Newbie

Hi there - I too found the lump myself so it wasn’t large,  Grade 2 and ER8,PR8 I  had a lumpectomy and SNB early Sep 2021 - the operation was a lot less painful than I expected and I went home the same day and enjoyed a nice evening meal with my family. I took painkillers for 3 days and then no longer needed them. Just be prepared for swelling (more than I expected) and have comfortable bras ready to wear 24/7! Mine was the left side and I followed the exercises as advised which I think helped my recovery. Take it easy and listen to your body. Good luck! 

Thank you , good to hear. 

I had small area 11mm of DCIS removed.  I went to theatre at 3pm, back at 5pm and home eating soup by 8.30pm.  I didn't suffer any pain and didn't need painkillers.  I had a pillow for the journey home to protect me from seat belt - I was passenger in case anyone thinks I was driving!!  I am a 36/38G bra size and my scar is on top of my breast.  Non wired bras just wouldn't hold the girls up so after pulling wires out of one of my bras for journey home from hospital I reverted to an old cotton padded bra that was a bit big for me - I lost weight.  This was underwired but BC nurse said ok as it didn't interfere with my scar.  In case you not let home same day or have long wait take phone charger, front opening PJ top or night or even zip up hoody.

Thank you ! I am also a 38G so appreciate the bra tips as yes I’ve been told no underwires, and the pillow for car . I am due in at 8am and have been told I’m second on the list so hopefully home that afternoon . Glad to hear you didn’t have any pain x

I was 2nd on list but then they swapped it around and I was last!!!  Sods law.  Luckily I had my kindle with me plus I heard the nurse say a million times to other ladies, "you can't go home until you've eaten".  I had ordered dinner - sausage and mash, as apparently I would be back by 2pm!!  One of other ladies hadn't ordered food as they said she wouldn't be back in time, so she had my dinner.  I knew to go home I had to eat though so I asked nurse for sandwich after my cup of tea.  I wasn't at all hungry and was planning on hiding sandwich to escape but when it arrived I devoured it!!  Strange.  Another cup of tea and told I was ok to go as I'd kept food and drink down.

Bra expanders from Ebay are good for making bra a bit loser and don't use underwired if the wires are anywhere near irritating your wounds.  The stretchy step into bras are good too for night time to stop them moving and pulling on scars.  I also used these at night during radiotherapy to hold a ST in place under my breast to soak moisture casued by skin on skin burns.  I was given special dressing but my skin didn't like.    I bought a couple of non wired Debenhams post surgery bras for use during radiotherapy, as skin can be a bit sensitive - imagine light sunburn.  Size wise though a nightmare.  I ended up with about a dozen bras delivered to try at home and I'm sure I settled on a 40 E as  most comfortable.  I grew a bit attached to them.  

That sounds positive  I have my op tomorrow afternoon and like you it's stage 2, lumpectomy with sentinel nodes removed.  Been really worried about it all, hope like you not too painful. Mine is on the left too, I sleep on my right so hoping it doesn't pull. 

Got some post operative bras but a bit tight. Should have remeasured before I ordered.

Didn't know until nice assistant in m and s told me that with cancer bras and swimwear are vat free. Just let them know at the counter  

The assistant who told me took me to the pay desk herself and did the transaction so I didn't have to say in front of other people 

You could be writing for me word for word except my op tomorrow afternoon.  Thank you for posting the question, the replies are helpful

Petty thief I also had lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node removal. I think it very much depends on where they go in to get the lump as to the amount of pain afterwards. For me, they went in under the breast along the bra line and up into the breast behind the nipple (they originally planned to remove the nipple) and I did suffer considerable pain initially as the scar was where the bra rubbed. However, strong pain relief and a week later and the pain became manageable and 2 weeks after the op I did the Race for Life. So please don't be anxious about the op. Just find a comfortable bra. I used the M and S vest tops with built in support initially as they didn't rub the scar too much and now use matalan bra tops.Wishing you lots of luck. You've got this x

Thank you for replying - it’s all so new it’s great to hear from people who have been there . My lump is upper right quadrant so I think they are going in at the top. I have some pull on type ones - it’s my right breast which is how I usually sleep so hopefully I’ll give a comfy position to manage xx

Good luck with your op , let me know how you get on xxx