Papilloma found, need surgery, many questions!

Hi, rhonva!

I like to say that I'm the Queen of All Things Papilloma. ;-) So I'll be happy to answer your questions.

First, I'm sorry you're going through this! Have you had your surgical consult yet?

Just yesterday, I had my third and fourth papillomas removed from my left breast. I'm 35 years old. My very first papilloma in 2006 had atypical cells. As a result, I've been watched like a hawk ever since. And thank goodness, too, because I've had three other papillomas show up.

As for your questions:

1. The surgery is done under either a "twilight" anesthesia or general anesthesia. It depends on your surgeon, your body, and your anesthesiologist. For all three of my surgeries, I was out like a light. Didn't feel or remember a thing. Easy peasy. Do be aware, though, that women tend to have a unique reaction to anesthesia in that they often are very weepy when they "wake up" from it. Don't be alarmed if you find yourself crying when you wake up. Our hormones react uniquely to the medicine in a way that men's don't. I weep like crazy after surgery! And all I want to do is hold my nurse's hand and have her sit with me for a few minutes.

2. The chances that they'll discover cancer is typically around 5-10%. And if it is cancer, it's typically DCIS, which is stage 0. But most times, papillomas are completely benign. They're like these annoying little wart-like growths that form in the milk ducts. Nobody knows why or how they form, which is frustrating. Doctors like to remove them not only because they can sometimes hide early stage cancer but also because they can cause nipple indentation (mine did) and nipple bleeding (mine did).

3. Recovery is really not bad at all. You'll be a bit sore, but a Rx pain reliever really helps. I take Vicodin, and it's very helpful. (Just remember to drink lots of water or drink a bit of prune juice, because Vicodin can cause constipation.) You'll need to wear a good sports bra for about a week, and you'll need to sleep in it for the first few nights. Also, get some frozen peas or corn to use as your "ice pack" because it molds really well against the breast and fits snuggly in the sports bra. My icing regimine is 20 minutes every three hours. (I currently have a pack of frozen peas in my sports bra as I type this!)

You won't be allowed to lift/push/pull anything greater than about 5lbs. for a specific period of time (your doctor will specify). Just take it easy the first few days. Rest. Catch up on Netflix, magazines, napping, Ben & Jerry's, etc. You also won't be able to bathe for 24 hours.

4. As for follow-ups, you'll definitely have a post-op follow-up within 10 days to 2 weeks after. And then your doctor will decide how often you'll need to be screened. Because I have such a history of the little buggers, I'm screened every 6 months. I'm part of a high-risk breast cancer clinic program in Pittsburgh due to my first papilloma having atypical cells (which puts me at roughly a 25-30% higher chance of developing breast cancer in the future). I get a mammogram and MRI once a year, alternating the two every 6 months. I'm very, very fortunate that I have excellent insurance, a medical team that advocates like hell for me, and that I live in one of the best medical cities in the country.

Please do keep me updated on your situation. I feel a kindred spirit to other women with papillomas. And if you want to private message me, please feel free!

Thinking of you and sending lots of love and light,

Laura

I just had an ultrasound and the radiologist said that the 9 cc lump was probably an interductal papilloma. I am having a core needle biopsy done next week and am very nervous that they will find something else. I know all the statistics but am still nervous, not sleepy, agitated,etc. I have questions about it even if (hopefully) it is an interductal papilloma. Do they always surgically remove the papilloma? If so, how long does it usually take between the biopsy diagnosis and surgery? Is it just a lumpectomy or more? I realize a lot of the answers depend on just what they find and what my particular doctor recommends. However at this point, I am just looking for some answers that might calm me down. I do much better when I know what I am up against. THANKS>

Tara17: I also had no lump, the tumor was seen on an ultrasound and confirmed by biopsy. On the day of the surgery, they used an ultrasound to insert a wire where the tumor was to guide the surgeon.

Hi Tara,

I had an intraductal papilloma removed in 2000. I had the same thing. No lump, just a nipple discharge. In my case they removed all of the milk ducts on that side. They were sent off for biopsy just to be sure. My surgeon said they are 98% of the time benign but we had to be sure. It did come back benign.

Hi Tara,

FEA is flat epitelial atypia, it is less worrisome than ADH or alh. But it is also a kind of atypical cells. Pre-pre cancer