Mastectomy
What happens later at home?
The woman may need to periodically empty a reservoir attached to the drains. Care must be taken to keep all items clean to prevent infection. Proper hand-washing is very important before and after emptying the drains or changing dressings. The color and amount of drainage should be noted and reported to the surgeon.
Pain medications are given, but the pain is not usually severe. The surgeon will let the woman know what activities are allowed in the first few days after surgery.
After healing, the woman will have a flat, normally shaped chest wall. The scar runs diagonally or horizontally from near the breastbone to the edge where the breast tissue was. Reconstructive surgery can be done at any time to improve the cosmetic results.
Many women feel sad or depressed after mastectomy. They may have concerns about body image and sexuality. Any diagnosis of cancer brings with it the fear of death. A healthcare provider can provide support with these issues and can recommend other resources for support.
What are the potential complications after the procedure?
Surgery can cause bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction to anesthesia. Other complications of mastectomy include the following:
Fluid can accumulate under the skin flaps. This can happen if the drains are not being emptied often enough, or if they become plugged.
Cell death of the skin edges of the incision is uncommon, but it may occur if the skin flaps are very thin or if there is tension at the incision site.
Numbness along the skin in the underarm area and upper arm can be caused by damage to the nerves that travel through the area of the lymph nodes that were removed during surgery. Although it might take some time, this complication may go away.
Some people have severe, sharp, shooting, or burning pain along the chest wall, which is also called postmastectomy pain syndrome. This is frequently caused by nerve damage.
Swelling of the arm on the side of the surgery, called lymphedema, is often a late complication. In other words, it can occur months or even years after surgery. The cause is not known, but it is frequently associated with local infection.The following steps can help prevent lymphedema.
Do not have blood drawn from the involved arm.
Avoid getting injections in the involved arm.
Do not have blood pressure taken in the involved arm.
Avoid any injury to the involved arm, such as cuts, insect bites, or burns.
Keep physically active, within the limits set by the healthcare provider.
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
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