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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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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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October 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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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 Zoom meetups 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, and learn…
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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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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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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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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…
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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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New Lumpectomy pain 8 months in
Am trying not to panic but am having some serious pain in the area of my lumpectomy. It has been 8 months since surgery and all has been well. Lumpectomy site is basically at one o'clock when looking at me and is quite deep. I unfortunately had a sarcoma after the surgery which has meshed my tissue to the chest wall. This…
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Post mastectomy finger tingling and numbness
Has anyone experienced hand/finger numbness and tingling after mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy? I had mastectomy about six weeks ago. No chemo or radiation. My pinky and ring fingers experience numbness from time to time. I understand numbness in the armpit or chest area is normal. What about numbness in the hands and…
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Drain vs no drain
I assumed I would have drains after my mastectomy, but my surgeon says he prefers not to use them and we will greatly reduce risk of infection. What is your experience if you didn’t have drains?? Did you have seroma?
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LYMPHA (Lymphovenous Bypass) Procedure With Mastectomy/Lumpectomy?
My surgeon told me that for her institution, after axillary dissection, the bypass is only done on for the arm, and not breast. If you have experience with bypass, what is done for both arm and breast? Also, there is comment that the bypass might be destroyed by radiation. Have you heard about this? Thank you.
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Mastectomy prep list
This site got me through treatment. There used to be lists - how to prep for mastectomy. That list was soooooo helpful for me. I have a friend who is having a double mastectomy in two weeks. I can’t remember every tip and trick I learned because that was 2015. Is this list somewhere I can’t find? If it’s no longer…
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stress test
has anyone had to have a stress test before surgery? When my port was put in they noticed slow blood flow to my heart. Now surgeon wants a stress test done before breast surgery
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Bilateral mastectomy and they missed the biopsy clip
Hello, I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction implants for triple negative breast cancer on Ictober 21,2024. Pathology revealed no cancer in the limp nodes 😀but they did not find the biopsy clip( or the small tumor most likely). Have to go back for another surgery like a lumpectomy and possibly exchange of that…
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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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November 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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September 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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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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Incision didn't heal after lumpectomy and reconstruction surgery
Hello, September 12, 2024 I had a lumpectomy with reconstruction on my right breast. Cancer was removed. Unfortunately I have to have a second surgery to close up the wound, the incision did not heal and has opened up where wound care, wound vac was not going to heal the incision. My care team assures me there is no…
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Scared. Breast edema after mastectomy with reconstruction
Back on the forum after 1.5 years… I was diagnosed with TNBC 2 years ago: 3cm, no lymph node invasion. I had 16 Chemo+6 Keytruda, double mastectomy with reconstruction, and PCR. All 23 nodes were removed, without infiltration signs. I had no Rads or other treatment since. In January 2024 I had another surgery on the same…
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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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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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May 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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Urgent Help! Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy and Radiation
Hello, I'm new here. I am struggling with a surgery decision. I am scheduled for a double mastectomy next week. I've had a lumpectomy (April) and a re-excision (May). I just finished chemo a little over a month ago (TC x 4). First oncologist wanted ACT x 9, but Stanford tumor board said TC x 4. I was diagnosed in late…
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Hypersensitive skin/nerves after mastectomy
Hi, I am new to the forum, so I apologize if the question has been asked and answered in the past. I had a double mastectomy 7 weeks ago (no recon) and the second week after it I started experiencing a strange kind of pain in the upper chest area and armpits. It feels like a bad sunburn being rubbed over with sandpaper. It…
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NorCal Kaiser Dr Rec??
Hi. I was diagnosed last week with DCIS and I am feeling pretty overwhelmed. I need a mastectomy and I am considering an asthetic flat closure. Does anyone have any experience with a good Kaiser surgeon & plastic surgeon? I’m in the SF Bay Area so I can travel to any nearby Kaiser. I just don’t know which Kaiser has the…
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The Mastectomy I Always Wanted
The Mastectomy I Always Wanted Sep 13, 2024 Erica Neubert Campbell discusses her memoir about her breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy, and reconstruction. While preparing for breast cancer surgery and reconstruction, Erica Neubert Campbell was understandably scared and anxious. She also had no idea what her…
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Which doctor will manage your regular check up/ monitoring after your breast surgery
Hello. I was just diagnosed with IDC. I’m still confused about the roles of different doctors. I know the surgeon does the surgery. The medical oncologist deals with meds (tamoxifen, etc). The radiology oncologist does radiation therapy. However, I’m not sure what doctor is devising the treatment plan (do I need chemo, do…
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Scar Care
Hi! I'm curious about the best ways people have found to care for their incision scars. I'm three weeks out from my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. My physical therapist suggested Vitamin E or coconut oil and gentle self-massage. I did a quick/limited search online and found several studies that determined that…