Diagnosed this week

Hi, sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but I am sure you'll find lots of support here.  I picked up a front fastening “post surgery” bra from M&S and found it very comfortable after my lumpectomy as I was advised to wear a bra at night for a while. I also got some of those crop tips bras, and to be honest, I still use them overnight now 6 months after radiotherapy as they give me a bit of extra support,

The mag seed is to mark the lump so they know where to operate, It's pretty painless and I had that done by ultrasounds,  best of luck with surgery  

I had a wide area excision and sentinel node biopsy on 23rd March. My operation was wire guided (they put a wire into the tumour on the morning of surgery). I have large (34HH) breasts and found my normal sports bras were the best answer. I wore them 24x7 for the first 3 weeks after which I was able to sleep without a bra and return to normal underwired bras in the day time. My scar is round the side, close to where the under wire goes. I was able to return to normal activity after 2 weeks, wearing 2 sports bras for running. I went swimming after 3 weeks. I had normal arm movement from day 1, just a lot of bruising and a bit of swelling. The breast still feels a little odd when I don’t have a bra on and am standing up, but it gets a bit more normal with each day.  They used surgical glue rather than stitches  it took around 2.5 weeks for that to all fall off  it can be a bit itchy as it gets put everywhere  I had some radioactive tracer put in me to identify the sentinel node; also some blue dye. The blue dye was fun as it comes out in your bodily waste for a day or too, plus I still have a small area of turquoise stain near my nipple. 

For me, this was a straight forward operation and recovery, hope you do too.

Hi Dog lady,

I had a wide local excision in September 2021. The scar was under my breast so I found the only bras that were comfortable were the eladticated bra top types. I got the ones which are t shirt tops style with the built in elasticated bra piece from M&S and then found the Matalan bra tops to be more comfortable as everything touching the scar rubbed and made it sore. But the looser wide elastic bands of these bra tops was more bearable.

The insertion of the mag seed was so quick I was still waiting for it to be done when the consultant told me it was in and in the right sort of position. I didn't feel a thing.

Wishing you all the very best with your treatment programme x

Thank you...that is reassuring x

I had 11mm high grade DCIS removed in 2015.  My scar on top of my 36G cup breasts.  I wore a cotton underwired padded bra with bra extension on because non wired bras offered no support and there was danger of weight if breast dragging down wound.  I wore these 24/7 for 2 weeks then the stretchy step into bras for a month at night.    My scar was well away from any wires.

I had wire guided surgery so wire inserted in morning under lical then surgery in afternoon.  Home by 8.39pm eating soup !  

 In preparation for radiotherapy I bought non wired post mastectomy bras as I found these were lined with cotton .  No wires essential for radiotherapy.  You can take wires out of your current bras to use and attach bra extenders to ensure no friction. 

Hi, for bras it depends on how much support you need and where you are being operated on.  My hospital said any soft, non-wired bra would do, but I bought 2 extra high impact sports bras with zip front fastening from M&S (am 42 E) and was extremely glad I did.  My scar is in lower left quadrant of left breast.   Think you really need a front fastening bra initially - was not able to fasten anything other than at the front for a couple of weeks (so think about front opening tops too). Arm movement got better after a couple of weeks - keep doing the exercised they will give you when you leave hospital.   You can get post-surgery bras, but you don't need to - these are designed with a pocket and you wont need this if having a lumpectomy.  Wore mine day and night for quite a few weeks and during radiotherapy too, as needed the support .  You may want a cup size larger than usual as there will be swelling and bruising, but I found my normal size OK, as they are quite stretchy.  Only negative is they were a little tight on the shoulder, but worth it for the support.  Believe ASDA have adjustable shoulder strap ones.  Also found it difficult to put on socks for a couple of days - slip on shoes essential for operation day.  Good luck with your treatment. 

Thank you...

The nurse that I did see with results of biopsy. Said wouldn't be able to drive for a week...I was hoping to get this op done before my holiday abroad which is on 4th June. To be honest after reading a lot of your stories....I don't think this is going to be possible.  Nurse did say if it gets to far into May then have it done when you get back...I don't know what to think. I'm feeling very emotional about it all....and trying to put a brave face on. X

Hi, very much depends on the date you get for your op.   I was told not to drive for 2-3 weeks, as need to have total use of arm to demonstrate ability to control a car.  I could have driven after 2 weeks, but waited until my post-op meeting and the bruising had gone down before I drove - about 3 and a half weeks.  My first op date was 3 weeks after results of biopsy, but got delayed while they investigated me for something else.  Was put on Letrozole while waiting another 5 weeks for that to be done and that seemed to keep growth at bay - was eostrogen positive.  Once you have an op date, chat to your nurse about the timings.   Think many of use try to put a brave face on, but its OK to feel emotional and a good cry can help.

I was out and about normally the day after my operation. I was driving after 48 hours (although I know others have been advised to leave this longer). I went on holiday (admittedly in the UK) after 5 days. I went running 13 days after the operation. I went swimming 20 days after the operation. I had full movement in my arm all the time, able to dress myself, really no issues. I didn’t need painkillers other than a few days of paracetamol.  Please try not to get stressed about it, i didn’t find it a major operation and I am sure it’s best to get it done sooner rather than later.