question about after papilloma surgery

Hi, cupid, I don't have an answer but a lot of questions--I was told biopsy results of a nodule over phone were B9 but I had to see a surgeon.  But when I actually read the report, it said a papilloma (which is indeed benign) but there were area of atypical cells that required excisional biopsy;  so I have an appt with surgeon in 3 weeks. So I don't know how much tissue they will take when they remove the node and and is there a scar or dent?  I wondered about pain, but you answered that one for me.

So why did you have the papilloma and milk ducts removed?  Did they tell you it was really benign?  Was this local anesthesia? 

 Thanks and I hope we get some good feedback from the ladies out there.

Karinda 

Thanks, Milena!

So glad yours was totally benign. I think they are questioning the "atypical cells"--just got back from my ob/gyn and he said path report made no sense--"high-risk benign papilloma".  So we'll see what the surgeon says--I think I would like it removed no matter what, makes me nervous, and I'm on HRT and can't really go off due to extreme symptoms of surgical menopause.

So you are comfortable leaving them in?  How often do you have mammos to watch this?

Karinda 

I had the same surgery a few months ago and I still have pain.  Sometimes it's a dull aching throughout the entire top half of my breast, and other times it's a sharp, stabbing (almost burning) sensation in the area of the incision.  Then there's a spot on the side of my breast (near my armpit) that still hurts if it anything puts pressure on it, such as rolling over in bed or if I bump it with my arm when reaching for something.  It feels like he cut me all the way down to my ribs, which I doubt is actually the case, but that's how deep the pain seems to go.  I also stilll have a swollen lymph node in my arm pit that hurts sometimes, which I assume is a side effect from the biopsy and surgery (it has gotten a little smaller since the surgery, but is definitely still swollen).  My doc has not been good about giving me information or explaining anything too me, which is really frustrating.  I still have that hardness in my breast that you mentioned too, which other women have told me might last about a year.  

I had a sclerosed papilloma removed 5 years ago and it had some hyperplasia and some other abnormal cells associated with it. It was hard lump and removed through incision around areola.

In 2008 I noticed greenish fluid dripping from left breast nipple. It was not pleasant. BS removed the duct and was diagnosed with papillomatosis. Thought all was well until almost exactly 1 year later when the right breast started the same thing. This time I had mammogram, Ultra sound rt side then another bi-lateral ultrasound at a different hospital, followed by MRI. The US techs told me that the papillomas were so dense, especially in the rt. breast that there was no way of removing all of them and the MRI came back Bi-rads Category 4 of 5 suspicious. I had 4 wires inserted (3 on Rt. and 1 on Lft.) using US and mammo, then the excissional  biopsies plus 2 ductal excisions on the rt. Path said diffuse papillomatosis and with this much the chances are much higher of DCIS down the road, especially since I have had so many biopsies and recurrences.

My solution - though radical - was a prophylactic BMX last Aug. I have had two different sets of implants and now will have revision on rt. with alloderm sling to correct some thin muscle/skin issues, but would do the whole thing again. It has given me much more peace of mind and my PS did a fantastic job with nipples and aerola grafts.  They really look better than the originals ever did. I am 57 and never had children so that put me at even higher risk, plus some cancer in family and being overweight.

villagirl - I don't know where you can get bra that zips up front in UK, but Champion makes a sports bra that does and our J.C.Penney dept. store in states carries one. I don't own either, but look on line and you should find something. My mastectomy was bi-lat and PS was such a perfectionist that both boobs are the same and even (though I am worried about what the one with the sling will do on its own when fixed). Yes you will have some extreme pain (that's what meds are for). With the BMX both arms are pretty useless for a few days. No weight on them and every thing hurts like H----! I was told to sleep in recliner and probably did for almost three weeks. I would try bed and get back up and sleep in recliner. DH would then sleep in his so he could be close. For my implant exchange surgeries, I got slanted pillow. It really helps a bunch.

I was out of work for 3 weeks and needed every bit of it. I hit the wall at about 2 1/2 weeks and could not even function. PS said adrenal glands took a hit and put me on prednisone. He even asked the nurse if there was a diagnosis code for "Patient looks like S----)? She told him no, but there was one for patient very sick.

Best of luck to you in your surgery. 

Nancy 

Hi I am waiting for a date to have a major duct excision, which should be any day now. I also have had a lot of pain, and was hoping that after the op it would not be there anymore!! Perhaps it is just nerve endings healing, as I am tole they have to cut through quite a few nerve endings, and these take a bit of healing. I do hope you are feeling better now and healing nicely, and I hope your tests are clear.  The waiting is the worst thing.  Thinking of you, take care. 

Villagirl - So glad you got your date. I know that the waiting is hard. I will be having my right breast implant redo with the alloderm on August 27. I am patiently awaiting this date as it is starting to really bother me. See BS on Wed. for routine 1 year post-op check. I know how you feel with the throat infection. Somehow I managed to come down with a cold for the first time in several years. My husband and I were in Nova Scotia for 2 weeks and probably picked up something there. He had pneumonia earlier this year so his resistance was down and then the cumulative effects of 4 surgeries last year undoubtedly left me a little weak in the immune dept. so we are both suffering. I had to work all weekend and could not call in sick as I have few sick days and need them for surgery. I start a new job on Tuesday so I hope that my cold is better. It is a part time job for some extra income. I had one, but due to staff cutbacks at our local hospital, I was let go.

What part of UK are you in? My brother and family lived in Scotland for over 10 years so am familiar with UK.

Good Luck with your surgery and I hope that the pain is not too great and that it is successful in aleviating the pain you are currently experiencing.

Nancy 

Hi Raquel

Hope you are recovering from your op. Iam having the same thing done on the 27th July. Did you have a lot of pain prior to the op? I seem to have waves of pain, some like a knife stabbing me, which seems to go right through to my back/shoulder blade, and in my armpit. How are you feeling now, and are there any helpful hints you might have for me.

Take care

Julie

villagirl - I am thinking of you and hoping you have good results with your upcoming surgery.

Donamaria - Sounds like you have had similar situation to what I had over the past 3 or 4 years I had a greenish watery discharge with my papilloma. Like you the mammogram did not show much but US and MRI did show diffuse papillomatosis. (See my June 24 post above for further details). I do not remember especially painful symptoms post biopsy, but then they did remove my whole duct at the time of biopsy. I also had 3 other sites biopsied at the same time and had them all done under gen. anesthesia. So sorry you are in such pain. I have to say that I am very relieved not to be going through the same thing this year and so glad that my Breast Surgeon was on my side with the BMX. I saw her last week for a year (almost) follow-up and she told me that she had another patient that had papillomatosis. She said she used to see it rarely and no more than once every 18 months and now she has 2 patients with the same diagnosis within a year. She said her other patient does not have it to the extent which I had and only in one breast, not both. BS is very glad we went ahead with the BMX also. It is so nice to have the support of the medical staff when it is prophylactic. At the time she did mine she had a patient who really needed a BMX and did not want to do it and then she had me with the prophy and was ready to put the other mess behind me. She said she really wished I could talk to the other patient, but with our HIPPA privacy laws, that was not an option. Wishing you good news on Friday for your path. report.

Nancy 

Hi villagirl, Thanks for inquiring after my surgery. The surgery itself went very well- into the OR at 2pm and home by 7:30pm. Monday morning I called PS office to confirm Tues. appt. and said all was well. About 2 hours later something felt off and I noticed that I had a seroma developing. Called PS office back and they fit me in and drained about 90cc off. It seems to be coming back, but I will wait until Fri to see if it gets larger. I have followup appt then. Today I have appt with BS who is also my GP so will see if she thinks it needs following. BS and PS share office and nurse so they can consult if need be. I am off work until next week.

So sorry about your experiences and after surgery illnesses. I believe that my immunity has been really compromised. I have been getting colds, etc. that I rarely got before.  This surgery (my5th in a year) has seemed to really been the most difficult to recover from. I have felt yucky and my GI tract is a mess.

I cannot believe they found no papillomas. What was the actual path report findings? I hope you can find the cause of your bleeding and no more surgery will be necessary.

Take care.

Nancy