What Should You Know Before A Mastectomy?

Sometimes cases of breast cancer will result in a mastectomy. It’s not the first choice, but sometimes it’s the only option that can save your life.

To understand this procedure a little better, it is important to learn what surgical removal of all or part of the breast involves. It is easy to write it down or read it, but going through the whole process is extremely difficult.

Therefore, it is important that you change the way you think about this form of breast cancer treatment. You need to understand that having a mastectomy is a big life change. Recently, even some women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer have chosen to perform this surgery in a preventative manner.

While this is not a bad choice, it is a very personal decision. It may not even be necessary if you do not have a family history or a genetic mutation that increases the risk. These are things you should know before taking a mastectomy.

1. It is physically different for every woman

Some people may experience more pain than others. Depending on your body , you may find that your recovery time takes longer than the norm, which is 12 weeks.

Ultimately, it is your body that decides when you will be able to return to your normal routine, whether sooner or later than you had hoped.

This is something you can prepare for: have someone to help you after your mastectomy. It is important to be sure that you will have someone by your side.

The first two weeks after surgery will be very complicated. It will affect your mobility for even simple things, like opening a bottle of water or combing your hair.

This is the time when you will start to worry about the pain that your mastectomy will cause. You should know that some women do not experience terrible pain. In fact, some of them know nothing after their surgery.

Others have a sense of pressure and nothing else.

A mastectomy can have complications

A mastectomy is an operation just like any other, so it is important that you prepare yourself mentally for any complications associated with your body or your health. Some women do not feel that the operation was a big deal, while others are severely bothered by it.

One consequence is that your breathing may become shallow due to the pain. In addition, you may develop pneumonia due to lack of filtration in the lungs. You must take care of yourself in the days after the operation as this is when you have the greatest risk of getting an infection.

Another consequence is constipation. This usually results from not understanding the effects of anesthesia and the medications that have been prescribed to you due to pain.

These medicines can make you spend a night in the emergency room because you have not had a bowel movement in five days. It is important to talk to your doctor to get suggestions on what to do to prevent this. A diet high in fiber can be helpful.

3. Reconstruction is an option

The topic of reconstruction after a mastectomy is a sensitive topic that is unique to the needs of each woman. Some women choose not to have reconstruction due to personal reasons, while others believe that they need to be in harmony with their new body.

While having breasts is associated with beauty, some women suffer during the process of rebuilding. Others who had very large breasts may feel relieved from back pain and choose not to reconstruct them. Either way, you need to analyze your personal needs before deciding if you want to go through the reconstruction.

Talk about your worries and do not be afraid of your mastectomy

Performing a mastectomy is a very important step you take in life, so you should neither fear it nor take it lightly. Talk to your doctor, and if you agree that it is necessary, make sure you fully understand all that this procedure entails.