Preparing for surgery
- Medical Review: Vivian J. Bea, MD, FACS
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
Learn about what to expect after breast cancer surgery from people like you. Hear about things to know before surgery, what it feels like to wake up after surgery, taking care of drains, tips on how to stay comfortable, and more.
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.
Preparing for a better recovery
Emerging evidence shows that prehabilitation, or the process of using targeted physical and mental health techniques before treatment, can reduce side effects and improve outcomes.
Your physician may specifically offer guidance on preparing your skin for surgery. Generally, these practices are meant to reduce infection and related complications to have the best outcomes possible. This may involve using products you get over the counter or from your surgeon’s office to cleanse the skin, as well as the type of clothing and products that are recommended.
Newer technology is also emerging to help prepare breast tissue for better wound healing. Studies have suggested that increasing blood flow to the breast tissue can reduce complications from breast surgery. You may talk with your doctor about ways to increase blood flow to the surgical area.
You may see this referred to as supraphysiological preconditioning. Preconditioning means preparing the area that will be treated. Supraphysiological means increasing something above its normal range in the body. One company, Bloom43, offers a non-invasive, wearable device that encourages blood flow when worn the night before surgery.
In this case, the Bloom43 device uses supraphysiological preconditioning™ to prepare the skin by increasing heat to the area in a safe, controlled way to stimulate blood flow. Studies show this extra blood flow can help wounds heal better and reduce the risk of follow-up surgeries. Bloom43 also offers a free app to learn more about how sleep, nutrition, movement, lower stress, self-care, and finding community can support you before and after surgery.
While these preconditioning technologies are not yet covered by insurance, you may find additional information through device manufacturers (such as Bloom43.com) to understand if the cost and benefits are a fit for you.
Talk with your doctor about any prehabilitation strategies you want to include as part of your surgery preparation.
Questions to ask your doctor as you get ready for breast surgery:
- What can I do to help me get ready for treatment?
- What type of exercise or mental preparation can I do now to have the best outcome after surgery?
- Should I eat differently before or after surgery to help with healing?
- What are my pre-surgery instructions, and what supplies will I need?
- Will I have surgical drains, and can you show me how they work?
- How can I prepare my home to make recovery go smoothly?
Read: Cancer prehabilitation: Preparing yourself for breast cancer treatment and 5 ways to prehab
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Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.