situation gives  you some idea. Of course all units operate slightly differently and different tumours will require slightly different procedures but the basics are the same. I think a mastectomy would be a far more demanding operation and recovery less simple.

Hope all goes well for you. I suspect you'll get several ' variations on a theme' over the next few hours but I think the consensus will be.....the actual lumpectomy isn't too bad.

Love Karen 

Thank you Karen for sharing your experience with me.

It helps to hear from someone who has a lumpectomy. 

I hope you are doing well. 

I ordered front fastening bras to be told to the breast care nurse that I would not need them.

Doing up your bra at the back would be good exercise even if it hurts! 

I am trying to find another button down the front nightie-searching online for ages!

As you can imagine I am doing my best to prepare for Operation and 2 week recovery time afterwards.

Hi Bosombud

I had a lumpectomy in May. My Surgeon was excellent and explained everything that he planned to do. He visited me before the op and explained the procedure as he drew the lines for the incisions he was going to make. He removed the lump and several Lymph nodes. the wounds have healed nicely and will fade away in time. 

I am now half way through Chemo with Radiotherapy to follow.  Having mostly good days and looking forward to the future.

Hope this helps with your BC journey. Good luck with the operation x

Hello 

Congratulations on completing your chemotherapy its no mean feet and for me all the stuff after that was physically easy. I had 2 lumpectomies, not at the same time, i didn't get clear margins after my first so had another a month later and to be truthful i was more poorly with the sickness that the anesthetic caused me. As my surgeon explained because they are cutting into nerves and tissue you don't feel much pain and by the time you start getting feeling back you've heeled up. I managed any discomfort with ibuprofen and paracetamol. 

My first i had to stay in over night but only because i was sick because of the anesthetic, my second one they tweaked my anti sickness medication and i was home in time for tea. 

I bought myself some front fastening pyjamas (from Tesco) as advised by my nurse but i did manage OK with t shirts etc once i got home. It is also rather entertaining when you get home and try to have a bath without getting your boob wet but this was only for the 10 days after my op. Make sure you do the exercises they give you, they aren't difficult but help to keep your arm moving.

Good Luck with your op and i hope like me you'll be home in time for tea xx

Hi ya! I had a lumpectomy along with a reshape of the breast and a snlb, on May 22nd, I’m now on my 3rd ec chemo tomorrow. it really was ok and nothing really to worry over although it was my 5th op - other 4 not bc related!!!

my consultant surgeon was fab, he spent a lot of time on the phone explaining everything, it seemed like hours, as we didn’t have time to fit in a face to face consultation before the op. On the day itself he saw me prior to the op and went through everything again, including drawing all over my boob, he even got his tape measure out! The anaesthetist also took time to explain everything too.

in the end I did stay in over night as it took longer than thought and I was very nauseous afterwards ( never happened before ), but, the scar is fading fast and my boobs are beautifully pert!

It was uncomfortable for a while but settled down really quickly. I took the painkillers for the first few days whether I needed them or not. 

As others have said front fastening bras, nighties and shirts to begin with make life easier too. I was driving by Sunday back at work the following Tuesday, op was previous Wednesday. The dressings came off in clinic 2 weeks post op and boy did that feel better. I’ve had absolutely no problems since although you do feel tingly and itchy whilst your healing and I think that will go on for quite a while yet.

hope you get on well, I’m sure you will xxx

Hi, just chipping in to say, I found a high absorbency towel really useful after my lumpectomy. I had a small one which I placed over my scar after showering and it dried my breast & scar very quickly with no need for rubbing or patting.

Big hugs xx

Hello Bosombud,

I've just had a mastectomy and back in again to remove lymph nodes a few weeks later and both surgeries were nothing to worry about. It all depends how you respond to anaesthetic. If you just sleep for England like me you won't have a problem. It makes you slightly sick when you come around but nothing compared to what you've already experienced in chemo. The worst bit for me was having a drain in for a week afterwards. It's annoying and sore, but Oramorph deals with that. You should be able to shower after 2 weeks when the dressing is removed. I stayed in overnight both times because you need help walking to the loo in the night and the nurses monitor your BP and temperature, look for signs of infection, etc and give pain relief if you need it so I was pleased I didn't hurry home. I passed out in the loo due to low blood pressure and was given antibiotics due to a bug that was developing after only a few hours. I also needed extra pain relief after the second surgery. Take some baggy clothes with you to wear when you come out so they don't rub on your wound. Make sure you do your exercises they give you as soon as possible after surgery. It's hard at first but it's amazing how much easier it gets after a week or two. I'm starting chemo next month so if you have any tips for me I'd appreciate it. I'm terrified right now 

Babs