Lumpectomy outpatient

I had one a year ago. And no they don't check in on you till you go for your follow appointment on how your healing is going.

Thanks. I had a family friend that is an oncologist checking in on me, not my doctor.

It’s amazing. I had a lumpectomy and reconstruction (like a breast lift) then they matched my other breast. 3 1/2 hrs, lots of stitches, nipples moved. After a short time in recovery, I could leave. They said I was good to go - drive home 190 miles. Follow up in 3 months.
No way was I sitting with a seatbelt on for that long (and no way was I driving through Houston traffic without a seatbelt on). Stayed overnight.

That's utterly insane. I'm sorry they didn't take better care of you. There is no way you should been allowed to drive, you needed care. The conveyor belt of breast cancer surgery. So sad.

There was no follow-up appointment after my lumpectomy. I sent a email with questions about the steri strips, she didn’t even answer. I also had mastectomy with the same surgeon. After my mastectomy, I was sent home with a future appointment with a PA to have the drains removes. The PA removed the drains even though the left drains were clogged up causing a bad hematoma under the skin ( thick and felt like hard play dough) No follow-up with doctor. I had to make appointment with the surgeon about the big hematoma on my chest. I thought the surgeon needs to see the patient after surgery to assess the wound’s condition rather than leave it to the patient to decide there’s a complication serious enough to see the surgeon.

Exactly what I had in Houston… mine was 4+ hours- out patient. We stay at the hotel connected to hospital for 2 days. Had a scheduled appointment with surgeon and plastic surgeon about a week after. Saw their PAs

I am so sorry that you did not have proper care. My friend in France had drains due to the type of DCIS cancer. She was kept in the hospital for two days with nurses emptying the drains during the middle of the night. She felt very cared for during this hard time, surgeon attended to her before she left the hospital. Our health care must do better.

It has clearly gotten even harder since I had an outpatient lumpectomy.
Mine was outpatient by choice, the surgeon would have been happier if I stayed overnight. Received a call and a new medication order 3 hours after I got home.
I also received calls from the surgeon, not the nurse or PA, each day for three days then an office visit on day 4. This is the kind of care I wish that all of you would have received. At the time I felt cared for more than I needed but I never felt like I was out there on my own.
I have always attributed this to the surgeon rather than “health system” when I was treated. The rest of my treatments, I felt out there in the wilderness on my own.
Do you feel like it was the surgeons office or a larger health system failure to care for you?

Thank you for your empathy with my situation. Our health care is getting too greedy and the quality is going down the hill. Hospitals don’t pay much for doctors and nurses, yet charges for hospital stay is outrages. It’s all about squeezing as much money out of patients. Drugs cost double or triple the price in other countries. I found out that I could get 3-month supply of Exemestane in Canada for one month do supply in US. I wish there were some regulations to control the cost and the quality of our healthcare system. Totally agree with you. Our healthcare must do better! 🤗

Sorry. So many typos!