What is it like to get a "chunk" taken out?

Buzziecat · July 2011

My biopsy came back "high risk benign," so now I am being sent to a BS with recommendations to have my lump out. It's pretty near the surface, so the nurse thinks probably a conscious sedation procedure, but I haven't met with the BS yet so no guarantees, I guess. What is it like to have this done? Is it very sore afterwards?

Sherryc · July 2011

I had a B9 lump removed 14 years ago. They did it under general and I healed very well. I did end up with a hematoma but that does not always happen. I am just prone to them. Otherwise everything went very well. I had an indention for about a year and then it filled out and was not noticeable after that. Good Luck with yours but if it is high risk I recommend take it out.

barbe1958 · July 2011

It`s not as bad as you think, as there is no bones, muscles or organs involved. My 3 previous biopsies all filled in their own eventually. Good luck.

msmpatty · July 2011

I've had several lumps removed surgically for biopsy...not a problem. It isn't very painful, the scar eventually fades and the tissue comes back to "even" you out. No worries.

Patty

vmudrow · July 2011

Not to worry - I have had several lumps removed. The last time the surgeon took out a golf ball sized "chunk", and then moved some tissue from above to help it fill in as I was very small to begin with! If it end up being ADH or ALH (mine was) the oncologist recommended Tamoxifen for 5 years - said it was precancerous.

Bren-2007 · July 2011

My biopsy site was a little sore and bruised after the biopsy. It hurt a little bit. The procedure itself does not hurt. My lumpectomy did not hurt either. I was bruised and sore after the surgery. My doc took out tissue measuring 6 cm x 6 cm, so a fair amount.

Today you cannot tell which breast I had the lumpectomy on .. they are both the same size and look identical.

Best of luck to you,

Bren

Buzziecat · July 2011

I guess I'm a little concerned about pain because I did feel some pain/discomfort with the biopsy. I jumped when he made the little incision, and the tech said something, so the doc put some more numbing medication, but it still did not feel that great. I'm just thinking that having a lump or chunk taken out is going to hurt worse than that!

lrr4993 · July 2011

I don't know if it will be the same as a lumpectomy but it seems like it would. My lumpectomy was done with general anesthesia. I never had any pain before, during or after it. It healed beautifully - you can barely tell anything was done. Because mine was cancer they took out a decent sized chunk to get clear margins around my almost 2 cm tumor. You may not have o remove as much with a benign tumor.

barbe1958 · July 2011

Buzziecat, what you were feeling was the nerves at the skin. There aren't any deeper in the breast tissue, so you won't feel deep pain. You will only feel what would be a big paper cut. I had a double mastectomy and didn't feel any pain. Honest!

When you are nervous and awake, your senses are heightened. You should be asleep for the procedure. Good luck!

Octobergirl · July 2011

When I've had procedures with minimal or conscious sedation, I always tell the prep nurses and anyone else I talk to that I am al little nervous about this and I don't want to remember anything about it so please make sure I have good drugs. They always smile and reassure me and I've never had a problem. Good luck and keep us posted!

Sherryc · July 2011

I had to have both feet operated on so when they did the first one it was conscious sedation and I talked all the way through. Probably told family secrets I shouldn't have and I drove the operating room staff crazy. When I went in for the second foot I knew the anathesiologist and told him to put me out good I was afraid what I would say so he did.

NSWTD · July 2011

I have had two benign lumps removed from my left breast. I did one with a local. Went out to dinner and a movie that night. Absolutely no pain and no probs. I shoud note that the lump was near the surface, not deep, but I do not know it that would matter.

Buzziecat · July 2011

I had conscious sedation with a colonoscopy, but I still remember it, or at least parts of it. I guess I have memories of pain with procedures, because when I got that colonoscopy, I remember it hurting and I said, "Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" and they gave me more medicine and then it was more comfortable. I almost wish they could do the lumpectomy with local because I just hate conscious sedation, and I also hate general, but I know with local I'd have more pain. Oh well! I guess I just won't like anything. It is near the surface. I guess I'm just getting antsy, not having talked to the BS yet.

Amazing that you could have a mastectomy and not feel pain! Wow! I would have thought that would be a very painful thing to recover from, yikes. I've thought about just asking them to hack 'em both off because this high-risk benign thing has scared me, but that would be a longer recovery time, I would imagine, and I just started a new job.

vmudrow · July 2011

I too didn't find my double mastectomy to be to painful, but I know that some ladies do - not sure why. The recovery is fairly long 6-8 weeks until full recovery.

barbe1958 · July 2011

If you get a recon with mastectomy, it is more painful. They've moved muscles around and sometimes left in tissue expanders. Once the drains are removed in 1-5 weeks, you are free to move around all you want with a regular mast without recon.

IllinoisNative · July 2011

I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed and didn't even need pain meds. It was a quick recovery. I took it easy for a few days but it was very managable. I was a nervous wreck because I never had surgery before...but it was a piece of cake.

Good luck!

Buzziecat · July 2011

I will post back with whatever the BS tells me. I guess I will have a better idea of what, where, how, when, etc., at that point. It would be tempting to just have both of 'em completely taken off, but I'm just not sure. I will probably just do the chunk-ectomy Tongue out

for now unless and until they tell me something different. What it comes down to is that I'm petrified there will be cancer lurking in there somewhere (despite the benign bx results) that they will find upon testing the whole thing. I suppose there's always that chance since when they just do a needle bx, they are only getting random bits to test. *Shiver*

SarahsMom · July 2011

Hi Buzzie - I had a walnut sized chunk taken out. Was wrapped up like a mummy for a few days with an ace bandage. Drove me nuts but glad I followed Doc's advice - very tiny scar and things filled back in nicely in about 6 month's time.

Breast disease (which is what we all have - this is NOT normal for ___% of the population - guessing 85% have no issues at all?) means a lot of uncertainty and getting used to to terms like "we think", "probably" and "probably not." So glad we have this site, it has been a great source of support for me. Friends and family don't get it and after 5 years of going through hell every 6 months, I am tired of talking about it with them!!

Hugs to you, sister.

aimska · July 2011

Hi Buzziecat, I had the same fear as you about getting a "chunk taken out". I thought it would look like someone took an ice cream scooper and scooped out a portion of my breast. I had a lumpectomy back in May, they took out the cancer which was about 3.5 cm, probably more with surrounding tissues, etc. so far, so good.. it's still healing from the surgery. It doesn't look like a chunk is missing at all. Don't fear my dear!!!

Bren-2007 · July 2011

I agree with Aimska .. try not to worry Buzzie. I had a section removed that measured 6 cm x 6 cm and you can't tell I even had a lumptectomy. I have one tiny scar from the sentinel node biopsy and that's it. My lumpectomy breast is a bit smaller now, which is good, cause now it matches the other one.

Thinking of you,

Bren

JanetM · July 2011

I had a lumpectomy in May and they took out 2 sections that were sizable. I have one scar that is still pretty noticeable at this point (to be expected) and I am still a little swollen but it doesn't look like I will be lopsided to any great extent. I will notice it but I doubt anyone else will. Thinking of you.

Janet

sflow · July 2011

I had a lumpectomy and the pain was tolerable. However, my IDC was only .7mm and I still have a divot 4+ years later.

Buzziecat · August 2011

Okay, he said it is a fibroepithelial thing that can sometimes turn to cancer. It is 1.7 cm. He thinks it will probably be B9 but needs to come out to study the whole thing and be sure. Will be under general anesthesia. Cry

I am scheduled for tomorrow because he had a cancellation.

Bren-2007 · August 2011

Buzzie .. I'm glad you can get the tumor removed tomorrow. The waiting is the worst time. I'm keeping you in my thoughts that everything is benign.

hugs,

Bren

Buzziecat · August 2011

Thank you. He said if I get it out tomorrow, Tuesday, I should be able to call his office and find out the results on Friday afternoon. Geesh.

ETA: So I guess another name for this thing is phyllodes tumor.

Bren-2007 · August 2011

Let us know how you're feeling after the biopsy. Keeping my fingers crossed for benign results.

hugs,

Bren

elimar86861 · August 2011

Buzziecat, I had a core needle biopsy that caused more bruising than my lumpectomy surgery did. The pain was about the same for both, nothing Tylenol can't handle. Before that I had two surgical excision biopsies, one with local and one with general anesthesia. I'd rather have local as it was no big deal, but they like to usually put you under. Personally, I think it is so they can chit chat their way thru' your surgery. The time I was awake, I just joined in the conversation. I'm serious. Those two excision scars healed to very fine, barely visible scars. With my lumpectomy, I had to lose some surface skin (that's how close to the surface mine was) and as a result, it looks a little more gathered, but flat, and I have two lines coming together. You might want to ask if you will lose skin, but otherwise the scar fades away pretty well. Good Luck tomorrow!

Buzziecat · August 2011

Thank you, Elimar. Mine is close to the surface. I hadn't thought of that, good question to ask. I bet I will lose some skin. I would like it to look as decent as possible, but at the same time I want them to be on the safe side and take out as much as they need to get super good margins. I'd rather err on the side of safety and get those nice clear margins if possible.

I agree with you - I think they want the victim - er, patient - asleep so they don't have to watch their mouths!!! I'd rather have local if it would be at all possible, but at this point I am too tired of worrying to argue. I just want this thing out out out. So I guess I will just put up with it. While I was waiting for my needle biopsy results, I thought I was going to throw up every time the phone rang.

MariannaLaFrance · August 2011

I had a lumpectomy done last year, with about a 2 inch piece of flesh extracted. Wish I could say that there was a minimal scar.... I have a keloid scar, near my left nipple, and the nipple "pulls" a bit because the skin is tight. I did rads as well, so my skin is still super sensitive to the touch. However, in a bra and shirt, no one can tell a thing.

thatsvanity · August 2011

I had a chunck taken out of my right breast, after surgery it wasn't the same size as my left breast and it became infected. I was diagnosed with atypical lobular hyperplasia. My younger sister age 41 died on 2/14/2011 of invasive ductile carcinoma bilateral grade 3 cells. As a result of my strong family history and my beloved sister I chose to have a prophylactic mastectomy with silicone implants. My surgery with implants was on 5/25/2011. They are now the same size and I have no breast lobes or ducts it is all silicone. I am still healing a small area under my nipple on the left breast. I have Alloderm implants 500 cc each breast. They change shape every day. My risk of developing BC was pretty high---- I was 44 when I felt the lump I am now 45. The mammogram and the ultra sound only showed snowy images of dense breasts. It was the general surgeon who took the chunck out of my breast and sent it to a lab that found the atypical cells. The screening devices showed nothing. I'm grateful to the surgeon who decided to surgically biopsy my breast.

Buzziecat · August 2011

It's good to hear everyone's experiences. I really appreciate the learning and the moral support. I got home about 3 hours ago and felt really sleepy and slept pretty hard until just a little while ago. Now I am still sleepy but not as bad. I can feel some stinging on the operated side and it's definitely sore but so far so good. Everyone who took care of me did a good job and made me feel I was in good hands. They couldn't find a vein for the IV (I have this problem a lot), so they didn't even try to stick me until they brought in an anesthesiologist and an ultrasound. They found a vein via ultrasound, put some lidocaine so I wouldn't feel it, and got the IV in quite nicely. Wonderful! My throat is sore because they had some trouble intubating me and breast is tender and sting-y.

Thatsvanity, so sorry to hear about your sister but am glad you are doing well. I will be 42 next month.

What is it like to get a "chunk" taken out?

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