Benign lumpectomy, what’s it like?
Benign lumpectomy, what’s it like? Hello,
I had a biopsy on a lump about the size of a diameter of a 20p piece under my left nipple and its benign, but the doctor recommended i have it removed…so I’m going in on Fri morn. I’m absolutely terrified as i have no idea what to expect, no ones told me anything. Has anyone else been through this? If so could you explain the procedure to me? When I wake up what will it be like? Will i have a drip? Will i have a big bandage over the breast and what will it feel like? Will i have a big scar? will there be stitches and will they have to be taken out? Will it effect the look of my breast, ie: will there be a dent? I don’t have much anyway!! sorry for all the questions, but I know nothing! and I’m driving myself craxy panicking about it! Thanks everyone. xx
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hi! So glad to hear the lump was benign…you must be so relieved. I also have a lump and I’m seeing the consultant on Monday to discuss what happens next so I have no experience, yet, with a lumpectomy. You have come to the right place though as there are some amazing people here who will give you the support you need and will help answer any questions you may have.
I know the idea of having an op is scary but try and focus around the knowledge that the lump is benign. I’m a bit annoyed that the medical team who are looking after you seem to have done nothing to explain what is involved having a lumpectomy. It can help so much if things are explained as you go along and you are given the opportunity to ask questions and express your fears.
I have spoken to many women in this forum who have had a lumpectomy and are so happy they had it done. Many were also surprised at how well they felt immediately after it. I’m sure they will get in touch.
Try and relax a bit, I know it’s not that simple, over the next couple of days and I’ll be thinking of you on Friday. If you need to talk more then just post back as I will look out for your postings.
Take Care and you are definitely not alone with your fears and questions.
Hug,
Cathy
Thanks! Hi Cathy,
Thanks so much for your kind words… I feel silly for being so scared, but it’s way more scary when you have no idea whats going to happen to you! Hopefully someone whos gone through the procedure will reply before fri, otherwise i will just have to deal with it and be brave!! I will let you know how it goes, and good luck with your appointment in Jan… I found this lump in may 2005 and it was only diagnosed as benign a year later… hate waiting so long it’s rubbish. anyway. take care. gina x
Be strong… Hi Gina,
Never feel silly about being scared because what you are going through is a very scarey time for you. Never apologise for how you feel, especially on this website as everyone knows how you feel at this moment. We were all there at some point in the past so this is one place you don’t have to hide your fears!
If no-one sees this before Friday then, yes, you are going to have to be brave but you can do it and you will get through the day…keep telling yourself that! I will be here if you need someone though so you aren’t alone.
What might be useful is if you register for the live chat session on Thursday night 9pm to 10pm on this website. If you click on LIVE CHAT SESSIONS in the left hand column and then follow the info for registering then you should be able to chat to people live during that hour on Thursday. I’m sure someone will be online who has experienced the same as you already and can help answer some questions you may have.
Take care Gina and let me know how you get on.
Hug
Cathy
Poor you! It’s horrible awaiting an operation without having a clue what they are going to do to you. I’ve had a lumpectomy many years ago but that was not behind the nipple. I’ve just had a duct excision which might be similar surgery to what you are due since it was an operation to remove a breast duct and surrounding tissue of about 2 cms from behind the left nipple. Although yours is a lump, the size of flesh they plan to remove for you will be about the same as mine. If your op is similar, RELAX. Mine was nothing like the nightmare I was expecting it to be.
The operation took about half an hour and involved cutting a semicircular line around the edge of the aerola then removing the duct and surrounding flesh for lab testing. They then stich inside with dissolving stitches and draw the skin back over the wound to close it again using dissolving stitches
When I came round I was in no real pain, it just felt as if I’d cut myself and it had left a bruise - but the surgeon had injected the area with a local anaesthetic before I left theatre. The recovery room staff offered me more painkillers straight away but I didn’t need them. I was so “high” and giggly that I was joking with the staff who were checking me out as came round. I was wheeled back into the ward and not allowed anything to eat and drink for what they said would be several hours to make sure I didn’t vomit after the anaesthetic but I was absolutely fine and eventually persuaded them to bring me a cup of tea. They let me go home after two hours. They supplied me with very strong painkiller and paracetamol but I didn’t need to take even one tablet, which surprised me as they’d warned me that operating there could be very painful.
A thinnish melolin-type dressing about 6 x 8 cms completely covered the wound and was sealed all the way around and i was told not to get it wet nor remove it for two to three days when the District Nurse would come round and check it and remove it.
The District Nurses were all brilliant and gave me loads of info such as suggesting I wear a really good support bra day and night because breast tissue can easily sag after surgery. Also I wasn’t to do any housework not even as much as the washing up. I didn’t ask them for how long - I planned to milk it for all I was worth!
When they removed the dressing the wound had already healed and there was no leaking of blood or fluid., so they didn’t replace the dressing but left me some in case I wanted to go out and about and give my breast some extra protection which I did.
The scar is about 4cms and looks like a very thin red line. When I had the lumpectomy for fibroadenoma the scar was initially thick red and then faded to silvery. All the stitches used were dissolving stitches this time so they just came away as I showered over the following week or so -looking like tiny bits of black thread.
There is a very slight dent in the breast but not enough to affect the breast shape and appearance. I notice it; other’s wouldn’t. I 've had no complications from the operation at all - no fever, swelling or inflammation, though as I bruise very easily my left breast was all the colours of the rainbow until they faded away after a week or so.
When I was told I needed this op, I panicked like mad and the only source of help I got was from this chat forum but as I find myself telling people now, this benign site isn’t used like the Have I got Cancer site so you might get more replies if you post on there even if you already know the lump is benign.
I did find a couple of NHS hospitals afterwards (too late for me) which provide pamphlets on what to expect that take you right through all the stages pre and post op. Try the Internet and type in Norwich and Norfolk. What I had was called microductectomy done to find out what causes a blood-stained nipple discharge and to rule out cancer etc. Unfortunately for me, although the operation was absolutely OK the discharge hasn’t cleared up so I’m awaiting a second op. to remove all the ducts behind that nipple.
The other thing I’ll share with you is that I believe my operation was so straightforward and affected me so little because I asked the anaesthetist to talk to me while I was under the anaesthetic and give me positive affirmations like “Everything is going well and you have a speedy and comfortable recovery” The hospital staff had all heard about it by the time I got to theatre and i got a lot of good-natured ribbing about it but they all agreed afterwards that it certainly seemed to have worked!
Finally, a friend bought me some bio-oil and I’ve been gently massaging that into the scar once the stitches had disappeared. I also kept taking homeopathic remedy Arnica for the bruising and when I went into hospital I took in Bach Rescue Remedy and kept using it right up to the op and very soon afterwards (with the medics approval). There was a patient on the ward (I had to go in the night before) who offered me Reiki which I accepted so I went into theatre very relaxed - and if you’d seen me before that you’d’ve thought the transformation was a miracle! I don’t think anyone could’ve been more nervous than me!
The very best of luck and do let us know how it goes. I’ll be thinking of you on Friday. Let me know if there’s anything else I can tell you,
Love and cyberhugs from Kate xx
thank you! Oh my gosh kate, thanks so much for your post and for taking the time to write in such detail. you’ve made me feel so much better just explaining everything. I’m feeling ok about it, I just want to get it over and done with now… I cant wait until i wake up and it’s all over! I know I’m going to be terrified on fri and i will want to run away, but knowing you and many others have been through similar experiences will keep me going. so thank you and I will let you know how it goes! gina x
Hope it went well Hi Gina
I am a Scot in Australia so about half a day ahead of you. It’s lunch time here, but I am hoping that you getting some sleeping just now. I know how worried you must be. I had a benign lump removed about 3 weeks ago. I have a scar about 3cm long (my lump was 2cm) and have been told that this will fade over time.
It’s important that you ask your surgeon and nurses lots of questions, even if these are after the operation or seem to be insignificant. Getting answers to everything will reduce any worrying further down the track.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to rest, rest, rest. Even if you are feeling ok, crash out on the sofa with a bunch of movies. As well as the cut, which you have to give time to heal, the anaesthetic really takes it out of you and made me feel quite spacey for a few days.
I had a large pad over my whole breast, and I left this on for 3 days. 1 day longer than the surgeon told me, but I felt that it gave me extra protection; in case I bumped it.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about after the op. I am thinking of you and I’m sure you will take it all in your stride.
Take Care
Caroline x
HI Gina HI Gina,
I have had several lumpectomies done prior to my prophylactic mastectomy (read other threads of my journey).
I just had a further lumpectomy last friday, and it was done under local anaesthetic and it was strange talking to the surgeon whilst he was cutting and removing, but we talked about the telly, holidays, xmas, etc, all taking your mind off this.
I am glad yours is benign, like mine was previously, (I had 4 lumpectomies when I was 25 to 29 years of age, I am now 40), each of them benign lumps, and all were recommended to be removed. My older sister has now got 3 lumps but all benign and she and her surgeon has decided to leave them but to keep an eye on them, incase she gets like me.
The operation was about 40 minutes, under local anaesthetic, I have had various scars between 3-8cm long, depending on how much they needed to remove. I got disolvable stitches, with sterrystrip ones on the top that came off after 7 days. it was a bit stingy to start with, and you felt it pull when you stretched or moved, but after the stitches came off it was fine.
They do however say not to do a lot over the next 6 weeks to allow the healing process.
Take it easy, get your partner if you have one, to pamper you for a bit, it is good for him to do this.
We are all here to help and support you, and reassure you if needed, after all, I have gone through so many things in my journey that I have bought the t-shirt more times than I can get in my wardrobe!!!
take care and let us know how you are.
carol xx
Hi There,
Not sure if you will read this before your operation tomorrow.
I had a benign lump removed a few months ago. I was meant to have a general anaesthetic but had a cold on the day of my op, so they wouldn’t give me a general. I had the lumpectomy under local anaesthetic. I was actually quite glad about that as I know recovery from anaesthetic can sometimes be the worst part of an operation. They cannot always do a lumpectomy under local anaesthetic, it does depend on the size and location of the lump. Mine was very small and located in a place that made it easy to remove. During the surgery I felt no pain at all, just sensations of pushing and prodding.
I had a thick wad of bandages and a plastic plaster over the wound. I took pain killers before the local anaesthetic wore off, and to be honest I hardly experienced any pain at all after my operation. I had a couple of twinges of pain but that was as bad as it got. I had the op on Thursday and went back to work on Monday. I kept the bandage on for about a week. I had dissolveable stitches.
I have a scar about 3cm long, and it is fading all the time. It is a very neat scar and hasn’t left an indentation or changed the shape of my breast at all.
I had a really good experience, and I know it differs from person to person and depends on the type and size of the lump and also it’s location.
Hope this answers a couple of your questions. It is a good idea to ask the nurse, surgeon and anaethsetist loads of questions. They will be able to set your mind at ease.
All the best, will be thinking of you. Let us know how it went, and please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any more questions after your op.
Cheers
Tracy