Breast surgery by local anaesthetic- should it be painful?

Hi AEmac welcome to the forum. I have never heard of this being done with anything but a general anaesthetic. That sounds super painful and I would be tempted to be complaining in writing to the health board about this. I imagine that the whole idea of doing that with a local anaesthetic was that you felt no pain and the fact that they never checked with you is shocking. What's your thoughts on how to highlight this shocking period of care? Xxx

Dear Gail, thank you! You have given me advice and reassurance. I think what you say is the right thing to do, but am a little nervous- I might need this surgeon again, and if he’s got the cancer out then is that not the main thing. Just need a bit of confidence….

Hi again it is entirely up to you what you do about this, or as you say leave things for now. You have to do what feels right for you. It's OK to not feel confident  xxx

Hi AEMac , so sorry to read your experience as it sounds truly horrible. I can understand your dilemma in case you need this surgeon again, but it just sounds so wrong, not to have checked whether the local anaesthetic was working. I can only offer this very limited experience that I’ve had of local anaesthesia for a breast procedure: recently I had a biopsy taken of a skin lesion at the base of my nipple, on the other side from my original cancer. It was just to be sure that it was a benign something or other rather than a malignancy. It was done at the breast clinic at a follow up appointment. The surgeon said that the local anaesthetic injections should be the only painful thing and that I should say immediately if I felt anything during the procedure. It was just a punch biopsy so a very minor thing but the point of my story is that he emphasised that there should be no pain other than the injections and that he’d put more anaesthetic in if necessary. I know that your re excision was a much bigger procedure than mine but I’m sure it should not have been painful. And if there was a risk of feeling it, I think you should have been given the option of a general anaesthetic. Sounds pretty barbaric actually! Sorry I haven’t offered any solution but I feel quite outraged on your behalf. I hope you can find a way to convey how you feel about this so that it stops repeating in your mind and waking you up in the night. I wonder if it would help to phone the helpline here at MacMillan to talk to someone? Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

• Dear HappyFeet, that is so reassuring, thank you. It sounds like you had a v good surgeon and a fair one too. Yes, it was a bit barbaric: a ‘gung ho’ surgeon  who forgot to communicate properly with me.I would almost go as far as to say he made me feel unsafe. Glad you understand my dilemma. Makes me cross to think these people are only answerable to the GMC. Surgeons ‘pull rank’ together and Medical Directors don’t want to risk putting their best surgeons’ noses out of joint. But I am glad the NHS have a formal feedback process who someone of suitable seniority might take forward. I’m speaking to a Counsellor on Friday. Thank you MacMillan!

Wow that is awful! I had to go back in after my lumpectomy as my margins weren’t clear to have a shaving.
Mine was done under a general anaesthesia. I did ask at the time if it would be done under a local as I found the biopsy painful.  My MacMillan nurse said absolutely not! …..She said we’re not that cruel it’s done under a GA. I think that’s terrible you had it done like that, adding even more stress and anxiety to a to a really tough time you’re already going through.

im so sorry you’ve had to go through that. Hope you’re healing well. Sending you a much needed hug x

Thank you NewJourney, I really appreciate your email. It was cruel. Your surgeon is quite right and I hope everything has gone well with your cancer journey. All the very best

And to you, take care. It’s a horrible time both physically and mentally ️

I get results Monday to hear if my margins are clear nowHoping I might hear re Chemo too - that’s my me is the bit I’m dreading xxxx

sending hugs x

Sending hugs too. Remember the strength of the human spirit- that’s what you’ve got, what we all have.