Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Hi Ce4758 - I had also had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy about six weeks or so ago now. I wore a soft comfortable zip front top to the hospital the day of my surgery so that I could get dressed easily to come home (to not have to lift my arms over my head to pull something on). My breast was covered with gauze and tape and was quite secure so a bra wasn't necessary as I'm only 34B to begin with (less than that now on the right side, of course! Once the gauze came off after 24 hours (steri strips underneath left on for ten days which came off naturally), I wore a sports bra that did up in the front - again so I wouldn't have to lift my arm as that hurt a little to do for a couple of days. The weight of your breast will cause discomfort if you don't secure it in place which is why you'll want something like a sports bra or shelf camisole. You're having a reduction too though so I don't know how that works with those incisions... As Peggy mentioned earlier, the seam on any shirt I wore really bothered me due to the nodes removal and in desperation one day, i folded up one of my daughter's little white soft athletic ankle socks and folded it into the armpit of the shirt to cover the seam and basically pad/protect the area - goofy, but it made me comfortable! haha

I was given a booklet with arm exercises to do as I left the recovery area and I began those the day following surgery and kept those up faithfully just to keep things moving with my arm. I also made sure to take my pain meds regularly (Tylenol 3) to stay ahead of the pain and be able to nap during the day and sleep at night for those first two or three days. In other words, I took good care of myself and stayed quiet for those fews days. After that, I went out and did one errand a day being careful not to overdo it but to get active, and I also avoided lifting anything with my affected arm for a while.

My underarm and surrounding area was quite numb at the beginning and began to dissipate after probably three weeks. Now I'm just numb at the incision site and into half of my armpit (I had one incision 2.5" long for the lumpectomy and SLNB that went toward my underarm but not into my actual armpit). Every now and then during the first few days I would get zingers in my armpit and shooting down my arm which was the nerves doing their thing, trying to repair I guess. Funnily enough, six weeks later I'm having some nerve pain tonight, so I'll only assume the other half of my armpit is starting to come back to life. Will be nice to feel the razor fully when I shave!

Anyway, I felt pretty much back to normal at four weeks, as in I'd forget about the surgery I'd had because I felt well. I had a small seroma for a few days which actually filled in the void so my breasts looked equal, and then I woke up one day and it was pretty much gone and I realized that I'm pretty unevenly match now. You'd have to really stare at me through a sweater though to take in the difference in breast size and I doubt anyone is really going to do that to a 56 year old women nowadays I'm still not wearing my regular underwire bras because the wire does cut right across where the incision is and it feels a little uncomfortable.

I'm now at the stage where I've decided to do the Oncotype test and have probably two weeks to wait for those results; I will be doing 15 radiation treatments - we seem to do fewer treatments in Canada based on some big study down here (and four boosts) for a total of four weeks, hormonal therapy of course, and we'll see about chemo based on the Oncotype results before I do radiation.

I hope you find that a little bit helpful in preparing for your lumpectomy and SLNB, but everybody has a slightly different experience. I really read up on the procedure from reputable websites and even watched a video of the surgery as I always like to know what is going to happen - it gives me peace of mind. The only thing that surprised me was how numb I was, but the entire area won't stay numb forever, however, I think most women find there is some permanent numbness at the back their upperarm in the tricep area. The blue dye used in the SNLB is still there on my breast although I getting quite used to it (when does that permanently fade away, I wonder) and I was also surprised how long the dye took to leave my system - I drank a lot of water those first few days trying to flush out my body )

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LovestoFly - I don't know if you'll see this, but I loved your makeup tutorial - inspiring even without hair loss - you look like a pro doing those eyebrows!!

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Wow...went to the beach for a well deserved long weekend with the fam- so much laughing and talking and laughing and talking- my sister, her hub, their children and SO's, my DH and precious DS....we haven't been for a real vacay since the week before I started chemo- last Mem Day weekend...and, that trip was so delightful- we had a great time- and, this time was even better. But, you gals have been very busy...need to catch up tomorrow.

Know I keep you all close- in thought and prayer.....so much to catch up on with each of you..will do it tomorrow. Take good care of you....and, enjoy time with those you love. So glad you gals are here!!

Hi, Ce4758

I know how you feel. I'm having lumpectomy April 13, then radiation & hormone therapy. I'm nervous too. Concerned about side affects.

Thanks Grazy!!!!

Welcome Ce4758, sorry you need to be here but glad you found this wonderful group. Sentinal node biopsy. They give you either radioactive isotope or blue dye lotocate the Sentinel node(s) and biopsy for cancer.

Hi ladies! I am having a lumpectomy on 4/12 with the sentenial biopsy.

I was diagnosed with grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and they are anticipating the tumor to be 11mm. I don't even know who to talk to. My family and friends think I am just going to get a lump removed and I am cured. It's not that simple. I have anxiety about reoccurrence. I have seen a few ladies post that they have had a lumpectomy then see they have had the breast removed. I have seen a couple posts that others are feeling the same as me.

I am nervous & anxious. Need to connect with some women who have been in m shoes, please

5moreships, welcome to our group. I think we can all empathize with your fears and anxieties. Every one of us has been in your shoes in some way or shape, and we each have a unique story. The thing that I learned almost immediately is that everyone has a different diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease.

I was diagnosed with a small, early IDC last summer. Initially, it looked to be a pretty easy fix--lumpectomy, then radiation and hormone suppressant. But as a result of my putting together a thoroughly horrible medical family tree, my doctors recommended that I have genetic testing, which took several weeks, so we went forward with the lumpectomy. I turned out to be negative for BRCA 1&2, but ended up having 2 more rare gene mutations which cause breast cancer and other cancers. The first oncologist I saw was a nut-job, so I had to find a new one. The second oncologist took a good look at my family tree, my path results, and my Oncotype and immediately recommended several things: immediate chemo, bilateral mastectomies, hysterectomy, and hormone suppressant. Wow! So, my life took off in a completely different direction.

It has not been a pleasant experience, but then, when has cancer ever been a pleasant experience, right? The part I dreaded the most was chemo and it was actually not too bad. I lost my hair, but not my lunch (and not my sense of humor.) My surgeries gave me many more complications (it's all in this thread) but things are slowly getting better. I ended up not needing radiation at all, since I had BMX. I started Femara (hormone suppressant) a month ago and so far, no problems (this is me singing the Hallelujah Chorus!) All that's left to be done is a full hysterectomy, but that's not critical--it can wait until next fall.

This has been my Annus Horribilus ("horrible year") but my oncologist warned me that it would be (her exact words were: "The whole next year is gonna suck!") I refuse to give in to the fear and anxiety. I am fortunate to have doctors who treat me as a whole patient, not just the parts. I'm going to put in a plug for anxiety meds here--get them. Take them. Do whatever you need to do to relax and get some sleep.

I wish you the best. Try not to be afraid when you read these pages. Every breast cancer is a different beast and none of them are treated exactly the same.

ShippyMom, I had basically the same diagnosis but 1 cm., lumpectomy done in January.  I thought as your family did, it's out, all done but no.  Even the surgeon made light of it, saying not to worry, so small, nothing in the lymph nodes etc. and will probably follow up with a little radiation.  After the onco test came back 26, intermediate group, he turned me over to an onc who said chemo which nearly floored me.  I went to another who basically said the same only a different chemo regime and Tamoxifen when done since it was estrogen positive.  I began 2 weeks ago and am doing my best.  You certainly are more aware than I was when 1st going through this and I understand the concerns as well.  What gives me hope is knowing a few ladies personally who have had lumpectomies followed by treatment and are absolutely fine, 1 15 years later!  I'm sure there are many more too and hope they can reassure us as well.  I do know the terrifying fear and anxiety too well.  I assume we have to be watched very closely and again, I also would love to hear some success stories since I've been thrown for a loop with this.

well gals-I took the first step and scheduled an appt with the surgeon! I contacted the Oncologist I've been seeing b/c the sharp pain is getting worse and I havenipple itching that's driving me out of my mind. She indicated that it's possibly a sign that it's growing. Time to bite the bullet and face my fears! Appt schedule for Apr 19

Created, good for you! I'm glad you are moving forward and going to get rid of your BC. Do what YOU need to do and don't let anyone stop you from it. Keep positive people around you. Of course, we're here to support you.

Grazy, thank you for your kind words. You sound like me. I did not have time to ponder the reality of BC when I was diagnosed. My days were overwhelming caring for DH. Exhaustion precluded brooding about it all. I just did what needed to be done to get rid of it. By the time I was able to really think about it all, treatments (except Arimidex) were done and there wasn't anything left to actually worry about (don't borrow trouble is a good maxim). Waiting for the Oncotype results is rather difficult. Here's hoping your score is very low but if it isn't, that it's really high - nothing is worse than being in that middle area, very hard to decide what's best to do.

HUGS!

Grazy, an intermediate Oncotype score is a real dilemma. I guess you just have to get as much information as possible, opinions of your oncologists and then decide what is best for YOU! And you are so right that many of us have our treatments and go on to live normal, uneventful, cancer-free lives.

HUGS!

Hi Everybody! I am a 4 day survivor! I haven't posted for awhile, because my tumor type and choices have been a little different from most of the folks on this forum. At any rate, here goes. I had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago today, (Mar 22). At that time, my BS put a spacer in the tumor cavity, in preparation for Brachytherapy. 3 days later, on Friday, after finding my margins were clear and my node was negative, (yay!) my BS put in a brachytherapy device: SAVI. The following Monday, last week, I began internal rads which lasted 5 days, 2x per day. I finished that treatment last Friday, April fools Day! They took the device out, and sent me on my merry way. As far as the experience, I felt it was a little rough, and there were days I felt it kicked my butt! My fatigue was overwhelming, but I realize that my emotional state could have played a part in that. Aside from that, I felt the device inside of my breast, and it did border between hurting , and just general pressure. I talked to others who were on the same timeline and treatment who were having an easier time than I was, I learned that the placement of my SAVI device was in an awkward position, which had to do with the location and whatever about my tumor, so maybe that's the reason I had a harder time. That being said, I am on the other side of it, and I got all the rads done in 5 days! I have no external burns and I am getting back into the groove of things. At this point, I just have a gauze bandage on the wound from the SAVI device, and I can stop that as soon as my minimal draining stops. My most troubling surgical effect is where they took out the sentinel node. It's still very tender and hurts quite a bit, at times....the surgery was only 2 weeks ago, so I realize that the node areas take a bit longer to heal. I have my first MO appointment this Friday. I don't know what he'll recommend, but it may be Hormone therapy. I have read different articles on the protocol of adjuvant treatment for my diagnosis and results, so we'll see. I know there are not many on this forum who have done the APBI (Brachytherapy) thing, but I thought I'd post it here. If anyone has the opportunity to do this type of rad, while I am not an expert, I would be happy to share my personal experience with you. All in all, even though it was not the easiest week, I would do it again, in a heartbeat. I feel fortunate that I was a candidate for this type of internal radiation, and if it is suggested to any of you reading this, feel free to email me, or ask me on this site. I will share this post on the Brachytherapy topic as well.

Finally, to all of us, let's continue healing, stay strong and stay positive!

Kaneli, YIPPEE! Must be nice to have the lx and rads behind you. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that your SLNB incision is going be bothersome - often for quite sometime. Not hurting just annoying. Everything seems to rub it. Mine also stayed numb for about a year. My BS said whatever feeling had returned after a year (none) was what I was stuck with. But at 13 months, I got feeling back and it appears to be quite normal now. But I still find that some bras and tops rub it wrong Makes no sense to me. Other ladies don't seem to have much of a problem at all. Just wanted to give you a heads up that there is a wide variety of experiences with that incision.

Peachy, I also agree that Poodles gets the Quote of the Week (Month? Year?)

HUGS!

Grazy, I had about the same diagnosis, but am getting 33 rads with of those a 7 time boost.  they did not ask about an onco test.  i wonder why? is it because it was stage 0?  15 would be nice

beachw3, Yesterday when I finished and felt pretty light headed, no headache. I was pretty tired also. I went to work after and just felt off. Today I am back to normal. I did 15 out of 21 today.