Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Nash54

Fearless....good luck tomorrow and remember to ice the area and keep the ace bandage on as long as you can stand it...I think I removed mine on day 3.  Even if you don't hurt take the pain meds to ward off the pain and help you sleep.  It's hard to get comfortable so use lots of pillows.  Take it easy even if you're feeling good.  

You're going to do great!!!

ChiSandy

You may also have profound fatigue (depends on the type of anesthesia, the extent of surgery and how long you're “under") for at least three or four days. I was lucky--the fatigue never really hit (well, it has now that I seem to have caught DH's cold). But because I had general anesthesia, once I went under they gave me succinylcholine to relax my muscles. And the way that works is before your muscles relax, they go into severe spasm momentarily. As a result, by the evening after the day of surgery, I began feeling extremely sore all over my upper body: pectorals, arms, shoulders, upper abs. Sort of like the morning after you tried every Nautilus machine in the gym at full resistance. But after about 3 days that subsides too. I'm retired from my day job, so I didn't have to worry about when to go back to work; but I didn't go back onstage until 2 weeks later (and I made sure to have other people carry my instruments & stands). I also didn't pick up heavy grocery bags or reach up to close my car's tailgate with my right arm for three weeks.

As soon after you awaken and are offered water and food, take it. Especially if it's something you normally don't allow yourself to eat. Don't go on bedrest if you don't feel you need to--but accept every chance you get to be pampered.

Italychick

my breast surgeon said wear your normal bras, don't worry. I spent a few days in the chest wrap they gave me, slept with support, and came out fine. I did have a 10 cm seroma that sloshed like a water bottle for awhile, it was so bizarre. It did finally resolve on its own. But my grandkids came over as usual, and I rode my bike about four days after surgery. Same thing after port, although I expected an alien to explode out of my chest after the port because I didn't understand how it worked until they squeezed the hell out of it for my follow up mammogram. The technician said those things are tough, and I believe it now.

My point is prepare for the worst, act like it won't happen, and maybe you will come through with minimal impact. My surgical site was 8 cm X 8 cm X 4 cm, so pretty big, and now the only residual I have is sometimes a tight shirt rubs my sentinel node site and is aggravating.

I walked the day of surgery, every day after, until I got back on my bike. I feel like exercise and movement helped me heal faster, but I was doing all of that before surgery, so do what you are comfortable doing, like the level of activity you were okay with before surgery.

PontiacPeggy

I only took the pain pill they gave me right after surgery. Then it was on to Tylenol. I was very surprised to be so comfortable. The Genie bras were perfect for A-cup me. But I did have a full bottle of pain pills in case I needed them. I was NOT being heroic. Pain is not your friend.

I also wound up doing heavy lifting of my husband within that first week. Not by choice. He was collapsing and my 6'3", 225 lb son needed help holding DH up. He was in terrible shape. Bladder infection. But I don't recommend heavy lifting.

HUGS!

HappyHammer

Fearless...I agree with the others

...take the meds....I HATE that stuff but now know that for the short term it is good stuff...bodies need to rest after surgery and so do our minds! Also...ice packs were my very best friends....seriously- iced all of the time for at least the first 72 hours.

Take good care-sending healing mercies your way.

Molly50

Welcome fearless,

Ice, ice and more ice is what worked best for me. I had a small pillow under my arm because the axillary incision rubbed on everything. I had a drain for about 5 days. It wasn't bad. I ended up with a large seroma anyway.

zinny

Something I didn't think about prep, but was relevant - how "big" the surgery is depends on how big the mass is, to some extent. a 2cm lump is a much smaller "deal" in terms of the breast and healing than a 6 cm lump. The reactions to the axillary node dissection seems variable. The other big deal part is how big your breasts are going in, as Pegg say. There are two camps in surgery, the binders and the non binders, there were no ace bandages for me. However, I have big DD's, and made the mistake of wearing a light support bra for the first week ( like the post "package" said) , and had so much discomfort, and ended up with sloshy seromas. When I finally put on my normal bras, suddenly the dragging weight of the beasts was gone!!

ChiSandy

I wasn't even given a prescription for pain--they gave me a “push" of Fentanyl in the recovery room, and then back in my “roomette" they handed me two REGULAR (325) Tylenol. I took a Norco 5/325 that DH gave me (left over from his Summer Surgical Adventures) that first night but got by on two extended-release “arthritis formula" 650 mg acetaminophen BID after that. Plus ice, and the little “P3" (“Protective Pillow Purse") my surgeon's nurse gave me at orientation class a few days before surgery. (A volunteer group called “Protect the Girls" makes them to give to bc surgery patients--there's an adjustable Velcro shoulder strap, and a smaller cushion in a “kangaroo pocket" which slips out to go between you & your seat belt. The P3 goes between arm and breast, and also protects the SNB or ALD site). I was warned that since I'm freakishly large-breasted (38I) the surgical bra they use might not fit me and I might wake up in a giant Ace bandage. But they managed to smoosh the gals unevenly into an ugly white XL post-op industrial-strength hospital-supply front close “posture binder” bra, which I kept on for 48 hrs. as instructed. After my first shower, I changed into one of the five Leading Lady 40F/G/H front-close cotton knit “leisure bras" I'd ordered online, but they were definitely NOT supportive enough. The jiggling hurt like crazy, so I got some sturdier supportive sports bras closer to my size (a couple of 38Is & Js, as well as Playtex 42DDD and 44DD once I felt confident hooking a bra in back). I'm convinced that the “leisure bras" contributed to the seroma formation. I still find it more comfortable to sleep in a bra--during the daytime, I'm back in the largest underwires I own (the wire doesn't touch either incision), which are 38J and 40I from before I dieted; and at night, the sports bras.

The biggest challenge so far (aside from the right size bras) has been keeping my cats off my operated and now radiated breast. Especially since they have all their claws and won't sit still to have them trimmed (can't even bribe them with treats or 'nip like kitties I had in the past). For a month I slept with a pillow across my chest.

Molly50

I wasn't given any instructions regarding bras post op and frankly my alnd incision hurt too much for any bra. I am only a C cup.

PontiacPeggy

That damned underarm incision is soooo much more bothersome than the Lx incision IMHO. Everything seems to rub it. Your bras. Even your tops that fit just fine. With me, it's another one of those gifts that keeps on giving. 15 months later I still have things that rub it wrong. It doesn't exactly hurt but it can be uncomfortable. Oh well, small price to pay, isn't it?

HUGS!

keepwalking

Scsa - Welcome! But sorry you have to be here. I am almost 2 1/2 weeks out from oncoplastic lumpectomy with SLNB. I am still a bit sore, but in the past 2 days that is much better than week 2. I find the only bras that I am comfortable in are a couple of sports bras that are big enough to not bind too tightly but hold the breasts in and restrict their movement. I tried wearing the underwire at about one week after, and it felt OK at first, but after a few hours I was hurting - most likely because it allowed too much bouncing around.

I would certainly not have wanted to be taking care of pre-schoolers in the first 2 weeks. Besides the lifting, they have too much of a tendency to bump, kick or squeeze the sensitive places, and I wanted a force field around that area! It wasn't until a couple of days ago that I spontaneously picked up my grandbaby without thinking (he's only 6 weeks old but was 9 lbs at birth) and held him on the surgery side, and it felt alright! As Peggy said, the tiredness is one of the things that may take a little while to get over. I still find that going out to take a walk I start out energetic and feeling great, but tire much quicker than before surgery. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a good pathology report!

MidgieMoon - Hoping all goes well at your appointment and that you get the care you need to get your arm moving well.

Fearless - Welcome, but sorry you have to be here! Other than the bra tips above, I was surprised by the degree of weakness/fatigue after the surgery. I don't remember having that from the last time I had surgery with general anesthesia - of course I was 20 years younger then and the surgery was much shorter than the 2 hours this time. Yours may not be that long if you don't need lymph node biopsy.

Also, like you, I had 2 additional breast biopsies before surgery, so that took an emotional toll waiting for the results each time which I think also serves to weaken the body. My surgeon, who is also very aware of and concerned with the emotional well-being of his patients, told me at my 1 week follow-up that it is perfectly normal to feel weak for a while after this surgery - not just because of the physical effects, but also the energy that is expended on concern over the upcoming pathology report and further treatments (the wait for me is 1 month!). He says we are not aware of the energy that is drained over this, but it is occurring. He recommends taking it easy and letting your body heal. He also insists on continuing to take pain medication so that there is no energy expended fighting pain, and in order to let you breathe normally and fully and to move the arm as much as possible. That said, my pain was manageable with just a drip of Tylenol in recovery room and pill Tylenol or Ibuprofen afterwards. Wishing you all the best on your surgery!

brithael

Did anybody here, who knew in advance they were going to have to have chemo, have a port installed at the time of the lumpectomy?

Waterstreet

Molly50, I can't stand ICE. It makes me hurt way worse. I used the spots bra they told me to buy before surgery. They are cheap bras Fruit of the loom sold at Walmart. Front hooks and I was told to buy an extra size I bought 5 of them @ just under $8.00 each but they fit like a bandge, they compress and hold snuggly. I am still using them.

Yesterday I noticed my breast is hurting worse than right after surgery and the underarm also. It hurts like don,t touch in any way. I go back to the surgeon this afternoon to sign the consent for surgery for the Brachytherapy and get checked out. I was told yesterday he RO may ask the BS to hold off until after Thanksgiving. They have to both be availble the BS open the breast and put in the baloon and catherters and then they take me right to radiology for scans and set up for correct doses of radiation and then I get my first treatment and then they will set the timer for six hours and watch me for an hour or so and then I can go home till its time to be back for the second treatment. That will be one long week. But I am thanking God it is only one week with a possible extra day for a boost. They are not sure about Chemo yet since I got the Ki 67 score of 22% likely to reocur and something called E-cadherin that tested positive and gave the unfavorible diagnosis. The hormone therapy starts in January after a bone density test results are in.

Scsa- welcome I have added you to my prayer list. You have come to good site with really nice people to advise you.

Fearless- welcome to you also I have added you to my prayer list. I think the worst part for me were the biopsies but I am not finished yet I have the surgery to place the baloon and catherters for radiation therapy coming up.

Midgiemoon- praying your arm function gets back to where you want it.

Waterstreet

Peggy - Have you heard of E-cadherin before? I am going to ask about its finding with the Ki67 findings today.Its mentioned in the Breast Book on page 296- 297.

PontiacPeggy

WaterStreet, I have not heard of E-cadherin before. Must have skipped that page in the book. Here's what BCO says: e-Cadherin. I think that article is fairly clear. It's so confusing. I'm so sorry that you are hurting. Hope it is easily taken care of.

HUGS!

Molly50

Hugs to you, Shirley. I hope your pain eases up.

Waterstreet

Molly50 - At least I got a thumbs up at the Cardiologist yesterday. He increased my meds to hopefully compensate with the radiation therapy. He doesn't want the BP at Stroke stage again. He wants to see me after the second session of therapy and at the end of therapy. Thanks for the hugs.

I hope to get some needed answers at 1PM today. I really am not looking forward to getting cut on again but really want to put it behind me. I am putting my dog in the kennel again for the week of therapy having the baloon and caths I don't want her happy hugs upsetting the plumbing for the Brachytherapy.

Take care and be well.

Waterstreet

Peggy thanks for the hugs. I hopefuffly get some answers at 1pm with the BS. Its just he and I today for me to sign the consent for surgery again. We can get the questions answered I had for the last appt. he missed. Talk to you later. I'm headed for the shower so I am fresh and my hair has time to dry.

I checked the link, thank you for it. I think I will know what to ask him now. From all I read about it I am guessing if the gene is turned off it can multiply cells and they can go where they will. The Breast Book said that gene holds the cells together and slows the tendancy to spread and multiply so that would be an unfavorable outlook if the gene is not there to control the cancer cells. I will let you know his answer about it when I get home. If this is the case I want Chemotherapy too. I want plenty of ammunition against all cancer cells present.

Hugs to you.

MaggieCat

Brithael ... If I had already known which MO I was going to work with I would have asked to have the port installed at the same time.... My BS and her office don't do port support other than the install and removal... So not an option at the time. Would have been nice to eliminate a step. Maggie

PontiacPeggy

Shirley, I'm with you. Throw everything you can at the damned cancer. Please do let us know how your appointment goes and what you find out.

HUGS!!

queenmomcat

Fearless: offering you gentle sympathy after your surgery--dunno when you started, but assuming that you've been released back into the wild if you're reading this! How are you feeling?

mustlovepoodles

Fearless, my experience with lumpectomy was a little different from the other posters. My lump was high in the tail of the breast, almost in the arm pit. My BS was able to make one incision to the lump and the SLB. In incision is about 4" long, right in the fold of the armpit. There were no ACE bandages involved. Just a clear dressing and some surgical glue. In retrospect, ACE bandages would have prevented a plethora of probles.

I had originally planned to be out of work for a week, at my BSs insistence. However, I developed a massive hematoma over the course of about 7 days--my breast was literally bigger than my head and completely purple. My pathology came back with one unclear margin, so the BS had to go back in. The good news is that she got clear margins and was able to evacuate almost 500ml (~16-oz) from the breast. The bad news is that within 5 days I had a huge collection of serous fluid (seroma) which took up residence where the hematoma had been. It felt like a large lemon under my arm and was sloshy. I went back to the BS and she removed 150ml (5-oz.) from the seroma. I was to return 3 days later, Friday. Unfortunately, the seroma sprung a leak the night before. The BS removed another 150ml from the seroma and sent me home.

Seromas do not usually get infected, but mine did. Majorly. Within 2 days. I went back to the BS on Monday and they put a drain in at the office. No fun. But it was good to get that nasty infected fluid out of my breast. It took almost 4 weeks of antibiotics to clear it up and my breast was warm and red much of that time.

Needless to say, all other treatment was put on home during this experience. Instead of being out of work for a week, I was out of work for 6 weeks! ARRGH! And now, as it turns out, I will need a BMX after chemo, due to some serious genetic findings. I have a little sick leave left and a couple weeks of vacation. Huh! that'll be some rotten vacation!

Good luck to you! Most people sail through the lumpectomy & SNB. My sister did and she has done very well. Somehow we nurses seem to "attract" the weirdest and wildest stuff. As a result of all my complications my BS and my MO don't mess around (not that they were lax, but I think now they know that my body will throw all kinds of reactions and complications at them.)

mustlovepoodles

Waterstreet said: "I checked the link, thank you for it. I think I will know what to ask him now. From all I read about it I am guessing if the gene is turned off it can multiply cells and they can go where they will. The Breast Book said that gene holds the cells together and slows the tendancy to spread and multiply so that would be an unfavorable outlook if the gene is not there to control the cancer cells. I will let you know his answer about it when I get home. If this is the case I want Chemotherapy too. I want plenty of ammunition against all cancer cells present."

This is what happened to me. During the course of having my two lumpectomies, we discovered that I had two rare gene mutations (PALB2 & Chek2) which drastically increase my risks to the level of BRCA2. My Oncotype was 23 and I'm ER+/PR- HER2-, which puts me at higher risk for recurrence, also. My MO insisted that I have chemo (which, after researching, I totally agreed with.) She is also pushing me for a BMX, which I also agree with. Had I known prior to the lumpectomies I would have gone straight for the BMX.

For the record, Chemo has not been too bad, other than I got an infection and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. But the rest of the time I have felt pretty well, fatigued, but not so bad that I couldn't do some work from home and a few home visits end of last week.

Good luck to you!

Molly50

I am with you, MLP. Had I known I would have gone for BMX. Now I have to go back in for another umx. At least I can do that when I do my reconstruction.

Midgiemoon

So I just left my surgeons office. The good news is no lymphadema. I can go to the gym, and use the rowing machine. The bad news is that radiation took a toll and I have major angry nerves and tissue damage that will take time to heal. I am grumpy because I can't open doors at work, they are so heavy! I guess I have to get over it!

I have a PT consult set up after Thanksgiving, and basically have to wait it out....

PontiacPeggy

MidgieMoon, well, crap on the radiation damage Glad no lymphedema. Can't you use your left arm to open the doors? Or do the old push-with-the-hip woman thing. Of course, that will leave your poor hip black and blue. Hope PT will help or maybe you'll be better by then!

HUGS!!

Midgiemoon

The doors are all badge keyed so I can get into my lab, so I left hand the badge, right hand the door. 100 times a day, sigh... The joys of limited access labs!

marijen

Midgie would muscle relaxers help? Or acupuncture? Massage? Lidocaine cream

Midgiemoon

I'm already doing acupuncture, and it's helping my knees, but not my radiation side.... I'll definitely be asking my practitioner about it next week when I see her. My surgeon said my nerves and tissue are "pissed off". She does think PR will help, though. I'm just going to do life and try to stop babying that side.

marijen

Give your nerves a happy pill then : )) Something to take the edge off.