My op on Tuesday

Hi.....

I think it is very common in situations where you have surgery first. The hope for most teams is that after surgery you can avoid chemotherapy.  The biopsy will have given the surgeon and oncologist some indication of the cancer but they won't know exactly until the tumour and the margins plus the sentinel  node are accurately analysed.  This took about 10 days after the op. After analysis my treatment plan had to change because it was triple negative and for that chemo was essential as there is no follow up treatment as yet for a negative cancer. Before it had been hoped it was small enough to be just radiotherapy. 

I found the lumpectomy very manageable.  I did go into hospital the night before because I live a distance from the hospital and I had been booked for my radioactive dye at 07.30 because my surgeon had an early theatre booking but I was home for tea. The scar is very neat. My surgeon was concerned at follow up appointments that I had a balanced cleavage.  It sounds creepy but he genuinely believes women need to feel happy within themselves afterwards. He would have made any adjustments I requested but we have both always felt the very slight difference in breast size is ok at my age as the cleavage for a V necked dress or shirt is fine.

If you have front buttoning pj's and a soft bra ( I had the ones you pull up like knickers) it will save stretching and the support was good. I seem to remember he said to wear it 24 hours for about a fortnight. My husband changed the dressings. He didn't mind so we didn't bother the nurse. He also gave me my anticoagulant injections but being Type 1 diabetic nearly 40 years.....he makes a very experienced nurse.

I wish you well for Tuesday. Hope all goes well for the rest of your treatment. Just radiotherapy would be a nice Christmas present.....

Love Karen

Hi Lacomtekp

Many thanks for your response, that has helped me a lot, everything seems to be happening really quickly and I think probably in a good way so that I am not overthinking too much, although it was a bit of a shock at the time.  Especially as my mammogram  14 months ago was clear.     I have supportive family so they are with me all the way.     I have an appointment monday evening to have the guide wire insertion as one of the lumps is quite small.  Tuesday morning it is a train to london for the radioactive isotope and then straight back to the hospital for my operation at 1.30    I have been to M & S to get a bra fitting and have bought some bras as I too have been told to wear these 24 hours.   You have given me a lot of positives and I am hoping that I will only need the radiotherapy.     How long ago did you have your surgery?   

Hi ..  ..I'm glad some of my thoughts helped a bit. Your op is obviously very similar to mine. I had the wire marker put in by ultrasound the afternoon before I checked into hospital then as I said the radioactive dye and the op. It was four years ago today as it happens.......I have my four year mammogram on Dec 2nd. You are right when you say it's such a shock. Mine was picked up on a routine mammogram.  I hadn't any idea of a problem externally but luckily I live in a place that does two yearly mammograms so the radiologist saw the difference immediately .

Good luck on Tuesday but I think it should go well.

Love Karen

2015 I was recalled from routine mammogram.  I was told at diagnosis that surgery and then probably radiotherapy, hormone treatment but they would know more after surgery . Mine went to plan.  I had day surgery- wire inserted in morning and then operation in afternoon.  I had two areas removed through one incision on top of my breast.  I went to theatre at 3pm back in ward just after 5 pm she home by 8pm.  I didn’t need any painkillers after I left hospital.  
I took a pillow to protect boob in car from seatbelt.  I had surgery on left breast so sat in back on way home behind driver so seatbelt didn’t go across wound. 
I have G cup boobs so I was back on underwire bras next  day as non wired wouldn’t hold breast up and there would have been pulling on wound.  My BC nurse thought this best for me.  I bought soft Cotton padded underwired as I don’t normally wear padded bras.  Two did me.  After it had healed I wire step into stretch bras at might.  
I then had radiotherapy and underwire not recommended as whole boob zapped.  I bought two mastectomy bras in Debenhams sale .  I ordered a variety of sizes for home delivery and needed bigger around back size.  They were very soft and comfortable during radiotherapy.  I had skin on skin burns underneath breast by end and the special dressings didn’t work for me but a sanitary towel did !! Kept it dry so healed well. 
I didn’t require hormone therapy do now just have annual mammograms 

Hi, this is a copy of my post in the chemo thread last night...'Hi..thanks so much for the good wishes today...a wee op update, sorry it's the chemo thread but I 'know' the most people in here.

Wire 'thingy' was ok...worst bit was the squashing of the boob but didn't feel much during the insertion due to  my usual liberal application of Emla cream before the local. The wire was then secured with a suture which I didn't feel either.

Had to wait till half 2 before being taken for op, straightforward recovery, no pain and home for 8 with wonky shaped boob, blue dye that makes my nipple look like a bullseye and 4 lymph nodes removed.

Had the munchies all night, tickly cough and still no pain due to pectoral block...like a long lasting boob epidural...fab idea!'

I went on to sleep on my back and both sides and still haven't taken painkillers. I have full movement of my arm. I had the guide wire as I had chemo first and a complete response so surgeon needed it to see where lump used to be.

Best wishes for your op x

Hi all,    Thank you for all your words, it truly helps to know you are not on your own.    Everything has happened very quickly and I have felt at times things havent quite sunk in and questions I should have asked I havent.     I had the op (lumpectomy) left breast  and stayed in over night the lymph nodes that were taken have come back clear, so I know this is very good news. 

Has anybody experienced a sore hand, this is the hand that the cannula went in I have a hard lump in my hand but also my hand and arm are very sore to touch and move I was wondering whether this is an after effect of the general anaesthetic?

I have my appointment with my consultant tomorrow and will then have an up date on what further treatment I need and the way forward.   I do try and keep positive and not dwell but today has been especially hard and I have not been at my best.  I just want to get tomorrow out of the way so that I know exactly what type of cancer I have and the treatment to be given. 

thank you all xxx

I’ve had a hard thickening in wrist after cannula our in when I was induced with DD and then emergency C-section by general.  I couldn’t move my hand properly, it felt stiff and sore.  Nurse removing my drips and drains next morning told me it had tissued because it either hadn’t been out in properly or had moved so fluid built up around access site .  The top of my arm was also badly bruised and sore as BP cuff too tight as I reacted to some drug and swoll up and retained fluid to the point i looked 2 stone heavier!  Disappeared over couple of days 

Glad  surgery went well xx