Just wondered if any of you could share some advice. I had a lumpectomy for a grade 3 stage 2 tumour at the beginning of September. Lymph nodes showed negative but they werent happy with the safety margin as the lump was bigger than they had estimated, so had another op 2 weeks later. I seemed to heal quickly after the second op and didnt have to come home with the dreaded drain again! Im just wondering how long before the breast goes back to its normal size and does the numbness around the scar ever disappear? At my check up the surgeon was quite happy with it and said the swelling and numbness would disappear. I am now underway with my first FEC chemo and obviously life and hospital appointments just revolve around that now, the chemo nurses and the oncologist. Im on the bigger side anyway and still wearing a bra 2 cup sizes up from normal and only just stopped wearing a bra in bed at night to minimise movement!! Its probably early days yet, only 6 weeks since the last op but feel that part of it has been long forgotten by everyone now as they are concentrating on the next stage. Just wondering if anyone can let me know how long it was before they got that part back to normal!
thanks to all of you out there - this forum has been so much help to me in my wobbly moments. Friends and family are a great support and doing what they can but nothing beats hearing from and listening to people that have actually gone through it or are going through it. It makes you realise that you arent alone in this battle!
Karen
Hi Karen,
I had a lumpectomy followed by a another a month later too. I didn’t have any problem with the breast scarring or swelling but had more trouble from the axillary clearance operation scar. Could it be that you have a seroma in your breast? I would certainly ask your doctor about this and explain your concerns.
Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
AlexG
Hi Karen
I had two surgeries to ensure the margins were good and after the second op, in April, I found it took a long time for the swelling to down simply because I had radiotherapy soon afterwards and that can create a sweeling too. During the summer months I got quite fed up of having to buy new bras to ensure a good fit and comfort. I still have hardness either side of the lumpectomy scar and have never had a problem with the axillary scar (same one used twice for SNB and then clearance). Generally we are all different and find our experience of this awful disease and its treatments varied but at only two months post op I wouldn’t worry too much but would suggest you talk to your breast care nurse, not in a clinic situation but in a separate appointment so that you have time to mention all your concerns. I found my BCN to be the one to give me most information and advice, as well as leaflets issued by this charity. I felt I had the most personal support from BCN although the therpaists and specialists gave information there was not a lot of explanation or support.
I hope my experiences have helped you a bit.
Hattie x
Thanks AlexG and Hattie!
I am probably expecting too much too soon for it all to be back to normal after only 6 weeks! Good idea, I will make an appt with the BCN in a few weeks if it doesnt settle - as you say, she has been great right from the start of this! I have another 5 sessions of chemo before radio starts so as long as its back to ’ normal ’ by then before the next onslaught!
thanks guys!!!
Karen