On the day of your surgery you will go along to a room equipped for doing these. You will have some local anaesthetic inserted in to the breast, sounds horrible but you shouldn't feel much discomfort and it it short lived.
I'm assuming they are doing a Lumpectomy? The wires are what is known as guide wires and they are put in to enable the surgeon to locate quickly and precisely the area in the breast where the tumour is as sometimes lumps cant be felt and it helps to identify exactly where the lump is. It will be removed when the surgery is done.
Hope that's helpful for you and very best wishes for the surgery hope it all goes well for you. x
Just a quick note ,I had the wire put in the day before the operation. Local anaesthetic (just a pin prick) then wire inserted , followed by mammogram to check it is in the correct place.Then a small waterproof dressing to hold the curled up wire in place.
In my case I also had radioactive isotope injection the same day which helps locate the sentinel node during the operation.Hope this helps .I have found everyone who has been involved with my care to be kind ,patient and so reassuring before ,during and after each procedure. xx
I had wire guided surgery ! When they told me how they did it I laughed! In the morning I went to hospital 5 minutes from my house and had wire inserted. I had to lay face down on a table in radiotherapy room and place my offending breast in a hole in the bed! Then they jacked up the bed like a car on ramps and placed breast in mammogram then one little prick and wire in! I sing to distract myself when stressed but I forgot to do so under my breath that day ! I then went to second room and quick mammogram to check in correct place. They cooked the wire and out a dressing over it. I couldn't feel anything . I then drive 10 mikes to second hospital for surgery. Worst part was hanging around. 8.30an both myself and another lady there for wire insertion but they didn't start till 9.30am. I went in first so other woman hanging around longer. Then at second hospital told going down at 12.30 then suddenly told no you last on just, no explanation!! I went down at 3pm. I was nervous walking to theatre hugging my pillow like a teddy bear but theatre nurse amazing, didn't notice needle going in hand . Next thing I remember is waking up! As I had been hanging around wars I heard nurses tell patients you can go home till you've eaten. I was back in ward at 5pm and knew I was close to their deadline for staying overnight! I was literally 'I'm awake feed me'. I have sandwich at 6pm and home eating soup by 8pm. I had no need for painkillers after surgery.
Just following from Grogg’s note it would be worth checking (assuming you want to know) how they will do the wire insertion as mine was done on a mammogram machine with a special adaptor so they could insert wire. They then used a separate mammogram (as the first had to have all the wire insertion gubbins removed from it) to check positioning.
I had it done twice (2 seperate ops), once the day before and once on the morning of the operation so you may want to request whichever suits you best. Given that I needed to be at hospital at some ridiculously early hour of the day and they’re always delayed I opted for a morning one just before operation the second time....however as inter-departmental communication in hospitals is nonexistent this did come as a surprise to my surgeon so assume no-one knows anything and tell them what’s happening so they can factor that into their plans.
It was fine, the only challenge was due to my curiosity...I didn’t look when they did it (and it stung just for a short time so not that painful at all) but did want to have a look before they bandaged it up and felt really queasy – apparently its quite common to faint!
And the wire is really long so will be coiled round in the bandage, and if like mine will try and escape (didn’t succeed).
So not a problem for me being temporarily assimilated by the Borg....hope yours goes smoothly.
The first thing to say is that the 'wire' is ILTRA THIN !
The second is that you will prob have a local anaesthetic. I was already very sore from the biopsy 2 months earlier so was dreading even the mammograms that they do to aid the guide wire insertion but it was all.easy.
The mammograms were like normal ones (not the painful close ones) and I barely felt the needke of the anaesthetic but the anaesthetic was great. I think I sat down for the mammogram. They put a little bit of tape to hold the visible bit of 'wire' in place.
I had my 'wire' fitted on the same morning as the op.
It was all very easy and it would really help if they didn't call it wire. It's so very thin.
Lumpectomy done. Rads finished & all good. Breast shape is good.
Just a bit more healing to go (with the aid of painkillers and then to get to know my new lumpy me.
P.s. I also had two Limpectomies (Fibroadenomas) when i was 21yrs (33yrs ago).
Mine was done under Ultra sound on the morning of operation 9.4.20 . I barely felt it .
Then went to X-ray dept for dye again barely felt it . Note post op your pee is a weird colour for 24hrs.
My Breast care nurse supporting me around the departments .
Then op in afternoon. Both myself and the other lady done that afternoon got kept in overnight mainly because of the anaesthetic effects and late afternoon start .
Today I am just back from Northampton Radiotherapy department for planning appointment .I have had CT scan and tattoos again minimal discomfort and staff that make every effort to make you comfortable.
Radiotherepy planned start is 4.6.20 . 5 sessions .
