Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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cm2020, I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy a little over 5 weeks ago and am doing well. It was a very emotional day, but I only took extra-strength Tylenol at home that evening and the next day for the pain. I was prepared to be shocked the first time I looked at myself undressed and it really wasn't much of anything, just some purple incision lines and mild bruising. I wore a surgical bra 24/7 for the first week at the surgeon's direction and now I sleep in a lightly padded cropped camisole with a wide band.
I did develop a hematoma under my arm about 10 days afterwards that felt weird, like a golf ball. My surgeon said it would resolve quickly and she was right, although she said if it didn't go away she could drain it in the office. My scars are fading fast, thanks to the silicone tape and silicone gel the surgeon recommended. It still feels a little numb under my arm and I have some mild discomfort when I reach for something overhead, but my range of motion is normal. I haven't had any shooting pains or electrical sensations in my arm that the surgeon said some women have for up to six months after the surgery.
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My lumpectomy was relatively easy. In the hospital when I came to, they gave me an IV "push" of Fentanyl, but only a couple of Tylenol (regular, not extra-strength) after that. Didn't even write me a pain med Rx. Since it was Yom Kippur and I was NPO after returning from temple the night before anyway, I got to "break my fast" with a mini-bagel & schmear, plus orange juice & cookies before they discharged me. That first night, Bob gave me one of the Norcos he had left over from his hernia surgery, and that was the last pain pill I needed; thereafter all I needed was ice. My armpit seroma did "pop" 3 weeks later, the day after I got CT "mapped" for radiation. (There were a couple of Steri-strips that hadn't fallen off in the shower, so the RO removed them). My surgeon's NP wanted me to pack it 3x/day for 6 weeks so it could "heal from the inside out." Uh, nope--I had a music conference to attend in Iowa City in a week (I'd already driven to Rockford & back the week before for a gig--my singing partner & the emcee carried all my instruments and wouldn't let me lift a finger...other than on & off the fretboard). My surgeon was in the OR that day, so her partner sutured the seroma closed--he said the weight of my "oversize" breast pulled it open and it would never otherwise heal. (That NP no longer works for my surgeon). Got my sutures out when I returned from Iowa and started radiation 2 days later.
The NP warned me I might be sent home in a big ACE wrap, but I awoke stuffed into a white high-backed velcro-front surgical bra--size XL. (I was a 38 I). It was pretty hideous and uncomfortable. I immediately went out and got some Amoena padded camisoles (which I now use as tankini tops for swim). Now, when I wear a wire-free bra for sleep, I can fit my now-34/36 I "girls" into an L.
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Thank you for your reassurances! My lumpectomy went well. I am relieved to have it behind me. I am tired of the bra, tired of not being able to sleep on my stomach (which is the only way I sleep well), but recovery is going well so far. Icing is the key! It just feels so good.
Final pathology came back with clean margins (2 masses removed). One lymph node clear, the other with small unmeasurable tumor cells which my surgeon said is not a true metastasis. Radiation referral made.
CherokeeLady I would love to hear how your diet and lifestyle have changed.
In fact, any of you that really changed your diet and lifestyles after your diagnosis, I would really appreciate hearing your journeys.
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Good news, cm2020! So glad to hear your lumpectomy went well and the lab reports are encouraging.
About diet and lifestyle changes, the short answer is check out Kelley Turner's book Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds. By studying survivors, she learned they share things in common (changes in diet and lifestyle are just two of about 10).
I already was vegetarian but, after reading Turner's book, cleaned up my diet even more. Still hard for me to resist tortilla chips ):
As for lifestyle, I started speaking up for myself more when the people close to me (family mainly) engaged in behavior toward me that raised my stress levels a lot. I learned to say, "You're stressing me out, and I need to limit the stress in my life right now." And I learned to accept help from others when it was offered ... they usually were trying to help in the best way they knew how and even if (sometimes) it seemed letting someone help me instead of doing it myself was a bit more aggravation I welcomed their help. For instance a co-worker who also is a friend offered to drive me to my first surgical consult. I could have driven myself and taken my husband with me but, once I thought about it, I realized it might be hard for me to drive after hearing what the surgeon had to say — and I accepted the coworker's offer. I shared my diagnosis with a very few people at church and welcomed their prayers and well-meaning questions about how I was doing. Before I read Turner's book it would have been really hard for me to let others "in" this way.
To everyone reading this, be safe and be well.
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CM20 good to hear you are doing well! My lifestyle changes included cleaning up my diet, weight loss, making time for mindfulness/meditation, and exercise about 8 weeks after my lumpectomy. Like CherokeeLady said let others know when you are anxious, frustrated, or stressed. Maintaining inter balance can/will help to keep you focused for your day to day routine.
Take care and stay healthy to all
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CherokeeLady and Stellawt57 Thank you both for the advice and book recommendation. Even though I eat a vegan diet, it needs to be cleaned up quite a bit. I also need to lose weight. I have gained a bunch over the last year during intense peri-menopause. It needs to come off. I start Tamoxifen in 2 weeks and am a bit worried that it will thwart my weight loss. I so hope it doesn't though.
My shower was wonderful today! And it wiped me out and read and slept the rest of the day.
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cm2020 - My appetite was "off" after lumpectomy & I was already making a positive change to my eating habits. When I went through radiation, appetite waned even further & when I did eat it was "good stuff" and lots of protein to help with healing. End Result: was able to gradually take some weight off - almost 30 lbs since lumpectomy. So, for me, that was the proverbial "silver lining" to BC treatment. Healing thoughts coming your way.
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CeliaC...Oh I am envious that your appetite was off and you lost weight. So far I have found that I am ravenous. I don't think I have gained, but I haven't lost since surgery Monday. Cleaning up and making huge improvements in eating is much harderto do now since we are trying to stay out of the stores and just eat what is here. But there are things I can and will do now that I feel somewhat better (my hives are still out of control and making me perfectly miserable).
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Hi everyone,
I have a question. I was diagnosed with DCIS in February and had a partial mastectomy with a 6.5 x 5 x 3 cm tumour removed. I am a 34 B cup and still have a firm area approximately the size of 1/2 a medium orange at the surgical site (central front with removal of the nipple and areola). The oncologist has advised either radiation or further surgery (total mastectomy) and I have been referred for the BRCA testing. If this is negative I am leaning towards radiation.
If I do radiation, I want to get an idea on what my breast will look like when the current swelling resolves and effects of radiation. Neither the oncologist or plastic surgeon has been able to tell me this. I want to find out how much remaining natural breast tissue there is so that I can get an idea of the final result. In the absence of any information I'm envisioning a 'donut' with a concave area where they removed the tumour and potentially a 'toothless gummy mouth' puckering at the scar. Does anyone know how I can get this information so that I can decide if I want reconstruction as I understand that this is no longer an option after radiation?
Thanks,
Lyn
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Minty59- Lyn, my lumpectomy was at 12:00, and I was 34-35 A, I'd be lying if I said B. I have a divit at LX site. Radiation firmed up that breast as though I had a lift. After radiation it looked like I had 58 yr old boob on the right, and an 18 yr old perky boob on left.
I think you need someone here who has had a similar surgery site to speak up, and believe me there will be someone to chime in. Best of luck to you.
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My tumor was 1/3 cm, but about 9cm was removed. It was at 10:00 ("high & outside," in baseball parlance). The tumor cavity filled up with a seroma, and the 16-treatment hypofractionated radiation swelled it to nearly 20cm by 6 mos. out before it began to shrink (and is now empty, under 5cm, surrounded by contracted scar tissue). Before the surgery I wore a 38H or I; at the height of the seroma the breast bulged noticeably and I wore a 40 J or even K. Now, 4 yrs. later, I am a 34 I/J or 36 H/I. (Losing weight helped). My lumpectomy breast, but for the faint scar on the side and its smaller size, looks nicer than my pendulous "control."
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My lumpectomy was at 9 o’clock towards armpit. It felt more than looked a little swollen for about 10 months but it really never looked that different. It doesn’t look any different than the other. I’m 36B. If anyone is looking for a 71 year old bikini model I’m available. I was told I would need a mastectomy at first which I was fine with but onc wanted to try shrinking lump and lymph nodes with chemo first which worked. I’m glad for easier surgery and recovery. Radiation (33) wasn’t that bad
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CindyNY, My affected breast also was perkier! It was quite a surprise to me as I have had large droppy breasts. About 18 moths after my lumpectomy my BS said that I could get surgery to even things out. Insurance paid, so I had mammoplasty. I really like the new look! On a scarier note, I felt something a few weeks ago, and called BS . She immediately ordered a mammo/ US which advised a biopsy. I was afraid I was going to have to wait and worry due to this pademic. However, I love my surgeon because within 3 days I had a core needle biopsy in her office and the news was good! Always a worry- but thank goodness for good health care providers.
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I also have a perky breast and an old lady droopy breast... the perky one is the one that had lumpectomy and radiation ... its been 7 years and it still is perky! Its about 1 cup size smaller (B) and I should have done something about the droopy one years ago but I didn't realize I could have with insurance paying.
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Mine are pretty much the same and are both still fairly perky. Not sure how they've managed to stay this way at age 65. Can only see, very faintly, the scar on lefty with a small divot.
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I may have "Thelma" (aka Lefty) reduced & lifted to match "Louise" (the now-perky, 2 cups smaller Righty) once the pandemic is over and it becomes truly safe to have elective surgery for anything other than pain or disability relief. (Don't want to hog a ventilator that could keep a COVID patient alive). If Thelma & Louise were the same size, I'd be in a 34 G or 36 F. (By now, I can finally step into those hookless racerback Puma sports bras). I would say I'd wait till I were down to 138 lbs. (BMI <25), but truthfully if I subtract all that hanging skin I'm there already.
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I've had 2 surgeries. first was Dec 23.2019 for lumpectomy then 2nd was Jan. 14 to take lymph nodes and margins. Finished Radiation 3 weeks ago. How long should I expect to have discomfort in the breast? I have pain periodically, nothing bad though. My areola is still completely numb. Also, when will it be ok to have a mammogram? Kaiser has contacted me twice to schedule. I'm very nervous about doing it yet. They've told me when I feel ready we can schedule.
Kathy
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I really don’t think you have to rush the mammogram. Sounds like you have completed your treatment. My first mammogram after treatment was about 7.5 months after surgery. By then the incision was healed and the mammogram was pretty easy.
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I'm (re)scheduled for my first set of scans post-dx, surgery & rads on May 20.
At my 6 month check up with my breast surgeon, I told him (as I'd told my MO and my RO) that my breast is way too sensitive to even think about a mammogram on that side. I've got radiation fibrosis and it hurts, always. So I'm having an ultrasound on the left (cancer) side and a mammogram on the right. The ultrasound will be pretty unpleasant since they generally mash that wand in there, but it's got to be better than squishing all that scar tissue between two pieces of plate glass.
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I had surgery in August, finished radiation in November and had mammogram in March. I requested for the mammogram so that it can be a baseline for subsequent mammograms. Since there is need for annual mammogram anyway, I wanted a reference one for them to compare other ones with. It was a 3D mammogram and it wasn't painful at all. Remember that after surgery, the sensations around the breast reduces (I lost sensation in the part close to the armpit).
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My surgery was 12/21/16, then rads completed and mammo was not done until Jan 2018, more than 1 yr later. I was in no rush for it.
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Surgery 11/1 & 11/14/17, first mammo was October 2018. It was 3D which is horribly slow, and put tears in my eyes. Tech asked me - hadn't I been told to massage the area? No, not that I remember! So that's my tip, once you are fully healed, and can stand it, massage the area.
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I finished my rads Nov. 23, 2015. My nipple & areola were leathery & numb for at least a year, but sensation is normal again.
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I am having my lumpectomy tomorrow morning, arriving at hospital at 7am. Fiance can wait in waiting room, but I will be whisked away, 8am dye for lymph nodes, then surgery at 11:15am.
My questions: Is this under general anesthesia? Please please say it is? Because if not I'll die from anxiety.
Does the dye go into an IV or into the breast/armpit?(I'm dumb) Someone wrote that it hurt-ish. The lidocaine for my biopsy and seed plant did not fully work. Both times, I was injected repeatedly and still felt the needle. I am super scared about this.
I have five kids, 3 at home, am 56 and sounds like recovery is nominal. I am going to milk it as I tend to overdo my recovery and get back to life, chores, etc too quickly.
I am less anxious about covid19 now and I do have a wonderful and excellent BS.
Thanks for reading.
xx
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One more question, do you automatically receive oncotype score post-surgery? Or is that something I have to ask for? I am worried that they won't provide enough info pathology wise....
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Toria1212, YES! General anesthesia. The dye is injected into the breast. My surgeon did it and gave me lidocaine first and it did not hurt!!!
You should definitely take it easy. Rest. Even though it is outpatient surgery, it is still MAJOR surgery. Take pain meds! Even though you may not need them, get the prescription filled, in case you do. I needed regular Tylenol. But everyone is different. Don't wait to take something until you are totally miserable - if you hurt, take something!
When I had my lx, I had to request the OncoType test. I don't know if that has changed but you do want one.
Wear easy on/easy off clothing. Like things that open in front so you don't have to raise your arms (that won't feel particularly good for a few days).
Ask about what stretching exercises you should be doing and when.
Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you are doing. We're in your pocket tomorrow!
HUGS!
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toria1212: Found the following on January 2020 Surgery Topic, pg. 4 - Posted by kikind on Jan 14th.
"The sentinel node mapping where they inject blue tracer dye into 4 spots around your areola kinda sucked. The upside is I've been cracking up every time I go to the bathroom because my pee is bright Smurf blue, lol. The wire localization was the thing I was most scared of but it was painless. The pain after surgery really hasn't been too bad. I took 1 pain pill last night and 1 this morning, I think I'll be ready to switch to Tylenol this afternoon."
Above coincides with my recollection of events from my lumpectomy. Believe since you are ER+, they should do the Oncotype in order to evaluate whether or not chemo would be of benefit. Wouldn't hurt for you to double check though.
I was under anesthesia for the lumpectomy/sentinel node removal, but not under anesthesia for the dye injection or the wire localization procedures.
Someone more knowledgeable may respond, but wanted to give you a little bit of info - Hope it helps.
Do you have a small pillow to shield your surgical breast (e.g. cushion under seat belt)? Also, useful to put under armpit area if you have node removal. Node removal "site" can typically be more painful than where lumpectomy was done.
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I had a radioactive isotope injected, it was injected at the edge of the nipple. No numbing; it felt like a bee sting lasting 3-5 seconds. Not comfortable but very brief.
You will talk to your anesthesiologist before going in for surgery. They might either do twilight anesthesia or general. I was going to have twilight but since my surgeon said she was taking a lot of tissue out, they did general instead. They'll most likely give you versed in advance to calm you before putting you under. If you are feeling very nervous let the anesthesiologist know and they can start the versed earlier.
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Toria1212...Good Luck today! I am thinking about you. I believe your questions have been answered but I will tell you my experience. The dye injection was done about an inch away from my nipple, lidocaine was done first, and neither of them hurt. The radiologist was quite generous with the lidocaine. Lumpectomy was under general anesthesia. My surgery took right at 2 hours. Oncotype order was sent by my oncologist. I had the results back on one tumor a few days later. The second tumor results took about 1 1/2 weeks. 2 days after surgery my surgeon called and gave me the sentinal node results and the results on the tumors (size, clean margins). I STRONGLY advise icing for pain relief. I found ice packs helped my pain far more than pain medicine that just knocked me out. I only took pain med twice. However I was using ice packs for 2 weeks. Whenever I felt uncomfortable or hurt, I used an ice pack. Rest! Like someone else said, it is major surgery! This is the time to be gentle with yourself and just rest and heal.
Let us know how you are doing when you can. You aren't headed into surgery alone..........we are all with you!
Edit: Your surgeon should tell you but the dye will cause you pee a lovely shade of blue so don't be alarmed! It will slowly get lighter in color as you hydrate and pee more. It was hilarious to me and I cracked up every time I went to the bathroom for a couple days (can't remember exactly how long it lasted. I drink a ton of water so I cleared it fairly quickly)
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Instead of the wire I had a radioactive "seed" implanted (after a shot of lidocaine with a very fine needle, I didn't feel a thing). Instead of blue dye I had a radioactive isotope tracer injected into the nipple, without enough lidocaine. Felt like a very angry bee sting for about 10 seconds. Then I had to massage my armpit for 15 min. to get it to spread to the tumor site; but they gave me headphones and a nice Americana mix-tape. The lumpectomy was done under general anesthesia. When I awoke I was in pain, so in the recovery room they gave a Fentanyl "push" into my I.V. In the post-op roomette (with my family present), the only pain med they gave me was two regular strength (325mg) Tylenol--not even a painkiller prescription to fill. That night at bedtime I took one Norco we had left over from Bob's surgery over the summer, but it wasn't really necessary. All I needed after that was Tylenol & ice--and after the upper-body soreness from the succinylcholine (necessary to keep the patient from flinching on the table) disappeared, not even the Tylenol was necessary.
Take it easy, though. I was warned I'd have "profound fatigue" and be unable to climb the stairs to my bedroom, so I slept on the daybed the first night--which turned out to be unnecessary. Was advised to buy only button-up PJs and tops because I'd have trouble pulling stuff over my head. Also unnecessary. They did send me home in a hideously ugly velcro-front high-backed white surgical bra--my size 38 I "girls" stuffed like sausages into an XL, which was the largest they had. (I was warned by the NP that I might even wake up swathed in a giant ACE bandage, which turned out not to be the case). The sentinel-node incision in my armpit was much more uncomfortable (and produced a bigger seroma) than my breast incision. But ice & cushioning did help.
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