How to prepare for a lumpectomy after active chemotherapy

Friends and family Supporting someone with breast cancer
1

Hi
My partner is fast approaching the end of her chemotherapy regimen and is soon going to be scheduled for a lumpectomy after a while. The nurse has told us that one must expect the surgery usually after 4-6 weeks of the last chemo session. Just want to hear from the forum friends here who have had some experience with this, on how to prepare my partner mentally and physically for this. Any exercise tips diet tips, mindset tips, to-dos and not to -dos will be really helpful. What should we ask the doctors, nurses to make an informed decision. All suggestions are welcome :slight_smile:

2

Hello and so great you are supporting some preparation. I had a lumpectomy 6 weeks post end of chemo. So hope this is helpful.

I thought of this period as a bit of a job for me. I used the time to eat well and get out in fresh air each day (well wrapped up as it was this time last year). Walking, yoga and building arm flexibility, upper back in particular. That really helped with my node surgery recovery (I had sentinel node removed which was clear). I continued that after my surgery and had good movement.

Finally drinking water is good of course and I used Insight Timer app to do some meditations. They have some for cancer recovery.

Hope all goes really well

X

1 Like
3

Thank you so much. This information will help us prepare better. Very useful information about the exercises and the sentinel node removal. The breast surgeon has been rescheduling on our meetings for the last few weeks now, so all the information we have us from the internet or from helpful and kind people like yourself. Trust you are doing well and sending you warm hugs and wishes :hugs:

1 Like
4

You are so welcome. Anything just post here.

One thing I forgot - post lumpectomy its good to massage the area, the nurses can show you how. It can help with any seroma. I did for a bit and then got lazy! Now I have a bit of a hard area which I might have avoided. Worth sticking with it.

X

1 Like
5

Thank you for these wonderful tips! I am actually starting to write a diary wih all this useful information and I really hope I can also help someone , someday, like you did. Big hugs :hugs: