atypical intraductal hyperplasia - new diagnosis

Hi Trichick, after a finding of atypical ductal hyperplasia they do an excisional biopsy, which is done, as you stated, to determine if there is cancer found in the area. If the cancer is found, and they have clean margins, they generally don't need to go in to do an additional lumpectomy. Also, if cancer is found, the procedure that you will have will be called a "lumpectomy". after the fact This is just a matter of semantics. If the procedure is done as a biopsy (to see if it's still ADH vs. cancer) it's an excisional biopsy. If they find cancer, usually it will have been the equivalent of a lumpectomy, so you can call it a lumpectomy. If the margins are not "clean", that is, that there is cancer very near or at the edges of the excised tissue, then additional surgery would be required. If cancer is not found, and it's only more ADH, then they actually don't need to have "clean" margins, although they usually do, because ADH is often less extensive that, say, DCIS. I had the scenario where they found the ADH on the core biopsy and DCIS on the excisional biopsy (which we now call a lumpectomy). I did not have clean margins, so I had two re-excisions (two additional lumpectomies) in order to get clean margins. I also had a previous history of ADH after another biopsy. Best of luck to you.

With regard to recovery from an excisional biopsy, everyone's experience is different. That's because every body (and every person) reacts differently, and also the amount of tissue taken can vary a lot, depending upon what is needed to be excised. There's also the issue of how someone responds to pain. There is pain and discomfort. Some need pain meds. I just used lots of bags of frozen peas, placed over the area, and it worked well. I've had a total of six excisional biopsies/lumpectomies on that breast over time. None of the recoveries were bad. I had more trouble with the core biopsy (that led to this latest diagnosis), with bruising and hardness that lasted a long time.

Hi Trichick, I had the surgeries on a Friday, and was back to work on Tuesday. I even took dance class the following Thursday (with modifications). I could have probably even gone to work on Monday, but taking the extra day was good. If you can schedule the surgery on a Friday, that gives you the weekend to heal.

I know it's a bummer not to go through with plans but you may have made a wise decision . It is stressful trying to push yourself at a time when you are healing from surgery. I think you will do fine with your plan in place. I worked the whole time and I could drive right after, but lifting... No wa