After mastectomy

[1Shirl]

I finally had my mastectomy on Monday, Oct. 6th. I have finished my chemo and next step will be to have cat scan to see if all signs of cancer are gone. I did not have reconstrutive surgery and I am wondering how long it will take me to recover from the surgery, as far as doing normal activities and am I limited in any activities and if so for how long? So far I am doing fine. Will the horrible sight I am now seeing become easier or will it change in any way at all? Also how soon do I go to see about getting a prothesis and where do I go? Thanks for any answers.
1Shirl

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear 1Shirl:  Each protocol is a little different.  For example, many who receive chemotherapy before surgery will also get chemotherapy after surgery, regardless of CT scan results.  Nonetheless, recovery after surgery generally takes about 4-6 weeks.  Your doctor should give you any special limitations or activity restrictions that would be specific to your situation.  Any new scar will not look as good as a healed scar.  However, it will be a scar.  You can proceed with looking for a prosthesis immediately.  They may recommend that the incision be healed before wearing it all the time.  There are many kinds of prostheses.  Your doctor or nurse may have some local recommendations for you or you can contact your local American Cancer Society for some suggestions.  Their web address is www.cancer.org.

[surgeon]

your surgeon or his/her office staff would be the best source of info regarding restrictions, healing time, etc, because they know best what was done and what, if any, particular restrictions would be necessary. In general, I tell my patients they can do anything that doesn't hurt. There are certain range of motion exercizes that are useful; but which and when to start them is best addressed by your surgeon. Prostheses are available at many places, including some major department stores and most surgical supply places. Your surgeon's office ought to have info about your local stores; also, they ought to be coverered by insurance. Some insurance plans only cover certain suppliers, so that's something to check, either with your surgeon or your insurance company. As to the "horrible" sight: any surgical area evolves with time; smooths out, bruises go away, etc. Scars become less noticable. But, as time passes, if you continue to find it too horrible perhaps you'll want to consider some form of reconstruction. You could also check out the kind of prosthesis that adheres directly to the chest. (One is called "amona" I think). I've known some women who are very pleased with them, in that they don't require special bras, and they can be matched to be quite natural for some women.

[japdip]

I don't know where you are but usually you are contacted (or should be) by someone from a program called "Reach To Recovery" that is associated with the Amer. Cancer Society. A wealth of printed material is usually mailed to you including a video of exercises. The volunteer who contacts post-op patients has been through an experience similar to yours and is even matched by age to your particular case. It's been my experience that either the surgeon's office or the hospital starts this process. When I was discharged after surgery I was given a booklet containing the answers to nearly every question that you might have after surgery. If you haven't been contacted it would serve you well to make the contact yourself through the ACS. Good Luck