Had my lumpectomy yesterday

Nancy2581

It went ok.  I felt sick afterward, but they gave me pain medication on an empty stomach and I think that did it.  Today I feel fine - not really in any pain except when I move my arm a certain way. I'm just taking tylenol though they gave me pain meds. I don't feel I need them and they put me into a trance anyway. They told me they did have to cut into the muscle.  Ugh - I hope that doesn't mean the tumor was bigger than they thought.  I always did feel it was further in though.  They only removed 1 lymph node.  Is that a good thing or doesn't mean anything?  I know on my surgery description (ok they left the book there while I was waiting and I snooped) it said partial mastectomy right breast, sentinel lymph node biopsy and possible auxiliary lymph node dissection which obviously they didn't do.  The incision is is about 2 inches long.  Still very scared it's gone to the lymph nodes, but so glad than nasty thing is out.

Nancy

theresa45

Hi Nancy,  Congrats on getting through surgery!  My surgeon removed part of the muscle under my tumor because the margin was very close.  So, it may not be that the tumor was bigger than they thought.  I do think that it is a positive sign that only one lymph node was removed.  I had four lymph nodes removed because they looked enlarged, but  fortunately, none contained cancer.  I'm sending you prayers and good wishes for a favorable pathology report!  Theresa

MsPharoah

Hi Nancy2581, so glad to hear that your surgery went well.  I hope your healing continues and that you get good news from your pathology. 

When I had my lumpectomy, they only removed 1 lymph node (sentinel)  but I was advised that they would go ahead and do a full auxiliary clearance if the sentinel node looked like cancer.  It turned out the node was clear.  I had a 4 inch scar to remove a tumor that was about 4MM and fortunately I had enough breast tissue that the doctor was able to take out a big chunk and get good clear margins.    I think the incision size depends on where the tumor is.  The reason my scar was so big is that he used that incision to also take a clinical look at the armpit nodes.    I think where they cut depends on where the tumor is...not necessarily how big it is so I wouldn't worry about the size of the tumor based on that.     I did not have to have any drains so that definitely speeded up healing and I did not need the prescribed pain medication either.   But it is good to have just in case.  Also, I had my surgery on a Monday and worked from home for the next 2 weeks with no problems. 

I definitely know the thrilling feeling of getting the tumor taken out.  There is so much waiting involved and once surgery happens, things will move along faster.  Let us know how your follow up goes and how you are feeling.  Hugs!

MsP