How long is recovery after breast cancer surgery?
Recovery time for breast cancer surgery Lumpectomy: Most people can get back to day-to-day activities within 5–10 days. Mastectomy: People may feel back to themselves 3–4 weeks after surgery. Mastectomy with reconstruction: This procedure has the longest recovery time, and takes up to 6–8 weeks.
How long does breast cancer surgery take?
A mastectomy without reconstruction usually takes one to three hours. The surgery is often done as an outpatient procedure, and most people go home on the same day of the operation.
What does a mastectomy surgery look like?
Most mastectomy incisions are in the shape of an oval around the nipple, running across the width of the breast. If you are having a skin-sparing mastectomy, the incision will be smaller, including only the nipple, areola, and the original biopsy scar.
What does mastectomy scar look like?
As the wound heals, a scar will form. Despite the different approaches, most mastectomy scars heal in a horizontal line across the chest, a diagonal line, or sometimes in a half moon shape. Often, the incision type and resulting scar depend upon the original location of the breast cancer lesion.
How long do you stay in hospital after breast cancer surgery?
The length of your hospital stay will depend on the type of surgery you have, but you’ll usually need to stay in hospital for about 2 or 3 days. However, it isn’t unusual to only stay in hospital for one night. Before you leave hospital, your specialist or nurse will talk to you about what to do when you get home.
How soon after breast cancer surgery do you start radiation?
Radiation therapy usually begins three to eight weeks after surgery unless chemotherapy is planned. When chemotherapy is planned, radiation usually starts three to four weeks after chemotherapy is finished. You will likely have radiation therapy as an outpatient at a hospital or other treatment facility.
How painful is a mastectomy?
You will have some pain after breast surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy or breast reconstruction). For most people, this pain is temporary and goes away after you heal from the surgery. About 20 percent of people have pain that lasts longer [240]. Pain right after surgery is usually due to injury to the skin or muscles.
How long does it take to recuperate from a mastectomy?
It takes time to completely recover from a mastectomy. According to the American Cancer Society, most women can return to their normal activities in about 4 weeks . However, recovery can be longer for some individuals, potentially taking months.
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