Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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I had a single lumpectomy (L) & sentinel node biopsy (negative) for invasive ductal carcinoma. Surgery was Sep. 23, radiation (Canadian protocol) was Nov. 2-23. Would have started rads a tad earlier but for the axillary serome beneath the SNB incision bursting and having to be sutured for 2 wks. My DEXAScan the day I began rads showed osteopenia (I was zaftig--now no longer obese--but small-boned), but I went on an AI (letrozole) rather than tamoxifen because of AIs' superior recurrence prevention and wanting to avoid blood clots due to tamoxifen. I had two knee replacements, and clots are a lifelong risk because of that; my family's cardio history is a train wreck. Started with one Zometa infusion (can't take oral bisphosphonates due to GERD) which was disastrous, followed by 6 Prolia shots over 3 years. 2-yr DEXA showed bone density improvement (one score was in the normal range) despite being on an AI; next scan is Nov. We shall see.
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I will be finishing up my chemo treatments in a couple weeks. I do not have a date yet for surgery but thinking early November I’ll have a lumpectomy with SNB. I did have a brief discussion with my BS about the procedure, I’m sure closer to the date we will have another discussion. However, wondering if you folks could share what your experiences and been good or bad with this procedure. What was your recovery time? Back to working out? Energy restored?
Thanks for your help and sharing
Katiekin
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Katiekins, here's my recovery timetable:
I recovered pretty quickly from my lumpectomy/SNB, which was in late Sept. I had been warned by my surgeon's NP to expect fatigue, so sleep on my first floor for awhile; and to be unable to pull tops on & off over my head, so bought a couple pair of button-front PJs and button-front shirts. I was not given a pain-med prescription--I got a bolus of (I presume) Fentanyl in my I.V. when I awoke, but in my recovery "roomette" all I got were two regular (325mg) Tylenol. (I took a Norco from my husband's post-op stash that first night to sleep soundly. Went in for seed placement 8 am, surgery just before 2, home by 4:30pm.
First night, I slept downstairs but discovered I was fine climbing stairs, and had no trouble donning & doffing a normal nightgown. Second day my sis flew in from VA to help take care of me, but it turns out I didn't need any help--we went out to dinner, with her driving, I began getting some muscle soreness--it's called "scoline syndrome," from the succinylcholine (aka "sux") injection they give as soon as the propofol kicks in so that your throat muscles don't spasm when they intubate you just before giving you the general anesthesia gas. It is a strong muscle relaxant (nearly a paralytic), but just before it kicks in all your upper body muscles contract violently for a nanosecond. So don't freak out if on the second post-op day you start feeling as if you'd gone to the gym for the first time but all the machines were set on max resistance. It lasts till Day 4.
Third day, my sis & I were able to walk around the corner to Whole Foods and carry groceries home. Fourth day, we walked 1/3 mi. to brunch, then to the beach, then home. Sis flew back to VA. Bob (my DH) & I went out to dinner--and I drove home. 2 wks + 2 days post-op I drove 90 mi. ea. way to and from a gig in Rockford (I'm a singer-songwriter); my singing partner who drove down from Madison, WI carried all my instruments from my car and then back again. I was fine. By then the Steri-Strips had fallen off my main incision, but there were still a couple hanging on to the SNB incision--under which had formed a painless seroma the size of a tangerine.
At 3-1/2 wks I met with my radiation oncologist, who did a CT scan, removed the remaining Steri-Strips and set my schedule for "mapping" and then 16 days of radiation. Next day, though, the SNB incision popped open and my seroma gushed all over the bathroom...and me. Surgeon's partner pressed out more fluid and sutured it closed, declaring it was the weight of my oversize breast that kept it from closing on its own. Sutures held; a week after that I drove to Iowa City for a folk music conference (my singing partner again gallantly handled my instruments & suitcase); five days later (Halloween) the sutures were removed and I began radiation, which ended a few days before Thanksgiving. Three weeks after finishing, I was on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
So my recovery was swift and (relatively) uneventful--your mileage may vary.
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I had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy one week ago. The lumpectomy was a breeze but I woke up from surgery with terrible pain on the inside of my arm. Used Norco the first day then the pain became more tolerable the next few days until I developed a seroma. I had 15 cc serous fluid drained yesterday which relieved some of the discomfort in my armpit but the pain on the underside of my arm worsened. The surgeon said it it the nerve on the underside of my arm that is flared up because she had to move it around to get to the lymph nodes. I thought draining the seroma would help but it didn't. I'm at my whits end. Went back to taking Norco. My underarm feels absolutely raw like it is sunburned and I can't tolerate anything touching it. What can I do to get this nerve to settle down?
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Luvadog, for me nerve healing required "tincture of time." In the meantime, moving around and plenty of fluid intake helped. Nerves do heal, albeit much slower than we would like. Keep using your arm, without violating your lifting limit of course. Hope you feel better soon.
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LuvaDog, I hate to break it to you but that underarm site is going to be a pain for sometime. Mine finally stopped being annoying after 13 months. Most of us find the SLNB the most bothersome part of an LX. There must be 10 million nerves there and every single one of them was disturbed, cut or whatever. Zingers are common.
If you can go braless or wear something soft and supportive. It's hard to find bras that are cut low enough on the sides to not irritate that site. Even now, 5+ years on, it can get irritated.
I must say that you seem to be having a really really bad reaction. Does icing the site help? Keep a little pillow there between your arm and your side. Wear tops that have larger armholes. Hopefully you can get off the pain pills quickly.
The pain will subside and not be as intense. My BS told me it can take up to a year for those nerves to repair and after a year that's how it will be forever. Mine took 13 months - she was surprised.
Good luck!
HUGS!
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Thanks so much for the support. I called my surgeon and she gave me a prescription for Gabapentin. What a difference! Finally shut the debilitating nerve pain in my arm down to a manageable level. Now I'm back to the baseline armpit area pain that I expect from the sentinel node biopsy. Whew!
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Glad the gabapentin is working for and that you finally have some relief.
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Luvadog, I had a lumpectomy and SNB on Sept 23. Everything was fine until Day 10 when I developed a leaking seroma. It had to be drained twice ,a week apart, and I also developed cellulitis on my chest near the node site.
I’m wondering if you could have cellulitis under your arm where it looks like sunburn? Mine looks like sunburn. After 3 rounds of antibiotics, mine is slowly fading. My surgeon won’t release me to the radiation oncologist for another week and a half when hopefully there will be no more redness. They act like seroma isn’t a big deal but for me it was. My underarm, above my elbow is numb and feels like lead is in there. Hope that resolves.
Hope yours continues to improve 😀
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Margo & Lovadog
I felt like I had rug burn from my elbow on up my arm. I was constantly rubbing my arm, touching it, or holding it. Over time I noticed it got to be a smaller and smaller area, until about 3 months out I realized I wasn't touching it, "rug burn" was gone.
I'm hoping for you both to have a similar outcome, that it dissipates over time.
And PontiacPeg is right, the node area is still sensitive going on 2 years for me. I have a night shirt on now that just seems to hit me right on the scar. I might just take the scissors to it!
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You guys describe it perfectly. Like a rug burn or severe sunburn on the inside of my arm. The first week it wasn't too bad and a small pillow under my arm worked well but once it fired up nothing could touch it!
Margo, I do worry about the seroma. I had 15 cc drained and it was nice and serous but it came right back the next day. It definitely presses on the incision and makes the incision ripple. Warm wet compresses make it feel better but it doesn't seem to take the swelling down. Gonna keep a real close eye on it. I don't want to start radiation until I'm sure it's healed well enough. I hope yours gets better soon!
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At my lumpectomy, the surgeon inserted a drain which surprised me. I kept it nearly a month-about 3 weeks longer than I expected.
I also saw a physical therapist who specializes in breast cancer patients and lymph edema. She was fantastic and helped me so much.
If your insurance will cover PT, I recommend it even if you only get to see her once. She will give you exercises that help reduce swelling and regain range of mo
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Hello my Lumpy friends! Haven't been on here on a while! I had a lumpectomy back in 2014. Been doing great, no lymphedema, but I don't pay attention to my right side much. I am a teacher and my bags are pretty heavy. I have had arm pit pain, going up towards neck for a few days. I am thinking I strained it with my bags?? Just wondering if anyone else has had this years after surgery, possibly scar tissue? Not wanting to think cancer, but if it doesn't go away by Wednesday, I will go to surgeon. Thanks for any input. Rosie
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RosiesRide, I regularly get weird muscle pain usually in my back. I discussed it with my MO and he said it is because of the way the muscles and tissue were re-arranged from the Lx. Always on my Left (bad) side. It usually doesn't last. It is very peculiar. I find that I really can't do much heavy lifting with my left arm or I get complaints. Very annoying. If it hangs around, have it checked out. No sense in worrying. Good luck!
HUGS
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Thanks Peggy...I just started worrying🙄...but if it continues I will see the doctor...MO or BS??
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RosiesRide, I guess I'd go to the one I liked best. Maybe BS. Since I moved to Spokane 2 years after my surgery and rads, I only looked for and found an MO I adore and is good. Just this summer they got a BS in the practice and I met with her on another subject and fell in love with her. I'm lucky that I found 2 top-notch physicians.
We all worry. No way to help it
HUGS!
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I developed a seroma about a week after the lumpectomy. My BS drained it once and it immediately came back. After about 5 months it is down to about marble size. My armpit is still numb.
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Yeah...since we are never cured, worry is always a given, at some point anyway! 🤷🏻♀️
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I did acupuncture post LE to help with the nerve zaps. I did one session and it totally helped
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Thought this was an appropriate place to post that 5 years ago yesterday I had my lumpectomy.
I am very thankful for the women on this board who've encouraged me and experienced treatment around the same time, in particular. I gained valuable information and also the comforting sense that I was not alone. ❤ and 🙏 to all.
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Reader425, congrats on reaching the 5 year mark. Folks such as you give me a boost as I inch toward two years!
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Reader425, That 5 year mark is wonderful, isn't it? Will you be going off anastrozole after 5 years? I discontinued it at my 5 year mark 2 weeks ago. Kind of scary good.
I'm with you, I don't know what I'd have done with BCO. The friends and support I made and received here kept me sane when there was way too much else going on besides BC. I can't thank everyone enough!
HUGS!
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PontiacPeggy, did you take the BCI test?
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April1964, No. My MO doesn't believe in the BCI Test. I had an OncoType done at time of Lx and it said no chemo and 5 years of hormone therapy. My MO said at my age (74) and my diagnosis, a further 5 years of anastrozole isn't going to add anything positive and is likely to do more harm. I also had this confirmed by the crackerjack BS-Oncologist who just joined their practice. I'm comfortable with their decision. If the recommendation had been to go for several more years, I'd have done that. I am staying on Fosamax for at least 6 months more (probably until June when I see my MO again, so 9 months).
HUGS!
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Thanks, PontiacPeggy! It sounds like you have a wonderful team! Congrats on the five year mark!! I’m sooo looking forward to that.
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April, I really lucked out with the oncology team I chose when I moved to Spokane 3-1/2 years ago. My MO here is much better (I think) and I like him a whole lot better. The BS is awesome and I hope I never need her. Good luck to you!
HUGS!
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Thank you Beaverntx! I'm glad to be an encourager as I've received a lot of support on BCO. You can do it!
Peggy I am also on the 5 year plan for Arimidex so I'm counting down. I said the same thing at my last oncologist visit (happy scary to go off it). The NP spent some time explaining there is a lingering protective affect even after it's stopped. I didn't know that so that was a comfort. I have osteopenia and I'm 60 with a low oncotype score, so she said they consider all that when deciding what to recommend. I'm one of the many wondering how you'll be off it. This year I've had an uptick in joint and fatigue issues after doing quite well on it. So we'll see. Hope you feel nothing but better off of the drug we have a love/hate relationship with!
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Wow, Peggy--has it been 3-1/2 yrs already since you moved to Spokane? Seems like only yesterday when we had our s. central MI gathering!
I too am on the 5 yr plan for letrozole, though my MO would prefer I do 7. She does concede the greatest benefit occurs in the first 3 yrs. Asked about the BCI test, but she demurred till later. If you see the article I posted earlier today, a new study (three cohorts of ER+ patients, totalling >500) showed that the germline genetics of tumor cells, related to the immune system, is predictive of late recurrence; but that it not only tracks precisely with OncotypeDX scores but that ODX is still more reliable a predictor.
Finally bought myself a partial foob from HerRoom.com to put at the bottom of the R cup of my bras in order to make Thelma & Louise more even. (Bought a couple of "pockets"--one beige, one black--to contain it so it won't stick and irritate). Of course, it's not fully effective because all the tissue has moved south, leaving the tops of my breasts deflated and making the straps holding the cups up resemble the cables of a suspension bridge span when viewed in profile. I can fill out a strapless ok (due to the silicone edges of the cups clinging to the breasts), but those 5-6 sets of hooks are a bear. Clothes, of course, are more forgiving.
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Sandy, I miss our Michigan get-togethers. We had such a strong bond. I did not see your post on that study. Nice to know that the Oncotype DX is valid. Both my MO and the OBS were strongly against continuing Arimidex beyond 5 years. The bone consequences and my DX were strong factors.
My breast have always looked like ski slopes. After my LX I actually now have a better shape there. Of course all the muscles on that side are screwed up and very apt to cause discomfort for the slightest reason - very annoying. Back muscles, chest muscles, side muscles, and can't forget the arm in this either. It's obvious that's the cause because the minute I support that breast the pain/discomfort goes away.
Glad your Foob is working for you. I can't imagine not getting a pocket for them. Strapless is awful. Even I need 3 hooks (and I usually wear camisoles with bra lining and inserts - like virtually no support). And breathing with strapless ones seems not to have been considered.
Hope you get out my way sometime - but not till June. Then it might be dry and not cold. Miss ya, Dear!
HUGS!!
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Miss you too, Peggy! Hope you're getting better weather (cooler & moister) than CA. Winter started early here--we got 2" of snow yesterday followed by a hard freeze. The W, NW and N suburbs got really slammed--up to 7". Just in time for standing on windy CTA platforms waiting for (dysfunctional) trains to head into the Loop for Bar Show rehearsals! (Time to slip my orthotics into the UGGs again). 2 weeks ago it hit 80.
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