Once again I can’t sleep so I thought I’d write things down. I had a lumpectomy 4 weeks ago for a relatively small nasty in the outer (armpit) side of my 38a boob. What I have now got is a slightly smaller boob, with a nipple that’s higher up than the other one. The scar goes right round the nipple and down in a straight line. The SNB left a separate scar in the armpit.
My (male, NHS) surgeon was friendly and professional, and I didn’t think to question his explanations or methods, but now I am past the surgery, I can’t help but wonder if he thought he was doing me a favour by pulling things in and up a bit? I am 57 so there was a bit of droop, but it had never bothered me. He did speak about ‘evening up’ the non-cancer boob at a later date.
Am I just being paranoid? Of course I have no idea what had to be done in there to remove the tumour. The treated boob is very sore and feels kind of hard and weird, not like a part of me at all. I think I would have preferred to have ended up with the same slightly droopy boob but with a bit of a dent in it! What do other ladies think? Has anyone had similar feelings or experiences? Am I worrying about nothing? I will try to discuss this with the surgeon but I’d like to see what people say here first.
Thank you, C
(NB I don’t want to be evened up - one lot of surgery was bad enough.)
I had a lumpectomy 4 weeks ago and my scar runs under my right boob and under my armpit - it’s very neat and when I look at it in a mirror both boobs look even. The scar is covered by my bra.
When I look down however there is a dent. My boob is also hard and still tender.
I suppose it depends where the tumour was to how he could access it. I saw photos of what my scar would look like.
Lou x
I’m wondering if the “pulling things in and up a bit” was just a normal part of the what surgery actually required, as opposed to an “extra” to it, or “favour” as you put it .
Also, ref corrective surgery to your other side, yeh, I can so understand your saying, “one lot of surgery was bad enough”. It, along with all the emotional trauma of the diagnosis, is a huge amount to get your head around and deal with, especially initially. But maybe once your head’s more settled, and your boob’s more settled, you might feel differently. Also, you may have to wait quite a while for corrective surgery anyway, as it isn’t so urgent and would be elective or “choice”, so to speak.
You’re saying you don’t want to be bothered with further surgery. A lot of women would probably feel the same and not mind being a bit lobsided. Just as some choose to remain flat after a mastectomy. Others would jump at being evened up later. Some of those would want it doing as soon after as possible, to get it all over and done with and out of the way, to then not have it to think about and sort further on.
We’re all very different aren’t we. But, as I said earlier, you may feel differently about it in time.
Loubylou - I’m wondering if your “dent” may even out naturally given time. If it doesn’t, it’s just a thought, but perhaps they could even it out with some lipofilling later on, where they extract some fat cells from elsewhere on your body, then inject them where required? And it would only be a relatively minor procedure to have to go through, certainly compared to what you already have had! Something you could look into at some point, if you’re not happy with it.
Hope you both now keep and stay well. Lots of love, Delly xXx
Hi Calendula! I had my surgery 6 weeks 4 days ago similar to you; scar around nipple & SNB scar. Scars healing ok but yes the flesh is hard & lumpy & discoloured. Been given the ok to use bio oil or aveeno to gently massage area. Been told it could take up to six months post radiotherapy (which I am yet to start) to settle down.
Hard to know how I would find a new lump if one emerged. That is one concern anyway.
And yes I am a bit lopsided now. The non affected breast is hanging lower than the operated one and the nipple on the operated one not quite pointing the way it used to. I assumed that would be the case; my tumour in upper right quadrant was 29mm & obviously they removed healthy tissue around it. It’s not bothering me as much as the lumpy flesh. With a bra on you would never know & apart from surgeon no one has seen it (haven’t shown husband yet).
I was going to wait 6 months after radiotherapy to see how things were & if it affects me. I am a bit self conscious with 30FF or 32F size but the lopsided issue hasn’t been mentioned by my surgeon so I assumed it is something I would have to live with!
Hope that helps a bit. Let me know if you can recommend a bra; I am finding M&S post surgery bras a bit big in the cup!!
Our boobs are so personal to us and each of us chooses a different path.
I was offered lump or mastectomy, I looked at images of both and in the end decided on a mastectomy. I was told if I had a lump, the remaining boob does effectively get a boob lift as they need to fill the gap of the removed cancer with a nip tuck style procedure. Later on the other boob could have surgery to match the new boob. I was very happy with my choice and in the end, it turned out to be the right one as the tumour was much bigger than expected and high-grade DCIS. The area is now very hard and still numb, and yes in the first few weeks did not feel part of me ( I think due to the numbness). By week four it was feeling OK, but I had to a second op - axillary clearance, and my goodness, that has left a lot of uncomfortable numbness, hardness and sensation.