Lumpectomy AND Mastectomy

Marley143

Hi. I just had my surgery July 25th... I looked at my breast for the first time today and was devastated 😥

I dont know why this thought just came to my head.... Why would my doctor perform a lumpectomy AND a mastectomy on the breast with the lump? Is this common? I am BRCA positive therefore mastectomy performed on both breasts. I have reached out to my dr. and waiting on his call but wanted to see if anyone else has had these 2 procedures at the same time.

XO

Beesie

In what way did your surgeon perform both a lumpectomy and a mastectomy? A mastectomy is total removal of the breast. Is your chest flat with no breast at all?

I'm sorry you are devastated by the appearance. You have to keep in mind that how you look immediately after surgery is likely very different than how you will look after the scars are less red and start to fade, and in the case of a lumpectomy, after the breast fills itself in, as often happens with breast tissue after a lumpectomy.

Marley143

Yes, both were performed. I have an incision for the lumpectomy and another for the mastectomy. Prior Dr. visits he also stated there will be a scar for the lumpectomy and a scar for the mastectomy... my brain must have been in the fog with everything that was going on and I didnt ask the question. My thought now are clearer and it doesn't make sense to me. Mastectomy is to remove the entire breast tissue....so a lumpectomy wouldn't be needed. I'm devastated that I didnt ask the question prior to surgery. I'm wondering is ANYBODY has had both procedure done at the same time.... hoping my Dr. Can answer my question as it just doesn't make sense.

mom2bunky

I'm sorry, this is very upsetting. Are you saying that he removed the healthy breast? I don't see how you can see your lumpectomy scar otherwise. I'm confused

ETA: Is it possible that the scar you're seeing is for a sentinel node biopsy, and that the cancerous breast was removed?

Marley143

hi Mom2bunky,

The lump was on my left breast. Double mastectomy performed due to BRCA1 positive. My left breast procedure was the mastectomy AND a lumpectomy. Questioning why both procedures were performed if a mastectomy would have taken all my breast tissue out I wouldn't have needed a lumpectomy as well. I have 2 incisions on my left breast.... one for the lumpectomy and another for the mastectomy.

light1candle

Marley143, so sorry you have these two unsightly & disfiguring scars. Perhaps you should call the doctor's office to ask about it?

I am by no means any kind of expert here, but is it possible that there is a mix-up regarding the *language* your doctor used? I know that another term for lumpectomy is a "partial mastectomy". There is also another term called a "quadrantectomy" or "segmental mastectomy" which seems to be another breast-conserving surgery that takes a larger portion of the breast than a "lumpectomy" but leaves most of it intact. If you had two areas of concern, perhaps one was a more extensive surgery than the other?

mom2bunky

Hi Marley (I have a kitty named Marley!),

Thanks for clarifying. I still can't see how you can have a scar for a lumpectomy because yes, the entire breast is removed so therefore there's nowhere for there to be a lumpectomy scar. Others here will know more than I do, don't worry. I'm new to this too, and it sucks.

If it's any comfort at all, I suspect a lot of us are very upset the first time we see our breasts after surgery. I know I was. I wasn't expecting the bruising and the scabbing, silly me. It looked so scary and awful. But the doctors were all "nope, perfectly normal, you're doing great!" That helped a lot. I'm sorry, this too shall pass.

If what you're calling a lumpectomy scar is near your armpit, that may very well be a node dissection scar?

mom2bunky

Oh I bet light1candle is on to something here....