1. < Breast Cancer

Worrying about surgery, partial mastectomies on both sides and

Posted by msandbreastcancerwarrior @msandbreastcancerwarrior, Oct 6, 2023

Reduction and lift.

I’ve read up all I can, and I feel like what I’ve heard ranges from, hardly any pain at all and pretty easy recovery, to, hey I couldn’t use my arms at all and had to have someone help me wipe after the toilet, and the pain was unbearable for weeks.

One thing that all seem to agree on is, I will need to sleep in my recliner the first four weeks, and it’s a good idea to have someone home to help me that first week after surgery (I will have that,)

I’m sorry for troubling all of you, but I was wondering what your experiences have been, and if you could help me get a better sense of how recovery will go.

Thank you all so much. I am grateful for this community.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

chickenmom10 | @chickenmom10 | Oct 8, 2023
In reply to @msandbreastcancerwarrior "Thank you so much for this kind and reassuring reply! Maybe it won’t be so bad,..." + (show)
@msandbreastcancerwarrior

Thank you so much for this kind and reassuring reply! Maybe it won’t be so bad, going through this. It sounds like they won’t be prescribing me any pain meds though because my plastics surgeon said Tylenol should be enough once the three to four days of numbness wear off from the nerve block. That makes me very nervous, but if it gets too bad I will call and ask for pain meds.

I have a mesh bag thing I got to hold the drains in when I shower, and hopefully I can get it figured out, how to shower safely.

I am glad I have a comfortable recliner to sleep in. I figure it will take about three weeks for me too before I can try to sleep in a bed.

I’m not sure how long I will have the drains in. I have one post op appointment ten days after surgery and one fourteen days after surgery, and I am guessing during one of those appointments I will have the drains removed.

Thank you again so much and I wish you a happy and long cancer-free life!

❤️🌹

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I think the drains came out in the first visit. I had a note pad on how much was taken out and time of day . To help clarify the amount fluid with the doc appt. Just a thought. Sending prayers your way. Remember we are women and nothing is going to keep us down. You too Cancer free kick this cancer to the curb.
Positive attitude is key.

REPLY
1 reply
kammcn | @kammcn | Oct 9, 2023

I had a lumpectomy a year and a half ago. My tumor was at 5:30, was large, and had grown through the dermis under my breast. I also had palpable lymph nodes and had a full dissection under my right arm. So I had a large incision about six inches under my right breast and another incision under my arm. I spent overnight in the hospital and went home in the afternoon. I had two drains that were in until my follow-up a week later. My recliner was more difficult to use because all the levers are on the right and my surgery was on the right. I propped up pillows in bed and slept in bed comfortably right away. My lymph node dissection incision was the most troublesome of the two. I was sent home with compression wraps and a small pillow. Everything was manageable, and I didn’t really need pain meds after the first couple days. I’ve also had two reconstruction surgeries since, and they were manageable also. The health system has been wonderful for meeting my needs through this journey. If I had a problem, it seemed that everyone was good about getting me the support I needed. Everyone’s experience is different, but it was a blessing to just get that surgery done so I could stop worrying about it. 😊 The fear of the unknown was almost worse than the experience. Good luck.

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msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Oct 11, 2023

Thank you so much for your very kind and helpful note! ❤️🌹
I appreciate you sharing your experience, and feel more reassured I will get through this without unbearable pain!

Only four days and a wake up now, and I will wake up feeling hopeful that they got all the cancer out of me and I can begin healing and then treatments.

I am hopeful I will beat this cancer and live!

I will post after my surgery to let you all know how I fared.

Thank you so much!

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msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @chickenmom10 "I think the drains came out in the first visit. I had a note pad on..." + (show)
@chickenmom10

I think the drains came out in the first visit. I had a note pad on how much was taken out and time of day . To help clarify the amount fluid with the doc appt. Just a thought. Sending prayers your way. Remember we are women and nothing is going to keep us down. You too Cancer free kick this cancer to the curb.
Positive attitude is key.

Jump to this post

Positive mental attitude, yay! 😍🌹

Thank you so much for your kind and helpful post, I appreciate it very much!

I have a first post op ten days after surgery, then another fourteen days after surgery (two different surgeons, so two different appointments) so I am guessing my drains will be removed ten days after the surgery.

I wonder, if the drains go dry, no more fluid coming out, if there is extra danger of infection? Maybe drains never run dry, maybe they always have at least clear fluid in them.

I will post again after my surgery (less than a week now!) to let everyone know how I did.

Thank you again so much!

REPLY
2 replies
chickenmom10 | @chickenmom10 | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @msandbreastcancerwarrior "Positive mental attitude, yay! 😍🌹 Thank you so much for your kind and helpful post, I..." + (show)
@msandbreastcancerwarrior

Positive mental attitude, yay! 😍🌹

Thank you so much for your kind and helpful post, I appreciate it very much!

I have a first post op ten days after surgery, then another fourteen days after surgery (two different surgeons, so two different appointments) so I am guessing my drains will be removed ten days after the surgery.

I wonder, if the drains go dry, no more fluid coming out, if there is extra danger of infection? Maybe drains never run dry, maybe they always have at least clear fluid in them.

I will post again after my surgery (less than a week now!) to let everyone know how I did.

Thank you again so much!

Jump to this post

If I remember. Each day was a little less. I don’t think they went completely dry. However my plastic surgeon took the drains out. No infection. I used baby body wash to shower. I don’t want to use any harsh products like my body wash that I use know. With my girls I was able to keep my nipples so I didn’t want any infections on them either. I will pray for speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

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1 reply
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Oct 12, 2023
In reply to @chickenmom10 "If I remember. Each day was a little less. I don’t think they went completely dry...." + (show)
@chickenmom10

If I remember. Each day was a little less. I don’t think they went completely dry. However my plastic surgeon took the drains out. No infection. I used baby body wash to shower. I don’t want to use any harsh products like my body wash that I use know. With my girls I was able to keep my nipples so I didn’t want any infections on them either. I will pray for speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

Jump to this post

Thank you so so much and I hope your cancer never recurs! ❤️❤️❤️

REPLY
1 reply
chickenmom10 | @chickenmom10 | Oct 12, 2023
In reply to @msandbreastcancerwarrior "Thank you so so much and I hope your cancer never recurs! ❤️❤️❤️" + (show)
@msandbreastcancerwarrior

Thank you so so much and I hope your cancer never recurs! ❤️❤️❤️

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Thanks. hope y’all never return either. And if it does we are in an age where they can treat us. Some much knowledge these days. Every time we seen new and improved technology. Thanks for the people who are in clinical trials. Which I am currently in to help others have a better chance of survival.

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1 reply
flowergal | @flowergal | Oct 12, 2023

I had a lumpectomy and found a mastectomy pillow was helpful. It is three connected pillows that have shoulder straps and snap around your chest. It was helpful in the car to protect the surgery site and in bed. I also got a bed wedge that could be used for sleeping or repositioned to sit up and watch TV. Both items were great help to me.
Good luck with your surgery.

REPLY
1 reply
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @chickenmom10 "Thanks. hope y’all never return either. And if it does we are in an age where..." + (show)
@chickenmom10

Thanks. hope y’all never return either. And if it does we are in an age where they can treat us. Some much knowledge these days. Every time we seen new and improved technology. Thanks for the people who are in clinical trials. Which I am currently in to help others have a better chance of survival.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much! Hugs! ❤️🌹

REPLY
msandbreastcancerwarrior | @msandbreastcancerwarrior | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @flowergal "I had a lumpectomy and found a mastectomy pillow was helpful. It is three connected pillows..." + (show)
@flowergal

I had a lumpectomy and found a mastectomy pillow was helpful. It is three connected pillows that have shoulder straps and snap around your chest. It was helpful in the car to protect the surgery site and in bed. I also got a bed wedge that could be used for sleeping or repositioned to sit up and watch TV. Both items were great help to me.
Good luck with your surgery.

Jump to this post

Thank you so so much! ❤️🌹

I did buy one of those pillows just like that for the drive home and to support my arms and protect my surgical sites for the first few days at least.

Just one more day and a wake up now until I get this cancer out of me, yay!

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