Mastectomy

I was told in January I had breast cancer and needed a mastectomy in Feb. I felt NOTHINGS which hugely surprised me! I told no one except hubby and because no one knew I didn’t get the sympathy, hugs and sad looks! I only told my daughter a month after it was done (she’s 34). I didn’t want anyone to worry and strangely I felt like me (albeit one tit down!!)treatment, drains, staff were all fantastic and still I feel nothing. I guess that will change with chemo but all I can offer is one day at a time because I realise our reactions all all so very different. XxX

I made the same decision some months ago. 

Is there something in particular that scares you? I am unsure if the fear is due to being faced with the unknowns that this surgery presents, concerns about pain, the idea of being faced with only having one breast, or something else?

On the physical side, I found both times (I have had two mastectomies, a few months apart) that once the drains were out I was a lot more comfortable. So in this regard, I would divide it, based on my experience, like this:

Waking up -- no pain, but not entirely stable on my feet that day. Next day still no pain, stability somewhat improved. On the third day I started to feel some pain, as the nerve block was no longer there and the nerves were starting to do their thing.

The next phase, for me, was from that point and until the drains were taken out, and I had to take painkillers on those days

Once I was drain-free things started to get better. 

The recovery from my second mastectomy is very similar to that of a double mastectomy because the surgeon had to "re-visit" the other side, and three and a half weeks on I have been through a period of intense itching (a nornal part of the wound healing) and there is pain from the laceration but it is tolerable and I have not taken any painkillers at all since the 8th or 9th day post surgery. My surgeon advised to use vitamin E oil on the scar (this was at the two weeks follow up) and really rub it in.

One important advice -- do the exercises! They make a world of difference both in the short term and in the long term.

I would very much recommend having someone stay with you when you come home from surgery, at least for a few days. This is partly for the, "small things," that become not so small, such as making a hot drink or a meal, but also just in case. (I had a moment during recovery where, after sitting down on the toilet, I found myself unable to get up. I nearly called for help, then somehow managed, but knowing there was someone there to call was huge.)

When is your surgery?

Surgery is the 12th of April. Im Worried how mentally I'm going to cope with losing a breast, I know in time I'll adjust, but also now it's going to be a big shock.