Stapled incision

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laurissa
laurissa Member Posts: 773
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I just had my lumpectomy last Tuesday. My incisions are quite long, 4 inch under my arm and about 8 inch curve across breast above nipple. Staples were used to close them. It's healing but looks horrible. Not too much pain. Has anyone else had a lumpectomy cut like this and had staples? I get the staples out Wednesday and hope I don't pop open. Is it common to be given an antibiotic after surgery, I wasn't given one?

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  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #2
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    I didnt have staples but do
    I didnt have staples but do know of people who had them. The incision under my arm is longer than the incision on my breast but I think your tumor was much larger than mine.

    I was told by my surgeon that she didnt like to give antibiotics after surgery. I know that some surgeons give them as a precautionery method but I think it depends on the surgeon and of course our individual needs. Doctors are all so different. If you dont have any infection then you probably dont need antibiotics. Unfortunately for me I developed a nasty infection at the surgical site and just got off antibiotics in the past month. I wouldnt worry too much Laurissa, I'm sure they'll give you meds if you need them.

    We've come a long way so far havent we. Hugs to you buddy.
  • sunny_girl
    sunny_girl Member Posts: 33
    #3
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    cosmetic appearance
    I didn't have as large of an incision or staples, so I can't help with that question. I wasn't given any antibiotics for either of my lumpectomies.

    An unrelated thought. If you are concerned about the cosmetic appearance of your scar area, you might want to talk to a plastic surgeon very soon, before you do radiation treatments. I didn't know it when I did radiation, but the radiation damages the healthy breast tissue sufficiently that it never heals well again. If you want to fix the dimple or anything you may want to see if you can get it done now. I could be wrong in your case, but better to check now than be limited later. Just a thought...

    Hope you are feeling better!
  • BlownAway60
    BlownAway60 Member Posts: 851
    #4
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    Small Incision
    My incisions are only about 3" long and my surgeon did not use staples or stitches. He used something like super glue on my breast and under my arm.

    I was not given any antbiotics right after surgery but I also had an infection in my breast and had to take antibiotics before chemo.

    Donna
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #5
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    BlownAway60 said:

    Small Incision
    My incisions are only about 3" long and my surgeon did not use staples or stitches. He used something like super glue on my breast and under my arm.

    I was not given any antbiotics right after surgery but I also had an infection in my breast and had to take antibiotics before chemo.

    Donna

    I had stitches on the inside
    I had stitches on the inside too and no antibiotics. Good luck!

    Debby
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #6
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    Hi Laurissa
    I just had a lumpectomy on Thursday, took the bandages off yesterday. Yikes!! It's nasty looking, isn't it? She used glue on me. Under the arm is about two inches maybe and the curve over the nipple is about four inches. Doesn't hurt. And no antibiotics.

    Victoria
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
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    I didn't have a lumpectomy
    I didn't have a lumpectomy but rather a rad. mod. mastectomy. There were no staples or external stitches - all were internal. When the bandages were taken off in the Dr.s office a week after surgery I was really surprised that there were no visible stitches or any signs of where any had ever been. Also I wasn't given and antibiotics either.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #8
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    No staples. I have maybe 2
    No staples. I have maybe 2 inch incision on breast, small tumor. Under arm is larger maybe 4 inch. I had in side stitches and no antibiotic. If your tumor was large, then maybe thats why they had to do it that way. Good luck, hope you heal fast.
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #9
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    Wow, I am reading all the

    Wow, I am reading all the descriptions of the various scars. It is interesting. I didn't have a lumpectomy but rather a mastectomy with lymph node removal. All I have on my breast is a scar of the outside of the breast of about 2 inches and then my nipple was removed. Through this incision my breast and lymph nodes were removed. I didn't have any stitches in my breast only the glue which took some work trying to get off.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #10
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    No Laurissa. I had stitches
    No Laurissa. I had stitches and the plastic surgeon put them on the inside. But, I had a really small tumor, so, I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. Glad you don't have a lot of pain. And, I didn't have an antibiotic.

    Sue :)
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #11
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    Kat11 said:

    No staples. I have maybe 2
    No staples. I have maybe 2 inch incision on breast, small tumor. Under arm is larger maybe 4 inch. I had in side stitches and no antibiotic. If your tumor was large, then maybe thats why they had to do it that way. Good luck, hope you heal fast.

    I had internal stitches with
    I had internal stitches with my lumpectomy. Good luck today in seeing your doctor!
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #12
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    aisling8 said:

    Hi Laurissa
    I just had a lumpectomy on Thursday, took the bandages off yesterday. Yikes!! It's nasty looking, isn't it? She used glue on me. Under the arm is about two inches maybe and the curve over the nipple is about four inches. Doesn't hurt. And no antibiotics.

    Victoria

    With my lumpectomy, my
    With my lumpectomy, my plastic surgeon put the stitches on the inside. I don't have much of a scar because I had a very small tumor as some of the others here. It is already hard to see. I wasn't put on antibiotics. I think that is just if you have an infection. Heal fast and heal well!

    Hugs, Leeza
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #13
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    Yes Laurissa
    I also had staples, mine was a partial mastectomy, the surgeon saved the nipple, so the incision rounded the nipple and went straight in the middle, sort of like a rounded Y. The surgeon only took out a few staples each visit just to make sure the skin stayed closed, and waited til the end to remove the staples at the junction of the Y. I was only going in for a lumpectomy, but since the tumor was larger than expected, he took more skin and tissue that originally planned. I didn't have antibiotics either, so it sounds as if we are pretty similar in that respect too.
    I did heal fine, and later went on to have reconstruction, no staples that time. I actually have pictures (we take pictures of all our wounds) if you would like to see them, send me a PM!
    Cat
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #14
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    Hi cats toy
    I'm glad I'm not the only one with staples. Mine is like an upside down C across the middle. Staples were supposed to come out Wed but had to be reshceduled for Fri. It seems to be healing ok. Doctor took out a grapefruit size tissue to be sure he got it all and he did. It was a 4.4 cm tumor and shrank almost to nothing. I guess the involved area still has to be removed. So now, instead of a honeydew melon, I have a cantaloupe on that side. He pulled it up before stitching, now it hangs about 2 inches shorter than the left side. But when they're both rolled up in a bra, it's not really noticeable. If I had small breasts it would have been a problem. I'm a 44 DD so he had alot to work with. I'm able to live with it as long as the cancer is gone.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #15
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    laurissa said:

    Hi cats toy
    I'm glad I'm not the only one with staples. Mine is like an upside down C across the middle. Staples were supposed to come out Wed but had to be reshceduled for Fri. It seems to be healing ok. Doctor took out a grapefruit size tissue to be sure he got it all and he did. It was a 4.4 cm tumor and shrank almost to nothing. I guess the involved area still has to be removed. So now, instead of a honeydew melon, I have a cantaloupe on that side. He pulled it up before stitching, now it hangs about 2 inches shorter than the left side. But when they're both rolled up in a bra, it's not really noticeable. If I had small breasts it would have been a problem. I'm a 44 DD so he had alot to work with. I'm able to live with it as long as the cancer is gone.

    That is what you need to
    That is what you need to remember Laurissa. The cancer is gone! Glad it seems to be healing alright and hoping that when the staples come out Friday, you will feel better.

    Sue :)

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