Preparing for surgery

Surgery is a standard part of breast cancer treatment. Almost everyone diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer has some surgery. Sometimes, people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer have surgery, too.

Below, you can hear from others who have had breast cancer surgery, get tips for recovery, learn what to share with your care team, and more.

Breast cancer surgery: what to expect (video)

In this video, you can hear from women who’ve been there as they share:

• Things to know before surgery
• What it feels like to wake up after surgery
• Tips on how to stay comfortable
• How to take care of drains (temporary plastic tubes your surgeon will place in your body to collect post-surgery fluid)
• Other tips for recovery

Providing information to your care team

Your healthcare team will help prepare you for surgery. Once your surgery is scheduled, your team will ask you to provide a full, detailed medical history, including:

• Any health conditions, such as high blood pressure
• Any previous diagnoses, such as previous cancers, heart disease, or diabetes
• Your family’s health history
• Previous surgeries and hospitalizations
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take
• Vitamin and herbal supplements you take
• Your general health and lifestyle habits, such as whether you drink alcohol or smoke

It’s important that you share as much as you know and are as honest as possible, because some factors can complicate surgery. For example:

• Your doctors need to know if you smoke, because smoking raises the risk of complications such as breathing difficulties during or after surgery, and healing problems after surgery.
• Taking certain herbal products can have different effects on blood pressure or heart rhythm during surgery. Some herbal products can raise your risk of bleeding during surgery.

Be sure to tell your care team about all the products you use, and to follow their advice about continuing or stopping their use in the weeks before and after surgery.

Pre-surgical testing

Your care team will also schedule you for pre-surgical testing at the hospital to make sure anesthesia is safe for you. These tests may include:

• A chest x-ray to check your lung function
• An electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart rhythm
• Blood tests to look at blood counts, risk of infection, risk of bleeding, and liver and kidney function
• A urine test to check for pregnancy if you are premenopausal

If you are having surgery to remove lymph nodes from under your arm, it’s important to know that it can increase the risk of a condition called lymphedema. Lymphedema symptoms include arm swelling and pain. Still, there are ways to reduce your risk, including getting a baseline arm measurement before surgery. Visit the Lymphedema page to learn more.

Localization for lumpectomy

If you undergo a lumpectomy, you will likely have a localization procedure before the surgery.

Learn more about localization on the Surgery page.