Where was your lumpectomy incision?
My surgeon seems to pride himself on doing the incision around the edge of the areola whenever possible, so that, as it heals, it just kind of fades into the nipple -- which, admittedly, is quite cool. I had bilateral lumpectomies, and he was able to do that on the right side -- but, on the left, the tumor was too far over, so he had to just do a big ol' incision on the side of the breast.
He apologized over and over afterwards, and he seemed so disappointed -- I told him I have no aspirations to be a Victoria's Secret model or topless dancer, so it really doesn't matter all that much!
So I'm just curious if your surgeons also do that around-the-nipple incision thing, or have other preferences?
Traci
Comments
-
That's the
first time I've ever heard of that,but then my tumor was on the side and so that's where my incision was.There was a"scoop" of tissue taken so it's very noticeable now-but I don't mind seeing it. It's a constant reminder of where I've been and how far I've come..0 -
It's all in the stitching ...
Traci,
You come up with such good stuff. Mine is on the lower left quadrant of my breast. About as close to the lump as you could get. My surgeon takes extra care stiching on women, as he realizes we may take a scar as something "not so pretty". When he stitches on a man, he might put something there to give them something to talk about. That's what my bf says, and he was pretty friendly with my surgeon. (Their daughters are the same age, and did 4H together.) I must say, he did a excellent job with it. There is barely a line, and so far no dimpling from loss of tissue.0 -
Hey Traci
You made me have to look and get the ruler just now. It starts from areola to cleavage about 5 inches long, upside down curve. He took about a grapefruit wad out, but with my big melon, you can't notice much. He also lifted me up about 2 inches, so if I lean to the right I'm perfectly even. If I wear a regular bra theres no difference, but with those sport bras that ball um up into one, it's kind of funny looking. My right side is a little smaller. Right now the sportbra is more comfy with rads-6 more boosters to go.0 -
I have lumpectomies scars onlaurissa said:Hey Traci
You made me have to look and get the ruler just now. It starts from areola to cleavage about 5 inches long, upside down curve. He took about a grapefruit wad out, but with my big melon, you can't notice much. He also lifted me up about 2 inches, so if I lean to the right I'm perfectly even. If I wear a regular bra theres no difference, but with those sport bras that ball um up into one, it's kind of funny looking. My right side is a little smaller. Right now the sportbra is more comfy with rads-6 more boosters to go.
I have lumpectomies scars on each breast in almost the identical spots. About an inch above the nipple and about 4 inches long. Each one goes at a slight angle upward. The scar where my breast was irradiated is less noticable than the other. Between these two scars, my hysterectomy scar and the little scars from my gall bladder, I look like I survived the shower scene from Psycho but I don't really care because other than my hubby no one sees them and they don't bother him at all. My lumpectomies didn't affect my breast size at all as my tumors were small. Traci, it is interesting to see how different each of our incisions are. Thanks for starting this post.
Stef0 -
It's the strangest
It's the strangest thing.....after I had the lumpectomy, I had an incision about 1 inch below the areola. Then, I had a TRAM reconstruction (after the mastectomy), and I no longer have a lumpectomy incision site! I don't know where it went and I keep forgetting to ask the surgeon!0 -
breast cancer scar
Mine is high on my right breast because that's where my small tumors were. The surgeon apologized for not being able to make it lower. I'm not going to worry about it. If it's noticeable when I wear something a bit low, I figure I've had breast cancer and I doubt anyone will ask and if they do I'll tell them. I hope it will fade. I guess the radiation kept it from healing and quite red but surely time will help. Radiation seemed to do a number on me.0 -
scar
My surgeon was the same as yours: along the aureole. I lost a little volume on that breast but it is *still* bigger than the other!!
Maureen0 -
Mine is along the top edge of my areola.
Hi All,
A very interesting question. When I had my first after treatment mammo, the tech guessed my surgeon based on my scar. My boob looks great except that my left boob looks a bit tired by comparison. My husband lovingly calls them perky and droopy. We've had more than one chuckle over that one. My bc breast is also smaller but I really don't care. I can't tell with my bra on and my braless days were over long before my diagnosis.
Roseann0 -
so here's the thingroseann4 said:Mine is along the top edge of my areola.
Hi All,
A very interesting question. When I had my first after treatment mammo, the tech guessed my surgeon based on my scar. My boob looks great except that my left boob looks a bit tired by comparison. My husband lovingly calls them perky and droopy. We've had more than one chuckle over that one. My bc breast is also smaller but I really don't care. I can't tell with my bra on and my braless days were over long before my diagnosis.
Roseann
A million years ago I had a surgical biopsy on my left breast (benign) and there's like a non-existent lovely scar along the areola, inside close to my heart. Heals beautifully. Wouldn't even know it's there.
Then I have a lumpectomy and the scar starts out nicely along the top of the areola and honestly, I kid you not, it looks like she must have been bumped or had a fright because the scar kind of curliques toward the middle of my chest. It really looks like oops. I like my surgeon, but she has the ego of a surgeon -- something I want anyone cutting me open to have, but I think at the six-month check I'm going to ask her what the heck happened.
End of the day, I don't much care. It makes me laugh. But not as much as the sight of myself braless in a tight tank top or wife-beater (I'm in the middle of rads). The lumpectomy breast has gotten bigger and waaaay more perky and poor old girl on the right droops along. Makes me laugh -- husband too.
Life could be worse:)
Victoria0 -
Both...
About 10 yrs ago I had surgery (non-cancerous) on right, it was done on the bottom of areola. Scar, but, you know, kinda 'blends in'. The bc surgery on the left is a 2" straight line about a 1/2 inch above and over to the side, under arm. About 3" above that, in the underarm, is the lymphnode scar.
Good surgeon - incisions healed nicely. Boobies a little like Marty Feldman's eyes, though...
Sue0 -
Wow how differently our surgeons approach this!
I have two incisions inch and a half each in graceful arcs, sort of bracketing the area where tumor was kicked out. They're vertical, fading nicely after 18 months. That booby is slightly smaller, I only notice when I wear a tanktop because the neckline gets pulled slightly off center. They're beautiful scars and I'm proud of them and their sisters where the nodes were removed and the drain was. The surgeon did a great job and, together with me and the onc we slammed the door tight on the beast! Great question thanks for starting the thread.0 -
Mine is the same. Goes
Mine is the same. Goes around the areola and it has faded quite a bit. My surgeon told me she would do everything she could to keep the shape and appearance of the breast as close to normal as possible. My tumors were at the 12:00 position so she didn't go straight in, I guess...The Brachy scar and the lymphnode scar are another story. Both are still very red and the lymphnode one is still very sensitive after almost a year.0 -
You can barely see mine now.ckmcclelland said:breast cancer scar
Mine is high on my right breast because that's where my small tumors were. The surgeon apologized for not being able to make it lower. I'm not going to worry about it. If it's noticeable when I wear something a bit low, I figure I've had breast cancer and I doubt anyone will ask and if they do I'll tell them. I hope it will fade. I guess the radiation kept it from healing and quite red but surely time will help. Radiation seemed to do a number on me.
You can barely see mine now. My PS put a very small kind of half moon just like yours Traci, right next to the aerola, so that it wouldn't be seen. He did a great job. If you didn't know it was there, you couldn't see it. From what I have read, it just depends on where the tumor is located at I think, as to where they have to make the incision.0 -
My breast got bigger duringaisling8 said:so here's the thing
A million years ago I had a surgical biopsy on my left breast (benign) and there's like a non-existent lovely scar along the areola, inside close to my heart. Heals beautifully. Wouldn't even know it's there.
Then I have a lumpectomy and the scar starts out nicely along the top of the areola and honestly, I kid you not, it looks like she must have been bumped or had a fright because the scar kind of curliques toward the middle of my chest. It really looks like oops. I like my surgeon, but she has the ego of a surgeon -- something I want anyone cutting me open to have, but I think at the six-month check I'm going to ask her what the heck happened.
End of the day, I don't much care. It makes me laugh. But not as much as the sight of myself braless in a tight tank top or wife-beater (I'm in the middle of rads). The lumpectomy breast has gotten bigger and waaaay more perky and poor old girl on the right droops along. Makes me laugh -- husband too.
Life could be worse:)
Victoria
My breast got bigger during rads too, and, my rads oncologist said it would probably go down after awhile. It still hasn't yet.0 -
Lost sensation?
My scar is high on my boob, about 4 inches from areola, and about 3 inches long. Healed very nicely and barely visable. The brachy scars from 90 punture holes range from white spots (on inner side of breast, where my chest tans, to red dots (on the underarm side which gets no sun) to totally disappeared. The radiologist knew who my surgeon was by the smalll size and perfectly straight line of the scar! I asked her to try to avoid cutting anywhere where I might lose nipple sensation. Do those of you with areola scars notice any loss of sensation?
~~Connie~~0 -
INCISION DECISION.........
Traci,
I love this question.......it actually made me chuckle...you usually do make me laugh....... a good thing! My incision is right about the nipple, about 1 1/2 inches long......barely noticeable.......Main reason.........I was superglued! No sutures on the breast nor the sentinel node incision..My incision never hurt nor pulled as it can with sutures, as it healed..Now here's my funny.......the glue stayed on the incisions for about 3 months, slowly peeled away completely, I THOUGHT! About a week before I finished rads, I commented to my rads oncologist, who I must say was a hoot, that my nipple seemed "stuck." It had stayed what I call, somewhat retracted.....He looked at it and said he thought it was due to the nerves being cut during the lumpectomy and that it would eventually "come back out".....THEN he said "why, do you make a living with them?" I died laughing and my come back was......"Are you kidding me, with these itty bitties?" He and I both had a good laugh.........well lo and behold about 2 months ago, and mind you my surgery was last May, I started looking at it in my BIG magnifying make up mirror......It was very dark, I thought due to rads......well I am a curious soul......I took my tweezers and lightly tugged........it was a combination of dried skin from rads and the GLUE!!!!!!!!! Once I got it all off my nippie came out!!!!!!!!! It was still GLUED! And it screamed "FREE AT LAST!!" I had one of the biggest laughs in weeks over that.......I would love to tell my rads oncologist that it was glue and not a nerve........anyway that's my story!
Keep up the good questions, Traci! Hope you are doing SUPER! No pun intended
Nancy0 -
Well, Nancy, I think you answered Connie's question...MAJW said:INCISION DECISION.........
Traci,
I love this question.......it actually made me chuckle...you usually do make me laugh....... a good thing! My incision is right about the nipple, about 1 1/2 inches long......barely noticeable.......Main reason.........I was superglued! No sutures on the breast nor the sentinel node incision..My incision never hurt nor pulled as it can with sutures, as it healed..Now here's my funny.......the glue stayed on the incisions for about 3 months, slowly peeled away completely, I THOUGHT! About a week before I finished rads, I commented to my rads oncologist, who I must say was a hoot, that my nipple seemed "stuck." It had stayed what I call, somewhat retracted.....He looked at it and said he thought it was due to the nerves being cut during the lumpectomy and that it would eventually "come back out".....THEN he said "why, do you make a living with them?" I died laughing and my come back was......"Are you kidding me, with these itty bitties?" He and I both had a good laugh.........well lo and behold about 2 months ago, and mind you my surgery was last May, I started looking at it in my BIG magnifying make up mirror......It was very dark, I thought due to rads......well I am a curious soul......I took my tweezers and lightly tugged........it was a combination of dried skin from rads and the GLUE!!!!!!!!! Once I got it all off my nippie came out!!!!!!!!! It was still GLUED! And it screamed "FREE AT LAST!!" I had one of the biggest laughs in weeks over that.......I would love to tell my rads oncologist that it was glue and not a nerve........anyway that's my story!
Keep up the good questions, Traci! Hope you are doing SUPER! No pun intended
Nancy
...about loss of sensation, if you went A YEAR without realizing your nipple was GLUED DOWN! LOL!
It's been so interesting to read all your different responses, thank you!
My tumors were very small, so the surgery itself didn't affect my breast size/shape...but, as some of you said, radiation sure made things "shift in flight." I finished rads 4 months ago, and things are...shaped differently somehow. My bras just don't fit anymore, and I can't quite figure out if I need a bigger band size and a smaller cup size, or vice versa....That is actually my project for this coming weekend, to go shopping and figure out what the heck bra size I wear now!
My girlfriend is going to come with me to help, and she's decided she needs to do "research" beforehand:
She says she's going to get a chicken breast at the grocery store -- which has probably already been injected with toxic chemicals, so it's like it's had chemo. Then she's going to slice through it with a knife, so it's had surgery, then baste it with butter, to simulate Aquaphor -- then put it in the microwave, and see what happens. She says this will make her better "informed" and able to advise me.
Oh yes, that'll be SO helpful....
:-) Traci
(And, for those of you who remember my trials during radiation: She says she's also going to put a sticker on the chicken breast before putting it in the microwave, and then yell at it when the sticker falls off! :-)0 -
I have a big divit at the
I have a big divit at the top of my left breast which made it about 3" shorter than my right breast. Now I have one hangs low. Doesn't bother me any since it is just below my bra line and doesn't show.0 -
Traci, too funny. SuggestTraciInLA said:Well, Nancy, I think you answered Connie's question...
...about loss of sensation, if you went A YEAR without realizing your nipple was GLUED DOWN! LOL!
It's been so interesting to read all your different responses, thank you!
My tumors were very small, so the surgery itself didn't affect my breast size/shape...but, as some of you said, radiation sure made things "shift in flight." I finished rads 4 months ago, and things are...shaped differently somehow. My bras just don't fit anymore, and I can't quite figure out if I need a bigger band size and a smaller cup size, or vice versa....That is actually my project for this coming weekend, to go shopping and figure out what the heck bra size I wear now!
My girlfriend is going to come with me to help, and she's decided she needs to do "research" beforehand:
She says she's going to get a chicken breast at the grocery store -- which has probably already been injected with toxic chemicals, so it's like it's had chemo. Then she's going to slice through it with a knife, so it's had surgery, then baste it with butter, to simulate Aquaphor -- then put it in the microwave, and see what happens. She says this will make her better "informed" and able to advise me.
Oh yes, that'll be SO helpful....
:-) Traci
(And, for those of you who remember my trials during radiation: She says she's also going to put a sticker on the chicken breast before putting it in the microwave, and then yell at it when the sticker falls off! :-)
Traci, too funny. Suggest that your girlfriend use more than 1 chicken breast, just to make certain she has a varied sample, and while she's doing her "research" you get the veggies and starch ready. In the end, you'll have a lovely dinner. Enjoy!!0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards