Is a big trip one week after a lx a good idea?

With a DCIS diagnosis, I assume that you will not be having any lymph nodes removed, i.e. no SNB (sentinel node biopsy) and certainly no ALND (axillary node dissection - a bigger surgery absolutely not required for DCIS), which makes the lumpectomy alone a pretty simple surgery. Most women do not get drains after a lumpectomy. So assuming no SNB and no drains, I think you should be perfectly fine to go on your vacation, and you should!

that's what I was going to say too, just be careful carrying luggage. I had my lumpectomy and went back to work, exercise, everything normal except sloshing around in the surgical site, that was pretty weird. But it resolved. Never had to take pain meds. There was soreness, but the day of my lumpectomy I did a two mile walk when I got home. You may want to ask for an antibiotic prescription to take with you, just in case, something heavy duty like Keflex or whatever works best for you. If Iwere in your shoes, I would go on the trip and just be careful not to overtax the surgical site. Everybody has a different experience, but my lumpectomy wasn't that bad, and I had 8 cm x 8 cm x 4 cm removed, and three lymph nodes which you won't be having removed.

Oh, and I'm 55 if age comparison helps at all.

Hi!

I went back to work the day after my lumpectomy. I also went back to the pool shortly thereafter. I did indeed have reduced range of motion in my arm for awhile, but after I started the stretching exercises recommended by my surgeon, that went away.

If I were you, I'd go on the trip but take it easy. Our bodies need time to recover from surgery, and that requires rest. Ten years ago, I had my gallbladder removed in a non-invasive procedure, and I remember being tired from that four weeks later.

Best wishes for an optimal surgical outcome!

I went on a four-day shopping trip one week after the excisional biopsy (lumpectomy). My energy was definitely compromised, but I still had fun. I had to rest and I avoided carrying luggage. Everyone is different though. Apparently, anesthesia and sedation hit me very hard. It took me nearly a year after BMX/reconstruction to get near-normal energy back despite an excellent diet and daily exercise.

I don't know...I read the title of your post and was like nope!! But then I see you're not getting SNB. But honestly I can't imagine traveling like that...a week after my lumpectomy I was just getting pathology back, just having surgical follow up, not yet back to work, still taking Percocet at times, and not even cleared to do post surgery stretches yet. I regret not taking more than a week off work. I don't understand the lucky women who bounced back so quickly (maybe because of my personal hematoma hell--might have been a setback) and I was young and otherwise healthy and active. I guess you just never know how your body will react.

However I had the standard SNB which makes your armpit hurt pretty darn bad for awhile so maybe your surgery will be easier. But being only a week out make --completely--sure you have access to health care wherever you are going just in case you get infection (doesn't show itself right away all the time--my surgeon actually said it tends to delay) or seroma gushing open or problems with your incision. Because you know, Murphy's law...

Not trying to be a downer, just sharing experience!

Linwentz, you must stay in bed for many weeks and pass your lovely tickets along to a random stranger on this website; how about me?

On another, less ridiculous note, my hubs and I celebrated our 40th in June, so welcome to the club!

I had a lumpectomy and an axillary dissection (they took out a lot of lymph nodes under my arm) on a Monday and went back to work Thursday. It was a little nutso because I still had a drain, but I felt OK and didn't want to use more sick/vacation days. The drain was removed Friday. The pain wasn't bad, and what pain I had was from my armpit, not the little lumpectomy incision.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is this--put on your sneakers, give your bag to your hubs to carry, and get thee to the airport.

I absolutely would not have missed a trip like this, but like others have said, everyone's different. I tend to be on the forward edge of "heck with it, I'm pressing on" and I have friends who needed a lot of time for rest and recovery. Both are normal.

Also my own opinion, completely unsupported by science, is that our experiences tend to be closely related to what we believe they're going to be. Again...we're all different. It's just an observation from an old, old nurse.

Take it easy, but go have fun. Bring us photos. Gentle hugs.

Please go, and do pamper yourself. Let others carry luggage, rest on the ship if you need to, and enjoy the cruise!! Since you're not having a SNB, you should be okay, especially since the surgeon is confident you can do it. Do ask for an antibiotic just in case something pops up overseas. Glad you choose the COBRA option (at least while you complete treatment). Happy anniversary!!! Don't worry about the pathology reports from the surgery. They'll be available to you when you return. Enjoy, relax, and have the time of your life as you enter retirement!!!

If you are traveling to Europe, you will be out of reach of your doctor's care. Make sure you ask for, and pack, more pain medicine than you think you will need. If you accidentally strain yourself, or find the pain a week out stronger than you expected, you will not be able to get heavy pain relief easily. Also, your cruise ship will have a doctor onboard, but you will pay out of pocket initially if ANY problem arises. For instance, upset tummy or the flu. Reimbursement can be another headache. However, if you want normalcy, you should go! You will be on a cruise with people who won't know a thing about your health, unless you tell them. That freedom can be very refreshing, after spending so much time immersed in cancer diagnostics. You will probably see passengers who appear to be far weaker than yourself. Bon voyage

Not out of the country, but I went to Las Vegas 10'days after bilateral mastectomy! Could I do it now at 65 that soon after surgery....not on your life. I still had drains but took them out in Las Vegas. ( it was only 5 years ago but much has changed since then)

I just took a River Cruise in France....there was not a ships Dr. Take everything imaginable that you could need...I needed an ace wrap after I fell in Bordeaux for my poor ankle. ...Their pharmacies are not like the ones you read about in Mexico where you can get drugs over the counter. The food and wine was unforgettable.

I still say buy the shoes, eat the chocolate and dance like no one is watching.

I didn't go on a cruise but my DH and I went to our time share in the San Diego area (two hours away) a week after my LX. I figured I could rest there as well as at home! Now I wasn't in Europe but I was away from home. It was delightful! We went for a walk, went to the theater, went out to dinner - all things you can do on a cruise ship. As everyone else has said, just remember to take it easy. Let yourself be pampered a bit. If you have your doctor's blessing, go!

MJ

Linwentz, I hope your LX went well and you have been resting comfortably. Everyone is different but I had what I thought was large LX (at least for my smallish breasts, IMO) but recovery was very easy. I think I took one pain pill, which was for a headache/neckache, and then maybe an ibuprofen once. I hope you are finding recovery easy and are encouraged about taking your up coming trip. I do think if your BS has given you the go ahead that is a good sign. Wishing you the very best! Oh, congratulations on 40 yrs and on your retirement!