Recovery Time for Lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy?

Hi!

I went back to work (part-time) the day after my lumpectomy. But, I'm probably not typical. I did try to keep up with my kids, and was swimming with them, maybe two weeks afterwards. But, then I had to stop for radiation......

Will you be getting a drain? I had all 20 of my Levels 1 and 2 lymph nodes removed, so I got a drain. That thing was annoying, and I didn't realize that I'd have gotten rid of it faster if I hadn't been so active. If you do get a drain, take some time to get some rest. In fact, you should give yourself a week or so to just chill a bit. Maybe, ask some friends if they can help you with your kids' activities.

Good luck!

I was out of bed the next day and only had my drains in for 4 days (because of the weekend or they would have been out sooner). Depending on your line of work I think you could manage going back soon. I don’t have kids so I’m sure there is more that goes in to it, but maybe plan to be out for a week just in case. If you can go back sooner then cancel the plans. If not then you had it taken care of ahead of time and maybe an extra day or 2 to rest, even if you feel ok, isn’t a bad thing. You may feel fine, but your body is still healing inside where you can’t see or may feel. Wouldn’t hurt to take it easy if you can.

Hope it all goes well for you. My surgery was pretty easy, but I also had a lot of family help and am very blessed in that. The drains and bra are hideous. I don’t miss that one bit.

I think getting a drain is pretty standard. I had a drain in for 2 days only and went straight back to work.

kec1972, a SNB typically means 1 or 2 nodes are removed and does not require a drain, if this is a separate incision site from your lumpectomy. If your tumor is in the axillary tail, then your surgeon will be able to access the sentinel node(s) through the lumpectomy incision. Since you have been clinically staged as 1A, it is unlikely that your surgeon would remove more than 1 or 2. A SNB is 1-4 nodes. Only in the event that your BS thought your nodes looked suspicious would more be removed. Some hospitals do a quick test in the OR.Many women have more pain associated with their SNB than their lumpectomy, but everyone is different. My lumpectomy and SNB were not painful and I only took pain relievers the first day and was back to everyday activities the following day, just being careful about lifting weight on the surgery side. The size of your tumor is a factor, as a large tumor requires the excision of a greater amount of tissue for the margin. The void created by the removal of a tumor can fill with fluid (called a seroma), which can be drained, aspirated or left to resolve on its own. Your level of health and fitness going into this procedure (barring complications), will be a factor in your recovery. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Hopefully they will just take a couple of nodes. Probably unless they do in the OR pathology and find something. I had three taken out but I believe they were super close together so all considered sentinel. I had one with cancer found in it, so I had to get radiation to the node area. There was no indication that I had a compromised node based on imaging, so the 2.1 mm hanging out in there surprised everyone.

Make sure you do the post surgical stretches they give you to prevent a frozen shoulder. I was allowed to start that at day 7 post op and still do them every morning. Otherwise it still tightens up 2 years later.

I had one node removed, no drain. The node incision was much more uncomfortable than the tumor one, due to nerve endings. Ice is your best friend. I took a pain pill at night the first few days, but did fine with Motrin or Tylenol during the day. Anti-inflammatories, so they also minimize swelling even if you don't need one of them for pain. I found a snug sports bra very helpful to prevent swelling or discoloration. I've never heard of node removal being left up to the patient! They usually can't tell if there's node involvement until we're opened up, and the tracer dye injected before surgery shows up (or not).

You might visit the Lumpectomy Lounge for lots of good advice.

Alicebastab - re: never hearing of node removal being up to the patient, there’s actually a thread here with others who have also declined further lymph node removals, or declined upfront:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics/769178

It’s inportant for all of us to know that anything that is going to be done to your body is up to you. This is why we have to sign so many papers before they do surgery or other treatments. There is a lot of liability if doctors are going to perform things without our consent! Legally they cannot, we have to consent first.

I consented to the sentinel node biopsy, which was separately outlined from the lumpectomy. Both were done at the same time but I had to provide my consent for both procedures. And I declined a further axillary node dissection for various reasons. The surgeon was great in being forthcoming about the risks, benefits and expectations for both procedures and what she recommended, but she also stressed the final decision was up to me

Ultimately we all have to choose what’s right for us and feel good about it!

I would follow up with your nurse or doctor if you are concerned - I would think it's safer not to shower if you're feeling groggy and might injure yourself - but they can tell you what is right in this situation.

FWIW, the first time I showered 72 hours (3 days) after, and the second time, I showered 48 hours after. Both times, I had a plastic covering I was supposed to remove with the shower, so I did it at the end of the shower and just let the clean shower water run onto my back and over my shoulder.

When I had a biopsy, one of the nurses told me to always stand with my back to the shower head as long as I had the stitches in, never face the shower head, and I've followed that with all the surgeries, too. I stand with my back to the shower head and let the water fall over my head/shoulder onto the rest of the body. If you have a detachable shower head you can use for your legs/feet, be careful not to reach up for it with your affected arm.

I asked my spouse to stay close by and listen, in case I needed anything.

I was exhausted for about two weeks after my lumpectomy, I think the anesthesia messes you up for a bit, plus you use energy to heal. If your body is telling you to nap, you probably should.

Hang in there!!

Kec1972,

It’s easy to assume that a Lumpectomy is just outpatient and not a big deal. That is not true. A lumpectomy is a major surgery. It’s basically a partial mastectomy. Not only was the pre-op difficult but you were likely under anesthesia for at least two hours. That’s a big deal. Also the emotional stress from diagnosis thru the lumpectomy takes a huge toll on you.

Be good to yourself. If your body is experiencing fatigue just go with it and rest. You will get back to your normal energy level, but for now your body is telling you what it needs...lots of rest.

Remember, your body has been battling cancer, it really is tired.

Happy rest and lot’s of sleep for now!

((Hugs)