Breast cancer/mastectomy....any practical advice?

[Macaela25]

My mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer and will have a mastectomy in the next few weeks. Although we are not surprised by the diagnosis (she has a golf ball sized lump), we have never dealt with cancer in our family before. We have no word yet on any type of chemo or radiation treatment, although I would assume she would need it. The doctor thinks the cancer may be in just the breast at this point.

Is there any practical advice anyone can give us on having a mastectomy? Obviously her medical team will give us all the basic info, but I was hoping someone had some real life experience on how to her more comfortable during the recovery, general advice, that sort of thing. We've been blindsided, as you can imagine.

[CW&M Mom]

Okay my mom has had breast cancer so i'll see if i can help.

She needed (and still mostly wears) button up shirts. There was no way for her to get a shirt over her head. She'll also need a very comfortable bra. My mother has found that actually nursing bra's that hook in the front were the most comfortable.

She will have a lot of wrapping around her as well, so the button up shirts need to be really loose to accommodate it.

Also make sure while she's in the hospital that no one tries to do her BP on the arm that is the side where her breast is removed. She will never be able to have a BP done on that side again. They will take no only breast tissue but a ton of under arm tissue as well (where the lymph nodes are).

They will have to remove her nipple. My mother had the surgery where they remove tissue from your groin area to make a "new nipple". If she had to do it over she wouldn't do it again. She also would not of let them do a lift of the other breast. It was pointless and hurts a lot. Since she is older and they were saggy anyways getting them symmetrical was not even remotely possible.

She does love to spook church leaders though...cause when you do radiation they put a little tattoo on all the spots they are going to radiate. So she likes to shock them with the fact that she has tattoo's.

I'm going to PM you some info..and if you have any specific questions I'd be more then happy to ask my mother and get back to you.

[Rene S]

CW&M had some good information. My mom is also a BC survivor. I would suggest that, after surgery, she get therapy for the arm where the lymph nodes are removed. She will need to rebuild strength in that arm.

Also, if the chemo will cause her to lose her hair, I'd suggest she get her head shaved before her hair will fall out. It's much more "vogue" for women to do this now, and then YOU take control of when you lose your hair. The worst memory I have of the cancer is my mom screaming when her hair started coming out in clumps, it was awful. You could go with her and turn it into an "event."

[CW&M Mom]

My mom shaved her hair off too. She never wore a wig but we had some hats crocheted for her (really soft non itchy yarn).

[thecooperhouse]

CW&M had some good information. My mom is also a BC survivor. I would suggest that, after surgery, she get therapy for the arm where the lymph nodes are removed. She will need to rebuild strength in that arm.

That is great advice! I would definitely have her check into that. My mom is a 10 year survivor and her arm is very weak.

[CW&M Mom]

I know..I wish we had thought of therapy for my mom's arm.

[bali1228]

Soft cotton caps or wraps. Hair protects your head from cold drafts. My mom never wanted to wear her wig, because it itched (she didn't shave hers, but she had it cut into a pixie...it really worked for her), but she needed something to wear around the house to keep her head warm that was lightweight and soft. You and your mom are in my prayers.

[summermay]

I only had a partial mastectomy last year so not totally the same. I'm very sorry for your mom's diagnosis and will send good thoughts for her recovery.

Tell her to take it easy and not try to do too much too soon. Don't try to sweat it out take the pain meds if you need them and sooner better than later. I slept in the recliner the first few days back home. It was too hard to lay down in bed. I've also found that a stretchy sports bra that has hooks up the front works best for me. I find them at Kmart for about $8. I used Ivory soap for bathing during radiation treatments. Also used. pure clear aloe gel for the burn/dryness of the skin.

Please keep us updated on your mom and also please have your own checkup soon. Take care.

[Pennstater]

Oh gosh, so sorry. I nursed my best friend, 39 then, when she had her double mast. She got a wig before shaving her hair. Otherwise the chemo did not have too many bad side effects. She worked full time thru the 9 months of chemo. She went to a few groups, for therapy, but hated it. Did not like hearing about everyone else problems, so it's not for everyone. Take a pain killer when they remove the drains, I went with her and she said that hurt the most! Good luck and I wish her well.

[Troop1379]

I dont know anything about BC but my aunt has Lung Cancer and it is Very hot her sometimes she does not want to wear a hot cause of the heat make sure you have sunblock to use on her head even if it is not that hot out, Cause your head never sees sun when you have hair. we found out that she had lung cancer cause she went to the ER thinking she had the flu. she has stage 4 LC. I will be praying for your mom