Lumpectomy yesterday

[JoKayBee]

Hi Ruth, sorry to hear that you are on the same path as me and many others. I was worried about the GA too but I really needn't have been. Easy for me to say now but it was fine - you will be literally out in seconds and then wake up in recovery with a nurse beside you. I spent another half hour chatting to the nurse and feeling pleasantly spaced out! This morning I feel a bit sore, but that is it - even managed to do the gentle exercises. Everyone is different so take it easy post op and only do what you feel comfortable with. I can't say anything to stop you worrying, but try to keep re-assuring yourself that breast cancer is very treatable and because it is one of the more common cancers there is excellent treatment and continual research ongoing. I feel so much better now that the lump has gone, so try to focus on that too. I wish you all the best for your op and treatment - sadly there are so many women, and men, now on this path, but on a positive note we have these forums to share and support each other. If you feel up to it, post to let us know how you get on? Take care, Jo x

[rs123]

Hi Jo

Good to read your post as it appears we are on similar paths.

initial appt on 6/6 told 99.9% sure it's bc. Biopsy results on 13/6 confirmed it.

unfortunately I only have my WLE inc removal of nipple due to lump placement on 12/7 plus SNB so many sleepless nights and hours of worrying to go yet!

im frightened of having a general anaesthetic but equally want this thing out now so wish it was sooner! Guess the waiting for the results of the op is going to be difficult too.

glad you're op went well and you are feeling ok, hope mine goes equally as smoothly!

ruth

[JoKayBee]

Hello ladies, just a brief update. Had the lumpectomy and removal of sentinel node yesterday, and the op went as expected. Surprised at how pain free I am this morning, just a little sore and managing on paracetomol.  Follow up appointment 12th July, so am a bit anxious but want to know what further treatment will be required and to get on with it.  To reassure anyone waiting for a lumpectomy/node removal, you really have nothing to be afraid of - and it is a huge relief when you wake up and realise the lump has gone! I was so nervous at the thought of it, but once I arrived at the hospital I felt relatively calm. Home by teatime eating macaroni cheese!

thanks again for the messages of reassurance, and I wish you all the very best.

Jo

x

[JoKayBee]

Hi Charys - thanks for all the info it is really helpful.  I am hoping to avoid chemo as I am a very private person and I think it is probably harder to hide what you are going through with chemo.  Most of my family don't know yet as I don't want to worry them - but I do have a small group of supportive people to talk to, plus of course this forum.

My lump at present is a grade 2 - has sprouted up over the last 12 months as I have a mammo and ultrasound almost exactly a year ago which was clear.  Haven't been told what the hormone factors are yet - presume they can determine this after the lump is removed. I'm really glad that after all you have been through you have reached a point of acceptance and that your progress is really positive.  The sleep issue is not new to me - I am a veteran insomniac, so I have a few coping mechanisms - it's just hard at the moment as I work full time. I do a bit of mindful meditation too which seems to help.

It's hard for me to understand that some opt for no treatment - but as you say, treatment is a hugely personal thing and we all have different things that influence our decisions.

Thanks again - and take care,

Jo

x

[Charys]

Hiyer,

I was offered chemo, radiotherapy and hormone therapy after surgery.

Before surgery my treatment plan did not include chemo. However, after final biopsy, I was in the 'borderline' category for chemo and told I had to weigh up the risks and benefits of chemo alongside the risks of not having it. That was the hardest week, with many personal factors to take into consideration,  but after talking to the onc. she was supportive of whichever route I took.

I didn't have chemo and moved onto radiotherapy and tamoxifen. Remember any treatment you have is always your decision and what you are comfortable with.....some people choose not to even have surgery for cancer ( according to my surgeon) !!! Of course she added the words ' but we all know where that ends'. I would have had chemo though had I have been in the 'recommended' category. I had clear margins and clear sentinel node biopsy that helped make my decision. I have felt quite relaxed with the radiotherapy, and am told I have 'done well with it' , physically speaking. 

They ey must have a pretty good idea from your initial biopsy what type they are dealing with, the most common factor that tends to change, I am told, is the grade moves up. Mine went up from grade 2 to grade 3. Size was identical to initial tests and hormone factors didn't change. 

You are good not to be having complete meltdowns, I had a few I can assure you. My BP at the time went up from my usual 125/75 to 145/90 lol with a very fast heart rate indeed. 

I know now it's easy for me to say this to you, and I didn't believe those who told me when I was where you are now, but you do become calmer and less emotional as things move along with treatment, 

x

p.s. The sleeping thing was my biggest problem, and hasn't totally resolved yet though better. I talked to women at the RT unit and they are not sleeping well either, it is very common. In the early days before surgery, there is a lot of acceptance to work through and I think when you waver one way and then the other it is that struggle of acceptance. I was prescribed a small dose of lorazepam in the few weeks before surgery, just  for nighttime.

[JoKayBee]

Hi Charys, thanks for your message. I seem to waver between panic and calm, sleeping well one night and having nightmares the next, each day is a new surprise! I haven't yet had a complete meltdown, thankfully, but going to work helps keep my mind occupied (weekends are not good).... So far the surgeon indicated that I would need a lumpectomy followed by the 3 weeks of radiotherapy, but I know that chemo is a possibility once they remove the lump and determine what type it is.  Can I ask what treatment you were given and did you feel reasonably o.k with it? Jo. X

[Charys]

Hi Jo,

to to say I was nervous before my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal is an understatement! ( can't recall the date exactly , early April?) I searched on here many times, as I had a lifetime phobia of medication and GAs...and you will find some old threads I started myself about the fears.That combined with the BC itself and all the fears that holds, resulted in me losing a stone in a couple of weeks. I had to be individually counselled by the anaesthetist prior to the surgery itself! However, as others have said, it just wasn't that bad...nothing like what I was expecting ( mind I was expecting not to wake up at all lol) . It is apparently the least risky area to do surgery and although the biopsy results can change once they do the full report ( mine did) it didn't affect my treatment plan. THese are horribly uncertain times you are in right now, but you can be sure of one thing, whatever the outcome you will be treated in the appropriate way and for the vast majority of women that is entirely successful. This is a very treatable cancer. If you have any questions that I might be able to answer, then ask away......

Charys X

[JoKayBee]

Hi Michelle, thanks for your reply. They are doing a sentinel node biopsy too so I'm not sure whether they will remove any further lymph nodes, as they don't think from my initial biopsy that there are any cancer cells in my lymph nodes....they can take what they like though, I just want this little monster gone! I am really concerned what the full results will show once the lump is removed, but if I have to have chemo then so be it.  I do feel very fortunate to have been dealt with so quickly by the NHS and am hopeful of a positive outcome.  Thanks for the advice re painkillers and wipes.  Roll on Friday morning when I hope I can wake up feeling a bit less surreal!  All the best to you and your recovery - we are all involuntary members of this breast cancer club now but it really helps to have support from others who understand how it feels.  Thanks again and take care. Jo. X

[Mumoftwo]

Hi Jo. I hope your surgery goes well.  I was dreading it when I had my lumpectomy but to be honest it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting.  Are you having any lymph nodes removed as well? I had 5 removed and this was more painful to recover from than the actual lumpectomy.  If you are make sure you do the exercises regularly as it will help you to recover quicker.  On a practical note, I used babywipes to clean around the dressing for the first few days as I was so worried about the dressing getting wet and coming off. I was also told by the nurse to take regular paracetemol as it would help with healing.  I did unfortunately have to have a re-excision 2 weeks later due to unclear margins and so the original wound was opened up but it healed really quickly afterwards.  It's good that things are being done quickly for you, less time hanging around waiting for things to get moving! Good luck! Michelle x

[JoKayBee]

Hello All - am scheduled to have a lumpectomy this Thursday and am alternating between panic and calm at the moment.  I'm keen to get it done, but also very nearvous and still in a bit of a state of disbelief as this whole process has been so fast (mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy done 6th June, confirmed as cancerous on the 13th June - op on the 30th!) so it is so re-assuring and helpful to feel that there are (unfortunately) other people who understand what I am going through.  Reading your positive posts is quite calming - so thank you all.  I hope all your surgeries and treatments go well and I wish you all a speedy recovery.

best wishes

Jo

x

[Bumpkinbint]

Hope your operation went well and Walter is no more xx

[Snow Leopard]

Hi Bumpkinbint, that's reassuring. I have my lumpectomy tomorrow! Of course I'm dreading it but it helps reading good experiences of others. And like you I will be relieved to know the tumour is gone! Actually I've named my cancer Walter...and after tomorrow Walter will be no more!!!!

Pleased yours went so well. Lots of rest and don't forget to do the exercises.

Take care, 

Pat xx

[Bumpkinbint]

Hi
I had mine lumpectomy yesterday too.
I'm feeling fine and everything went smoothly. I feel as though I'm one step closer to getting back to normal. I feel relieved knowing the tumour has gone. ( hopefully with clear margins )
So wishing you well and best positive thoughts to you all xx

[Libby]

Hi all

Yes it was Hormone Receptive. I started taking Anastrozole 1mg daily yesterday. I have read that it can have some horrible side effects but will have too wait and see. The Doctor said I need a bone density test as taking that tablet can cause bone thinning but that can be done sometime in the future.  Have to take for the next five years. Am waiting now to hear about Radiotherapy.

Best wishes to all  xx

[haz25a]

Libby, Great news! I can only hope for the same. The tablet? Is it Tamoxifen? Does that mean your lump was hormone receptive? Good luck with the rest of your treatment. Please let us know how you are doing.

Sonia, hopefully your pain will ease over the next few day, I'm sure it will. Fingers crossed for your results. I think the Breast Surgeon said something about me getting mine on the 25th May??

Best wishes

Hazel. x

[sonyacheet]

Hi Hazel,
Yes I remember you and have thought about how you are getting on. I was given paracetamol and codiene phosphate. I was up at 4 this morning taking them. I have had shooting pain under my arm which is quite hard to deal with. They have put glue over the incisions and am due back on the 17th for a drop in clinic. I should then get the op results the week commencing the 23Rd. The op was not as scary as I thought it would be and like I said in my first post the anaesthatist was really reassuring. It's the recovery which takes time and is a little bit scarier.
Good luck in your surgery. Keep in touch and let me know how you get on next week xx
Thanks also to the other ladies who replied to my thread.
Good luck and a speedy recovery to you all
Love Sonya xx

[Sue H-S]

Hi Libby, So great to hear!!! You must be so relieved and treatment will be manageable, too! So happy for you. xxx

[Libby]

Hi all 

Got my results this afternoon and it was good news. The cancer had been completely  removed with a clear margin and the sentinal nodes were clear. It does still mean 3 weeks of Radiotherapy and I start taking one tablet a day from tomorrow.  The tumor was 1cm in size so very small ...my advice to anyone offered a routine mammogram would be to go for it as you never know. This was my 5th mammogram the other 4 being normal.

Best wishes to you all xx

[Snow Leopard]

Thanks Hazel. I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday. 

All the best, 

Pat xx 

[haz25a]

Hi Sonia,

I was thinking about you yesterday. You may remember my pre op was same day as yours and my lumpectomy was supposed to be yesterday but got postponed to next Wednesday as Breast Surgeon was going to a conference or something and it was to be her registrar performing the surgery but as I have never met the registrar I opted for delaying it by a week.

Hope the pain has eased a little. What pain relief did you need if your don't mind me asking? Did the hospital give you anything? At least that's it done and out of the way. I'm getting more scared by the day now!

Pat, I'm having mine next Wednesday, two days before you. I will post the day after and let you all know how it went. I'm staying in overnight as I live alone.

Libby, hope your appointment this afternoon went well.

Good luck and Best wishes to all of you on this thread.

Hazel. x

[Sue H-S]

Hi Libby,
hoping all went well today and that your results confirmed the initial diagnosis.
Let us know - we are here to help and support - even if it is only virtual....
xxx

[Sue H-S]

So glad to hear sonyacheet - and the pain will go away, too. Brave lady!
x

[Libby]

I had the same done 2 weeks ago, lumpectomy and sentinel node removal, I had to have a wire fitted first as the problem could not be felt but was picked up on a routine Mammogram. I was also dreading it and very nervous but I recovered from it much quicker than I thought I would. I have found that where the nodes were removed has been worse than the where the actual lump was removed. I get my results this afternoon and am feeling really worried. Anyone else who is waiting to have this done its please be reassured that it is really not a bad as you might think.

Good luck and best wishes to you all xx

[rubycat]

Hello Sonya, glad you're back home and ok.  Yes, funnily enough I found underarm was much sorer than the lumpectomy.  I took all the painkillers offered to keep it all at bay and found I was clockwatching until I could take the next lot!  Then could gradually ease off.  Well done for doing the exercises, I remember very gingerly moving my arm up and it certainly got easier day by day. Glad you've got help, but take it easy. xxx

[Snow Leopard]

Hi Sonya, thanks for this. I have my lumpectomy next Friday and getting a bit nervous now so it's very reassuring reading your post. 

I'm having to stay in for at least one night because I have MS but hopefully there won't be problems & I can come home next day.

Hope your recovery is quick & straighforward. 

Best wishes, Pat xx

[sonyacheet]

Hi
I had my lumpectomy yesterday so am feeling quite sore this morning. I went in for 7. Had my sentinel node put in at 9:30 and then my op at 1. As I was very nervous the anaesthetist went out of his way to reassure me that everything was going to be OK. (I had a bad experience of being put to sleep when I was 12 at the dentist and this was making me very scared)He made sure I was completely calm and happy with what was going to happen.
They wheeled me in at 1 and we were talking about being on the beach and that was it. I don't remember anything else. I was allowed home at 4:45.
I diddnt sleep at all last night so was up at 4 this morning having pain killers as my underarm incision was really hurting. I'm going to attempt the warm up exercises today. Got the hubby doing the hoovering which was good to watch. My mother in law is going to come and sit with me as he is going to work today. She is looking after the children for me which is easier.
Hopefully this will reassure someone who is nervous about this procedure. It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.
Best wishes to you all x