Breast Cancer Treatment: Coping With a Mastectomy
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 ever look the same again? Even if you have reconstruction, you’ll 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 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 made up, 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 on most of us. Most surgeons will remove as much of the breast tissue as possible to help alleviate the chance of the breast cancer coming back. You will usually 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 bring loose-fitting, button-down 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 for one night. If you are having lymph nodes removed, a small pillow to place under your arm will help make you 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’ll have a couple of drainage tubes for each side you’ve made. These tubes are important as they allow the excess fluid your body will make to drain out. 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 will need to note the amount of fluid draining so the doctor knows when it has slowed down enough to remove them. You may not know where to put these drains under your clothes. I clipped mine to the sports bra and that way, they didn’t pull 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 you’ll 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 to 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 room for one in your bedroom, plenty of pillows will work too. That’s what I used. Just make sure you have enough pillows to keep yourself comfortable propped up.
If you want someone who has been there before you to visit, 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 that 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 reconstruction and it doesn’t start soon, you’ll lose that range of motion. I would recommend starting to lift 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 other day.
Above all, allow yourself to heal both emotionally and physically. Some of us just can’t look at that incision right away. It’s okay. Take all the time you need. I know I felt like some kind of freak with no breasts and even six years later I still feel sometimes. But remember these scars are your battle scars. They don’t make you less of a woman. They make you a warrior.