Any tips you can share on how to prepare for a lumpectomy?
Anything to purchase ahead of time?
Tips for what to do after coming home?
Wound dressing tips?
What you can and can’t do after surgery?
When to schedule follow ups? PT, radiologist, oncologist?
Proton therapy instead of radiation?
Any good Youtube videos to watch ahead of time as resources to prepare?
Any other tips?
Hi rosek
I had a lumpectomy almost 2.5 years ago.
I found loose, front buttoned clothes helpful for the first few days at least. You might have shoulder stiffness, so this makes it easier. A pillow or cushion to rest and protect affected side is a good idea for the car. They will give you excercises to do. Keep them going to prevent stiffness. They really do help.
I was going to be at home alone over several meal times. I batch cooked behorehand and put in freezer. You will probably be told no lifting for a time. I was unable to drive for about 2 weeks. My surgery was on the left and could not use gearstick without causing pain.
Have plenty rest but gentle excercise when able and gradually build up. I was off work for 3 weeks until my follow up. I was told I could shower as normal. They didnt want me to submerge my dressings. A shallow bath would be okay as long as you are able to get in and out. They said the dressings could come off but to leave yhe steristrips in place until follow up.
My surgeon arranged the follow up and also oncologist appointment. The oncologist then recommended radiotherapy and tamoxifen.
Hope this helps. Good luck with everything x
Thank you! I appreciate the tips.
Hi
I had a lumpectomy (wle) last Thursday. Presume you’re in UK, procedure was straightforward, everyone very nice, arrived 7am, chat with surgeon and then anaesthetist, changed into gown and stockings. Walked down to theatre about 10.15am, after I woke up I remembered looking at clock 12.30, taken to post op ward, 2 mugs of hot chocolate and a piece of toast, dressing and obs checked a couple of times. Then they came round with take home codeine and senna and sheet about the op and what they’d given me during it. Home 4.30pm
Takeaway pizza for tea ! And watched telly, slept very well, drove today and showered (4 days post op), walked dog, light house stuff like easy teas, just needed a few paracetamol.
Have felt quite tired though! But very manageable which is a pleasant surprise, I appreciate everyone is different though. Good luck.
I bought a post op sports bra but found it very tight, and just been wearing and sleeping in my normal soft non wired bras.
Hi. Tuck a pillow either side of you in bed so you can’t roll over on to your side. Keep up the exercises especially if you’re having radiotherapy and get lots of rest. That way you should recover quickly. Hope it all goes well
Thank you!
Hi, I had my lumpectomy+ SNB exactly two weeks ago. The procedure was straightforward, at the hospital at 7.30 am, then went to the theatre at 9.30am. The whole team very reassuring. Ready to go home at 1.30pm but had to wait for another two hours for the discharging letter and meds. Maybe better to have some snacks with you in case you need to wait for longer. Depending where you are the meds for home may be different so I received paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. You’ll receive a leaflet with exercises and maybe they don’t emphasise enough how important these exercises are. Exercising and keeping active aren’t only for regaining arm and shoulder mobility but also to improve lymph flow and to further avoid potential lymphedema.
I also received a heart shaped pillow from the hospital made and donated by ladies of Kelty and District loving hands 
which really helps in the first days and nights. I used a very comfy post surgery bra bought from Asda, day and night for the first few days, some BCN nurses recommend them whereas other don’t so I think it’s a matter of how you feel. I started to use a tea tree oil body wash before the surgery for shower and I used a facecloth with the body wash the next day when I didn’t shower and cleaned the surroundings of my two incisions and my whole arm.
You can find good info on YouTube from Jen McKenzie, Australian physiotherapist.
Although I received the exercise leaflet from hospital I prefer the exercises from Breast cancer now.
Exercises after breast cancer surgery:
Good exercises from Royal Marsden too.
Physiotherapy Advice after Breast Surgery and Radiotherapy
I didn’t need to arrange for any appointments as they deal with this. Important thing is to be active before surgery, have a healthy diet and be positive. Best wishes x
Hiya
I had a double lumpectomy on 10th July along with removal of 4 lymph nodes. Like the ladies have already said on here I was in and out in a day which was great! I have been wearing a soft crop top type bra from Peacocks which has been a godsend, I’m a rather large busted lady so I’ve been wearing it at night too as I found that’s when it hurt most. I also had a V pillow which was great for the immediate few nights after as it stopped me rolling over and now it’s really comfy to lay on my side with.
I had to leave dressings on for 14 days which is a lot longer than others on these forums and obviously you can’t get them wet. I had shallow baths as the weather was warm and I didn’t want to stink but all was good!
I didn’t have much pain and managed with paracetamol for the first couple of days but like someone else said it’s the tiredness that got me as I wasn’t expecting it.
Your team will arrange any follow appointments for you and advise what further you might need once they’ve tested the lump that has been removed. Just keep up the arm exercises as they really do help.
My advice is take one day at a time and if you feel like a rest/little sleep then do it cos when we sleep our body heals. Also when else are you gonna have the excuse to have a few lazy days!!
Hope all goes well for you xx
I had a lumpectomy four years ago, I have similar advice to that already shared which was that having button up clothing, front fastening support bra and a small pillow that I could put under my arm after the operation made things much easier for me. Dry shampoo as well as body cleansing wipes also helped if you are unable to shower in case the wound gets wet. I also did all my housework ahead of the operation as you can’t lift anything heavy for about two weeks after the operation.
I had bilateral lumpectomies in January. I was very nervous on the day, but everyone was very kind and reassuring. I got home later the same day. I had a couple of post surgery bras, which were a definite help, and I wore one overnight as well. The extra support helped significantly. I was a bit down and teary a few days after the op., which is apparently not unusual. I only needed paracetamol for a few days afterwards - but take whatever you need to be comfortable. Definitely do the exercises! But no lifting etc. as remember that you are healing inside, as well as where the incision is visible. Just follow the advice given, and you won’t go far wrong. Once my incisions were healed, I used Bio oil on the scars.
It’s a worrying, stressful time, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated. Just be gentle with yourself, accept help from others and rest when you need to. Best wishes x
Thanks Rosek for posting. My lumpectomy is this Friday - your questions, and all the replies have really helped and reassured me. Hope it goes well for you.
Hope it goes ok for you i had one 4 weeks ago now and it was all good . Unfortunately i need a re-insision but know what to expect now so not as scared (yet) . Good luck
If they offer this patch for nausea from anesthesia, please read this first.
https://www.goodrx.com/scopolamine/scopolamine-side-effects
I did not experience nausea after anesthesia and surgery. I did ask about the side effects and asked if it was necessary. I wish I had time to research this before I agreed to it.
I did have a dry mouth and sore throat. I had to drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration. I was told to keep it on for 24 hours to 3 days.
I just removed the patch and looked at the name on the patch and researched it. I am glad I did. The side effects are quite scary the longer you keep it on, especially the withdrawal symptoms.
Do your own research and ask about potential alternatives or not using anything for nausea. You can drink ginger ale or look into other options that don’t describe drugs.
I will post this as a separate topic as well.
Hi, I had a lumpectomy and lymph node clearance on my left side in April. Now going through Chemo.
Here are a few suggestions:
You’ll need a post op bra. Go try some on and get two before the op as it’s not smith you’ll want to do after (2 so you can wear one and wash one etc.). I personally found special post op brad uncomfortable and bad looking overall… I bought this front zipping sports bra from M&S and it was excellent. Flexifit™ Non Wired Full Cup Bra A-E | Body by M&S | M&S
Do your post op exercises religiously. Some lady shred it above.
You may get constipated after ansetesia. They’ll probably send you home with some laxatives, but I found eating some prunes really helped me.
Bring someone calm with you on a day. It’s stressful and just nice to have someone to chit chat or to be silent with whilst you wait. Also someone who can remind you of funny things you may come up with after ansetesia 
I think the hospital will book your post op checks.
Just take it easy, and remind yourself that everything will be okay and that your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.
These are all very helpful replies. Thanks for asking this question; I am also having a lumpectomy in a few weeks. I hope yours goes smoothly!
Hi Celestine, thanks for info re asda post surgery bras-I don’t have a big asda near me so would have to order online. No idea as to what size to order when they come in S,M,L rather than bra sizings. Any thoughts?
Tips for Post-Lumpectomy Care
Hi nib32, there’s a size guide on the website but based on the reviews I read the sizing wasn’t clear so I ordered two sets of comfort bras size l and xl, I kept the l size and returned the xl. I also bought a M&S post surgery bra and had to return it cos I found it too hard but other ladies on the forum found the M&S goodmove medium support post surgery sport bra also a very good option. Hope it helps x