Lumpectomy - what can i expect?

Just saw this. Really great news!!

Yay for clear margins! Glad you're recovery is going well. I do also have weird little pains and stuff like that, which I guess is normal.

Shayne - I had lumpectomys done on both sides on the 17th of May and had an appointment with the surgeon on the 28th, I have swelling and pain especially on the left side, he said this is normal and it would clear up in about a month.  He also said he could feel the bruising in the left breast about the size of a baseball.  Sorry I cannot say anything about your rash, as I do not have this.

Hope this helps and you are feeling better today.

Hugs 

 Shayne

I was checking over the Radiation article on this board and it mentioned a kind of rash under the breast that can occur with radiation.  I looked and found that thing under the other breast.  It was weeping and I had thought it was sweat and usually just put talcum powder on.  It had been hot here.  So I did what the Rad article said and that is use corn starch baby powder.  What I bought also has vit. E and aloe.  I have made sure there was plenty in my cotton bra too and it is getting much better.  So I would suggest the corn starch baby powder.  You really cannot go wrong.  Apply often

Hi all,

I am new to this board but I am scheduled for a lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection in july.  I am doing chemo first to try to shrink things up beforehand.  I already know I have a positive lymph node so i expect they will have to take a quite a few out.  It has helped to read what all of you have been through to prepare me mentally and physically.  I will be getting the front zipper sports bra ahead of time.  Great info.

I hope the recovery is fast for you Shayne.  Best wishes.

Shayne 

Just remember, you are done with 20%!!!! 

I am new to this forum.  I found the lump just about 6 weeks ago and will be in for my lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy on Thursday June 14th.  Everything has moved so quickly.  Funny I am not too worried about the surgery itself.  My surgeon told flat out there is no chance I would wake up without a breast.  She said they just don't do that anymore.  She also said she is very good at what she does and 9 times out of ten she gets a clear margin.  Here's hoping. I am more worried about the after...radiation and chemo.

Thanks to everyone sharing their stories.  It helps so much to have some idea what to expect.

Hi everyone!  I had a lumpectomy with sentinal node removal in January.  I had a fine wire placed into my breast that anchored onto the tumour to help the surgeon find it.  The tumour was pretty deep at the 7 o'clock position.  I also had blue tracer dye injected just under my nipple before surgery.  That was more painful than having the wire inserted!

I didn't tolerate the anesthesia during surgery very well and was practically throwing up in the car on the ride home.  I was given a prescription for Tylenol 3 with codeine for pain.  I didn't take much of the Tylenol 3s because the pain wasn't that bad.  As others have stated, they lymph node incision was more painful.  I found wearing a bra after surgery was really uncomfortable, so I just wore baggy t-shirts.  I did manage to find a bra with no underwire and no padding that I wore (it was like a training bra!) when I slept because I found sleeping on my side would tug both my incisions.  I also slept with an extra pillow along side of me so that I could rest my arm on it.  It helped!

It took a while for the swelling to come down. While my incisions were healing, I had shooting pains in my breast, my right shoulder blade was sore and the back of my right arm was numb.  I heard the shooting pains were there because the nerves that had been cut during surgery were now trying to find themselves and repair.

My right breast was smaller than my left breast to begin with.  After the swelling came down, it was even smaller.  I finished 16 rounds of radiation with 5 boosts to the breast incision and my breast looks the same, except tanned.  I also still had shooting pains, although not as often.  I applied Glaxal Base everyday during radiation and switched to pure aloe vera gel when radiation was finished to help the skin heal.  I had no problems with radiation.  As other's have said, it is a piece of cake!

For those of you who haven't had your lumpectomy yet, my advice would be not to rush getting back to normal activity.  The reason I say this is that I pushed myself to get back to my normal routine and ended up having my incisions bleed by just doing the simple task of washing dishes and putting them away.  Man did it hurt!  So, listen to your bodies and don't push yourself until you are ready.  I also started stretching two days after my surgery to make sure I had full mobility of my arm, shoulder and back.  I was given a stretching pamphlet before I had surgery. Also try and get some ice packs because it sure helps to ice the incisions when they are painful.

So glad to find this forum on lumpectomies. I was diagnosed May 31 and am scheduled for lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy next Monday 6/18. I am mostly worried about the node biopsy...I have heard that is worse than the lumpectomy!



Did anyone have a drainage tube put in? That scares me, too! How long were pain meds needed? I have three kids aged 6, 9, and 12 so I would like to be back with the world sooner than later ...

Miss Angie - thanks for your encouragement! My husband will take some time off of work to help and we do have family but my youngest is special needs (autism). It is just easier for me to take care of his therapies...it gets overwhelming for family to deal with.



I noticed that my diagnosis is similar to yours. I am praying for clear nodes!

Mirabile and palmettomom, buest wishes on your upcoming surgeries.  let us know how you are doing!

Palmettomom3 - I'm crossing my fingers you have clear nodes and clear margins!  Take it all one day at a time and remember to make time for you to heal.  I'll be thinking of you and sending you postive energy on Monday. Let us know how it went after your surgery.

Mirabile - Let us know if you have any questions regarding your surgery. We're all here to help each other through this.  Might be a good idea to ask your doctor or surgeon for a note to stay off work a little longer after your surgery so that you can digest all that has been going on and also if you are sore, you can feel better before going back to work.  My breast incision wasn't very painful and I had Tylenol 3s to take if I needed them.  My fingers are crossed that your surgery goes well and that you don't get a cancer diagnosis.  I'll be sending you positive energy on Friday too!