Advice for excisonal breast biopsy...

Lynn2552

So after my mamograms and ultrasound they did two core needle biopsies one on each breast and the reults were inconclusive so they have scheduled me for an excisonal biopsy on both tumors (different breast) with wire localization. Any advice would be greatly appreciated on the surgery itself, and homecare, also he said I i would be using light general anesthia if anyone anyone has had any experinced with that please share

MelissaDallas

I think you'll be surprised that it is really no big deal and you will have little pain, although you'll be sorer with both sides done.. I was told I could resume normal activity on the second day after the biopsy, with the exception being not lifting more than a certain amount of weight for a few days longer. I thought it was easier than the core needle biopsy because lying on the table for that was so uncomfortable. After my excisional I think I took one pain pill, then Aleve for a day or two.

bellajenn

I just had my excisional surgery last week. Buy yourself some front closure sports bras to wear for a week. Take at least a day off after surgery, because the anesthesia will knock you on your ass. Have extra pillows to use to boost yourself for comfort in bed (for example, to put under your arms to keep them from crushing on your boobs). Have some mild food to eat when you first get home to help you if you get queasy from the anesthesia (I ate scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because my stomach was rolling). My friend gave me some lemon & ginger tea, which helped greatly because my throat killed from the tube and for my temporary queasiness. And give yourself permission to rest and take the time that your body needs to recover.

Here are some fun suggestions - Get bendy straws because drinking your water to stay hydrated or ginger ale to settle your stomach is always better through a bendy straw! Have your go-to movies that make you feel better ready to go! Have some fun books ready to read!

Good luck!!

agritty

I had that same procedure last week. I agree it was really very easy and I had very little pain - I had more bruising with the needle biopsies than with this, as well. I found the wire localization to be really weird and that may have been the hardest part of the entire procedure - looking at a wire sticking out of your body. While I had little pain, I was tired for a few days after the procedure, and didn't do too much. Best of luck!

Italychick

be sure to ask them about removing any biopsy tracks when they do the lumpectomy. I have seen other women post that the biopsy track should be removed since stray cells could have been dragged into the biopsy track during the process. Not sure if there is truth to that, but doesn't hurt to ask.

My surgeon sent me home with an ace bandage with Velcro that wrapped around my breast, and I loved that thing, I wore it instead of a bra. It seemed to help tremendously with swelling, and it was not uncomfortable. The sentinel node removal area hurt the most. I am four months post lumpectomy and have no pain, just a little bit of numbness. But I continued to exercise as much as I could to stimulate my lymphatic system, so maybe that helped with recovery. I did get the water bottle sloshing in the lumpectomy area and had a large seroma that resolved on its own

Lynn2552

Wow! Thank you so much guys for all the advice any at all helps love the fun facts about the bendy straws lol! I'm so nervous but but it sounds like my nervousness is worse then the actually procudure. So glad I found this forum thanks to all of you!

JMo33

I had one done last month.

1. Hydrate the day before

2. Make sure to stress if you have sensitive skin, allergic to adhesives

3. Hydrate after to get the drugs out of your system

For me the wire placement was the hardest part because I was awake and had not done it before. Once your ready for surgery you go in and the next thing is your waking up. Eat and sip the drink and crackers they give you. Because your having both done you might bring a soft pillow to put between you and the seatbelt strap. I had to take several days as im sensitive to the medications and had a slight reaction. My skin was irratated.Gold bond cream helped. I just used extra strengths Tylenol for pain.

I used an old under wired bra, it's all I wear, removed the wire and it worked well.

Bag of frozen peas...icing helps. My first day my right arm was useless...moving it moved the surgical site.

Few weeks out my skin is still not happy, waiting for steri strips to fall off. But I had more issues with sensitive skin and medication over anything.

I go back Thursday for another. Don't go back if your body is not ready. I made that mistake and just wore myself out.