the reduction+lumpectomy thread

Hello all, thought I would give an update here for those considering going through this procedure.

I had this surgery a week ago yesterday. The pain of that day was BEFORE surgery during the radioactive injection and then the subsequent uncomfortable mammogram/wire localization. By that point I was happy to go to la la land and get this done.

It was a long surgery, about 5 1/2 hrs with the lumpectomy taking very little of that time. I woke up in recovery very hot with high BP rate and I was given ice chips and a nice fan to cool me off as well as some pain meds in my IV. As soon as my BP was good I was released and on my way home. I was sore of course but not in any pain and the trip home was uneventful and smooth.

I slept in the recliner for 4 nights because it was so much more comfortable and kept me from rolling from side to side.

I took pain meds when needed but less than what was prescribed and I was up moving around as needed but made an effort to not overdo it and get plenty of rest. I returned to work (administrative office work) yesterday and worked til noon before going to dr appts in the afternoon. I got home about 4pm and was pretty tired. Today, I'm doing pretty good and time to go home will be here before I know it.

I have pretty good movement in both arms but the left (where they removed the node) is pretty sore and a bit more swollen.

Best part is that the PS did an EXCELLENT job and other than bruising I still have, they already look fabulous!!!

Thanks Poppy! Actually the pain was only from that radioactive injection. The wire localization was nothing compared to it but was extremely uncomfortable. I'm short and so are my arms so for me to reach up and hold like I was told wasn't easy. I also have a big belly and sitting in that chair just forced the bottom of the machine into big belly. Plus she put my in the machine wrong and we had to do it all over again the right way. Ugh!

Thanks for the good thoughts about path report but unfortunately I have already received that it and it burst my bubble. Although the margins were clear they did find cancer in the lymph node so I get the joy of chemo in about a month. I'm tellin ya, this is my lucky year!!

Hello ladies...glad I found this thread! My surgery was May 6th, double lumpectomy in the right breast with reduction/lift in both breasts, also three lymph nodes were removed. Recovery is gowing well...I am sleeping good using extra pillows and taking it slow and easy during the day. I am anxious to see the pathology report!!

Hi PoppyK...I am still waiting for the report...

Amazing how we take showers for granted, until we can't take one or are afraid of removing dressings and letting the water touch certain areas! :-)

Once I started moving around more, my incisions oozed a bit. I was wearing a loose bra and would use sanitary napkins over the incisions. Sounds weird, but they cushioned the incision area, absorbed any ooze, didn't stick to the wound and were way cheaper than gauze. The best part by far was that they protected the incisions much better than bandages/gauze.

Barbie,

I had a lumpectomy followed by a bilateral reduction. I think my previous areola size was pretty average, but I can tell you that they did end up smaller than they were before. How would this make you look multilated? Four years later my scars are nearly invisible

Thank you justmaximom, I do know what you mean! that is a relief. I know they will not match, but I'll adjust to that.

Mine are pretty faint, but the scar from my nipple down to the breast crease are still quite noticeable. I hate that my reduction scars go so far on the side of my body. I am glad that my breasts don't fall down when the bra comes off.

Welcome to the board Brx10466 but I'm so sorry that you have to be here and very sorry for the loss of your dear husband.

I think recovery differs with everyone depending on many factors. Mine was relatively easy. I had surgery on a Monday morning and took the entire week off work (administrative). I was however doing some stuff from home by Tuesday afternoon. I had family at the house helping out but I was easily able to mostly care for myself.

My best advice is to stay ahead of the pain. There's no reason to be a martyr and not take your pain pills that you've been prescribed. Take care of yourself!

(shyly waves hello) Still at the early stages of my travels through cancer treatment, but after "let's get clean margins" surgery (#2), I'm now considering alternatives. I don't know yet whether there'll be a surgery #3 (mastectomy), which would obviously change the game, but wondering: if I walk away with only two partials, would reduction of the unscathed breast work well in conjunction with restructuring the "lumpied" one? It's that or go through life uneven/try to expand my left breast. DD originally, so there's a bit to work with?

Hi, Poppy! I'd say I have at least a C cup's worth on the lumpied side, at the moment (DD to start with), just not in a terribly breast-like shape at the moment. Obviously, the official assessment must come from a plastic surgeon, but can they kind of scoosh things in toward the middle?

I wouldn't say no if I came out the other side of this [bleep] with a breast reduction....and a prognosis of "likely to survive for her natural lifespan". I've had backaches since I was in my twenties. And it helps my husband's being marvelous about it; he's the one who suggested hopefully "Maybe you can have a tattoo?"

MovingSoccer: the bras I had before surgery do work well, thankfully! You're right that breast tissue's squashable like that, and the being able to look at least mostly normal in street clothes (I tend to wear floppy tshirts anyway) is a godsend. Plus not having to rush out and buy bras just for recovering from cancer treatment.

I hope I didn't/don't sound too speshul snowflake/princess in my hopes for a more permanent plastic-surgery scooshing! But I'm having problems OUT of a bra--in a nightgown, in the shower, and when I"m cleared for it, in the Y pool doing laps in my swimsuit. Me and pretty much every woman who's ever gone through breast cancer treatment!

I think wanting to look as close as possible to normal is what we all want, so consider me a princess too! I will be seeking PS next year, as in my current health plan it wasn't an option prior to surgery or rads. Boy do I hear the bra thing. I am still trying to find something soft and supportive, but have gone online, since after 3 stores I am too tired and frustrated to check any more stores. Too recently done with rads to have tried swimming, but am dreading a return to tennis, since my racquet hand/arm is the bc side and keeping up with DS was already difficult. Stupid disease. I can say that I felt OK in a night tee about a month after surgery. Still waiting for the new normal post RT. Hang in there.