Different sized breasts following lumpectomy

Hello Shellbell24,  sorry you are feeling sensitive about your breasts being different sizes.  It is not easy to go through all this and not be happy with the outcome.  I had lumpectomy in both breasts and my left breast doesn’t look much different from before surgery.  My right one which had DCIS needed more tissue removed so I notice it has a little less volume but not real noticeable.  My margins were clear but for DCIS they like 2mm margin and there was a small area that had a little less than 1mm.  They brought up my case before tumor board and did not do more surgery as I was getting radiation.  They gave me a boost to the tumor bed on that side.  The surgeon had told me that I would not have had a good cosmetic result if he removed more tissue.  Also I was 73 at the time.  
Try not to get too discouraged as there is lipofilling that can be done to fill out that breast.  Plastic surgeons do it often here in US.  Even though I am older I was going to do it if I was not satisfied.  Radiation can change breasts too so it will be a year in May that I finished it so will see how I look then.  I am small breasted too so surgeons didn’t have a lot to work with!!

Good luck with the chemotherapy too.  Sometimes I think we are very critical of our bodies too.  It is not easy to go through this breast cancer diagnosis.  Lots of ups snd downs.  
Take care and I always say we have our perfect imperfections.
Barbara 

Hello Shellbell24

Have you had radiotherapy at all? I had a lumpectomy many, many years ago, after basically the same type of operations you had, 1st lumpectomy, 2nd further site clearance. (makes me sound like I need a skip).

Anyway, radiotherapy followed, and the effects of that on breast tissue mean you can get a lot of tissue contraction afterwards, so it looks like the breast has shrunk. This is quite normal, you are not on your own. :) If you're really concerned about it being more obvious in summer months, consider a small breast form to pop in to your bra on the affected side. Just had another op earlier this year, but didn't need radiotherapy thank goodness. Best of luck with it. 

Hi Barbara 

thank you for sharing your experience, I haven’t had radiation yet so will wait until after then. I haven’t heard of lipofilling but will look into that although god knows how much that will cost! It seems silly to worry about this what what I’ve been through already but we sometimes can’t help how we feel! 
Hope you stay healthy and happy!

Hi Polgara

i haven’t had radiotherapy yet so it’s a bit distressing to learn it could get worse. It’s hard to accept the changes in my body as it’s a daily reminder and I now hate the way I look. I wish I didn’t! I’ll look into something for my bra, as a big busted woman I’ve never needed these before! Thanks for sharing and hope you’re well 

Hi Shellbell24,  this article explains techniques used to get better cosmetic outcomes especially if you have large breasts you have more options.  You may find it useful too.  Take care and I can understand how you are feeling but there are options if you want to do that but best to wait until done with radiation as that can change the breast too.  Plastic surgeons are amazing.  Sending hugs your way.

https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/types/oncoplastic-lumpectomy

Barbara

Hi Shelllbell24, I'm sorry to hear that you're having this issue. Short of being on your death bed there will always be bigger issues than cosmetic ones but that doesn't make it any less poignant or difficult. It tough. I had a therapeutic mammoplasty (reduction and uplift) as the position of the tumours meant a lumpectomy would have left me with a deformity. The surgeon did a great job and I was really pleased with the shape but I developed fat necrosis and now I have a dimpled, dented and very lopsided boob.  I'm due to start radiotherapy sometime in the new year which I'm told can cause further damage so Ive just accepted that it won't look great for some time to come. Im finding it impossible to get a bra that fits two different cup sizes but because of the wonkiness I don't think a prosthetic would help. What I would like to say is that my surgeon has been very reassuring in that there are lots of things that can be done cosmetically once all the treatment is over. I.e. a fat graph from another area of your body in my case and a reduction and uplift on my other breast to match them up. I'm not sure that'll cheer you up or not and this summer might have to come and go but there'll be plenty more summers you can enjoy with all the options available if you choose to go down that route. It's tough though, really tough, to go through any physical change like this, so go easy on yourself and know that you are not on your own. Its crap but it can be temporary. But yes of course, its horrible right now. Hugs x 

Hi Shellbell24, I had a lumpectomy and 7 nodes removed at the beginning of October and now I have 2 different sized boobs. At first because of the swelling there was very little difference except a 10cm scar, numbness across my whole breast and the back of my arm and a large blue blob. Over the weeks as the swelling has gone down the scar has shrunk and puckered and I have developed a large hollow. The breast has lift and shrunk significantly and I would guess it is now a couple of cup sizes smaller, the numbness and blue dye remain unchanged. I don't think the changes have finished yet as there is  a lot of hard tissue around the scar and I still have radiotherapy to come. I haven't really come to terms with the changes yet, at times I can be quite accepting of it as the price I pay to get better, while other days I look at my reflection and want to cry. As you say its baggy jumper time  so feel like I'm well covered at the moment. I know its early days and I'm not sure how long it will be before I come to the end of the changes to my boob and then can be in a position to decide if its something I can accept and  or if I will pursue some reconstruction. I hope your radiotherapy goes OK

When I had my op I had what they call a quadrectomy  where I quarter of my breast was removed now  I have one big boobie and a small boobie the way I see itit doesn't matter I'm still here   and it is noticeable but  I'm comfortable  about     I dont worry what other think  I'm me and they can like it or lump it xx

I'm sorry you're feeling so self-conscious, but the thing to focus on now is getting through the treatment.  I had a very good cosmetic outcome, as I had a lumpectomy with bilateral mammoplasty i.e. a reduction on the healthy breast to match the one that had gone rogue.  Good luck with the rest of your chemo.

Hi shellbell24 

I had chemotherapy,  radiotherapy and lumpectomy nearly 2 years ago and like you my breast is about 2 sizes smaller but is also really misshapen.  I seen the surgeon last March and she didn't seem bothered, I actually came out crying.  I see her again next month so hope she will be more sympathetic.  I know it's sounds wrong but I sometimes wish they had given me a mastectomy so I could have reconstruction.  I know I should be focusing on the fact it saved my life but it does get me down. 

Hope the rest of your treatment goes well, but you are not alone in this.

carolyn x