What to expect after lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy, advice please

[Maisy7]

Hi, I was wondering if people could tell me how their experience was of their lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy and their down time after it/recovery time. My surgery is 3 weeks today and feeling angst so just wanted to know what to expect. Also, what would you recommend for me to buy in preparation for it? (What should I have by my bed when I get home?) I have bought a V shaped pillow and after surgery bra's.

Thanks in advance x

Hi … I had this about 7 yrs ago …. It was absolutely fine …. They did the sentinel biopsy down in xray and then I went to theatre . No real pain after , I don’t think I even took pain killers . Maybe a couple of days of taking it easy but that was about it . I didn’t have any post surgery bras … I either wore none or soft bra over the dressing . Hope it goes well

It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I was swollen but not in a lot of pain afterwards - actually I think the area was numb. I slept on my back with more pillows for a while and I couldn't wash my hair by myself for a couple of weeks. I started being able to go out for walks etc by day 3 though and must have been back doing school runs by 2 weeks if not earlier.

I had this two years ago it was far more straightforward than I had expected. I was up and about the same day and after a week could do all my normal activities and I was going for long walks to maintain my fitness. I took painkillers for the first couple of days then I didn’t need them anymore. I did get quite sharp almost electric shock type pain on the back of my shoulder/arm which is quite common because of nerve damage and recovering the nerve sensation I think

Usually you are asked to buy compression bras or special post Surgery bras and I was given a couple by the hospital to go home with. My best buy was a few very basic tight fitting crop tops from Tesco which I wore after a couple of weeks and carried on wearing for months afterwards to feel more secure. Early days I found it useful to have some extra plasterers/micropore type tape just to stick down the edges of the waterproof dressing as it started to peel away. Do your exercises as soon as you can.

Wishing you all the best for the surgery, it’s a really anxious time in the run-up I know, and I hope that it goes smoothly for you.

The most painful thing was having the drain removed before leaving hospital. I had a wire guided surgery which meant I went in the day before to have the wire put into the breast. I ended up taking back the post surgery bra to M&S as found my old wireless bras were fine. I took some button up tops and cardigan to dress myself easily. My hospital provided all the patients with little heart shaped pillows to put under the armpit. I remember taking some strong pain killer on the first night and when came out used paracetamol. They dressed the wound and I went to gp surgery to get it checked. Just don’t lift anything heavy and do the exercises afterwards. It doesn’t take long to recover, the hard part is the side effects of the letrozole that you have to endure for years to come.

Hope it goes ok for you, the nurses were lovely and will look after you xx

Get clothes that are easy to take on and off, so button up rather than over your head, or an extra large T-shirt.

Lots of ready meals or batch cook to make cooking easier.

Anaesthetics make me feel woozy and tired so lots of watching films or binge tv without feeling guilty. I tended to watch light stuff and gulty pleasures. Get good books to read, and also adult colouring books can be therapeutic.

My surgery was last year, and I found it straightforward. I didn't need painkillers, and although I bought a special front opening bra, after a few days I was fine with cropped bralette type things. I live on my own, so apart from driving (advised no driving for two weeks) I was doing all my usual daily activities.

I used crop bra tops which I could step into and pull up rather than put on over the head. My armpit was very sore and it was painful to try and get a normal bra on. I was given a heart shaped cushion at the hospital and that stayed under my armpit almost constantly for the first few days. I did need to take painkillers. The wound from the node removal was far more sore than the lumpectomy wound. It's important to do the exercises they give you starting immediately to prevent your shoulder from stiffening up. Good luck with your treatment.