Lumpectomy on Feb 1st - Looking for a "Cancer Buddy"

Went through this a little over 3 years ago.  The lumpectomy caused pain only immediately after the surgery, which percocet took care of and a little bit the next day.  I had small breasts, and 2 days later, when I took off the binder and looked at my breast, I almost had a heart attack.  It was flat as a pancake.  I feared that they had removed much more tissue than I was told would be removed.  But after putting in a slightly hysterical call to my surgeon's office,  I was told that this was temporary due to fluid shifts of surgery and that it would come back to normal size within a few days.  And it did.   I also had some numbness in most of my armpit because of the sentinel node biopsy procedure, which made shaving that area tricky.  Most of the sensation did come back over a several month period.  I was back to doing pushups within 2 weeks.  Took off work for 3 weeks, but really could have gone back in a week.  For me, radiation was a breeze.  I had absolutely no side effects at all, not even the fatigue that is supposedly so common, and I continued to work my full time night shift Nursing job throughout the entire 6 week period.  No skin burns or irritation at all.  I applied the cream that they gave me every day, along with aloe vera gel in between as well.

I've never regretted going this route because for me, keeping my real breast with nipple sensation intact was one of the deciding factors.   Good luck to you!

Hi Sally,

 I had a lumpectomy in late Dec and it went smootly, had a little more pain then others. I find when I move or lie certain ways I get a sharp twinge but nothing that can't be lived with. I didn't have clean margins on one side but otherwise my biopsy came back with the same med grade DCIS so I have to admit that was a huge relief. You will feel relived to when you get that surgical biopsy back.

Well I did have to have a second surgery but they went thru same site and it was a breeze, recovering fine from that now. I have worked through out since I work out of my home except for day after surgeries.

They got it all this time so i will start radiation in a few weeks, i can let you know how that goes if you like. A friend is going thru the same thing and has already completed her radiation did the Tomotherapy of two times a day for a week said it was a breeze zero pain.

I am also Estrogen postive, but I hear that is a good thing because there are drugs to take to further prevent reacurrance. I have yet to see the Oncologist.

Good luck with your surgery. I think you'll find it goes very well. I have had dental surgery that was longer and more painful.

God Bless

Hi Sally..I was diagnosed with DCIS, stage 0, low grade and am scheduled for my lumpectomy on 2/6, with radiation to follow. Have not met w/the oncologist yet. Have you? My surgeon just said that I would most likely need at least 6 weeks of radiation therapy but I won't know for sure till I meet w/oncologist. My mom had exact same diagnosis/stage/grade about 3 years ago and has done very well. She is on tamoxifen now. I had an MRI after bx which showed another smaller area than the one found on mammogram. It is not too far from original site so surgeon plans to excise both sites by doing a "bracket" lumpectomy. Would love to support you & have you support me during our journey. Best of luck w/your surgery...stay strong!

SO glad to hear surgery went smoothly for you!! Was thinking about you. Wow, it does sound almost exact as far as surgery/followup w/surgeon the next Monday...I still don't have appt. set w/oncologist but know who it is so I guess they don't schedule the appt. till after the lumpectomy has been performed. My surgeon said to expect a call from their office to schedule that week between my surgery & followup appt. I will have 2 wires placed before the surgery since they found another smaller area on the MRI she is going to take both out. glad to hear you took the pain meds; I've always heard its better to take then BEFORE you actually need them so they have time to get into your system and help relieving pain before it gets too bothersome. Do you work outside the home? If so what type of work do you do? How many days did you take off for surgery/recovery? I work in an elementary school as a computer lab assistant & plan to take Monday/Tuesday off & see how I am feeling Wed., but hope to go back. I think it will help keep my mind off things. Do you have kids? Ages? Mine are 2 boys, 13 & 15, which is good because they are old enough to understand and ask questions. Plus w/all of us having seen my mom go through the same diagosis/surgery/treatment plan, it seems to be less stressful since we all saw her great outcome. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. I too would love to continue with journey together & so thankful for this forum. Sending healing hugs your way

Glad to hear surgery behind you. Rest up even if you don't feel you need it. It can catch up to you c the stress added in. Keep us posted on your pathology rpt hopefully you will hear mon. I go to my first radiologist meeting on tues. ready to hear the plan for phase II.

After rereading some of these posts it sounds like SAVI and the Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Balloon Cathether they were telling me about is the same type thing?

Scrappylady...this sounds funny but makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone on Monday.  So glad to hear your mom is clear after three years..that makes me feel better too!  Good luck to you and post back when you can so we know how it went...be thinking of you.

I'm in Virginia...so opposite side of the US.  I have to be there at 7 a.m.  Go for 4 wires about 8 and then surgery starts at 11. A lot of waiting I guess..not sure why so much time is needed.  I hate getting up early too!!  They said I should be able to come home about 4 p.m. 

The grade was on my pathology report.  It called it intermediate and I asked if that was 2 and was told it was.  I think there are only 3 grades.  I found this page on this site that explains it a bit...might help you as it did me.  My report also said it was comedo necrosis. So many new words!!

Ok..will do. Good luck to you as well...post when you feel like it!  

Hi Ladies...Glad to hear you are both doing so well. Sallygal sorry to hear you have to go back in for more excisions, but sounds like your attitude and their prognosis are good! Jigadake...I hear you about using muscles you didn't realize...my big mistake yesterday was folding an afgan! ouch! Also, apparently Vicodin hypes me up, who knew>! So wasn't sleeping too well till last night when I got different pain pill. Slept till 11 am today & feeling much better. My surgery went well too and will hear more about pathology report, etc. this coming Monday at post op appt. w/surgeon. Then on 2/16 will meet w/oncologist about radiation plan. So thankful we have found each other through this forum and have each other's support and input during this journey. Hey, either of you have a suggestion for a good support bra? I am supposed to wear bra 24/7 for awhile. Thanks!

I ventured out today since I had only taken ibuprofen all day and no pain...went to JC Penneys and got 2 nice sports bras that zip up in the front. Very comfortable & supportive so feeling like I am taking care of things in that department. Ordered 2 more since there were no more left in my size.



Jigadake...seem odd that they are having you wait a month to go back & talk about radiation, but I guess each doc/facility does it differently. I just want to know my length & start date so we can figure out if we can do anything for spring break. Keep us updated on your path report.