Lumpectomy and breast reduction

Carissa_BCNA
Carissa_BCNA Administrator, Staff, Member, Moderator Posts: 251
Original post created by @JanJune1964 moved to its own thread in general discussion



Comments

  • Cath62
    Cath62 Member Posts: 1,266
    Hi @JanJune1964,

    Breast surgery is rather specialised because of complexity of the breast tissue. I had a lumpectomy and a reduction mammoplasty then chemo and radium.

     Eventually I evened up the non cancer breast with a reduction mammoplasty but I neededto wait some time after radium. You can get swelling in breast from radium. I saw a specialist physio to help with that swelling prior to have surgery on non cancer breast.

     I had the same Breast and Endocrine Surgeon do both breasts which was great because it meant the same surgical style on each side. I am actually not much smaller as radium swelling meant I didn't reduce much but I am lifted up more which is nice. 

    My oncologist is separate to the Breast Surgeon and both are in communication regarding my ongoing hormone treatment. 

    I am not sure on the breast surgeon v cosmetic surgeon but I don't think a general surgeon would have the experience to undertake such complex surgery.

    I would suggest asking more questions about the surgeon qualifications and experience. 
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,521
    edited November 2021
    Hi @JanJune1964 - sorry to see you here - but you are in the right spot for support & information from those who've 'been there, done that' ..... great that you are able to incorporate your reduction within the surgery ..... That's terrific.

    I agree with @Cath62 - breast cancer surgery is indeed complex & I know that I searched out a competent surgeon who was familiar with reconstruction at the time of surgery. ....Sadly, there are plenty of women out there who are unhappy with their surgery results.  :(  I know that many regional towns use 'general surgeons' to do breast cancer surgery - and I am sure they are competent surgeons - but will the finished job be as tidy as a specialist breast surgeon?!  Possibly not.

    I'd never heard of a Breast Oncologist/surgeon before you mentioned it!

    You can often get a review on your surgeon by googling him/her & putting 'review' after their name ....  I was able to eliminate one of the surgeons who my GP had advised .... 

    All the best with your surgery - take care xx