Lumpectomy withOUT general anesthesia

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Angel1109
Angel1109 Member Posts: 21
edited August 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

I don't recall if I asked this already but can one get a lumpectomy withOUT general anesthesia (just regional/local and maybe just some Valium-if necessary- if anything)? Has anyone here done so? Can you tell me what that was like? How long did it take? How was recovery?

Thanks, Angel

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited August 2018

    I did not do what was termed an exact lumpectomy but many years ago I had a fibroadenoma removed, excisional, don't remember the size of it, but it was done without anesthesia by my request. To be honest, was a little weird to be awake and hearing everything going on around you, as for pain, i felt of course the needles to numb the area and I felt the pulling sensation which my dr. said I would as she was going in there and moving around tissue. I would think recovery would be the same as lumpectomy with anesthesia in sense of healing except you won't have the lingering grogginess.

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  • Angel1109
    Angel1109 Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2018

    Thank you for your reply beach2beach! I have gotten through one surgical procedure awake before. I think I will be ok. I am a little nervous though but bc of my Dysautonomia and MCAD, anesthesia is not recommended unless there is no way around it. Do you recall how long the procedure took? How long did you feel pain afterwards? My tumor is 8-9cm from the nipple.

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  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited August 2018

    Angel, I work in a surgical pre op area. Patients are done mainly under MAC anesthesia for lumpectomies. Consider researching that a little bit. Anesthesia always prepares for general if need be. Without getting all medical on you it's mainly the difference in the airway. Please know the anesthesia team will speak with you prior to going back to surgery and will discuss anesthesia options with you. Best wishes.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited August 2018

    Oh it was so many years ago, but I do know when I was supposed to be going to get a lumpectomy on my left breast(before I knew I had cancer in my right) my surgeon said that would take about 2hrs. I'd say that is with prep and putting you under and recovery so I'd think you shave off quite a bit of time because you don't have recovery as long. You have to wait prob long enough to make sure bleeding is controlled etc.

    Ive had several biopsies and I'd say they equaled the same in pain for me as actual surgery. I remember the feeling of pulling sensations afterwards. I iced it. Never took more than advil or tylenol. Even for mastectomy they didn't use pain killers...just heavy duty tylenol and recovery wasn't too bad.

    I'd see if you can bring in headphones to listen music through. If that's not allowed ask if they will play some. Mine did that time. Hopefully they can.all the jabbering of what they are saying to each other can get overwhelming.

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