Lumpectomy with nipple removal wearing a bra after removing dressings

I think wearing your post-surgery bra would be beneficial, at least until you've spoken to your BCN. Best wishes.

I think that different hospitals have different protocols Sowa. When I had my lumpectomy in April I attended two dressing clinics. At the first one they checked the dressing and decided to leave it for a few more days and at the second one they removed the dressing, checked the wound and applied a new dressing which I was instructed to remove after a few more days.

I was told to wear my post-surgery bra continuously day and night for 4 weeks to keep everything contained and to allow the wounds to heal.

x 

Thanks Sapphire. I’ll do that x

Thanks for your detailed response latchbrook. I would feel far happier going to clinic so that they could decide whether the dressing is ready to come off but sadly that’s not an option. I wonder if it’s a postcode lottery?

Anyway, I hope you’re doing well and wish you the best of luck going forward x

Thanks for your well wishes Sowa. My wounds from the lumpectomy have healed really well and the scars are beginning to reduce. Off for my next chemo this afternoon.

x

Hoping it won’t be long till you’re getting the all clear ️

Hello Sowa,  You are doing well and I will let you know what I did.  This is just my personal experience and I am small breasted (34A) so makes a difference.  I went braless through all my recovery and only wore a bra if going out for appointments etc.  Had 2 lumpectomy surgeries done and one had a dressing that I removed after 2days and the other one just had glue.  The lumpectomies were done a few months apart by 3 different doctors.  Complicated story.  
Your surgery was more complicated as you had nipple removed and lymph node too.  My best advice is to do what feels best and what the surgeon recommends.  Take care snd hope you heal up well.  
Barbara

Thanks Barbara. I like Hopeful Barb .

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. The breast cancer nurse returned my call and the dressing has to be on for 10 days not five as stated in my discharge letter so I’ve got a bit more time to plan. I completely forgot to ask about the bra! What a numpty I am. 

I hope you’re all healed now and recovering nicely x

Thanks for asking how I am doing.  Feeling really good and so thankful.  Nice to be done with surgery and radiation.  Now on anastrazole as was estrogen and progesterone positive.  I was so happy to see my breast surgeon last month as I wanted to see what he thought about my lumpectomy results.  He said I looked great and that they were symmetrical.  I still wonder if anything will change as I had radiation but I am not going to worry about it.  I guess you will need radiation once you are healed and when I went through it I did have quite a lot of zinger type pains which is nerves.  Once I finished radiation and got the ok to do breast massage my zingers went away  and haven’t come back since.  I do it daily and will continue for 6 months per radiation oncologist.  Yeah!!

I think they want you to keep on the dressing for awhile longer and that is good.  Gives everything a chance to heal.  I am glad you called.  You can always call about the bra later. 
Take it easy and happy healing.  
Barbara 

Definitely recommend that you keep wearing your bra continuously until everything is healed and any bruising has gone.  That can be 3-4 weeks.  Glad they advised you to keep the dressings on a bit longer.   When you do remove them, do it very slowly and carefully.  If you think they need re-dressed then the local nurses in your GP surgery should be able to help.