Hi. Expecting surgery Oct 8th, for grade 2 Lobular BC. Told official name for surgery is Lateral Mammoplasty?!..
Aside from the obvious, that being petrified! I’m trying to think about what I’m going to need to take with me and if I should be doing anything in preparation? I was told to buy a good sports bra to wear after surgery. But was also told after surgery the breast I question will be a lot smaller and misshapen (analogy given was ‘taking a large slice of the pie away!’) so how do I go about what size to buy? Would really appreciate any advice any of you have?
Also, I’ve only ever been in hospital before as a day patient for vascular surgery and when I had my children! For the many of you on here that have gone through this, what did you feel you needed/not need? Thanks in advance for the advice on what’s best to take in making the dreaded visit more comfortable? Xxx Tina
I had two ops last June and again in July to get clear margins. Before my first op I tried on sports bras but found that they felt too tight and I felt that I couldn’t breathe in them. After buying a couple of soft bras from M&S I ended up wearing my usual bras which were silk underwired ones. I found that if a wore them without the **bleep** on the side of the op they supported me but didn’t squash me or dig in and were also comfortable to wear in bed. I think it depends where your scar will be. Mine is from the edge of my nipple running about 6/7 cms towards under my arm but I didn’t have any lymph nodes removed.
Try not to worry about the op. It wasn’t anything like as bad as I had imagined and I was only in hospital for the day. The second op was even quicker and I was in and out in 5 hours.
My boob is a bit misshapen but really not that bad and they told me that it would look a lot smaller but it is not really much different. I am having radiotherapy at the moment so I don’t know if it will change after that. Fingers crossed it won’t. Once you have had your surgery you will start to feel better because you will feel that you are moving forward at last. Its the waiting around that is so scarey. As to waht to take in hospital just take anything and everything that you think you might need. I think that baby wipes are on the top of my list for the most useful item plus a puzzle book and a good novel. The first thing that I did after my op was put my make up on. Hope it all goes well for you. Eileen.xxx
Hi Tina, I’ve also been in twice, lumpectomy on 22nd June which was day surgery but as I was on the afternoon list and went down very late so took pj’s and washing stuff along with a book and my ipod.
Secondly, I’ve just had a double mastectomy and implant reconstruction (now 10 days post op) and stayed in for 5 nights so naturally took the same as previous but with more than one set of pj’s, my eye mask which was a godsend at night as hospital is not the most restful place unless you’re in a side room.
As for bras I bought 2 Belvia stretchy bras from Debehams when I was diagnosed and have worn them after both ops, although after drains out on the second.
As for the travel home, one great tip I was given from one of our sisters on the site was to bring a cushion for the journey home.
i bought a couple of stretch stretch bras from TK Max which were really comfortable. I am going in for an elective double mastectomy (long story!) with immediate DIEP reconstruction in December and think I’ll go down the front fastening road for that one. Take it that they’re doing SNB at the same time? I liked the stretchy bras because they made me use my arm muscles and I’m pretty convinced that pulling a bra over my head helped me recover quickly!! Had to have a second op to get clear margins, and used the same bras then too. Hope that was of some help and all the best with your op. Ann x x
Sorry Tina!! Keep forgetting that I’m an old hand at this and that not everyone knows the terminology. SNB is a sentinel node biopsy. When they remove the lump, they pass some radioactive dye into the lymphatic system and locate the first lymph nodes that drain fluid from the breast. These nodes are your sentinel nodes. Some people have 1 and some 2 or more. The surgeon normally removes these nodes and they’re sent to the lab to check whether they contain any cancer cells. I thought that everyone who has a breast cancer diagnosis had an SNB. Don’t worry about DIEP reconstruction. It’s just a type of reconstructive surgery that uses the fat from your own body to build new boobs. I’ve had problems with my boobs for 10 years, culminating in a cancer diagnosis, and have elected to have a double mastectomy because I just can’t face any more trouble with them. Can’t really think of anything you should ask your surgeon, other than perhaps the SNB question. Glad that your MRI showed no further cancer present. Ann x x
Hi Tina, I had a similar op plus sentinel node biopsy as a day patient about 6 weeks ago. I didn’t wear a bra home from hospital at all because I didn’t want anything restrictive, and for the first few days just wore a stretchy vest which gave me the feeling of a bit of control without any pressure points. Biggest challenge for me was that I couldn’t get my arm up so couldn’t pull anything over my head without help, but my BCN gave me a Nicola Jane front fastening cotton mastectomy bra which was great. I got my usual size, as even though I also had a big old chunk removed, to start with your affected breast may be a bit swollen and in any case with a wound you probably won’t want anything too tight. I hate hospitals, and had all my kids at home mainly for that reason, but everyone at the hospital was absolutely lovely and made it as pain free as possible (in all senses). Very best of luck and try not to worry (easy to say I know!) x
I had a masectomy in July in Calderdale Yorkshire they provided me with a front fastening bra and softie then prosthesis but not sure all NHS trusts do this. We get a free wig others get an allowance towards one. Having my first chemo this aft scared of the unknown like having the operation but for someone who is cared of needles blood and hospitals I found the op the best of all my treatment the worst biopsies on my stomach and having the PICC fitted. I found those terrible and think you should be offered some pre med others have no problems.
Hi Tandy…I had a masectomey on July 8 th just a routine mammogram I was Very lucky I was not even 50…I was like you confused what to take to hospital what to do before I go in…
So I decided Stop stressing out out things, you can worry yourself sick…
I decided to go out and just get a couple of bras went to M S advised by the lady to get soft bras!!
Oops she was wrong wrong, surgeon told me to get a sports bra which I did when I got home…I bought from Amazon…
I spent the 3 weeks before my op having as much FUN as I could, I worked out that my friends were stressing enough for me and it was my job to just enjoy myself…
I went to comedy club, out for meals, sung a lot
( whilst consuming a large amount of alcohol I worked out that there are a lot of people going through Crap I this world and I would count my chickens and make the best of it…
I planned fun stuff to do every week, by the time It certainly to the op I was exhausted and needed a couple of weeks resting up.
I should add I ate well took loads of vitamins, and drunk a lot of coconut water, which was brilliant…
Good luck xxx
Hi, I have just had my mastectomy on wed 30th Sept, I had an immediate reconstruction so stayed in hospital for 1 night. I came out of surgery about 3pm and was on a ward for 4pm. I kept the gown on that night because I really didnt get out of bed, I slept a lot. I did take a lose pair of pj’s, slipppers, a dressing gown, which after breakfast in the morning, i had a quick wash and changed into them. I made sure that the clothes i went in with would be lose for me to again wear them to go home in. I took a hairbrush and toothpaste, but not make up or shampoo, belive me its the last thing on your mind anyway. Your family do not care about how you look, they just want you well xx Hope all goes well