LCIS Diagnosis and lumpectomy questions

DawnMarie--everyone worries about the amount taken out during lumpectomy, but it is really amazing how the body "fills in the gap" over time.  I had about the same amount removed, and ended up with just a small little divet (dimple), even i can hardly notice it anymore.  I took it easy for a few days after my lumpectomy and was back to normal activities in less than a week. Going back to work the very next day might be too much, you need to let things heal. Radiation is not a treatment given for LCIS.  Have the doctors discussed preventative meds with you? (generally tamoxifen, but evista and now aromasin used if you are post-menopausal). I was diagnosed almost 11 years ago and my risk is further elevated by family history of ILC; so I do high risk surveillance of alternating mammos and MRIs every 6 months with breast exams on the opposite 6 months, took tamox for 5 years, now have been taking evista for about 5 years. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

I had about 2 tablespoonfulls taken out on my excision.  I imagine that your breast size may influence how much this may affect your breast shape.  I have a B cup, and the excision was on the upper side of my breast.  I had lots of bruising, but after a few months the 'cave' filled in completely.  After a few months, my bruising cleared up.  (I had a hematoma, and the bruising took a lot longer to clear up than the indentation.)  After a few years, I can't hardly tell where the incision was; its a fine pink scar that's barely visible.

I work the graveyard shift.  I worked the night before surgery. My surgery was during the day shift, and, because my surgeon had a family emergency that day, I didn't get out of the recovery room until about 8pm.  I slept that night, then went back to work the next night.  (So I took off 1 full shift.)  My work usually doesn't involve more than carrying 5 pounds. It probably would have been better had I taken off an extra day, (from the anesthesia mostly), but it was do-able for me.  I probably had less excised than you are having, though.  For me, tiny ice packs, if you have access to a freezer, were more helpful for the swelling and pain than was pain medications.

I had a pair of breast biopsies a year after my breast excision (which showed nothing worse than what I already had).  I took 5 years of tamoxifen.  I have had no further breast issues, and my oncologist doesn't want to see me anymore.  Per the NCCN recommendations, though, I will still be having twice-a-year clinical exams and yearly mammograms.