Duct excision
Duct excision Hi
I have been informed I need to have a duct removed due to presence of a papilloma. The consultant has informed me that the cut will be made around the duct opening in the nipple and tissue around the duct removed.
He has explained that scarring may flatten the nipple and that there is likely to be a dent where the duct and tissue is removed.
Am having trouble finding anybody that has had the same operation. I am interested to know/see how the breast will or could look after surgery.
Can anybody help?
Yes! Ah Julie, you have definitely come to the right place! Hello and welcome to the forum.
You have all my sympathy having to cope with a duct excision but i’ll do my very best to answer any questions and to reassure you if I can.
I had a microductectomy on Sept 1st for blood-stained nipple discharge from just one duct in one breast. In retrospect it was such an easy-peasy event that I feel sightly ashamed of myself for panicking so much beforehand. I went through mood swings, weepy sessions, sleepless nights and spent hours surfing the net trying to find out more about it.
I wasn’t diagnosed with a papilloma - so presumably that has shown up for you in your tests? I was told it could be DCIS, a papilloma or duct ectasia so I was really scared it wasn’t going to be benign.
The cut they made was about 3cms in a semi-circular line around the areola. My breasts are large but there is hardly any sign that they removed a duct and the surrounding tissue except that there is a patch of skin between it and the nipple that is very pale sometimes. There was no loss of nipple sensation (yippee!) and it’s hard to tell if the shape of the nipple has changed as it has been flattish ever since breast-feeding.
I had no pain at all - well maybe very slight discomfort, and nowadays a kind of sharp nerve pain if it gets knocked - but the surgeon gave me a local anaesthetic around the wound before I left theatre and I was prescribed two different packets of very strong painkillers to take with me went I went home (but never needed them).
The wound was already healed when the district nurse came round to remove the dressing after the weekend and I’ve had absolutely no problems regarding the procedure at all. Unfortunately for me, the op didn’t stop the nipple discharge so I’m awaiting a second opinion as to what to do next. So far though, they have fond nothing untoward so that’s great.
The scar is now a fading thin red line and I reckon it will eventually be virtually invisible.
When are you scheduled for your op? Is it just a day procedure for you?
Anything else I can help you with? Just say the word and if you are feeling anything as awful as I was at the time, know that there is someone here who would love to give to you some of the wonderful help and support I got (and am still lucky enough to be getting). This is a wonderful place to find friends.
Love and loads of cyberhugs from P. xx
Thanks Philomena Thanks so much for your email. I have to say its been a bit of an unusual experience. And unfortunately I haven’t encountered many understanding people which is why I came to the forum. You’d think most women could empathise but my experience so far has been the opposite and in fact male friends have been much more supportive!
I definitely have a tumour which has been classed as currently benign but it has to be removed to be examined properly. The procedure is a day procedure but I may be in overnight apparently. However the description I was given of surgery seems slightly different. Or maybe I am just misreading your email. Not an impossibilty:-) A racket cut has to be made on my nipple to remove the duct and single line cut made through the areola and the duct and surrounding tissue removed. Although they have found how near to the tip of the duct the tumour starts apparently they can’t tell how big/far down the duct it goes so no guarantees about how much tissue needs to be removed. And also as I am very small chested my surgeon advised me that its highly probable that I will have a noticeable dent where the tissue will be removed and also that its likely my nipple will be pulled flat to one side due to the nature of the healing of the scar. I was lucky enough to be able to speak one to one with him on my last visit and I think perhaps this was the reason I got a more honest response. Up to this point everything I was told was very vague. But the nurse happened to be out of the room and he was much more frank with me. I was told I will definitely lose 20% functionality. Ashamedly I have been more concerned about the appearance. I am only 30, haven’t had any children and am single. None of these things have helped to make the decision.
I spoke to the breast care nurse today though and when alls said and done it seems I have no other option. I have already cancelled one surgery booking in blind panic. Could be another month to 6 weeks until I am operated on. Still not sure I want to go ahead!
So glad to meet somebody who understands the emotional effects. I know in the grand scheme of things, I could have a much worse condition. But it is still a horrible decision to make. And given the way my friends or acquaintances have responded, its also a lonely place I’ve ended up in. Am soooooo glad now I posted my message earlier! Feel so much better to meet somebody in similar circumstances.
That can’t be very nice for you that your problem hasn’t be rectified even with surgery. Have you been given any idea what else could be causing the problem? They seem to have ruled out a number of possible conditions from what you were saying in your message?
Jules
x
tennis racquet incision Hi Jules - really glad to be of help though as you say, it sounds like your surgery is more complicated than mine. I’ve looked up your racquet cut (I actually looked up racket and got all sorts of wierd and wonderful stuff totally unconnected with breast surgery - but it gave me a giggle!).
What I’ve found is that because they don’t know the extent of the “tumour” they are having to make an incision much like a tennis raquet in shape - the handle being the straight line you mention. That’s to gain greater access. It sounds like a mini version of the sort of cut they do in plastic surgery (maybe get the boobs enhanced at the same time? Praps not eh?).
I had a fibroadenoma removed many years ago and was distraught to wake up and find a huge thick red scar stretching from my nipple to the outer edges of my breast with a quarter of my breast gone. Of course they don’t do things like that nowadays and even then, the scar rapidly faded to a silvery line. Today you would find it hard to know I’d had surgery on that breast at all and the shape is absolutely normal again. The body is wonderful at healing itself.
Your op is apparently going to be somewhere between my two and closer to the microductectomy because papillomas grow inside the ducts and my surgeon told me the ducts were not much bigger than hairs.
There are various things you might want to try to lessen scarring afterwards - a friend bought me bio-oil and that’s helped me this time. I also take vit E but you need to check that out because it’s not suitable for everyone. Arnica was really helpful to me for the terrible bruising afterwards.
I know what you mean about appearances. I was more worried about the warnings of breast and nipple distortion than the actual op!
People who haven’t been through this think you’re mad to be so worried you can’t easily focus on anything else and I certainly found out who my real friends were - plus I’ve made loads of new ones on this site.
I think the loneliness is one of the worst things about these kind of experiences. That and the endless waiting and the not knowing so you are never sure whether you are “over-reacting” or not. You feel that no one really understands what you are going through and most of the time I didn’t help myself because I would make light of it even when I was spending the nights weeping. That’s why it’s great to find a chat forum like this to be able to express what you’re feeling in absolute safety knowing that you can be completely anonymous.
Even so, it’s helpful to have a real life in the flesh “friend” to take with you to clinics. It sounds as if you went on your own? I do hope you have someone physically supporting you?
You say you’ve cancelled one surgery date? What are your choices? Are they merely suggesting surgery or actually advising it? Is there a time limit?
Do keep in touch. I’ll be rooting for you and hoping everything works out for you. I should warn you that this site isn’t used as much as some of the others. Obviously more people use the breastcancercare forums if they are worried they have cancer or have already been diagnosed, but you’d probaly get wider support if you post on the Have I got Breast Cancer site as well as here.
Love and loads of cyberhugs to get you though the night from P. xx
Re; racquet incision Thanks for the info on the above Philomena! Going to do some investigation myself now. Enhancement aswell eh…might come to that at this rate:-) Thanks for the tips to lessen scarring too.
I agree totally, you certainly find out a lot about people in these events. Real and true friends are few and far between it seems!
I did go to see my surgeon on my own. My ex was supposed to come with me but forgot. Another girl I know that I wouldn’t have considered a really close friend has been brilliant and has offered to come with me. And am sure she would. She herself has just had enhancement (know its not the same thing) so has some idea of what making these decisions are like. To be honest really I am physically on my own with this which is why I joined the forum. One of the things thats mildly irritating is that some people I have told have logged on to the net and once they read some of the info as you said can’t understand why I’d even be worried. There are so many things you could have and varying degrees too. You’d swear it was a broken nail I was getting repaired or something;-) Quite amusing really. Have to admit I didn’t quite appreciate the situation myself when I was reading articles on the net. When they actually explain to you how you’re going to be cut etc it kind of puts a different slant on things! Anyway have learned its best to keep things to myself! Much easier! If I hear one more patronising comment I might just explode:-)
You sound like you’ve had a rough time of it if you’ve had to have a fibroadenoma removed aswell! Have you had that and the microductectomy on the same side?
You were asking if surgery was merely suggested…obviously they can’t force you to do anything but I was told I need to have it done, the choice was down to me. I first went to docs about it in June. My surgeon said last week the max he wants to leave it is another 3 months tops. I am having to find and move flats at the moment aswell so surgery in amongst that isn’t exactly ideal! So its looking like early February!
Keep me posted with whats happening with you. Any idea how long you have to wait for your second opinion?
Take care. Thanks again for being so helpful! Speak again soon
jules
x
Grab that lifeline! Hi Jules!
Just wanted to urge you to grab that girlfriend - you need a lifeline right now. At very least she understands the importance of the appearance of the breast to a woman, albeit for very different reasons.
And if you are feeling isolated, why not check out the other chatforums on this site? RainbowWalker, for example, has just been diagnosed with duct ectasia so she’d be someone good to chat to and Cathy leaves us a joke a day on the chitchat and fun section which is always good for a giggle. She even posted your name there when nobody replied to you straight away asking if anyone was able to help you.
It sounds like you’ve been through a traumatic time without this worry on top of everything else so post on different forums and get some more support. I’ve never yet found anyone here who was less than absolutely lovely. And you can never have too many cyberhugs.
As for me, there seems to be some doubt as to whether the first op I had had actually removed the correct offending duct (it was an inexperienced docor who operated and she did the wrong operation - I should have had all the ducts removed and she only removed the one).I’m going to Manchester for a second opinion on 24th January. I’m expecting to need another op this time to remove all the ducts behind the nipple but let’s wait and see. If they didn’t do it right the first time then there is still the risk that there is DCIS or papilloma especially as the blood-stained discharge continued after the op.
I’m fine at the moment though. (The op is a long way off!). I’ve just had to switch to wearing red lingerie and tops. (I’m allergic to the sticky on dressings). I was really worried for ages especially when I couldn’t find anyone who’d heard of my problem (which I’ve since found is very common!) and I still find it hard to sleep restfully at night but you read so many stories here that it gets your own problems into perspective. After all - it’s likely I’m one of the lucky ones. I know I’m lucky in friendship anyway and if this hadn’t happened to me, I’d never have bought my own computer let alone found this site and all these lovely people.
Beware the Internet - it can be your friend (and I absolutely love surfing the net and finding all sorts of things to do and learn)
but it can also scare the pants off you. I tell myself that my body is unique (trust me!) so my body cells behave as only mine can. While it’s interesting to hear about what can happen, it won’t ever happen exactly like that for me. The details on racquet cut that I found didn’t deal with your op for a suspected papilloma. Did your surgeon describe it the same way?
And no - the fibroadenaom was in my right breast, the discharge and mini cyst is in my left. It clearly felt "left "out with the other one getting all the attention last time…
Love and laughter and loads more cyberhugs from P. xx
Philomena Hi there
Just a quick note to say have just been reading other posts and realise what you’ve been going through lately. I haven’t been using the forum because I realised after something you said I really should just pull myself together:-) Am away from home at the moment but have thought about you now and then which is why I’ve just logged on to have a wee read. And then discovered the posts about your dear mum. And to think now you were still caring for other people ie random strangers like me. Truly an inspiration. No words in my limited vocab to express myself properly…but much love to you.
x
Foot in Mouth! OOOPS! Hello again Jules -
How great it is to hear from you and I’m really sorry that something I said made think you that you ought to pull yourself together - you are NOT a a pair of curtains!
We are all here for each other whatever our particular needs are and everyone’s problems carry the same weight and deserve to be heard however unimportant they may seem to us when compared to some of the awful problems some people have to face here. This is why the site is divided into categories such as “benign”. We care! We want to be there for you just as others have been there for us and you in turn will be there for someone else. You are already doing it - look how you have taken the time, trouble and thought to send me your caring message at exactly the time I most need it. Thank you so much for that!
As for you being a random stranger, on this site we are all instant friends so once you’ve posted you can’t ever go back to being an outsider. It’s something special about this site - we all feel drawn to one-another. Make use of us all because where else can you find such unconditional love and support with absolutely no cost.
This is our lifeline and we all feel much better for talking and listening to someone else. And on that subject, how are you and how are you coping? Have there been any changes? Do keep posting and keep us updated. You may not get replies from others unless you ask specifically, but as you’ve found out for yourself, the posts are read by loads more people than make a written response and someone out there is plucking up the courage to tell you that they have similar symptoms to you, or maybe are waiting anxiously to find out how you get on. I know I am! If you just want to chat, post on the Chit-chat forum instead and I’ll reply to you there. It must be horrible having to cope with this on your own away from home so know that you don’t have to!
Love and cyberhugs from P. xx and please don’t worry about me reaching out to you while having to cope with Mom’s death. If anything it has made me realise how important it is have loving relationships in your life.