DCIS surgery

Hi SXD, hopefully you’ll soon get better information from your breast clinic. In the meantime I’ll give you my non doctor/nurse answers based on my own experience. Lumpectomy aka ‘Wide local excision’ or Breast Conserving Surgery is usually offered if the tumour is small enough and if the location is suitable. A clear margin is a ring of about 1cm around the tumour where no cancer is found. It’s insurance that they’ve got it all. 

Most places do lumpectomy as a day case, and they often biopsy some of your armpit lymph nodes to check the cancer hasn’t spread - the sentinel lymph nodes are the route breast cancer usually takes out of the breast if it escapes. So this would leave you with a wound under your arm which can be a bit sore and annoying.

Be aware that plans can change as they learn more about your cancer so you’ll need to keep an open mind. But so far it looks as if you have a small pre-cancerous condition. Radiotherapy afterwards is common after lumpectomy to make sure there’s no stray cancer cells they’ve missed.

Hope this helps, and so sorry you have to go through this

Hi SXD,yes that sounds right and yes normally in and out in a day.I had surgery mid Aug.then left to recover start my Radiotherapy next Mon,usually 6weeks or there abouts after surgery.My Radiotherapy is for a week,everyday,then I’m done,and probably somewhat cooked,lol.Everybody is different as to how long,but Apparentley the radio only takes 5-10mins,the hold up it seems is if they are running to schedular or not.Clear margins means the area with no cancer cells,at the outer edge of tissue removed,which is a good sign.

your questions are not stupid,and have been asked by many,it,s important we understand.As for contact at the hospital,you can call them any time to speak with b.c.nurse,just phone the breast clinic you are with and ask for the McMillan tel.number.Normally when you ring you leave a message and they get back to you with 24hrs,in my experience as quick as 30mins,depends how busy they are but there extremely good.xx

• Thank you, this is really helpful 

Its all just a long wait isn’t it? Although my appointment is next week i have no idea where the surgery will be  

is it true you can’t drive after surgery for 2 weeks or does it depend on individual circumstances? 
glad your surgery went well and the radiotherapy will be done soon  

Hi.They tell you not to drive for 2weeks but I was also told it,s trial n error when to give it a go,mainly because you don't want to upset armpit scar if you have nodes removed.I did wait 2weeks but felt I could of driven a few days earlier.

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