What is the life expectancy after a double mastectomy?
81.2% of women who had double mastectomy were alive 10 years after diagnosis. 79.9% of women who had single mastectomy were alive 10 years after diagnosis.
How long is recovery from double mastectomy with reconstruction?
Average recovery time after mastectomy and reconstruction is about 3-4 weeks, but may be up to 6-8 weeks. During that time, there may be restrictions against driving and activities that involve lifting or raising the arms up over the head.
How long does pain last after double mastectomy with reconstruction?
Right after the surgery, you will probably feel weak, and you may feel sore for 2 to 3 days. You may feel pulling or stretching near or under your arm. You may also have itching, tingling, and throbbing in the area. This will get better in a few days.
How long does it take to recover from a mastectomy and reconstruction?
Most women return to regular activities within 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. It may be several weeks before you can do strenuous exercise. The mastectomy and breast reconstruction will leave areas of numbness where the surgery was done. Instead of pain where the tissue was taken, you may feel numbness and tightness.
What is the success rate of a double mastectomy?
Double mastectomy: 81.2% 10-year survival rate.
How bad is a double mastectomy?
When both breasts are removed, it is called a double (or bilateral) mastectomy. Double mastectomy is done as a risk-reducing surgery for women at very high risk for getting breast cancer, such as those with a BRCA gene mutation. Most of these mastectomies are simple mastectomies, but some may be nipple-sparing.
Can I use my arms after double mastectomy?
So in summary, the reason you are instructed not to move your arms overhead for two weeks after a prophylactic double mastectomy is due to precaution rather than patient comfort or mechanical impairment. However, some degree of mechanical impairment or difference will occur during recovery.
How painful is a mastectomy and reconstruction?
You may have “phantom sensations” or “phantom pain” in the months after mastectomy: As nerves regrow, you may feel a weird crawly sensation, you may itch, you may be very sensitive to touch, and you may feel pressure. Your discomfort may go away by itself, or it may persist but you adapt to it.
How bad is the pain after double mastectomy?
You will have some pain after breast surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy or breast reconstruction). For most people, this pain is temporary and goes away after you heal from the surgery. About 20 percent of people have pain that lasts longer [240]. Pain right after surgery is usually due to injury to the skin or muscles.
What is the most common complication after implant reconstruction?
Risks of capsular contracture The most common problem with breast implants is capsular contracture. A scar (or capsule) can form around the soft implant. As it tightens, it can start to squeeze the implant, making the breast feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated.
Do you still need chemo after a double mastectomy?
Are chemotherapy and radiation needed with a double mastectomy? Often times, no. Many women choose mastectomy to avoid radiation. However, that’s not always an option, and women should talk with their doctors or care team before finalizing their decisions.
What not to say to someone who had a mastectomy?
5 things not to say to your friend who’s had a mastectomy
- DON’T: compare it to a boob job. “I don’t care about a new pair, I want my old ones back – MY breasts.
- DON’T: say “you’ll be fine!”
- DON’T: keep talking about our nips.
- DON’T: ask why we didn’t just get the lump removed.
- DON’T: ask to see them.
What to expect after a double mastectomy?
The recovery time from a double mastectomy can vary from person to person, but it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Some surgeries involve removing the breast tissue but saving the nipple, while others remove the whole breast. More radical mastectomies also remove chest muscle and, rarely, the lymph nodes.
How long does recovery from mastectomy take?
For these reasons, patients should not expect recovery from a mastectomy procedure to be a simple process. In fact, mastectomy recovery may take approximately three to six weeks. Some patients experience symptoms such as slight swelling for up to six months after the procedure is performed.
How painful is a double mastectomy?
A double mastectomy can cause some physical side effects. There is also a risk of complications following the surgery. Potential side effects and risks include: Fatigue: Many people feel tired for days or weeks after the surgery. Pain and stiffness in the arms: The shoulders and arms may be stiff, sore,…
When is double mastectomy recommended?
A bilateral (double) mastectomy is the surgical removal of both breasts to treat or prevent breast cancer. In some cases, it is a necessary procedure—such as when an advanced cancer is found in both breasts simultaneously.
