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March/April 2025 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Scheduled for Surgery May 2025? Gather here for support!
Add to the discussion below to share your scheduled surgery date, type of surgery, what you're doing to prepare, ask any questions you have about what to expect, share your experience after surgery, how you're recovering, tips to help others recover, products and other practical advice for those coming after you. We're all…
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Advice for someone about to have breast surgery
Let's start a new thread to get this rolling!
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Getting ready for surgery? Join us on Zoom.
Our professionally facilitated In Treatment Virtual Support Groups are a great space to meet others going through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or reconstruction to talk face-to-face and get support while going through active treatment. You'll pick up great tips from others who've been there, gain immeasurable support,…
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Prepping for Surgery? Start Here.
For information on all types of breast cancer surgery, see the main Breastcancer.org site's pages on: Surgery, including info on what to expect with any surgery Lumpectomy , featuring info on what it is, risks and what to expect Mastectomy , with what to expect, risks, and questions to ask Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy, for…
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Pulsing/Vibrating sensation in lumpectomy breast
Just wondering if anyone has experienced a pulsing type vibrating sensation in their breast following surgery and radiation and what they did about it? I am 4 months post-lumpectomy and 2 months post-radiation and for the last 4 days I have had a strange, constant, high speed vibrating sensation in the lumpectomy area. Is…
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Scared to LOOK at new Me
Hello All, Has anyone felt like me? I had a skin sparring bilateral mastectomy last week. I had one fill-into my TE since surgery. I still have drains in. So far, I am healing well and feeling good. Yet, I have NOT looked down at the new me. I am scared to see the change and results. I don't regret having the surgery. But…
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Surgery/reconstruction
I have my surgery for double mastectomy next week with reconstruction. How do you handle the anxiety? What do I need 2 know or have ready when I get home?
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Shopping/packing/to-do list for surgery + recovery....
OK, I admit it, I am a compulsive planner. I have had some great suggestions and tips not only regarding what to bring to the hospital, but also on how to prepare the house to make the recovery as easy as possible. I am travelling for surgery so, for me, "packing" includes the first 10 days of post-op care. I thought I…
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Decision about lumpectomy or mastectomy
I was just diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and am a bit overwhelmed about the influx of information. For many years, my sisters and I have quipped that if one of us gets “it”, we will go get double mastectomies together. Our mother had it a few times, and she didn’t survive the last bout. When my husband met with…
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Pain with tissue expanders two weeks post double mastectomy
hi all - I had a skin saving double mastectomy two weeks ago and at the one week follow up the nurse said “you look pretty full” and saw that the PS filled one at 450 and the other at 400. After the one week appointment, as the surgery swelling went down, I started getting sharp pains at the bottom of my left chest, by the…
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Post Masectomy Pain After Emptying Drains
After single masectomy (right) surgery a single drain was put in a has to be emptied throughout the day. After emptying, there is pain radiating side to side, which seems to be from the drain vacuum pressure when it's empty. Any recommendations for pain management? we are Taking pain medication as prescribed Emptying drain…
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Pain on my mastectomy scar 15 years later
I have alway had discomfort sometimes bad. Now it worse and pretty constant. I have mastectomy left side with no implant had it taken out to help relieve pain obviously it didn’t help that much. Anyone else have this? Thx
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Regaining Muscle Strength and atrophy
I am early in this journey. I had my first consultation with the plastic surgeon yesterday. I'm 66 and opting for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. The oncologist will take one lymph node on the right side. I am concerned about the recovery time and loss of strength in my arms as I am a ceramic/ clay artist and…
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Didn't have a clean margin, go back in and re-excise?
I had surgery 2 weeks ago (lumpectomy); and just got to meet with my surgeon. One of my margins wasn't clear and she's recommending going back in and doing another surgery. I'm scheduled to start chemo next week, and then radiation. Isn't the whole point of doing chemo and radiation to kill anything that might still be…
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Breast surgeon recommendation
Can anyone recommend some top surgical oncologists for breast cancer in the NYC area? I appreciate it in advance.
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Red Breast Syndrome from Alloderm
Almost 4 weeks to the date post BMX, I got a red rash on lower half of 1 breast. I have acellular dermal matrix in place under a direct to implant 410 gummie. I read the ADM (alloderm) causes this in some people. Anyone else had this? Wondering how long it will last & if anyone was treated with steroids?
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Preparing for Single Mastectomy
Hi- I have right side ILC and will be having unilateral mastectomy surgery in April. How do I prepare? Looking for tips including products to ease my recovery for both me and my family (My husband and our 10 year old daughter at home/18 year old son away at college, plus we have a young dog). Thanks in advance for sharing…
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February 2025 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Spring surgeries
wondering if there are any other April or May surgeries? Just recovering from my late April mastectomy.
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Pre- and Post-surgery supplements, vitamins and foods
I've been looking into what are good supplements to take before and after surgery. It's too late for me to start taking anything PREsurgery, but I thought this would help others--this is from Dr. Steven Sinatra. I plan on taking various supplements right after surgery to help with healing. Power Healing is a term I've…
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January 2025 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Post mastectomy nerve pain
OMG!!!! Does anyone else have shooting pains and your boobs feel like they are on fire? I'm a week post double mastectomy and the shooting pain and the feeling that my right breast is still there is not something to joke about. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain. I cooked supper two days post pop and have resumed…
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Pre surgery questions and aftercare
I met with the consultant yesterday and he told me the results from my second biopsy (on a 2nd lump that showed up on MRI) came back as non cancerous, but atypical cells. He is awaiting further investigation on that biopsy. I thought this was positive news because now l can get booked in for surgery. I wanted to ask if…
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Chest tightness - post Bilateral Mastectomy
I've done a search, and have come up empty handed.....so I'm asking those of you who have had bilateral mastectomies (without reconstruction)......what about chest tightness???? I am now 11 days past my BMX. Two (of four) drains were removed three days ago, and the tightness wasn't so bad then (otherwise, I would have…
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How Bad Is A DMX? - Considering a Prophylactic DMX
I just met with a new breast surgeon (the one who did my lumpectomy is no longer practicing) to discuss prophylactic DMX or SMX. I had a lumpectomy in my right breast in 2021 - small tumor (3mm), good KI67 score, no chemo. I'm age 67, will be 68 in October. I get annual MRIs due to very dense breasts, and a "suspicious"…
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Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
WELCOME TO THE LUMPECTOMY LOUNGE! I've searched and searched BC.org and couldn't find a specific post just for those of us who have had lumpectomies (unless there was one and it got buried). So, I thought that it was about time that we had our own place that we can come to...where we can discuss, ask questions, tell…
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DCIS - second opinion regarding a masectomy
Has anyone gotten a second opinion on your treatment for DCIS? My area if 4+ cm and the surgeon is recommending the complete masectomy of that breast. Thank you.
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December 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Please gather here to get and give support. Feel free to share your type of surgery, date, and let us know how you're preparing and how you're doing post-surgery. We're all here for you!
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Questions regarding Metastatic BC
Previously had stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma=lumpectomy, 7 weeks radiation, then tamoxifen (stopped taking after 1.5 yrs).BRACA testing at this time was negative. OncoDX number was 11. Fast forward 7 years, It is now Metastatic. I am ER +, PR+, HERS2-. PET Scan a couple days ago, received results ..alot of "no's/none"…
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Salpingo-oophorectomy experiences and tips?
Hello, I decided to get this procedure done so I don't need to be dependent on the monthly shots. I understand that the surgery itself is pretty quick and straightforward, but I was surprised about the recovery instructions and a whole month without lifting more than 10 pounds. Also the doctor recommended two weeks off…
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1 Year appointment and stressed!!
I just had my 1 year appointment. Everything went good, however my Dr. recommended me getting an ultrasound. I have had two mammograms since my lumpectomy and the first one said post surgical changes and a seroma and the second one said no changes. However, I have a hard lump directly where the lumpectomy bed is. It is…
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Mastectomy after radiation - healing issues?
Hi there! New to the forum. Was diagnosed with DCIS a year ago and had 2 lumpectomy surgeries (to get good margins) plus radiation. Now a year later, they have found Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia in my other breast. Looking at another surgery, possibly more?, heightened screening and probably medication for estrogen…
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SLNB pain
Hi and happy holidays (or at least coping holidays—whatever we can muster at this point, I think), I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts or remedies or experiences to help me think through my SLNB. I had a delayed SLNB, so I got it after the mastectomy. Well, it hurts so much more than I had ever imagined. I know that…