Tips To Prepare for and Recover From a Mastectomy

A mastectomy is more than just a surgery — it’s a major physical and emotional milestone. Your care team will guide you through the medical details, but there are many things you can do ahead of time to help you feel prepared for and aid in your healing.

How to prepare for breast cancer surgery

Breast surgical oncologist Regina Matar-Ujvary, MD, shares suggestions for how to ready yourself for your upcoming mastectomy.

Ask questions

Knowing what will happen before, during and after surgery can help you feel more reassured and confident in the process.

“Don’t be afraid to ask any questions or voice any concerns beforehand with your doctor or other members of your care team,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary encourages. “We want to make sure you have all the information you need.”

They may give you materials to read before surgery, too, like handouts that outline procedures and processes at the hospital where your surgery is being done (like arrival time and insurance coverage). Take your time reading through everything. And if something doesn’t make sense, bring those questions directly to your care team.

Focus on your physical health

There are a few things you can do for your body before surgery to help you keep up your strength and improve your body’s ability to heal later:

• Eat well. It’s important to eat a nutritious, balanced diet in the days and weeks leading up to surgery — one that prioritizes whole foods and minimizes ultra-processed foods. Ask your care team for guidance. They may recommend that you speak to a dietitian.
• Quit smoking. Smoking delays healing and raises your risk of developing infections after surgery. If you’re having trouble quitting, talk to your care team. They can provide resources to help.
• Review your medications and supplements. If you’re taking any supplements or you’re on blood-thinning medication, you’ll likely be instructed to stop taking them two weeks before your surgery.

Tend to your mind-body connection

Learning how to calm your sympathetic nervous system can help foster a relaxed, calm state — one that may literally help your body heal.

“Practicing relaxation techniques before your surgery may help improve your post-operative period,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. This may include:

• Guided imagery programs
• Meditation
• Deep breathing techniques

A review of studies found that such practices may help relieve both anxiety and pain.

If you need additional resources to support you through these stressful times, ask your provider to recommend support groups and breast psychologists that may be helpful.

Get your home ready

After surgery, you’ll have some limited mobility, and you’ll have some pain and discomfort to manage. “To help you heal, take time beforehand to make your home as comfortable and accessible as possible,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary advises.

Here are some steps to take ahead of time:

• Plan for extra comfort. Buy extra pillows or a wedge pillow for sleeping. “Some surgeons may send you home with a surgical bra,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary notes. “There are also mastectomy bras or belts available online that may help with comfort and managing operative drains.”
• Tidy your space. Declutter or clean ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about a messy or dirty space while you recover.
• Make important items accessible. Move medications, chargers and other go-to items to a place where they’ll be easy to reach.
• Prepare for meals. Stock your pantry, and do meal prep with simple, high-protein meals that you can keep in your freezer. Set up a meal train (or ask a loved one to manage it for you) so friends and family can send you food while you recover.
• Run errands ahead of time. Pick up any recommended supplies and fill prescriptions before surgery so they’re ready when you get home.

Make aftercare plans

Recovery is easier when you’re not scrambling for help. Before surgery:

• Secure a ride. Who will take you home from the hospital? You should also have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours, at least.
• Line up help. For the first week or two, you might need assistance with everyday tasks, like meals and laundry. This is especially true if you have kids, pets, childcare and pet care.
• Plan around lifting limits. After surgery, avoid lifting more than five to 10 pounds. This can be especially tricky if you have young kids, making a helping hand that much more important.

Ask your care team what else they recommend.

Pack for your hospital stay

Most people go home the day of surgery. But if you’ll need to stay overnight, pack a bag with clothing that won’t irritate your incisions — like flowy, open-front tops (think zip-ups and button-ups; nothing you pull on over your head) and soft, loose-fitting pants.

Don’t forget about:

• No-skid socks or soft slippers for padding around your hospital room
• Hygiene items, like baby wipes, dry shampoo and hand sanitizer
• Other personal items, like glasses, a blanket and chargers

Follow all surgery prep instructions

Your care team will tell you what to do (and what to avoid) in the 24 hours or so before your surgery.

“You won’t be able to eat or drink anything, including water, for a certain period of time before surgery,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. “This is a safety precaution to prevent aspiration during surgery itself and to reduce the chances of nausea and vomiting right after surgery.” 

They’ll also tell you what hygiene products to avoid, like deodorant and lotions, and whether you need to abstain from medications before surgery.

Post-operative recovery tips

Your recovery time will vary depending on the type of mastectomy you have. But the healing process starts as soon as you leave the operating room. Before you go home, make sure you know who to contact if you have follow-up questions or concerns.

“Your care team will show you how to care for your incision sites and empty and record surgical drain output,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. “They’ll also share any other important information. And this is the time to ask any questions you have about aftercare and recovery.”

Here’s a look at some of the aspects of recovery after a mastectomy.

Care for your incision site and surgical drains

While in the operating room, your surgeon will put in temporary surgical drains, which usually stay in place for one or two weeks. They prevent fluid from building up underneath the mastectomy flap.

Before you leave the hospital, a nurse will go over instructions for how to manage and take care of your drains.

“The most important thing is making sure that you record the drain output, or how much fluid they collect,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. “Once that number is low enough, your surgeon will determine when it’s ready for the drains to be removed.”

Manage your pain

It’s normal to experience some soreness, swelling and bruising after surgery. Your care team will prescribe medications to help you manage your pain at home. They may also recommend relaxation practices, like deep breathing, to help relieve tension.

“In addition to general post-operative pain, you might feel tightness in your chest or some nerve pain,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. “These both typically improve over time and with range-of-motion exercises.”

But if your pain feels unmanageable or is getting worse, it’s important to touch base with your care team.

Take it easy … but move and stretch as advised

Rest is an important element of recovery. Your care team will talk to you about your limitations after surgery, including how much you can lift and any movements to avoid.

“We typically recommend that you avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for about six weeks after the operation,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says.

But they’ll also talk to you about what type of movement you should do while you recover — like light walking, which can help relieve stiffness and increase endurance. They’ll teach you some gentle stretches and exercises designed to:

• Promote healing
• Regain arm and shoulder motion and strength
• Help with circulation
• Prevent issues like scar tissue formation and frozen shoulder

“If you notice any problems with motion restrictions or limited strength, talk to your surgeon,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary advises. “They can refer you to physical or occupational therapy to help with range-of-motion exercises and prevent stiffness.”

Know when to seek medical attention

Your healthcare team will schedule a follow-up appointment about one to two weeks after your surgery. It’s important to attend this and all follow-up visits. But reach out to your care team sooner if you have symptoms of an infection, like:

• Fever or chills
• New or worsening redness and drainage at the surgery site
• New or increased swelling at the surgery site
• An increase in drainage from your tubes
• A blockage in the drainage from your tubes

Keep an eye out for other concerns, too, like:

• Signs of cording, thick scar tissue forming under your arm
• Symptoms of post-mastectomy pain syndrome, like tingling, prickling, burning, itching or shooting pain
• Symptoms of lymphedema, like swelling or tightness in your hands, arms, chest or back

“Your surgeon will help monitor these symptoms and can refer you to a breast physical therapist or a lymphedema specialist as needed,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary says. “They can help prevent it from becoming a further problem.”

Support your mental health

When you have cancer, it’s common to feel anxious, sad and overwhelmed (among other feelings) about what you’re going through.

To care for your mental health during cancer treatment, seek support from loved ones, support groups and online resources. Consider speaking with a therapist, too — especially one who specializes in working with people who are going through breast cancer treatment.

“After surgery, healing involves caring for both your body and your mind,” Dr. Matar-Ujvary emphasizes. “If you’re having trouble with either, don’t hesitate to talk to your care team. We’re here for you through every step of the process.”