Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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My first post-op mammo was 6 mos. post-rads too.
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My first mammo was 6 mos post also
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My doctors told me they do it six months after surgery, etc. because they need a new baseline for future comparisons to show the scarring and then be able to compare for any changes in the surgical area.
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Thank you for responding. Would you mind sharing your experience with your lumpectomy? I didn't anticipate the 2nd option. It seems like more than I want. I know many women are smaller after radiation so I am trying to figure out how much they would know to reduce the other breast down to. The blessing of being able to have a lumpectomy is that it is less involved surgery .... the reduction seems like alot to me. The dissolving prosthesis is to fill in the space where the tissue is removed. As it dissolves it should not leave as large of a space.
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I recovered very quickly from the lumpectomy—the only painkiller I needed other than Tylenol was the one bolus of Fentanyl they injected into my I.V. in the recovery room before disconnecting it. I developed two seromas: one in the tumor cavity, which didn't and still doesn't hurt; and one the size of a tangerine, just below my armpit, which burst when the weight of Super-Boob pulled open the SNB incision 3-1/2 wks. post-op. But the rest of the fluid was pressed out, the incision sutured this time, and after the stitches were removed, the seroma shrank to the size of a grape before disappearing.
I had accelerated partial-breast radiation (16 sessions, external), and I pretty much sailed through it. No pain, no irritation, no itching, no fatigue. Paradoxically, the rads made my breast larger! (It's back to its pre-op size now as the seroma shrank to 10 cm., roughly the size of the chunk they took out to get clear margins. Might be smaller than that by now—will know this Aug. at my next mammo). If you saw me naked in the locker room and didn't notice the faded scar along the side, you'd think it was my “normal" breast—the “healthy" one is droopy and flat-ish, even though it's a cup size larger.
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ML, recovered quickly from both initial LX and from re-excision to get clean margins. Surgery on Tuesday back to work following Monday. Only took pain meds first day then Tylenol. Ice helped the most. Incision is at 9 o'clock position. BS told me that because lump was near chest wall I shouldn't see any deformity on breast, just about an inch scar, which is true, no dimple. I'm small, b cup. Radiation wasn't bad, itching and fatigue. I think now breast is a little smaller than right side, but not enough to use a filler in my bra.
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Thank you all so much for taking the time to share with me! Most that I know that have had BC either needed a mx or chose to have one. Makes it hard to find others who have had a lumpectomy.
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M1209 - I agree, very hard to find first hand info on lumpectomy and the varying choices available . . . which makes this forum great. Please keep us posted. Your experience will help the next person.
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I wanted to share with all that my second biopsy on second location on my breast came back benign. A big sigh of relief.
So back to the original game plan of a lumpectomy with brachytherapy. And with the benign spot excised. Surgeon appt. this Wed. and hopefully a surgery date soon.
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Whew! Relief indeed. Hope the lumpectomy goes well, the brachytherapy is short and uneventful and you can move on to the anti-hormonals ASAP.
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Yes, its just nice to have a game plan now.
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GardenNerd, Great news!! I'm very happy for you. Now things can get rolling.
HUGS!
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Gardennerd, YAY! What a relief, now you can move on to next steps. Hope you can have a relaxing weekend now.
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Great news Gardennerd.... I am so happy for you. I know you are relieved! They called me today and my surgery is May 24th. Did anyone have a minilift? That is the plan as if now.
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Adding in another "great news" for you Gardennerd.
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Gardennerd, great news! It is fantastic to be able to return to the plans you've mentally prepared yourself for!
All - I'd posted about 3 weeks ago after learning that my re-excision still didn't have clean margins and that I needed to get a biopsy in the right, healthy breast, and was trying to decide what the heck to do next. I've been following along on your posts, but not posting myself, so figured it was time! First, the biopsy turned out negative (YAY!) which meant the left side decision was all about whether I was willing to risk a third (and final) excision attempt, of just cut it all off. My MO reminded me that survival % was the same for both procedures. After much thought and talking to people, I decided on the re-excision which was performed last week. Just yesterday I got the pathology -- and my margins are CLEAN! Third time's the charm! It was the best news I've had in a long time! (Well, the negative right biopsy was the best news, but this was a very close second!)
M1209 - I also want to share my experience with lumpectomy because, even though it sounds like it was rough with multiple re-do's, I have to say the actual surgeries I found to be quite 'easy'. My first was a lumpectomy (incision around the nipple/areola) plus a full axillary dissection. The lumpectomy incision was not generally painful; the biggest discomfort was from the ALND, but even so I only needed tylenol. (Of course, keeping the cat from walking on my chest has been very important!) A week later, I had my second surgery where they had to remove my nipple/areola complex (4" incision) (sad) - but even that was not bad for pain/recovery. Took tylenol; surgery on Tuesday and back to work 2 days later on Thursday. The last surgery was basically a re-do of the second but more tissue removed. I had more pain in post-op recovery and took a percoset. Beyond that, occasional tylenols. Again, I was only out of work for 2 days. I'm only 10 days post surgery on the last one, so the deep healing is still happening, and I'm sure there will be some occasional aches and pains due to the amount of tissue the surgeon had to remove. But I've been really amazed at how easy the recovery has been for me on this. Except for that darn cat who just LOVES to sit on my boobs ....
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GrendelDog, excellent news on negative biopsy and clean margins! So happy for you!
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GrendelDog - What wonderful news! Third time's a charm indeed - you were due for that charm to kick in!
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Checking in. I'm doing okay. Messed up on my meds for a couple days and overdosed on oxycodone. Yeah, so much fun. I apparently took one every time i woke up for about 24 hrs. Scared the pants off DH because I was so weird. Couldnt say a straight sentence for hours. Plus, I forgot to take my psych meds for 3 days and suffered withdrawal syndrome at the same time--severe vertigo, nausea, headache. Bleah. Needless to say,DH is in charge of meds now and I have decided to forego the narcotic!
The knee hurts about the same as before surgery. Maybe a little worse because of the swelling and stiffness. But I'm doing my PT faithfully and making good progress.
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Wow, poodles. Glad that DH will be in charge of your meds. Sounds like you had some scary times. Sending you healing thoughts.
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Poodles, how scary. Glad you're okay. You're in my thoughts.
HUGS!
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GrendelDog, so glad the 3rd time was the charm. Sorry it took 3 though. Keep healing!
HUGS!
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After we return from next year’s mega-cruise, I will seriously consider a bilateral reduction and left-breast lift. Yeah, my gut might look bigger by comparison, but then there’s always lipo…or Spanx.
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Sandy, that sounds like a big step for you. Is it something you were thinking about prior to BC?
HUGS!
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I hear you on those cats, GrendelDog! A pillow is my best friend! Congrats on the clean margins - what a relief!
Gardennerd - such good news. And isn't moving forward with a plan just the best? There's something soothing about the forward motion.
I went to a seminar put on my by nurse navigator yesterday. Lots of good info on nutrition and exercise.
MJ
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GrendelDog, yay for clean margins! I too have a cat that loves to lay on my boobs. She hasn't been allowed to since February when all of the biopsies started. I feel so bad for her because looks so sad!
Poodles, so scary about the oxy. When I was taking it, I'd wake up and not remember when I last took it. It scared me, so I started just taking Tylenol during the day and one oxy at bedtime. I need to get a notepad to record every time I take medication and keep it at my bedside.
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Hello girls, well I had my lumpectomy witb sentinel lobe surgery yesterday. It went very well. I got there at 7a.m., I was admitted and got my beautiful gown on. The nurse put in my IV and I have to tell you that was the worst part. I was sent down to mammography where they squeeze my breast with mammo machine, holding still is the most important thing to do. They injected my breast with lidocaine, then they inserted a probe until it reached the tumor. They took a picture and liked the placement so they remove the probe and it leaves behind a hairline string of wire to help guide the surgeon to the mass. It's taped down to my breast so I don't move it. After that they send you directly into surgery it was around 10a.m. I spoke to the dr and anestitist and that's all I remember! I woke up In recovery and the only discomfort I had was in my armpit, it just feels like you are squeezing a tennis ball under there. They gave me Percocet and watched me for about an hour before they sent me home at 4p.m. I had a great experience and what a relief that part is over. Now I just wait for path results to see if chemo is needed. If not I will start radiation. I hope anyone that hasn't had the surgery yet read my post and knows the worry about the unknown is the worst part. Today I feel completely normal and it's not even 24 hours ago I was in surgery. The Percocet they gave me kept me up all night itching but no pain. I'm even allowed to shower today using water and soap! The BS SAID she looked at the tumor under microscope and she's pretty positive she got it all. Same with the lymph she said they look clear but will wait for path to verify it. Thank you all for your kind words and sharing your experiences, I read them daily. I will go find that Alra and triderma to get ready for radiation. I also saw some of you had seroma or hematomas, if I were to develop them would it be immediate or over time? Glad to hear some of your great news but I cannot remember names! God is good!
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So glad everything went so well, Susie! A tiny word of caution: Don't get too frisky because you feel so well. Respect the fact that you've had major surgery. Pamper yourself a bit. Healing from the inside takes time. Until I saw my surgical report, I forgot about the internal stitches - I was focused on the external glue (the last of mine came off last night at five weeks post-op). My armpit and upper arm are what have given me the most discomfort - just starting to feel nearly normal.
I'm hoping the surgeon's right and you have the same results I did - clear margins and no node involvement. I should start my radiation in about two weeks - just waiting for the insurance authorization.
MJ
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Hi everybody i am glad you are doing ok, last week i had my 2 appointments my oncologist told me i am ok she showed me a graphic where is said that if i get the chemo the benefit would be with 1 % more than without, but she ordered the oncotype dx to see the results, because the size of the lump 2.5 and grade 3 she prefers to see them, that will probably will be an intermediate risk, with that we will make a decision. So i have to wait 3 more weeks. But i am preparing myself mentally if she tells me to do the chemo. Honestly my concern is losing my hair she said is not as bad as it seems only pain in the bones and for nausea and vomiting they give you drugs for that. I would need radiation for sure after the chemo. I have reading a forum about the cold caps to prevent losing the hair with positive results. I will try it i dont lose anything at this point. What do you think?
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Susie, so glad surgery went well. Praying for clear margins and negative nodes.
Vivianlu, sending you positive energy as you wait.
Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend. It's a rainy mess in Illinois. But the sun is trying to peek out.
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