Appearance of breast, 10 days post lumpectomy

VinRobMom · December 2009

I had my lumpectomy on 12/21 and won't have a follow-up with doc until 1/5. This is eight days past the recommended follow-up (due to my schedule).

I am 8 days post lumpectomy. If willing, could you please tell me what your treated breast looked like during the ten days post lumpectomy?

I was very satisfied with my BS all the way up until instructions for aftercare, which were rattled off as if they were really unimportant. They spent far more time having me read and sign post general anesthesia instructions.

somanywomen · December 2009

You are right about the instructions being very blury at time of lumpectomy...I did not even realize that I was suppose to take off the plastic shrink wrap, if my surgeon had not called my a couple of days after operation, I would have left it on until I saw him next....What in particular do you want to know?..I was very sore and itchy from the operation and the steri-tape....My breast was a bit swollen also.....

c2will · December 2009

I also had a lumpectomy on 12/21, and will have a follow-up with the BS on 1/5. I have steri-strips on the incisions for the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. They were covered by another bandage, which I was instructed to remove after I was able to shower (steri-strips remain until the follow-up).

My breast is a little bruised looking on the left, which I suspect was from a hematoma during surgery. I don't have any other disfiguration. I have some itching from the steri-strips, and I would LOVE to sleep without my bra (sports bra), however, I've been instructed to wear a bra day and night.

Good luck.

VinRobMom · December 2009

I want to know exactly, and in detail, what your treated breat looked like a few days post surgery.

VinRobMom · December 2009

Thanks to both of you. My left breast, the one operated on, is still very swollen and I am bruised in colors of dark purple and a bit of green and blue all over my left breast, upper rib cage, and even extending into my right breast. Thanks for the recommendation about the steri strips. I'll leave those in place. The swelling is so bad that I have resorted to stuffing the right side of my bra to achieve symmetry. I don't have any redness or other signs of infection.

koshka1 · December 2009

Hi,

I kept my bandage (gauze etc) on a few days after my lumpectomy.

The steri-strips remained on until they pretty much fell off (this helps the scar heal and makes sure it is very tiny).

My breast was swollen from what I can see and there was also some bruising. There was no bleeding.

This was my second re-excision (to get better margins) so there was little pain except for where the lymph nodes were taken...this was bruised and lets just say my arm pit was not happy.

I also had leaking out of one of my wounds/stitches and this was due to a seroma that was draining (build up of fluid). I was told this was rather normal and that the doc could drain it for me.

When the strips came off, there were tiny incisions around my nipple that you could barely notice... I was quite happy with this.

Again, this was still swollen and the swelling goes down in weeks and months.

2 years later I am still happy with my breast.

I hope this helps!

Hugs

rgiuff · December 2009

It was a day or 2 post surgery that I was told I could remove the binder. When I did I was horrified, because my breast, which was A cup to begin with, was now flat as a pancake and I panicked thinking that they had removed more tissue than they said they would. There was some yellowish bruising, and the small reddish brown incision, which has now faded with time, to being barely noticeable. When I called the surgeon's office, they said not to worry, that the initial appearance was not what it eventually would look like, and that the flatness was due to surgery related fluid shifts and compression by the binder. Well, it did return to normal size after several days and now looks not much different from before and actually feels heavier than the other one since going through radiation.

koshka1 · December 2009

Hi,

I just read your post.

It sounds like your breast is pretty much normal.

As long as it is not burning hot and leaking out pussy stuff you are probably ok.

Remember, you have had a huge incision and big chunk removed from your breast. And this is why you are so bruised. Even though this is usally a day surgery, a short surgery, the trauma to the breast tissue is pretty hefty.

I also wore a sports bra and tucked bandages in under it to just avoid the pressure. It hurt like hell to wear a seatbel so i put a towel underthe seat belt. Also, going up and down stairs hurt for weeks after. It seemed every movement to my breast had tenderness.

The good news is...about 6 weeks after my surgery, I was back to teaching yoga!

I swear I had bruises for almost 2 months tho....and sometimes still get pains and twinges in the muscles and armpit.

Hugs.....Write to me if you need.

somanywomen · December 2009

My breast was swollen, no bruising or discoloration, (had the bruising only with biopsy) I could hardly tell that they had taken out the 6cm by 5cm by 1 1/2cm area...I have about a 2 1/2" scar on very left side of left breast....I also have a 1 1/2" scar underarm area for the removal of lymph nodes....That's about it.....I have more pain now that I am more than half way through radiation treatments than I had after operation....

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans", John Lennon
Diagnosis: 9/28/2009, IDC, 1cm, Stage Ib, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

VinRobMom · December 2009

My entire left breast is dark purple. Mild soreness and some itching. Still swollen. And a quarter of my right breast is dark purple.

somanywomen · December 2009

That just doesn't sound right to me..but I see that some others have had discoloration also, but I think that I would have it checked before the 5th for peace of mind.....esp, since your other breast is involved for some reason....

Nipi · December 2009

I had surgery on dec 17th. I was told not to take stri strips off until 7- 10 days, and at that time they should fall off. well my post op appointment was on the 22nd. only 5 days after surgery. I met with the physician assistant and was surprised that he took them off at the visit. The wound began to bleed, he said it was just drainingn and that is was normal. The problem is it after 12 days it is stil draining ??? I recently stopped nursing, and scared it my be an infection. Called doctor and was prescribed antibodies just in case. it's pretty ugly!!! and not to be to graphic but has an odor. I'm sure this can't be normal.....

pj12 · December 2009

When I had surgery my operated breast was very slightly fuller than the other. My incision was closed with a heavy super glue that lasted a long time before finally wearing off. I saw my surgeon at 10 days post op and he essentially released me to the radiologist. By 3 or 3 1/2 weeks post op I began to tell people my breast felt warmer and increasingly fuller but everyone said it was okay. Finally red splotches appeared and I had an infection, which was what had been causing the warmth and swelling. Took a month to clear up but finally did. No discharge and not really sore ever. So if you think things are not right, speak up!

I am now 9 months post op and my breast is still slightly fuller than the unoperated side.

Good luck and best wishes.

pam

jane1254 · December 2009

Nlpi

I had surgery on 12/7 Mast. My PS told me to be aware of an order. He indicated to me that it would be something I needed to see him for. Maybe it would have been more antibiotics. You should keep in touch with his office. Good Luck

Jane

jane1254 · December 2009

Nlpi

Of course I meant to type odor.

Jane

Nipi · December 2009

Thanks Jane!

Yeah, just seems like somethings wrong. I'm going in the morning.

VinRobMom · December 2009

The pain and burning is increasing. The swelling hasn't gone down. Still dark purple. And the breast feels very hard including some hard lumps. I'll see if they can squeeze me in today.

jane1254 · December 2009

VinRobMom

Good luck today I hope you get an appointment. I hope they can give you relief, physically and mentally.

Jane

VinRobMom · January 2010

I saw my breast surgeon yesterday. He said that what I have is a hematoma. He had gotten the pathology report back from my lumpectomy.

The good news is that there were no signs of invasive cancer in my breast. The bad news is that he has to do re-excision because the margins were too small. He said that I can also choose to do a mastectomy but will put that off until after the re-excision and then if the margins are still not clear, go for it. At the time of the re-excision he will take care of the hematoma.

jane1254 · January 2010

VinRobMom,

Sounds like a lot of good news. No invasives, a hematoma and a chance for re-excision. I hope you can get some comfort from that. At least you are armed with more info.

Happy New Year,

Jane

Anonymous · January 2010

I got the same news as you back in Oct....no invasion, but I needed a re-excision because of poor margins. The second time around, there was no need for the wire localization, so that was a relief! I know it sounds bad, but you got excellent news...no invasion! The re-excision shouldn't be bad, at least from my experience. My breast was completely bruised from the biopsy and it took a while for it to heal. I had a hemotoma as well.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

VinRobMom · January 2010

Thanks to both of you. I am very grateful that no invasive ca was found.

Sue100, sounds like we have a similar road. Very similar. I am so glat that the wire localiation procedure won't be done again. I hated that. Did your reexcision produce clear margins?

My breast is so badly bruised it looks like I have been beat up badly all over my chest. The pain and soreness is worse than the few days post lumpectomy, but still not bad enough to take any kind of pain reliever.

I have to think positive but doc said if on reexcision they still don't have clear margins, I will be having to consider mx. He said that a radiologist may not be willing to treat me without a minimum margin achieved. The treatment I choose should ultimately be up to me and I am getting worried that I am being forced to accept a treatment that I am not comfortable with. The risk is mine and I should be the one who decides the risk I'm to take.

Anyway, happy New Year to you all!

dmorgan2 · January 2010

VinRobMom,

Another dr. told me that if I took 3,000 to 4,000 units of Ester C daily (vitamin C) before surgery, that I would hardly have any bruising. I did it and I had almost zero bruising. You may want to give that a try before your next surgery. Also apply ice packs after the surgery!

Good luck to you!

VinRobMom · January 2010

Thanks for the dmorgan. I'll try that.

Appearance of breast, 10 days post lumpectomy

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