Mastectomy
Mastectomy usually involves removal of the entire breast and nipple. The operation is done under general anaesthetic.
Your doctor might recommend that you have a mastectomy if:
- the area of DCIS is large compared to the size of your breast
- the DCIS and/or microcalcification is in more than one area of your breast
- after breast conserving surgery, the area of DCIS is larger than it appeared on the mammogram, or there are DCIS cells in the healthy tissue surrounding the DCIS
- the DCIS has come back in your breast and you had radiotherapy when you were first treated (radiotherapy can’t be used again to treat the same breast).
Your doctor will also consider your age, family history of breast cancer, and your treatment preference. If you have a mastectomy, you can have a breast reconstruction or wear a breast prosthesis. You might be able to have a breast reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy. Ask your surgeon about this before your operation. You are very unlikely to need radiotherapy after mastectomy.
Talk to your doctor or breast care nurse about any side effects you’re concerned about or think you’re developing. Most side effects can be managed with medical care.
What can I expect after mastectomy?
Every woman’s situation is different so it’s not possible to say exactly what will happen after mastectomy. Discuss this with your surgeon before your operation. You might also find it helpful speak to other women who have had a mastectomy. Some of the things that might happen are listed below.
Usually after mastectomy
- You will have a dressing (bandage) over the surgery site.
- You will have a scar that runs across your chest, which might become less noticeable with time.
- You will feel some pain, discomfort or numbness in your chest while the wound is healing. The discomfort usually settles in a few weeks but there will always be a numb area where the breast was.
- You will have a drainage tube in your breast, which will be removed a day or two after surgery. A drainage tube is used to drain any fluid which might collect in or around your scar (a seroma).
Often after mastectomy
- You might feel a difference in weight between the two sides of your body, particularly if your other breast is large. The weight can be balanced using an external breast prosthesis, or with breast reconstruction.
Sometimes after mastectomy
- You might have swelling and bruising around the wound in your chest. This usually settles with time. You might be given a compression dressing, called a binder, to help reduce bruising and swelling.
- You might feel like the breast is ‘still there’ but this feeling will usually disappear with time.
Uncommonly after mastectomy
- Your wound might bleed or become infected.
- Your wound might take a long time to heal.
