Six months later, I did have a lumpectomy. This is when I started to get worried. Between the lumpectomy and the two weeks I had to wait to get the results, that’s when I was concerned. 

It was like they had something that could really give me a definitive answer, and I had all this time prior to that to stew in it, so I was nervous waiting to hear the answer.

Natalie W. (Breast Cancer, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ [DCIS] , Stage 0, ER+, Paget’s Disease)

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It was same-day surgery. It was no big deal really. The biggest thing for me was after surgery and recovery and seeing the indentation in my breast on that side because now it doesn’t look like the other one. 

The recovery was very quick. We were back in surgery the next week to look at my lymph nodes and to get my port put in.

The lumpectomy was no big deal. It was a couple of stitches and that’s about it.

Shari S. (Breast Cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [IDC],Triple Positive, Stage 4)

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I went in for surgery. That was the best part because I get to sleep for that. There’s  not a whole lot of talk. I just went in, you lay on the table like Jesus, and then you’re out. 

I didn’t stay overnight. It was a one-day surgery. Once I was fine I left and they told me that they got all the margins and there was nothing in my lymph nodes.

From there it was just rehab. I slept a lot that first day but since then it’s been more rehab in terms of arm mobility, physical therapy, that sort of deal. 

Doreen D. (Breast Cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 2A,Triple-Positive)

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My surgery was actually pretty easy. It was just a breast conservation lumpectomy. My tumor was 4 centimeters large. They were able to get clean margins during surgery. They did a really good job.

Everything looks normal and feels normal. My recovery time was pretty quick. I do have some girlfriends who had to have double mastectomies and reconstruction done, and it just makes my surgery look like a walk in the park. 

Caitlin J. (Breast Cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 2B, ER-Positive, PR-Positive)

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It’s just a small incision on the site of the lump, so you have stitches when you wake up.

I didn’t really have to prep for it except I couldn’t eat or drink anything starting the night before, so I was starving the day of the surgery.

Surgery took two hours, and it was outpatient, so I was home that afternoon. 

I don’t remember waking up and being in a lot of pain. That’s the great thing about modern medicine. I think I only came home with a prescription dose of ibuprofen or something.

Amelia L. (Breast Cancer, IDC, Stage 1, ER+, PR+, HER2-)

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