What happens at the "Post-Op" appointment?

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HereToHelpMyMom
HereToHelpMyMom Member Posts: 38
edited May 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Is this the appt where you always where you hear the final pathology report? or is it just look and see that you are healing well. Do they ever call you sooner to discuss the final pathology report? Thanks all

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited May 2019

    I have had one post op appointment so far (surgery May 15th, postop appt 7 days after), and it was with the plastic surgeon's PA. She took the dressing off my stitches, told me to leave it open to the air, reviewed my drainage chart, and answered a bunch of questions. That's about it. I will have weekly postops with the PA going forward.

    My post op with the surgical oncologist (SO) isn't until early June, but it is my understanding that the plastic surgeon is now in charge of my stitches and aftercare because the surgical oncologist was able to use the same incisions to remove my breasts and to remove my sentinel nodes. I think that if there were 4 incisions, the SO would be responsible for the armpit ones.

    My SO did call to discuss my pathology report as soon as it came in, and my Medical Oncologist (MO) called the day after. I have an appointment with my MO in early June once the oncotype test comes back.

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited May 2019

    My oncologist and my GP both called me the moment the pathology report arrived - to say margins were clear & sentinel lymph nodes were negative. Depending on your surgery you may have post op appointments with the surgeon to discuss the pathology, your healing, revisions, drain removal etc.

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  • HereToHelpMyMom
    HereToHelpMyMom Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2019

    Thanks Moth, Thanks OnTarget,

    I wonder if they only call you with the pathology results when they are clean, and nothing new is discovered...

    I didnt realize that the oncotype test takes longer than the regular pathology results.

    Thanks for the feedback


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  • Simbobby
    Simbobby Member Posts: 140
    edited May 2019

    My breast surgeon called me within five days with a high level pathology report, then turned it over to my oncologist to explain In further detail and share the next treatment plan.

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited May 2019

    My surgery post-op appt was to discuss my surgery. I had lumpectomy and node excisions, so simpler than some people's. I had access to the path report a few days after surgery and discussed it with my MO.

    At my hospital, the tissue is sent to mammography during surgery. They can identify whether or not margins are clean before the patient is closed, at least most of the time. My surgeon had to go back in and get a bit more, but it was all done within the same surgery appt.

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  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited May 2019

    Like others, I'd already seen my path report before my post-op appointments (and also the care bear team had called and told me the results). I saw my MO and we discussed next steps in my treatment. I also saw my surgeon and he checked my incisions etc. and talked with me about how soon I can return to working out, and what kinds of follow up I'll need (ie always a 3D mammogram, probably MRIs, that kind of stuff). I see the RO on Wednesday to kick that party off.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2019

    At my post surgery follow up I found out pathology, had incisions checked by the surgeon and discussed setting up my first MO appointment.

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  • meeko1452
    meeko1452 Member Posts: 41
    edited May 2019

    My breast surgeon went over pathology with me, gave me appointments for my next mammogram and my next follow up with her, gave a note to return to work in 2 weeks, went over lymphedema precautions, and sent me on my way.

    My plastic surgeon checked incisions, went over my drain output with me, and reiterated activity restrictions.

    I saw my breast surgeon on post op day 5, and won't see her again for 6 months. I saw my plastic surgeon on postop day 5 and again on postop day 12 for drain removal, and I won't see him again for 6 months unless I have problems (I did direct to implant)

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