Lumpectomy Pre- and Post-Op Instructions

Preparing for your Lumpectomy

A few weeks before your surgery:

  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery.
  • You may bring a family member or friend for support.
  • Buy a sports bra, bra without underwire, or post-surgical bra if you do not have one. Wear it or bring it with you the day of your surgery. We will provide a reference sheet with some options for you to review.

5 days before your surgery:

  • Stop taking aspirin or coumadin also known as Warfarin. These medications can increase your risk of bleeding during surgery.
  • If you take blood thinners (like Warfarin, also called Coumadin), talk to the doctor who prescribed the blood thinners and your surgeon before you stop taking them, and to know when to start taking them again.
  • If you take other blood thinners like Xeralto, Pradaxa, Savaysa, Eliquis , stop them 24 hours prior to surgery. Check with your prescribing doctor or surgeon to determine when to stop and restart these medicines
  • Stop taking any herbal medication or remedies. This includes vitamin E, garlic pills, and fish oil pills. These may affect your surgery and treatment. It is okay to eat garlic and fish.
  • You can start taking aspirin, herbal medication or remedies again 5 days after your surgery or as directed by your physician.

The day before your surgery:

  • Drink plenty of fluids the day before surgery. This includes juice, soup, water, and fluids in your food. This will help you feel less thirsty the morning of your surgery.

The night before your surgery:

  • Do not eat salty foods. This will help you feel less thirsty on the morning of your surgery.
  • Do not eat any solid food after midnight. This includes candy or chewing gum.
  • You can drink clear fluids up to 5 hours before your surgery. Clear fluids include: water, apple juice, ginger ale, tea and black coffee.
  • Do not have milk or cream in any of your drinks.

     

Day of Surgery

The morning of your surgery:

  • You must have an empty stomach before surgery. Do not swallow anything 5 hours before surgery. You will have stopped all solid food at midnight before your surgery, but small amounts of liquid are acceptable until 5 hours before your surgery. For example, if your surgery is scheduled for 2:00 pm, you cannot have food or drinks after 9:00 am.
  • Do not wear makeup and do not use deodorant, perfumes or lotions on the side of your torso (stomach, chest, breast, under-arm area, and back) to get surgery. This will help you prevent infection and stay safe during surgery. It is okay to use shampoo, face cream and lotions on other parts of your body.
  • If you usually take blood pressure pills or heart pills, take them with a sip of water. Do not take any other medications without talking to your doctor. Do not take any diuretics or water pills if you are unsure, talk to your surgeon or the surgical coordinator.
  • Leave your valuables at home. Leave your jewelry or watch at home.
  • Arrive at the hospital or surgical center on time.

What to bring with you:

  • Insurance card
  • Usual medications
  • Comfortable footwear and clothing
  • Entertainment such as a book
  • Phone and charger

After surgery you may:

  • Feel nauseous (feeling of having to throw-up), or vomit (throw-up). Take anti-nausea medication if needed.
  • Feel some pain or discomfort. Stay active and move around after the surgery to prevent complications (problems that can arise after surgery). Take your pain medication if it is uncomfortable to move around.
  • Feel tired.
  • Have some bruising and tenderness where the incision (cut made during surgery) is. You may notice this a few days after your surgery. This can last for about one month.
  • Hear a “gurgling” or “splashing” sound over the area where you had the surgery. This is caused by body fluid filling the space where the tissue was removed during surgery. This sound will go away by itself with time.
Lumpectomy Aftercare
  • Do not shower for 48 hours
  • You may experience nausea. Use anti-nausea medicine, if needed.
  • After 48 hours, remove your bandage and shower normally. Do not scrub or rub the surgery area, just let warm soapy water run over the incision and pat it dry gently.
  • Wear a comfortable bra without underwire after surgery. This will help support you and make sure the weight of your breast does not pull on your incision. To stay safe and comfortable, you may also want to wear the bra while you sleep for a week or 2.
  • Steri-Strips (paper tapes underneath your bandage) leave them on for 14 days. They may fall off before 14 days. It is okay if this happens. After 14 days you can remove Steri-Strips by gently peeling them off.
  • Once the Steri-Strips fall off, you can put polysporin on the incision if you wish. Do not put other lotions on until after your follow-up appointment, and your doctor says it is okay to do so.

What to avoid during recovery:

  • Do not lift anything heavier than 10lbs (about a gallon milk) until we see you for follow up.
  • No vigorous exercise (running, spin, weightlifting) until we see you for your follow up visit, light movement like walking and the recommended post-surgical exercises are strongly encouraged.
  • Do not apply any any kind of lotion or talcum powder of close to the incision, and where you had surgery. Your doctor will let you know when you can resume use of these items.
  • Do not drive or operate machinery if:
    • The effects of the general anesthetic (medication to help you relax and sleep) have not worn off yet. The effects of general anesthetic may continue to cause drowsiness and dizziness even after you leave the hospital.
    • You are taking narcotic pain medication like dilaudid or oxycodone.
    • You cannot fully move your arm(s) on the side where you had the surgery. This is in case you need to make any quick motions or need to respond quickly in case of an emergency.
  • Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours after your surgery. Alcohol may mix badly with your medication, which could make you more drowsy or dizzy.

 

CALL THE CLINIC AT 505-842-8171 IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING:

Fever, chills, swelling that is getting rapidly larger, increasing redness around the incision or pus or foul-smelling drainage.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I shower?

For the first two days after surgery, you can only take a sponge bath. The surgical area must stay dry to avoid infection. The outer bandage can be removed 48 hours after surgery, and you can take a shower. You can shower with your drain.

What if I notice swelling?

A little bit of soft swelling is normal for up to two months after surgery. Call your breast surgery team at 505-842-8171 if swelling becomes hard or firm. They may want to assess you in clinic.

What if my incision is bleeding?

It is normal to have a small amount of dried blood at the incision (cut made during surgery) site. This could be either:

  • Under the Steri-Strips
  • On the bandage cover in the incision

Call your breast surgery team at 505-842-8171 f you notice a large amount of fluid or blood flowing non-stop from the incision site. A large amount of fluid or blood would be about half a cup to a cup every hour.

What if I notice numbness where I had surgery?

The area where you had surgery may be numb. As you heal, you will slowly gain more feeling again. During this time, it is normal to feel sharp, “jabbing” pains in the area. You may also feel a tingling feeling. Tapping the numb area or massaging the area may help.

When should I call the clinic?

If you have any concerns, you can call the call the clinic and ask to speak to one of our telephone triage (navigation) nurses. Nurses are available from 8-5 M-F and all calls are answered within an hour or two.