Breast lump removal

moonshinerocks

I am due to have a large (benign thankfully) lump removed from my breast in St. James hospital in Dublin this week. I am wondering if anybody else has had this done, and if so what was the recovery like? I am terrified I will be left completely miss-shapen as the lump is so large, about 8 cm. I am trying to focus on the positives, such as at least it is not cancer, but my breasts are one of my best features and I am afraid it will totally knock my confidence. Not knowing is the worst.

Carpenter

Hi
Look on the bright side and all will be ok and have a read what my wife went through http://thestoryofmybreast.blogspot.com/ sorry for not being any help but things are not too bad when you see what some women went through

CK2010

i cant really help you but i do know that regardless of how many people go through harder or worse things than you its still natural (and rightfully so) to worry when undergoing something like this. by all means be thankful that you arent going through what they are but your worries are just as significant to you right now so dont feel like they are not worth thinking about/discussing.
best of luck and i hope all goes well for you. im sure they will go through any questions/worries you have. i dont know about recovery but i know the staff are wonderful there.

metaoblivia

I had a benign lump removed from one of my breasts a few years ago.
The recovery wasn't bad. The area where the operation took place was bruised for about a week, and I had to wear a bandage while the stitches healed and dissolved. There was pain, but it wasn't bad pain; just the normal soreness that comes with stitches, bruising and being cut open.

Now mine was small and I haven't noticed much of a difference since the operation. I was more worried about the scar, but they even did that up well so it's barely noticeable now. I can completely understand your concerns though. It may not be as bad as what some people have to deal with, but it's still your body and it's a scary undertaking. You may want to discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask them what to expect in the recovery, how it will affect the shape of your breast, ect. It's not a silly or shallow question - it's something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. Best of luck!

Wibbs

CK2010 wrote: »

i cant really help you but i do know that regardless of how many people go through harder or worse things than you its still natural (and rightfully so) to worry when undergoing something like this.

Exactly and its hardly a competition.

metaoblivia wrote:

You may want to discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask them what to expect in the recovery, how it will affect the shape of your breast, ect. It's not a silly or shallow question - it's something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. Best of luck!

Very good advice and so many don't ask the one person they should, the surgeon. Understandable as naturally you're apprehensive about the whole thing, but it should help put your mind at ease.

IrishCancerSoc

Hi ladies.

The Irish Cancer Society has on online message board where you can talk and share with other women who have been through some of the same experiences.

See http://forum.cancer.ie/phpBB3/index.php?bie

You can also FreeFone our National Cancer Helpline on 1 800 200 700 if you have any question or concern about any cancer (Mon-Thurs 9-7, Friday 9-5)

squeakyduck

My mum had a cancerous lump taken out of her breast about 10 years ago. I remember her being sore and all bandaged up, she had to do everything slowly and most important of all REST! Thankfully they got everything. The doctors and nurses will take good care of you, operations like this are very different to what they were a decade ago!

Best of luck Moon shine! x

Oryx

I had an op like that, which didnt go well (for reasons that only apply to me). Mine was an exception, and Im not posting about it. My point to you is, that even though I had a lot of the boob removed and large incisions, now youd hardly notice any difference in size, and the scarring I totally forget about. So please, dont stress, the docs will take care of you.

moonshinerocks

Thanks for all the kind messages. Unfortunately I can't speak to the surgeon until the day of the operation, but I'm feeling a bit better now. The school mid-term break is next week, and I just hope I can be energetic for my 6 year old

otwb

HI there,

Have had a number of lumps removed over the years (while the Dr's keep saying that it is highly unusual for someone to get more than one or two in a lifetime)- the largest was about 3cm. I find that the anaesthetics take longer to recover from than the ops themselves (so you may need to factor some rest time into the mid-term) - as others have said there is bruising & soreness - but no more than you would expect from being cut open!

I do have scars and used to feel quite self conscious - even getting changed in the gym, eventually I decided that it wasn't such a big issue - I have scars. That's just me. (incidentially - have entered into a new relationship lately - he doesn't have a problem with my scars either...despite me being terrified telling him! )

At the end of the day - they are benign lumps, your's sounds quite large (8cm) so there will probably be a better cosmetic result AFTER the removal than right now. The surgeons keep the cosmetic result in mind and will do their best to keep ' a decent shape'.

Good luck with the surgery!

Penny Dreadful

CK2010 wrote: »

i cant really help you but i do know that regardless of how many people go through harder or worse things than you its still natural (and rightfully so) to worry when undergoing something like this. by all means be thankful that you arent going through what they are but your worries are just as significant to you right now so dont feel like they are not worth thinking about/discussing.
best of luck and i hope all goes well for you. im sure they will go through any questions/worries you have. i dont know about recovery but i know the staff are wonderful there.

Agree totally. The phrase "your life is the harder course I see, but then again, my life is happening to me" springs to mind.

Good luck OP.