Health Tips:
Please take from these tips what you believe to be appropriate for you, while keeping in mind that this is not medical advice. Always remember to consult with your doctor regarding your condition and what is best for you.

Mastectomy Tips:
Below are some tips from survivors that may help you through this
difficult time.

Before Surgery

• Rest, rest, rest if you can a few days before surgery, it will help with your recovery (wish I did!!!)
• I prepared my home and completed any important tasks. I knew that I would be out of commission for awhile.
• I made arrangements for my children to be driven around and cared for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
• I was given a small pillow to hold between me and the seat belt for the car ride home from the hospital – great for going to the doctor’s office a few days after surgery too. I felt supported by the pillow. Definitely go out and get one!
• I spent time preparing my children for my return from the hospital.
• I was told to wear sports bras for 6 weeks after surgery. It was hard to find ones that I felt comfortable in, so I suggest that if you are told the same by your doctor, shop around before surgery.
• I am glad that I invested in button down shirts prior to surgery- you will not be able to wear a pull-over for a few weeks. You can not lift your arms.

• It was really important for me to give myself permission to rest and allow myself to recover.
• It was very hard to look in the mirror and face the loss of my breasts after surgery. It was helpful to just cry.
• I learned to say yes when friends and family offered their help- you need it.
• I could not lift anything over 3 pounds for a few weeks. For those of us that are mothers, it was so hard not to lift my babies. I really needed help at home with my toddler.
• If you have stairs try to stay on one floor for awhile. I didn’t have much energy to go up & down all day when I needed things. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. My chest was tight and very sore. The other way to describe it is being pulled really tight across the chest – like wearing a painful corset. So, I set up a little home for myself upstairs with everything I needed.
• I had trouble getting used to the weirdness and tightness of the expander. The fillings were sometimes tough, so it was important for me to tell my doctor when it was too much. Ask your doctor if you have that flexibility.
• I found the arm exercises that my doctor gave me to be very helpful in gaining full range of motion in my arms again.