Hi all-
Last Thursday I had a lumpectomey on my left breast (upper inner area) and a sentinel node biopsy. I just have a few questions for those who have been through this before me:
1. There is quite a bit of swelling in that breast (not surprising), and while the surgical sites look pretty good, the "low gravity" area around the nipple is swollen and the nipple almost inverted, and the skin there shows swelling and looks odd. This would likely not worry me at all, except that last year my mom had inflammatory breast cancer, with inverted nipple and peau d'orange skin, and this looks somewhat similar to me. Can anyone describe how their breast looked?
2. At the site of my sentinel node (in my axilla area) there is a raised ridge. Should I be rubbing/massaging this area to help it loosen up?
I see the surgeon tomorrow, and will ask all these questions, just htought maybe someone here could help.
many thanks-
Chris in NM dx 4-23-08 with IDC
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lvtwoqlt Joined: May 2007 Posts: 2727 |
May 13, 2008 12:20 pm
lvtwoqlt wrote:
Chris, you can try a little ice to help with the swelling. As far as what the nipple looked like, I can't tell you, my lumpectomy was on the axillia quad and no where near the nipple. Sheila We are like tea bags, we don't know how strong we are until we were thrown into hot water. Eleanore Roosevelt
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revkat Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 194 |
May 13, 2008 01:38 pm
revkat wrote:
Chris, I had a lumpectomy 2/27 and my nipple did change appearance. It looked inverted for quite a while and even now when it is warm/not stimulated (is that TMI?) it is flat. But it will perk up. The surgeon says it's all normal and doing well. I don't know about the ridge -- but I will say a I had to have AND and my arm pit still feels sore at time. Dx 1/27/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 1/20 nodes, ER+, HER2- |
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Dejaboo Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 826 |
May 13, 2008 02:12 pm
Dejaboo wrote:
Hi Chris, Part of the Nipple change may be due to the Pre SNB stuff. The Radioactive tracer or the Dye Injection. I would try Ice on your Breast also. I did that for several days off & on after my Lumpectomy. Just keep it dry. I wouldnt do any massaging until you check with your Dr tomorrow. If you are more worried- I would call the surgeons nurse today. My Nipple 6 weeks later is different then it used to be. It is more inverted & Lies to the side :o Pam Dx 3/7/2008, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2+ |
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ChrisNM Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 |
May 13, 2008 05:45 pm
ChrisNM wrote:
Thanks everyone! This helps relieve my fears! :-) Chris in NM |
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priz47 Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 113 |
May 14, 2008 11:41 pm
priz47 wrote:
I had mylumpectomy and SNB on Friday and have almost identical sitution. My breast is still swollen and much larger. My nipple is numb, different color and also flat. I am numb atmy SNB incision site. I'd like to hear what your doc says. Mine is OOT until May 22 so I have to wait till then. Also have to wait for results! I hate waiting!!! D |
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ChrisNM Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 |
May 15, 2008 09:56 am
ChrisNM wrote:
Dear D- Saw my doc yesterday, and he thought everything looked great. He explained that some fluid build-up (which causes the flat nipple, odd look) is good and helps the cosmetic effect long-term. Also, I realized that when that breast get jiggled, it sounds like a partially empty water bottle being shaken (glug...glug...glug) He said this is also "normal" for some, even though it is weird (and it's LOUD enough for people around me to hear!) Hope you are hanging in there! Chris in NM |
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dwayne2 Joined: May 2008 Posts: 3 |
May 15, 2008 11:50 am
dwayne2 wrote:
I HAD MY LUMPECTOMY FOUR YEARS AGO AND EVERYTHING IS BACKTO NORMAL.IT WILL TAKE TIME DUE TO THE FLUID BUILD UP. |
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SusanG Joined: May 2008 Posts: 93 |
Jun 12, 2008 09:28 am
SusanG wrote:
Oh, I'm so glad to hear the fluid sound is normal. That was really weirding me out. I just had my lumpectomy on June 6th, and noticed that over the weekend. Just flat weird. I also noticed if I thump lightly on my breast, it sounds rather like a ripe watermelon - sorta hollow. LOL. How weird can all this get? Or should I even ask that? Su |
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mfranco Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 |
Jun 14, 2008 08:14 pm
mfranco wrote:
My mother is 79 years old and recently diagnos and is going to have a Lumpectomy later this week by a general surgeon in FL, said that an Oncologist will be attending. I am her daughter and I don't know much about Cancer except that it is not good. I live in Texas and will be flying to FL to be with her during this time. She lives alone and the surgeon said she will have to take radiation for 6 wks after the surgery and won't know if chimo is needed until her one of her top limp node is tested while she is still under. If possitive then all 6 limp nodes will be removed. I don't know what exact side effects she will have taking radiation. And the surgery will be done as an outpatient surgery. What is expected and is some left open that bandages need to be changed right after surgery? I know these are questions that my mother should have asked the doctor. But she depends on me alot and was given some literture from the doctors office and now that she is reading it, she is panicing. Please help someone. |
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