As women, especially American women, much of our femininity centers around our breasts. Everywhere you look, there are photos, billboards, commercials, TV shows and movies featuring women with these beautiful breasts and ample cleavage. The thought of losing one or both breasts to breast cancer can be devastating for many of us. Sure, there’s reconstruction, but will it really look the same again? Even if you have a reconstruction, you will never feel that sensation again, and for many of us, that definitely affects our sexuality.
I went through two separate mastectomies, for my breast cancer, even though I wanted to have them both done at the same time. Two different surgeons told me that this was not necessary. They found out later that she was, since she had the same breast cancer in both breasts. Through these surgeries, I learned a few things about what to expect and how to get back on track after a mastectomy for breast cancer.
The first thing to realize is that, apart from the emotional aspect of such an operation, it is a simple surgery. The breast is composed, for the most part, of fatty tissue and, of course, milk ducts and lobules. The removal of this breast tissue is much easier than operating on an organ, but it has a much greater emotional impact for most of us. Most surgeons will remove as much breast tissue as possible to help alleviate the chance of the breast cancer coming back. Typically, you will end up with a horizontal scar that is about four inches long. The scar may be red for quite some time but should ultimately fade to where it can hardly be seen anymore.
You want to make sure you take baggy, button-up shirts with you to the hospital (raiding your husband’s closet is helpful), as you won’t be able to raise your arms above your head for a while. You will also need a sports bra and I recommend one that fastens in the front. It will be put on after surgery. Usually, you should be able to stay in the hospital overnight. If your lymph nodes are going to be removed, a small pillow to place under your arm will help you feel more comfortable. Check with your local American Cancer Society as they may have small pillows for you. An extra pillow to hold against your chest if you need to cough, sneeze, or laugh can help keep your incision from hurting.
When you wake up, you will have a pair of drainage tubes for each side that you have made. These tubes are important as they allow excess fluid that your body will produce to drain. If it did not have them, the liquid would have to be aspirated with a needle. Drains, while not fun, are better than that. These drains will need to be emptied a couple of times a day, and you’ll need to note how much fluid you drain so your doctor knows when you’ve slowed down enough to remove them. You may not know where to put these drains under your clothes. I attached mine to the sports bra and that way, they didn’t tug when I moved.
When you get home, plan to have someone there to help you for the first few days. You won’t be allowed to reach your cabinets and you definitely won’t be able to clean the house or pick up your kids, if you have little ones. They will send you home with painkillers and you will definitely take them if you need them. Studies show that you will heal faster if you stay away from pain, so don’t be afraid to take them as prescribed.
If you have a recliner, you might consider moving it into the bedroom, since you won’t be able to lie down for a while. You will have to sleep in a partial sitting position. If you don’t have one, or don’t have the space for it in your bedroom, lots of pillows will work as well. That’s what I used. Just make sure you have enough pillows to keep you comfortable propped up.
If you would like someone to visit you who has been there before you, be sure to call your local American Cancer Society and ask for a Reach 2 Recovery volunteer. This is a program of the American Cancer Society where they try to connect you with one of their volunteers who has a similar experience to what you are facing. This woman will come to visit you and she will bring you all kinds of brochures and information about conventional treatment. She will also bring you a list of exercises she can start doing to regain her mobility and range of motion.
This is very important. It hurts to stretch your arm up after surgery, but if you haven’t had a reconstruction and it doesn’t start soon, you’ll lose that range of motion. I would recommend starting to raise your arm gently and slowly…letting your body be your guide…the day after surgery. This is ONLY if you have not had a rebuild. If so, let your plastic surgeon tell you when to start stretching. Push where it hurts a little, but don’t push too hard. Little by little, you will be able to stretch a little more every couple of days.
Above all, allow yourself to heal both emotionally and physically. Some of us just can’t look at that incision right away. Alright. Take all the time you need. I know I felt like some kind of breastless freak and, even six years later, I still do sometimes. But remember that these scars are your battle scars. They don’t make you less of a woman. They make you a warrior.