I'm back from surgery.

dottie68
dottie68 Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Well LUMPECTOMY AND A MASTECTOMY IN ONE MONTH WAS NO WALK IN THE PARK, BUT IT WASN'T AS BAD AS i THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. It is now 3 weeks since my mastectomy, sore and some pain but not bad. But I have a mound like 1/3 is still there, has anyone out there had this, all the ones I seen with a mastectomy is flat. Had cancer in my ducts. It was non-invasive. Oncologist said I didn't need chemo or radiation, was glad of that. But wants me to take tamoxifen for the next five years. He said right now I have a 5% chance of cancer returning, taking tamoxifen will reduce it by half. So will take it.
Sorry about the capital and little letters as I am so tired right now
Hope you all have a great night.

Comments

  • GregStahl
    GregStahl Member Posts: 188
    #2
    Question
    My wife has IDC and is still trying to figure out what to do....Lumpectomy or bi-lateral.
    From what you stated, you had a lumpectomy first then a mastectomy. Would you mind sharing why or what the situation was?
    Just trying to understand and give my wife all possibilities if she does the lumpectomy.

    Sorry if this is forward or to personal.

    Greg
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    #3
    I did not have a mastectomy
    I did not have a mastectomy so I know nothing of what you are going through. I just wanted to say I am glad you are feeling OK after the surgeries. I know that was alot to go through.
    Fantastic news that you won't have to endure any further treatments other than the tamoxifen.
  • dottie68
    dottie68 Member Posts: 31
    #4
    GregStahl said:

    Question
    My wife has IDC and is still trying to figure out what to do....Lumpectomy or bi-lateral.
    From what you stated, you had a lumpectomy first then a mastectomy. Would you mind sharing why or what the situation was?
    Just trying to understand and give my wife all possibilities if she does the lumpectomy.

    Sorry if this is forward or to personal.

    Greg

    in ducts
    The lump wasn't big caught it early, surgeon said I was a good candidate for lumpectomy, after surgery,test came back that it was in my ducts, so had to have mastectomy. My breast was bleeding from the nipple, when first went to doctor.
    Am glad to share if It will help anyone.
    Dottie
  • Third_Generation
    Third_Generation Member Posts: 121
    #5
    elm3544 said:

    I did not have a mastectomy
    I did not have a mastectomy so I know nothing of what you are going through. I just wanted to say I am glad you are feeling OK after the surgeries. I know that was alot to go through.
    Fantastic news that you won't have to endure any further treatments other than the tamoxifen.

    Dottie, I had bilaterals in
    Dottie, I had bilaterals in january and still have these ridges under the incision. One still has fluid but the other is from swelling and some scar tissue. I am massaging them to help break down the scar tissue and they are getting smaller with time...not sure if it is from my work or just time.. my mother and aunt were so flat from the start from their mastectomies so I was expecting the same. What a surprise to find I was not smooth! If your doctor thinks that your mounds are scar tissue, I think massage could help..I know it has on other surgeries: hand, foot, on my "otherwise perfect body"-that is what my family calls our bodies LOL
    We also say "nothing better happen to one of my GOOD body parts-like my left little toe!" lol
    Hope you are doing very well today.
    Brenda
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #6
    GregStahl said:

    Question
    My wife has IDC and is still trying to figure out what to do....Lumpectomy or bi-lateral.
    From what you stated, you had a lumpectomy first then a mastectomy. Would you mind sharing why or what the situation was?
    Just trying to understand and give my wife all possibilities if she does the lumpectomy.

    Sorry if this is forward or to personal.

    Greg

    Hi Greg,
    I first had a lumpectomy (that was my biopsy, I don't play around with the other ones cause if it's positive you still have to have surgery) and it was IDC but the margins were not as clear as he would like so we did a second, wide re-exisional biopsy and Sentinel Node Biopsy and again there was a margin that was was too close to the edge and they also found DCIS, nodes clean. At that point I said I want a mastecomy. Pathology report from the mstecomy, single, simple mastecomy, not bilateral, showing no cancer cells in the breast tissue. So instead of a lumpectomy with radiation, I had a single mastecomy with chemo. Only becaue each time my margins were not as clean as they liked. So for me it was an easy decision.

    I talked to my surgeon this week and we discussed so many people having bilateral mastecomies and he said there was nothing in my findings that would lead him to feel I needed a bilateral and my onc concurred. So that was never a thought I had. I had Triple Neg, Stage 2A, tumor 2.7 cm Grade 3. I am very comfortable with my decision and treatment.

    I hope you and your wife find peace ibn your decision. It's a big leap from a lumpectomy to a bilateral. What do the surgeon and onc say? Many opt for the bilateral. have you posted tht on this board so you can get many opinions? It mite help.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #7
    Third_Generation said:

    Dottie, I had bilaterals in
    Dottie, I had bilaterals in january and still have these ridges under the incision. One still has fluid but the other is from swelling and some scar tissue. I am massaging them to help break down the scar tissue and they are getting smaller with time...not sure if it is from my work or just time.. my mother and aunt were so flat from the start from their mastectomies so I was expecting the same. What a surprise to find I was not smooth! If your doctor thinks that your mounds are scar tissue, I think massage could help..I know it has on other surgeries: hand, foot, on my "otherwise perfect body"-that is what my family calls our bodies LOL
    We also say "nothing better happen to one of my GOOD body parts-like my left little toe!" lol
    Hope you are doing very well today.
    Brenda

    Hi Dottie,
    Wonderful to have all that behind you isn't it? My scar isn't flat either. But I'm heavier and I have only seen thinner people and they have flat scars, but I have a little fat pouch under my arm that was not breast tissue (as I always thought) but is FAT. It bothered my at first but now I'm used to it. But the actual incision itself is flat but wide, probably cause I had a large breast.

    Glad you are feeling better. Your on the road to recovery now!

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • MerleBee
    MerleBee Member Posts: 49
    #8
    GregStahl said:

    Question
    My wife has IDC and is still trying to figure out what to do....Lumpectomy or bi-lateral.
    From what you stated, you had a lumpectomy first then a mastectomy. Would you mind sharing why or what the situation was?
    Just trying to understand and give my wife all possibilities if she does the lumpectomy.

    Sorry if this is forward or to personal.

    Greg

    Lumpectomy followed by mastectomy
    Hi Greg,

    First of all I have to say how WONDERFUL to find a guy out here looking for info for his wife! Just seeing this tells me you're both gona be ok!

    I too had a lumpectomy on December 28th followed by a Bilateral Mastectomy on March 24th. The lumpectomy was in response to a DCIS diagnosis on the right side. Having lost my sister in August, I think the docs moved quickly to eliviate my anguish. Following the lumpectomy the doctors gave me my treatment options which included either radiation at the site or a bilateral mastectomy to prevent future episodes, biopsies etc. I had ultimately made the decision to go with the mastectomy when performed an MRI of both breasts and detected a suspicious mass on the left side, biopsied as invasive ductal carcinoma. I tell you all of this because the biggest shock in this whole process has been how this has "evolved". I always thought you went to the drs, he or she diagnosed you and then told you what had to occur. This is not the case. I have been faced with numerous and very complicated decisions, and all without the benefit of a medical degree.(lol)

    As your wife's diagnosis and treatment evolves, take the time you both need to make decisions. Talk to all the specialists, understand the ramifications of various courses of treatment, and what ever decisions you make, make certain your wife know you are with her in her choices...

    Merle

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