Very STRANGE!!!!! 2 operations for Lumpectomy

Danaqtr

Hello,

My mom diagnosed with IDC on 14th August. I took her to Germany for treatment. Today was the first time meeting the doctor. The doctor decided tomorrow will be SLN procedure then the following day is the Lumepctomy! I thought this ok then just now im thinking this is very strange why to seperate the two operations !! It should be done in one day they can check the sential lymph node in same time when doing the lumpectomy! What is the point if letting the patient get anesthesia twice!!!

Also I need some advises what to expect after lumpectomy what is thepain level and for how long?

Georgia1

Hi Danaqtr. Yes, I has the sentinel node biopsy and lumpectomy at the same time. I was fine with just Tylenol and an ice pack, but it was hard to sleep for a couple of days and as I recall I couldn't shower for four days - so I postponed returning to work. All best wishes for your mom, and do tell her to do the prescribed stretching exercises. That helps a lot.

NotVeryBrave

They had me come in to the hospital the day before my surgery for an injection of radioactive particles under the areola so that they could find the SN during the surgery the next day. Is that perhaps what they are doing? You don't need anesthesia for that.

Danaqtr

Do you mean they injected you by something one day before then the next day they started the operation

NotVeryBrave

Yes. The injection was done in radiology in the afternoon the day before. The surgery was first thing the next morning.

JaBoo

Danaqtr, I came to the hospital and had the radioactive dye injected on the first day. I didn't get any anestezia or pain med for that, no need. it was uncomfortable and a bit painfull, like vaccination maybe. The pain went away after a few minutes. After an hour, they did some imaging, it took like 10 minutes maybe. This was to trace the sentinel node.

The lumpectomy with sentinel node removal was the next day, in the morning. They took 4 nodes. The operation was about an hour or so. I was feeling ok in the afternoon.

For post op pain I took some meds they gave me, they were simple NSAID. I took it for maybe 3 days, low dose. It was enough. I could have managed without, but I told myself why bother.

I'm describing the procedure for you, maybe it's the way it's going to be with your mum too. I am in cental Europe

Danaqtr

ladies, thanks alot. You made me feel comfortable.

I refused the surgery today till I got full explanation. It was misunderstanding by the nurse who wrongly interpreted to me the procedure in English by saying Sentatial node biopsy!