Day 2 Post-Op
I am day 2 post wide local lumpectomy, 2 lesions removed. I can say that I had an overall great experience so I am counting myself very lucky. I thought I would outline my day as it might help others know what might happen. I had to be at the hospital admissions desk for 0630, which wasn't too bad really - at least the rush hour traffic wasn't too bad. 0745 I had hookwires inserted to both lesions, confirmed on mammogram. Thankfully this mammogram was no where near as squishy as the screening mams are. Just before this procedure I scoffed down a muesli bar as a second breakfast, as my fasting time was from 0800. 0915 Then I had the lymph scan done with radioactive dye to determine the location of the sentinel nodes to be removed. This process took a while for the dye to travel from the breast to the lymph node but sure enough it eventually did. This was completed around 1130. This is also when I had to stop drinking water. From there I was escorted up to the day of surgery area, where I waited briefly to be called through for some pre op checks, changed into some gorgeous paper knickers, TED stockings and gown and booties. Thankfully there were also some lovely fluffy robes to complete the look. Once this was all done, my bags were labelled (like checked in luggage) and they were placed in a holding area to accompany me up to my room post op. I was sat in a recliner chair and allowed to have my phone and glasses to entertain myself while waiting. I think I waited here about an hour. Then transferred to a bed, and that is when it all got a bit real, being wheeled down the corridor (the ceiling lights do really look like they do in the TV shows as the patient is being wheeled down a corridor) I was wheeled into the OR and given a lovely paper hat. My surgeon did a final consent check and got me to confirm the procedure I was having and drew on my left shoulder while I was awake. I had so many marks and tapes on my left breast that It really was obvious which side we were tackling. I remember the anaesthetic mask being placed over my nose and mouth and breathing a couple of times and that's it! Next thing I am waking up, feeling a little sleepy. About 2.5 hours had passed. No pain, just a weird relaxed feeling. I had some water and a lemonade icy pole which was just what I needed. After waking up a bit more I was wheeled up to the room. I remember being spaced out with some strong pain meds. I was able to put on the post surgery bra early and that was a good feeling, so much support in that bra. It was a relief to know this part was completed. Thanks to the resources and experiences of others in this network I felt like I was well prepared for hospital. The morning after I saw the breast care physio and the breast care nurse, both whom gave me some great advice and answered my questions about the immedia…242ViewsSign in to react to this post8Comments
Reluctant about mastectomy
This is awesome that a supportive community like this is available. My mum was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had an initial lumpectomy and now requiring a mastectomy. She's struggling to understand the necessity of undergoing this treatment due to being asymptomatic. I was wondering if any ladies here, particularly Cantonese-speaking were willing to share their experience in undergoing this type of surgery. I know my mum would appreciate talking on the phone to someone, if anyone is happy to share details or exchange emails. Thank you so much for your help in advance 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 ☺️ Constance417ViewsSign in to react to this post6Comments
FOUR CORNERS PROGAM ABC 2 MONDAY NIGHT 8.30
Hi Everyone.I just saw the tail end of an ad for Monday night's Four Corners Program on the ABC , all about 'bill shock' in the medical system,should be interesting! @Janie304 it might help you with your decision788ViewsSign in to react to this post21CommentsA MUST READ IF FACING MASTECTOMY EARLY BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS DCIS LCIS
I am writing this letter in the hope that the following story will help anyone facing a mastectomy or an early diagnosis of breast cancer. Women are being diagnosed with breast cancer every day and not all of them are provided with the information required to make informed decisions. A 42 year old mother of one is diagnosed with early breast cancer at a Brisbane Breast Clinic, August 2013. After receiving her diagnosis from a doctor at the centre she is advised by the doctor to make an appointment with her General Practitioner to attain a referral for a surgeon to have the cancer removed. Her referred surgeon performs a lumpectomy and then suggests the best treatment option for her cancer is mastectomy. She believes she has all information required to make a decision and elects to have a mastectomy four days later. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO A BREAST RECONSTRUCTION AT THE SAME TIME AS MASTECTOMY. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO A SKIN SPARING MASTECTOMY. SHE IS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR A NIPPLE SPARING MASTECTOMY. BUT SADLY SHE IS NEVER TOLD! This is the true story of my friend Lisa. She is currently enduring the emotional suffering caused by not being fully informed of her options. I now know that this is not an isolated case as I know many more women are having this same experience in Australia. Six weeks after Lisa's surgery I too went to the same Brisbane Breast Clinic to have a mammogram. I am a 38 years old mother of two, I had no known symptoms or lumps and no strong family history. Lisa's story saved my life. I was diagnosed by the same doctor with early breast cancer and advised to seek a referral from a General Practitioner. Through this experience I discovered that we currently have surgeons in Australia who are using advanced and accepted techniques like skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomy that can effectively treat cancer without disfigurement. Both types of surgery combined with reconstruction are helping women preserve their breasts in a way that improves their quality of life after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. I also learnt that the REFERRAL LETTER was the key determinant on whether or not I would be informed of my options. My first treatment recommendation from a surgeon was mastectomy with no reconstruction. A breast reconstruction, Skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomy were not an option at the same time as mastectomy. My second treatment recommendation offered by a different surgeon was mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomy. How could two surgeons in Australia have such vast differences in approach to the treatment of early breast cancer and why didn't anyone tell me? I have leant that not all surgeons in Australia are trained nor practice the latest pro…714ViewsSign in to react to this post19Comments
Another Re-Excision or Mastectomy?
Note: this is all behind me now and I feel great. I had four surgeries in the end, the last being a mastectomy. Recovery was pretty easy and I now have my external prosthesis, and noone would even know! Well, here I go again. I was diagnosed with DCIS in December. It has been a long path, but I eventually had a double lumpectomy on my right breast on 26 March 2026. A week later I was told that although they got clear margins, three of the margins on my largest lesion (4 cm) were less than 1mm. So, I had a re-excision on 15 April to get wider margins. I saw the surgeon this morning, who told me they found more disease and the new margins are still less than 1mm in two places. I have to have more surgery next Wednesday but have to decide (by Friday) whether to have another re-excision (and my breast will be starting to look a bit sad after that) or go straight to a mastectomy. She said it was quite feasible to try a re-excision again, to preserve the breast if I want to, but if they still find disease or don't get good clearances, then I have no choice but to have a mastectomy. If I have the re-excision, I have to have radiation treatment for 3 weeks, 5 days a week afterwards. If I have a mastectomy, then it's all done. No radiation and no lymph node involvement. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do / or want to share your story if you've had a similar experience? I know it's my decision, but your advice is appreciated, thank you.828ViewsSign in to react to this post26Comments
Decision
I have been diagnosed a second time the first was DCIS 3.5yrs ago, had a lumpectomy without radiation or chemo. Cancer has now returned in the milk duct 2mm. I am having surgery soon was given choice of total mastectomy or total nipple and aerola removal. His recommendation was mastectomy, I have chosen the later. Now wondering if I was offered radiation after the first surgery would I be in this situation now. Also not recommended for radiation after this current one. Not sure if I have made the right decision.626ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Comfy bra after lumpectomy
At last a non wired bra for bigger ladies after surgery. Very similar to the amoena post surgical bra. Just thought I'd post as found it on facebook of all places. Not sure it has a pocket which would be fab for mastectomy ladies also. Sometimes they do but don't detail it https://www.brastogo.com.au/leading-lady-110-front-opening.html338ViewsSign in to react to this post8Comments
Skin care when
I’m 14 days post op wound healing nicely surgeon happy and all dressing off scar forming and getting tight Any advice on when and what to use hope for radiation oncology appointment late this week or early next week to commence my 25 sessions Stay positive everyone 💕💕💕💕💕96ViewsSign in to react to this post4Comments
Looking for Breast Surgeon recommendations on Mornington Peninsula
Recently diagnosed DCIS in right breast and now looking for breast surgeon on Mornington Peninsula, Vic. If anyone has any recommendations for surgeon in this area based on lived experience I’d be very grateful. thank you x170ViewsSign in to react to this post2CommentsCancer is the biggest c#%t ever!
It’s been 9 months since my lumpectomy, 6 months since radiation and think I’ve found another lump 😔 I’ve been having pains in my breast over the last couple of weeks which only really started since getting back in to the gym and exercise (a month ago) GP put it down to muscle strain and I thought so too....but today I started to feel around and it’s firm on another side of my breast to the surgery and I felt a lump in a different area to the first one. I’m freaking out. How I’ll stay sane until I get the proper checks done...I don’t know I honestly wish it would just f%#* off431ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
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