Tips needed for a co-workers upcoming surgery!

cindycflynn
cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have a coworker who was diagnosed recently with BC and is scheduled for surgery on the 18th.

The surgery she’s having is called “breast conserving” surgery. The way she described it to me is that they are removing the tumor on the affected side and doing the sentinel node biopsy (of course with possible axillary node dissection depending on biopsy results) and then doing a breast reduction on the other side.

Has anyone had this type of surgery that can offer some tips? Since I had a simple lumpectomy and her surgery will be much more involved, I don’t have a lot of personal experience to help her with.

I did talk to her about wearing a shirt or top that either buttons or zips up the front for when she leaves the hospital, and also about asking her surgeons if they are going to provide a post-surgical bra, and if not, to find a larger-sized sports bra that fastens in front.

Any other tips you can think of that I can tell her about?

You guys are the best!!!

Thanks!

Comments

  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    I though breast conserving
    I though breast conserving surgery was lumpectomy? perhaps she has a larger tumor and needs a reduction on the other side to make her even??
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    carkris said:

    I though breast conserving
    I though breast conserving surgery was lumpectomy? perhaps she has a larger tumor and needs a reduction on the other side to make her even??

    Yes
    I was confused by that terminology as well, but that is what her doctors told her. She was originally considering a mastectomy, but after thinking about the additional surgeries that would be required for reconstruction, she opted for this instead. Since they are apparently doing some reconstruction at the time of the lumpectomy, it of course will be a tougher recovery that just a lumpectomy. The advantage is that she should only need the one surgery.

    I'm thinking that her recovery would probably be closer to a mastectomy than what I went through with my lumpectomy.
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    Wow
    I wish I'd known about this when I had my lumpectomy. My tumor was 6.5 cm and after the lumpectomy I'm slightly lopsided. I know I can go have the other one re-done but that's another surgery, hundreds more doctor visits (or at least that's the way it always feels) and the chance for something to go wrong.
    Anyway, soft things, lots of comfort foods, water, movies, and lots of love (which you're obviously showing already).
    Let us know how she's doing.

    marge
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    My tips as a patient and an NP
    Some tips:
    1. Bring a trusted and nurturing family member or friend to stay at the bedside (unless she will be in ICU). I think that this is essential these days. That person can make sure that she gets meals, pain meds, be a gopher to get her a beverage, etc. Hospitals are sometimes short staffed and this can be very helpful, especially initially.
    2. Pain meds are prescribed because those who take them get up and move and heal faster. Pain meds work best on mild to moderate pain, so she should not wait until she is in severe pain to ask for them Anticipate need as it may take the floor nurses 15-20 min to get it to you after you ask.
    3. After taking pain meds, wait about 20 min and then get up and walk (after MD's ok). Nearly every post op complication is associated with bedrest. The sooner you move, the sooner you heal. By the same token, don't overdo--just nice and easy short walks several times a day, gradually increasing.
    4. If you are the nauseous type like me, be sure and tell your doc to order you something for this postop. Zofran works well for me and I ask for zofran pills when they send me home with pain meds. I have to take the smallest dose of the weakest narcotic (for me 1/2 tab of 10mg hydrocodone) because that is all I can handle. Luckily that works well for me.
    5. Expect to have an issue with constipation a few days out. Ask your doc when you are leaving the hospital what he recommends. If you forget, just call his/her office--they will know as this is a very common problem.
    Those are my main tips and they have served me well. I have now had about 12 surgeries over the years and have taken my own advice and done very well. Good luck to your friend and I hope that these tips help her!
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member

    My tips as a patient and an NP
    Some tips:
    1. Bring a trusted and nurturing family member or friend to stay at the bedside (unless she will be in ICU). I think that this is essential these days. That person can make sure that she gets meals, pain meds, be a gopher to get her a beverage, etc. Hospitals are sometimes short staffed and this can be very helpful, especially initially.
    2. Pain meds are prescribed because those who take them get up and move and heal faster. Pain meds work best on mild to moderate pain, so she should not wait until she is in severe pain to ask for them Anticipate need as it may take the floor nurses 15-20 min to get it to you after you ask.
    3. After taking pain meds, wait about 20 min and then get up and walk (after MD's ok). Nearly every post op complication is associated with bedrest. The sooner you move, the sooner you heal. By the same token, don't overdo--just nice and easy short walks several times a day, gradually increasing.
    4. If you are the nauseous type like me, be sure and tell your doc to order you something for this postop. Zofran works well for me and I ask for zofran pills when they send me home with pain meds. I have to take the smallest dose of the weakest narcotic (for me 1/2 tab of 10mg hydrocodone) because that is all I can handle. Luckily that works well for me.
    5. Expect to have an issue with constipation a few days out. Ask your doc when you are leaving the hospital what he recommends. If you forget, just call his/her office--they will know as this is a very common problem.
    Those are my main tips and they have served me well. I have now had about 12 surgeries over the years and have taken my own advice and done very well. Good luck to your friend and I hope that these tips help her!

    We're all so different!
    After I was in my room after surgery and surgeon had been there - I sent Hubby and Son off to do 'stuff' (take care of horses and themselves). Hubby even found his 'Baby Girl' that day at the Humane Society (I had seen her 2 day before and told him to stop and see her.) There is no way that I wanted anyone sitting by my bed when there was nothing they could do except dwell on what had just happened.

    I've only been hospitalized 3 times that I can remember. 2 were for C-section in Navy hospitals and I got great care. The last was when I had my mod. rad. mast. in a private hospital and I got great care - but you can bet your bippy that had I not, I was capable of and would have voiced quite loudly any issue.

    Pain meds are also a personal choice - I refused my last 2 morphine shots - didn't need them - I did take the Oxycodon though.

    We are all so different in all ways - what is 'right' for 'me' is not necessarily what is 'right' for 'you' or anyone else.

    (By the way - when Hubby was electrocuted (thankfully he was working in the hospital or he would not have survived) I spent a day and 1/2 in a lounge chair in ICU beside his bed - they could not give him enough drugs to keep him 'knocked out' unless he could hear me. Before they brought the recliner in and had me there, he had broken restraints)
  • carriesoup
    carriesoup Member Posts: 144
    so, this is basically a
    so, this is basically a lumpectomy then? i think thats what my surgeon actually called it before (breast conserving). they never offered this to me though! my tumor was on 2.5cm, but they removed a lot of tissue, so they are uneven. wish i was offered a bit of a reduction on the other. oh well, whatever, right? :)

    definitely take the pain meds. i was taking 750mg hydrocodone and ibuprofen for the swelling for the first 2-3 days. i have an iron stomach, so it didn't bother me.

    my second sx, i had drains in (he didn't put them in the first time and i was really bruised and swollen for a looooong time) i kept the drains in a small cloth camera lens pouch (my boyfriend is a photographer) and then pinned them to my jeans. i would wear loose tank tops and run the drain lines under the shirt. it actually hide them really well! i was able to go out and about this way. of course, i only had drains on the right side, not both.

    hope everything goes well for her!

    carrie :)
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    Thanks for your input!
    These are some great things to pass along to her.

    She's getting very nervous about the surgery, as I'm sure most of you can relate to.

    I really appreciate your input!

    Cindy