Anyone with a "Good" lumpectomy? Please.

labelle, I notice that no one has answered to you, so I am stopping by to say hi. This will bump your post to the first page. My lumpectomy, so far, has not distorted my breast noticeably

Hmm. I'm close to someone whose LX came out ok. I was a B cup and am still one. But my tumor was right beside my nipple and that had to go. I've had reconstruction for the nipple and a tattooed areola. I chose to not have much more than that. If I'd been more aggressive with the type of reconstruction I'd be very happy. Losing my nipple was tough, but I'm relatively happy.

I had two lumpectomies on a breast that does not fill a C cup, one incision above the nipple, one below.  Except for a very nice scar line, you cannot tell anything happened.  Of the people I've spoken with, all have been happy with their surgeries.  To tell the truth, most of us have been ecstatic because our expectations had been so low.  Your surgeon can really tell you what you ought to expect.

My tumor was 1.5cm at 10 o'clock right breast and the size of the tissue removed was approx 6cm by 5 cm by 2+cm. I am only a B cup and you would never know that much was removed, just a 1 1/2" scar and a slight reduction in fullness and size but not really noticable. The breast was lifted just slightly and DH agreed with me that it looked better than the good one, a little less droopy!! Hoping and praying that nothing more gets found down the road and things can be left as they are.

MIne was fine! About the size of yours - I had clean margins, but it did spread to one lymph node, so I am doing chemo (even though three doctors said they would go either way with me) I dont have size difference issues that bother me in the least - it is noticeable a bit to me, but certainly not if Im not naked and that is not normally an issue!

Did they do the oncotype just based on the biopsy? Im curious as without knowing if it did or did not go to a lymph node, which graph are they basing results on? Mine was lobular and not expected to have spread either They also dont know true size of tumor until taken out, which may also change diagnosis

Im sure it will be fine!!! I just think that until you have the lumpectomy and pathology reports, there are a few uncertain issues that will need to be discussed

Best of luck to you!

Mine was 6 o'clock..deep inside, close to chest wall. Doctor got great margins,and left a scar so small that the mammography technicians have to look real hard to find it. It must be there, somewhere, but I couldn't find it unless I did a head stand in front of a mirror! Good luck! I wish you well!

labelle,

I had a small tumor, but lots of cancer in the axillary. My lumpectomy was pretty easy. Not real thrilled with the effects of the SNLD. That side is weak & always sore. Starting physical therapy this week, hopefully get stronger.

I am happy that I my surgeon recommended the lx. I have read too many scary reconstruction stories.

My tumor was a little over 2cm in the upper-outer quadrant of my left breast. I got a great surgical result; I don't even need to pad my bra. It's been three years now and the scar has faded to a thin, line that is barely noticeable. I'm very pleased.

Remember, when you come out of surgery, it will look a lot worse than the final result will be.......just so you aren't shocked (with I was because nobody told me about that beforehand!). Good luck!

When you are on the boards, it is important to remember that the people who have had trouble with any given aspect of treatment are, quite naturally, the ones who are posting about it. So what you read here doesn't necessarily reflect what happens for most people. Many of those who have done well are just out enjoying their lives.

Hi labelle, I also had tubular--there is a thread for tubular but as it is fairly rare it doesn't get much traffic. I have had two lumpectomies (actually both of mine were excisional biopsy with clear margins so I didn't need any other surgery) different times and different breast each time. Both are good at least so far--four years out on the first and two years out on the second. Good Luck!

Hi. i was also diagnosed in the beginning of October. I had my surgery yesterday.I had a lumpectomy and Sentinel node dissection. My mass was approximately 2- 1/2 cm. I am a B cup. my incision is about 2 inches long near the outside of my breast around 11 o'clock. At this time, my breast looks almost like normal. I was in the operating room for approximately one hour and the recovery has been pretty good. I slept most of yesterday but today I'm feeling much better. although I will need to wait a week or so for my final pathology report, the doctor seemed very happy with the surgery and my lymph nodes look normal. Hoping and praying that I get a good results next week. I'm also happy that I decided on a lumpectomy at this point. good luck with your surgery tomorrow. If you have any questions, I'm here. Its always nice to be able to go here to see what other people are going through and not feel so alone. Best of luck.

Labelle,

Glad our responses to your question have helped put you at ease for tomorrow--and the future. As for your question to me about tamoxifen, I declined the opportunity to mess around with my hormones (such as they are at 73 (dx came at 71). At this age, my biggest sources of estrogen are fat and carbohydrates like sugar and processed starches, both of which I can control with wise diet choIces without playing around with, and trying to fool, Mother Nature (besides, cancer cells are smart and they mutate, so there's no guarantee that they can be fooled as easily as the drug companies want us to believe.)

Besides, I read many medical journal articles about the fatal co-morbidity problems that tamoxifen causes, and quite frankly, a stroke or blood clots/deep vein thrombosis are bigger threats (both invisible until they wreak their havoc) to my longevity than something a mammo and/or a clinical exam can find, should it occur again. By the way, I also have lost the 12+ pounds that I had put on in the year and a half before my diagnosis, and am keeping it off, and am getting enough sunshine to keep my vitamin D levels high. I also questioned the logic, by the way, of taking a drug that causes weight gain, when the best natural way to curb estrogen at my age is to lose weight.

My medical team is fine with my decision. My breast surgeon was fine with my decision, since he knows that I do 90 mins. at the gym (resistance, abs, and cardio workouts) 3 times a week and am hardly sedentary when not at the gym. I saw a medical oncologist once, and while she favored tamoxifen, when she saw the research data I had collected, she offered to order an Oncotype test to get a more personal genetic view of my status. When she reported it as a # 12, she was okay with my declining the drug, as long as I would be able to live with my decision (I am), Her role in follow-up is being taken by my surgeon, who will continue to monitor me long-term after my 6-month checkup schedule goes down to yearly checks after year 3 or 4 post-op. My rad onc was the one least on board with my decision, but she has accepted it as long as I am faithful about vigilant monitoring (I am). As an aside, AI's were off the table even faster than tamoxifen for me, since my husband and I are hikers, and joint and muscle pain and osteoporosis would put an end to that happy part of our lives.

But right now, don't even think about hormonal therapy. Just concentrate on recovering from the surgery--hopefully with nothing stronger than Tylenol--and getting back to full strength as quickly as possible, and staying fit so that rads will not fatigue you. Best, TG

kathec-I took one class at ARC in 1979! Math. I use to do tons of sewing and crafts but not a lot of art per say. I lived in Sac 1978 to 1980 and now for the past 3 years. Most my life has been in Vacaville. I do finger nails. Anyway, nice to meet you!