A mastectomy is surgery to remove your entire breast. It’s one of several potential treatment options for breast cancer. Most people can return to typical activities within a few weeks, though some may need to wait several months.
Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into what to expect when recovering from a mastectomy. We’ll discuss how long recovery takes, what mastectomy pain is like, and when you can typically return to daily activities.
It takes time to completely recover from a mastectomy. According to the American Cancer Society, most people can return to their typical activities after about
However, factors such as the type of mastectomy you’ve had and your overall health can affect your recovery time. In some cases, recovery may take longer.
More extensive procedures and breast reconstruction can also lengthen your recovery. Your surgeon can give you a more specific timeline for your recovery.
Immediately after your procedure, you’ll be moved into the hospital’s recovery room, where hospital staff will monitor vital signs such as your heart rate and blood pressure. They will also monitor your surgical drain, a flexible tube they will place in your breast or armpit to collect excess fluid that can build up after surgery.
You’ll receive pain medication to help ease discomfort. You’ll also receive anti-nausea medication, as it’s common to feel a bit nauseated from the anesthesia.
Many people who have a mastectomy stay in the hospital for 3 days or less. In fact, it’s becoming more common to be released the same day as your procedure. According to a
However, if you have breast reconstruction during the same surgery, you may have a longer hospital stay — up to a week.
Learn more: What to expect from a mastectomy.
When you leave the hospital, your doctor will give you instructions for your home recovery. This may include when to take your medication, how to care for your incision and surgical drains, what exercises to do for arm and shoulder mobility, and how to recognize symptoms of complications.
It’s important that you follow these instructions closely to ensure a smooth recovery. Your sutures should dissolve on their own, so there is no need to return to the hospital to have them removed. If you have surgical drains, your surgeon will provide instructions for at-home care until they are removed during a follow-up visit.
Your surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment 1 to 2 weeks after your mastectomy.
It’s common to have pain or discomfort after a mastectomy. Because everyone experiences pain differently, the intensity and duration can vary between individuals.
It’s important to take all pain medications exactly as prescribed. Acute pain from a mastectomy will gradually go away as you heal.
It’s also possible to develop chronic pain after a mastectomy. The authors of a 2018 study estimate that
Chronic pain after mastectomy happens as a result of nerve damage. If you experience it, you’re most likely to feel pain in your chest wall, armpit, or arm.
In addition to general pain or discomfort, you might feel:
- numbness and tingling
- shooting or prickling pain
- a burning sensation
- itching
- phantom sensations around the surgical site
There are many potential treatments for chronic pain after mastectomy. If you’re experiencing prolonged pain after the procedure, discuss your treatment options with a doctor.
Recovering sensations
During your recovery, you might feel numbness around the mastectomy site. This feeling is due to nerve damage that can happen during the surgery.
In some cases, numbness may be temporary and fade over time as you heal, although your surgical scar may stay numb permanently.
It’s also possible for numbness to be persistent or chronic. This can be treated in several ways, including with the medications and therapies discussed above.
The initial sight of your body after a mastectomy can be challenging. Your chest area may look bruised and swollen, but this should improve over time.
Not everyone has a difficult time with this, but some people have a hard time accepting the physical changes, especially if they haven’t had breast reconstruction.
It’s not uncommon to experience lower self-esteem or feel incomplete or less attractive after a mastectomy. Because of this, depression and anxiety
It’s helpful to understand that these feelings are common and to know that you can get help from loved ones, support groups, or a mental health professional. Without that support, your mental recovery
It can also be helpful to focus on physical activities that are relaxing, bring you joy, and remind you of your body’s strength, such as walking and yoga.
If you can redefine your relationship with your body to focus less on societal beauty standards, it may lead to a lot of positive self-growth and acceptance.
You might wonder when you’ll be able to return to daily activities such as doing household chores and running errands. It’s important to talk with your surgeon about which specific activities you can do when you get home.
You’ll generally need to avoid doing household chores and lifting heavy objects for a set period of time. Ask your doctor how long you should take this precaution. You might want to ask a loved one to help you with some day-to-day activities as you recover.
While individual experiences vary, here are some of the possible timelines for resuming activities:
Driving
When you can start driving again typically depends on how you feel during recovery. Some people may need to wait about 4 weeks after surgery, while for others, the wait may be shorter or longer.
If you’ve been taking any narcotic pain medication, you should not start driving again until you’ve stopped taking it.
Working
The amount of time it takes to return to work varies from person to person but usually ranges from 4 to 8 weeks.
This also depends on the type of work you do. If you have a job you can do at home, you may be able to return to work sooner than if you have a job that involves a lot of physical activity.
Exercising
Before leaving the hospital, you’ll learn exercises for your arms and shoulders to aid in recovery from a mastectomy. These are important for preventing stiffness and improving range of motion. Avoid other types of exercise until your surgeon clears you to do those activities.
You might also take part in physical therapy.
Wearing a bra or prosthesis
Your mastectomy site needs time to heal before you can wear a bra, and your surgeon will advise on the timing of this. If you had a mastectomy without breast reconstruction, you’ll receive a prosthesis to wear inside your bra.
Most people recover from a mastectomy without complications. But it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of a potential complication so that you can seek help.
Contact your doctor promptly if you experience:
- bleeding from the surgical site that is more than you were told to expect
- symptoms of infection, such as:
- fever
- redness, swelling, or pain around your incision
- pus draining from your incision
- symptoms of a serious blood clot, such as:
- an area that’s red, tender, or feels warm to the touch
- shortness of breath
- chest pain, particularly when breathing deeply
- unexplained swelling around the surgical site, which could indicate a seroma or hematoma
- persistent swelling in your arm or hand, which can be a symptom of lymphedema
After coming home from the hospital, you may have limited movement and range of motion.
It’s a good idea to prepare your house and supplies ahead of time by placing frequently used items within reach and finding a comfortable chair to sleep in.
Other helpful items include a notebook for tracking medications, a wedge pillow, soft and easy-to-wear clothing, and tools for showering or managing surgical drains if needed.
It’s likely that you’ll need some help at home in the days and weeks after your mastectomy. Before your procedure, reach out to loved ones to ask if they can help you with tasks such as:
- household chores
- errands
- meal preparation
- child care
What to pack for the hospital
Put together a bag to bring with you to the hospital. Items you might want to pack include:
- comfortable pants, such as yoga or lounge pants
- shirts that fit loosely and can be buttoned or zipped in the front
- shoes that slip on
- your phone charger
- a pillow for support
- something to keep you entertained in your hospital room, such as a book, magazine, or tablet
- assorted snacks
Recovery from a mastectomy typically takes several weeks, but for some people, it may take months. The timing will depend on your overall health and the type of procedure you had.
When you leave the hospital, you’ll receive information about your recovery at home. This might include how to care for your incision, which types of arm and shoulder exercises to do, and when you can resume your usual activities.
By sticking to your recovery plan, you can help prevent complications and ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Recovering from a mastectomy can be both physically and emotionally difficult, so give yourself time and patience to heal. You might experience pain, fatigue, grief, vulnerability, anger, or a feeling of being overwhelmed. Talking openly about these feelings with your care team and loved ones can help you feel supported during your recovery.