Hello, my first time on here, so a bit apprehensive. I am not coping very well with the news I am to have a mastectomy and lumpectomy on 19th Aug. Problem is they want me to have wire guided marker put in at one location in morning, then have to drive 15 miles to another hospital for nuclear medicine dept to inject dye etc, then in afternoon have my op. It all seems a bit much to me on one day, has anyone else had same experience? Thanks x
hiya , is there anyone that can take you to the hospital for your " wiring " ? its a painless procedure and rule of thumb is that its all done in one morning , my only concern would be that the wire may feel bit awkward when you are driving but regarding the wire , dye etc ,its all painless and straightforward xx
Hi does seem a shame its not all in the same hospital but as for the proceedure I was meant to have this done the morning of my op as the lump was so tiny but as it was on the side it was marked with a pen in the end but from all the ladies I know having it done it is straight forward & not painful, as for the dye they do this as your put under in our hospital … I hope you have someone with you driving preferably but both proceedures are ok but I can understand you being upset
All the best
Mekala x
Hi, I have had more or less the same experience as you, but not a mastectomy, just a lumpectomy. I was booked in for the day. First of all at 9.30 in the morning I had the wire marker put in, so that the small lump could be located when the surgeon operated. This was done, not very painful as local injection given, then went over to the day unit to wait for operation. This was the hardest part for me, just the waiting around, and I was the only woman having a BC operation, the other two women were waiting for ops on cysts etc. I had the blue dye injected when I was under the anasthetic so did not feel or see anything. I think some units do this and some dont, so you have to drive to have it somewhere else, which is a pain really. You will be OK, it is all over very quickly (the operation) and then you go home and recover there. Believe me the waiting time, i.e. NOW is the worst time. Take care, chris x
Hi dellamay and welcome to the BCC forums
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Take care
Lucy
sorry I am confused are you having a lumpectomy on one breast and a masectomy on the other?? Both on the same day?
As to the wire, die and lumpectomy all being on the same day, it does seem a lot to fit in but at least it will keep your mind off the op. I would not like them on seprate days, best to get it all done together. Is the hospital providing transport?? there are two types of nipple injection. One they can do whist you are awake and the other is done whilst you are under the anesthtic. Because of my needle problem they offered me the second type, but i could tell my their faces that it would be better to have the radioactive one so I bit the bullet and had tht–it was fine.
19th? gosh thats a long time away, you are probably going to still be going through all sorts of emotions between now and then, so remember everybody is here to answer questions or to just listen
Thank you all for posts. Feeling a little better as they have said I can now have the “wire” bit done the day before, and just have to take it easy with it in. My sort of dye is a radioactive one that not all surgeons use. I think it goes through the nipple. It’s in addition to the one given when you are under.
Yes, I have to have lumpectomy via wire and mastectomy same day. I have been hanging about since 14th July when I got my biopsy results for this damn op, but they kept finding other bits on a mammogram that 2 radiologists and my surgeon said was ok!! Apparently they review it again and it was shattering to me to find that that one needs attention too.
Thanks again for the support, it does feel good to talk. My husband is now having day off to drive me, and deposit me in hosp. x
Got to get back to working, so this is quick. The radioactive injection is much less painful than a wasp sting or a dentist’s injection, that won’t be a problem.
Best of luck,
CM
x
I had to go to a different hospital for my radio isotope injection and scan in the morning, and then had my WLE at a different hospital in the afternoon. They gave me a CD of my scan to take back with me. The two hospitals were about 14 miles apart. It was an inconvenience more than anything else. I still arrived at the hospital where I was going to have my op in plenty of time.
The isotope is injected in the areolar of the nipple and didn’t hurt at all. The needle they use is very, very fine. It does make your breast feel warm, like holding a heating pad next to it.
The blue dye will be put in once you are in theatre and asleep.
Good luck on the day. I hope it all goes well.