mastectomy

[frustratedrg]

i would like to hear from women who have undergone mastectomies.  i am considering it and would like some input as to the recovery

[BJSaws]

     I had a mastectomy in November 2003. I had my surgery at 10:00 a.m. and went home the next day at about 2:00 p.m. At that point, my pain level was maybe a 6 on the 10 point scale.  Six days after my surgery, my sister-in-law passed away from brain cancer.  My husband and I traveled 500 miles (each way) by car  to attend her funeral with my surgeon's approval.  I was uncomfortable, but was able to tolerate the trip..  Once the drain was removed, I was not even uncomfortable.  I was able to go back to work as a school teacher in 4 weeks.  I chose not to have reconstruction and have worn a breast prosthesis for over 4 years now.  The physical experience was not at all bad.  I did cry a number of times because of the psychological experience.  I had always loved my breasts and felt unattractive when I would look in the mirror, or when my husband would see me naked.  He, however, was wonderful and always made me feel like a complete, desirable woman.  About 10 months after my surgery, my hair had grown back from the chemo and my self-image was back to normal.  For almost four years now, I have not often thought about the missing breast, the bald head I had for 6 months, or the sorrow over the loss of my breast.  I have instead appreciated every day I have to enjoy my husband, children, and grandchildren.  

[peekawho]

I stayed 2 days in the hospital following each mastectomy, and was back to work within 10 days each time.  

[japdip]

Mastectomy one day and home the following day. I had no pain although there was some soreness and stiffness for a week or two. There is always the consideration as to how one feels about losing a breast of course. Some find it very devastating and others value their life much more than a breast. I'm curious if a mastectomy has been recommended in your case. If so then there is nothing to consider ... if you have been given a choice and the surgeon feels a lumpectomy could be done with clean margins obtained then I wouldn't choose the more extensivesurgery. In either case lymphnodes will be sampled and that leads to the possibility of developing lymphedema after surgery and precautions must be taken for the rest of your life. I chose to follow the recommendation of my surgeon and I suggest you do the same. If you have serious doubts you should request a second opinion; my surgeon offered this to me and I would expect any good surgeon to offer the same their patients.

[annintexas]

I had a bilateral in November of last year.  I had little pain.  I did not need the stronger pain meds - I took some Tylenol.  I was sore, but not in pain.   We live in Italy and my cancer was found while visiting the U.S.  I was able to travel home two weeks after my surgery.  I could  not lift my bags, etc., but fortunately, my husband was with me, so he did all the hard work!   Within a few weeks, I was back to my normal energy level and range of motion.   I chose not to have reconstruction, so my recovery period was not as lengthy.  

Good Luck to you!  I hope all goes well.

[frustratedrg]

did you also have reconstruction

[frustratedrg]

i started to tell you my situation in the calcification section.  ive already had a lumptectomy.  right now im dealing only with a biopsy for a cluster of calcs. i have them everywhere and so far all of my calcifications are b9. different ones have been biospsied. im worried in case these arent.  i had a lumptectomy in 2001 with clear margins, chemo (cmf), radiation, tamoxifen and now femara.  i know that if i have a problem in the future, i would only consider mastectomy.

[jenca78]

My stepmom had a bilateral mastectomy two weeks ago, with reconstruction.  She has two bumps now that would equate to an A cup, but she intends to get inflated to a B/C cup.  Her surgery was at 7:30am, and when they wheeled her to her room around 4pm that afternoon, she walked from the gurney to her bed.  She was discharged the following day at 11:00am.  Throughout, she ranked her pain as a 5/6.  The next morning, she woke up at 5am in quite a lot of pain (she ranked it 7 on the scale of 1-10), so we gave her pain meds as well as her usual antibiotics.  She proceeded to get naseaous, which continued for a few hours.  Once we were able to get some food in her, she was fine.  As of this morning, she has now gotten all 4 drains removed, but is experiencing some discoloration on one of her breasts....her plastic surgeon gave her some cream to put on the skin, and is considering putting her in a hyperbaric chamber this weekend.

Overall, she says she does not for a second regret the decision to get the bilateral mastectomy.  She jokes about how she'll have the perkiest breasts now out of all her friends :)

[fletch1119]

I had microcalcifications that ended up being atypia hyperplasia after a stereotactic biopsy.  Risk of cancer was 40% that was reduced to 2% after surgery.  For me the decision was rational not radical.   I opted for a prophylactic mastectomy in May 2007.  I have never regretted my decision.  I had the expanders removed and my implants put in in October 2007.  I just had my nipple reconstruction 2 weeks ago.  I have been more than pleased with my results and can breath easier knowing there will be no more mammograms for me.  I would be happy to answer more questions if you would like.

[frustratedrg]

thank you so much for words of encouragement.  was your surgery very difficult at the beginning?  i had bc in 2001 with a lumptectomy.  ive had numerous calcifications biopsied (approx. 6 clusters since 2001).  this last mammo showed another cluster which i havent decided to biopsy right now or wait the 6 mos.  im exhausted with all of this and i (almost) envy you not having to have anymore mammos.  that seems to be the light at the end of the tunnel (if there is one).  was the atypia the only problem you had before the mastectomy?

[fletch1119]

My surgery was not difficult at all.  Had surgery on a Wed and home on Friday morning.  I was not in much pain - day 1 I took some pain pills but not after that.  The drains they put in are a pain but knew what I was in for - they were out in 1 week and from then on I felt great.  I had a cluster of calcifications biopsied 1 1/2 year prior and they came back negative - and they were tagged.  The new cluster was only my 2nd - that was my left breast