Questions as I prepare for a lumpectomy: Tips please

I had a lumpectomy more than three years ago. I was told I could resume normal activities in 2 days. However, I have chronic pain from another condition and I took a week at home. I did do gentle exercise and some walking every day. I stretched my left side a lot (the lumpectomy side). I still have some pain/stiffness in armpit from lymph removal, so I stretch to this day. Overall, I had very little pain--something like three days on the prescribed painkillers and then just my usual regime (which probably helped). I had a lot of bruising and redness on the left breast, but it was not infected or even very swollen--more like irritated skin. It cleared by itself. I can't remember shower restrictions--maybe a week? You can check in with the surgeon in you follow-up after the surgery. I did just wash my hair with a little bucket in the tub--which was cheering! Obviously everyone is different, but generally I'd suggest not pushing too hard and listening to your body's energy level. I hope it will be reassuring to hear that now I can barely remember the recovery--and it certainly wasn't bad. Do what you enjoy--whatever mix of quiet and sociability, rest and mild activity. Your strength should come back quickly. I wish you a simple surgery and good recovery.

i had a lumpectomy many years ago.....basically an owie w a Band-Aid.

i later had dcis surgery (& mastectomy) on the same breast, 20 years later. surgery. i was tired and sleepy, but nothing worse---as any surgery would be. a body uses a whole lotta energy to heal...so....

i did not have radiation or chemo. It was done as a same day surgery, which in my opinion was a good thing. It that kept me clear of kootie pathogens that just meander thru the air.... (silly way to put it but also my earnest opinion). i had wound drainage that i measured each day. the instructions sounded sickening, but it actually was a clean and easy process. lastly, i fortunately had a nearby friend who changed the dressing for me for the first few days: kinda hard to reach, no?

to summarize.....no prob bob!!

I had a lumpectomy in October 2024. I had very little pain and alternated ibuprofen and Tylenol as needed. I was not prescribed any painkillers and did not need them. The most discomfort was from the removal of the lymph nodes (I had 2 removed). It felt like a rug burn on the inside of my arm between my elbow and armpit. I also had some discomfort in my armpit from the lymph node removal. The surgeon told me that the nerves can get aggravated when the lymph nodes are removed, and that was what I was feeling. By the time I started radiation 5 weeks after that discomfort was gone. I was fortunate that my tumor was on the right side of my right breast so the surgeon was able to get the tumor and the lymph nodes using the same incision.

I had a drain after surgery (not everyone does), and I did not shower until the drain was removed a week post-surgery. My husband washed my hair for me in the kitchen sink until I could shower.

I had IDC so I did need to have radiation. However, due to my Oncotype score I did not have chemo.

I wish you all the best for your surgery and recovery.

@mir123 , thank you for sharing your experience, I appreciate it

@carolinab thank you for sharing your experience. Sounded like it was manageable for you. This gives me hope

@ncadler thank you for sharing your experience, I appreciate it

Obviously, everyone is different. I had my lumpectomy February 3rd and biopsy on 3 lymph nodes. I was in alot of pain and im on hydrocodone for chronic back pain. I couldn't shower for 5 days, just sponge bath. Then developed a seroma. Doctor most likely will have you wear a ace wrap, which gave me some security, however, hard to sleep. Not what you wanted to hear, but I wish someone would've told me what to expect. No radiation. My cells require 4 chemotherapy infusions. 1st was April 13th. A whole new set of difficulties. All from a stage 1, 1cm , triple negative lump!!! Prayers to you. I hope you have help at home.

I had DCIS surgery in 2022. I was given a choice of mastectomy, simple lumpectomy, or lumpectomy and re-arrangement of tissue to mask the area with option to match other breast in size. I did last option, so I had extensive sutures on both breasts. I had almost no pain for 3 days until the nerve block wore off, then used advil/tylenol and was fine.
Restricted from raising arms over head for 3 months, used button down shirts, put a microwave on the counter, sponge bathed for 3 days then used a seat in the shower with handheld, washed hair with head lowered - went to salon for wash blowout a couple of times. I slept in a recliner for weeks, but all this is result of the type surgery.
Where your lumpectomy is located would make a difference for sleeping position and arm movement.
Best wishes for a great outcome!

@mir123
having done that 45 yrs ago....i want to emphasize the idea that it is almost a non-memory! i likewise, for shampooing, used the sitting-down-in-the-bathtub system! my recollection of it was just a bad owie with a bit of fear...but then resolved!

p.s. 35 years later i did have a mastectomy on the same breast, WITHOUT radiation or chemo.
(but that might be because i previously had extensive radiation for brain tumors 🤣🙂‍↕️🫣)

IF you have to drain the wound: that seemed icky in concept, but even it was not bad. again, i bathed/shampooed for that by simply leaning over the edge of the tub.
fortunately, i had a friend to change the dressing.... rather an awkward reach. but even that was doable when she wasn't available!

so, in summary....i wish you the same nothingness that i enjoyed!!

In 2020, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 IDC. I had a lumpectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed. A small area of DCIS was discovered during the surgery, which was removed, but I required a second surgery to clear the margins. I think the most helpful advice that I was given was to ice as much as possible for the first couple of days. I slept in a recliner for the first night, so I could ice my breast frequently. I had 2 small round ice packs. I alternated with one in the freezer while I used the other. I was given a script for a pain killer, which I never used because Tylenol was enough to keep the minimal pain that I had under control. Everyone is different, but the surgery and recovery were less difficult for me than I had anticipated. Give your body time to heal, but if you are not in too much discomfort, raise your arm slightly to prevent stiffness. I don't recall how long before I could shower and wash my hair.
I was advised to have 16 rounds of radiation which was not difficult for me. The best advice that I received was to put Fruit of the Earth 100% aloe gel on my breast frequently. I did not have any burning or discomfort.
I was glad that had I decided to have the radiation and whatever help it provided in preventing recurrence because I was unable to take anastrozole due to multiple and severe side effects. I opted not to try another aromatase inhibitor (AI) because I felt that my side effects were the result of low estrogen. The purpose, of all 3 AIs, is to lower your estrogen. Again, everyone is different and many women are able to tolerate them quite well. I would never advise anyone to not give them a try. Depending on your diagnosis, you can ask to try another AI, ask for a smaller dose or stop taking them. I found that advocating for myself was important. My oncologist, at the time, was unwilling to acknowledge that the side effects that I experienced were cause by anastrozole. I was not surprised that they all went away after I stopped taking anastrozole. I hope, given your DCIS diagnosis, that you will not need to take an AI.
I found it helpful to learn as much as I could about breast cancer, so I knew what questions to ask. I wish you best of luck in your surgery and recovery.