How long is this going to hurt? (Post Lump)

@curlykat.. I'm very sorry for your pain.. Your tumor is smaller than mine, and it does seemed like a lot of breast to be taken out. Your surgery date was the same as mine. You have negative node,  so why did yr SO took so much out? Didn't he discuss what he was going to do to you, and how he was going to do it? How long recovery would be and so forth?

Being that he took out so much, the pain must be unbearable.  Because it hurts, please take your pain medication. Please try, try,  try to do those arm exercises, albeit a little at a time and slowly. They do facilitate healing.. they really really do. Please don't give up on your healing. I'll find the exercises you can do lying down and come back later. I found the link for exercises..here it is (there are 10 pictures, just click at the number 1-10)

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/lifeaftertreatment/ss/arm_exercises_tutorial.htm

My tumor was 2.5 cm and my surgical oncologist (SO) took out 1+2.5+1=4.5 cm (clear margins ), which was about 1/5 (20%) of my right breast. I had two SOs, one who took out the tumor and the

other SO did my breast reconstruction. Thankfully, she did a really wonderful job and it's healing nicely. After surgery that evening, my SO stopped by my ward to take a look at my breast. I only felt a low grade pain that was bearable.

Although once in a while, there's occasional pain, only around the areola where a donut incision was cut around it to take out the tumor from that angle. This  amazing technique conserve practically the shape of my breast, which seemed about 1 size smaller than the other breast. Not very noticeable. If your breast is big like mine, please consider buying nursing bras. They are 100% cotton, no underwire, very comfortable, and I can lower the flaps to let my nipper and areola breathe. They are inexpensive too. I only paid $12.00 for them. 

My SO allowed my breast to heal about 5 weeks before sending me to chemotherapy. That's because I am HER2+. I can't understand SO who gets their patients to go right away into therapy before surgical healing...

I'm currently on a 12 weeks weekly concurrent Herceptin + paclifaxel regimen.  I have will about 1-2 weeks recovery time before going for 3-4 weeks radiation.

Once more thing, you must try to eat well, lots of fruits, fiber, cook (not raw) vegetables (just broil it in lightly salted water), and drink plenty of water or juices to help your body get stronger and thus heal better. I'll be praying for you, for your strength to overcome whatever it is you're feeling now.  Please take care...be positive...it too will pass...

Curlykat, please call your surgeon tomorrow. You may need a different painkiller or he may need to check something out.

Please let us know how you are doing.

How are you doing? I've had three lumpectomies, the final one with a posterior margin of 5mm. One Surgeon tells me that's clear margin and I'm good to go to radiation the other one tells me that's too close and wants me to consider a mastectomy because if she does a fourth lumpectomy she won't get a good cosmetic result. Possibly an indent in my breast since I'm only a be cup. Of course then radiation impacts that more. I don't really want to go through the major surgery Of a a mastectomy. My lumpectomies were a walk in the park and I gardened the day after. What to do, what to do!

GoodConstitution, I have a big dent in my breast after having had a lumpectomy--total cancer+dcis was almost 6 cm. I didn't want anymore surgery at the time and have not been bothered enough to do anything about it. So if it were me, I would have another lupectomy and see what you think. You can always have a mastectomy at a later date. Keep us posted.

Hello everyone - hope this post find everyone well or getting better...

I just wanted to share with you that after my lumpectomy in March, my Onco-plastic surgeon reconstructed my breast using a method called the ROUND-BLOCK TECHNIQUE (many plastic surgeon this method also). I am so happy with the result because she did a fantastic job. My original right breast size was 38D. Now it's only 1 size smaller, 36D and hardly noticeable. It's also healing very well.

If you need to do or have lumpectomy again, please see if you can get your surgeon to use this method. Read up on it before talking to your SO so you have a clear idea of what it is and how it's done.

All my OS did was make a cut around my areola. It was from there that my 1st SO took out the tumor, and my Onco SO did the reconstructive surgery. Then the areola is stitched back using dissolvable sutures, and medical glue is glued over the sutures. I experienced only low grade pain post surgery. Although the nipple and areola was quite sensitive during the initial 6 weeks of healing, I can start taking a shower within 48 hours. I also wore a nursing bra, with the right flap open downwards so it won't friction against the nipple/areola. Because it is recommended we wear bra even to bed, this nursing bra is perfect, and leaving the flap open means the nipple/areola can breathe.

My SOs are quite pleased with the results, as am I. The Cancer Center where I am undergoing treatment called me 2 days ago and asked if I would be willing to share my experiences with the press. They wish to encourage more breast cancer patients to choose breast conservation (where feasible) instead of going directly for mastectomy, and they want to promote this method, not the method recommended in current practice where it leaves an ugly pot-hole in one's breast. To me, the latter is a down-and-dirty method employ by SO who doesn't not give consideration to breast cancer patients as to how they would feel with a badly constructed breast and having to live with it...