How to best prepare practically for breast cancer surgery?

[Espanila]

I will soon be having surgery for breast cancer which will put me out of action for 6 weeks. Then I’ll be having some chemo and/or radio therapy depending on how surgery goes. For this who have done this before, is there anything I need to do before my operation that I won’t be able to do during my recovery period? I’m going to book a haircut before my surgery as I need one but figured it may be awkward to lean back afterwards. Will get a pedicure too as a bit of self-care. Anything else?? I’ve bought special bras. Any advise on clothes to take to hospital? I’ve had my head in the sand about it as that seems to be the best way of coping but operation date is rapidly approaching. Thanks in advance.

Are you having a lumpectomy or mastectomy?
I’ve had both.
TBH I found both surgeries relatively easy in terms of recovery.
it wasn’t always plain sailing but don’t want to fill your head with that.
If you’re having reconstructive surgery at the same time (I didn’t) then that’s a whole different kettle of fish.
one thing I will say is that surgery is no where near as bad as the waiting for biopsy or scan results in the beginning.
Action means you are one step forward to recovery

I echo every thing that drivinmecrazy said.
I was more nervous about having the anesthetic than the operation as I had never had one until 45.
Buy some pj's with buttons down the front for hospital and after.

Very soft bras, maybe nursing ones, I found best. Go to the dentist and hygienist as when you are going through chemo they probably won't touch you. Soft pjs and very colourful as you don't want any marks/mishaps showing. That said wee pads would be useful as you could be much slower getting to the toilet, especially when having chemo. Hair might/could fall out. Get a really stunning hair do and have a photo taken just in case you do lose it.

I've had both lumpectomy and then many years later mastectomy. Neither was as bad as I was expecting. Radiotherapy was more tiring than expected.

Agree with everything so far! In addition:

Make and freeze some nice easy meals you can reheat. Sliced cheese is amazing because after a lumpectomy I couldn’t lean on the knife without discomfort so that made life much easier. Ditto frozen chopped onions or ginger and any other veg you like.

shampoo and conditioner bars are much easier for washing hair one handed.

get plenty of paracetamol, ibuprofen and ibuprofen gel in. The gel was fantastic for some tingles I had in my arm after surgery which eased off over time. Some people find seat belt pads are kind depending on where your scar is.

Most people cope really well on over the counter pain relief. I am the exception and didn’t ask for stronger pain killers soon enough- my only regret. If you feel like you need another dose well before you are scheduled to take more, talk to clinic or your GP and try something else.

I had physio after surgery and she said patients who manage pain heal better, as do those who eat lots of protein. Tasty medicine!

Wishing you all the very best, I am 2.5 years post surgery and radiotherapy and have met the most amazing community of people through my experience. A beautiful outcome I wasn’t expecting.

Absolutely, go to the dentist. They will ask you about it multiple times, and depending on the treatment you get dentists need to take great care. Go for a short hair cut, it’s easy to cold cap with and if you end up losing it it’s easier if it’s already short.
Books and podcasts to listen to, it’s easier to relax and listen than read.
lots of pillows to help you get comfortable in bed or on the settee.
The operations were the easy bits and with a bit of luck you won’t need chemo.

Good luck @Espanila .
Just on the pedicure, it's worth checking but they often say you have to remove all nail polish for surgery with GA. I guess you could still have the pedi but without polish.

Thank you all so much. It’s a lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery on both sides in one go. Just been to the dentist actually but will also book hygienist. And noted re nail polish. I have pre surgery appt next Mon so will ask then. Much appreciate your help.

Just off the top of my head, buy anything heavy like packs of water from the supermarket because you won't want to lug it after! And yes, have healthy meals in the freezer, and little treats to cheer you up.

And get lots of walks and sleep before surgery, get as healthy as you can be as a baseline. I gave up drinking a month before surgery and really feel that helped me recover.

Take any support you can from the hospital, Maggie's, etc - you should have a breast cancer nurse who can advise you on that. I went to a Breasts Friends group, if there's one close to you. Breast Cancer Now is a good online site.

Good luck!

Invest in a few phone chargers with long leads as it can initially be hard getting plugs in sockets and finding short leads.

If you want to stock your freezer up, Cook ready meals are some of the best.

If you are on your own and you don't have a chest height oven, think about getting an air fryer- they are a lot easier to cope with as there is no bending.

Also, if you are on your own think about online orders. Ocado sell MS food and deliver with bags so it is a bit easier. It pays to think ahead about making things like deliveries easier - like getting deliveries to your kitchen door rather than to your front door.

I bought dsil a special pillow which she used a lot in the first few weeks. It was especially useful in the car to protect her from the seat belt.

My breast care nurses were wonderful. They were just on the end of the phone if I was worried about anything at all and could even just pop along and see them if I needed to.

Thank you all. I do have 4 DC and a DH. One young DC who relies on me a lot has significant SEN so I am a bit apprehensive that he won’t understand that his mum is out of action. My DH has taken some time off work to help post-op. No other family available to help but I do have wonderful friends who can drop off meals etc.

Also will I really not be able to put on my own socks? How long for? Argh.

Hi I am still recovering from double masc with recon, had it about 4 weeks ago now.

for me, it’s no driving or lifting baby for 6 weeks, not fully healed til 12. Couldn’t put socks on til maybe week 3. Couldn’t lift my arms for about 2 weeks, I’m now almost at 90 degrees at 4 weeks. Could bathe properly by myself by about 3 weeks.

its been very slow recovery but I’ve been walking and doing physio so feeling great now. There were ladies in my ward with single masc and recon which recovered soooo much easier than me, I couldn’t sit up by myself for about 2 weeks and sobbing. Because obviously you can’t push up or anything from your arms so it’s all core and my stomach had been cut open.

Its not at all as scary as it sounds but it is slow progress.

Wishing you strength @Bangersndmash and thank you for sharing your experiences. Feel a bit apprehensive now tbh!

Lots of good advice here! I would get a v pillow to proper yourself up in bed, and on the sofa. Try to get out for a walk when you can, particularly on chemo. Even if it's ten steps out the door and back, I found it helped me so much getting moving and seeing the sky. Good luck with the surgery and treatment x

Thank you so much @SunnyValemin , will order a V cushion. And will definitely try and get out as and when I’m able. Am lucky to have a garden so will aim to get into that at least for the first few days. Hope you are fully recovered now and feeling good.

@Espanila you are welcome! I'm 2 years past chemo now, but still waiting on reconstruction surgery. Hopefully next year! Always happy to answer any questions about chemo etc when you get to it.

If you have an Alexa programme a smart lightbulb at your bedside. After my surgery I didn’t want to reach out and switch it on (discomfort) so just told it to do so! I had an Alexa in the bedroom also for playing the radio/ music overnight if I was wakeful. Voice commands were helpful when I was much slower moving.

I did need a hand from dh to sit up at first during the night for the loo.

make sure you have a lot of pillows at first. I slept propped up a bit, with another pillow under my knees.

a light weight sports bottle of water is helpful - a large bottle was uncomfortable to lift, as was a full cuppa. Straws also helped.

I don’t have anything too “smart” in my bedroom (apart from my DH hahah) but good tip re water bottle thank you @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic
for some crazy reason I seem to think I’ll be up and about after a week. I think maybe I’m in denial. Do I need one of those pj tops that can hold drainage bottle thingys?

I’m having my mastectomy with reconstruction tomorrow. I think those pj tops with pockets are too small for the Uk drains I believe but could be wrong I think they are designed for US drains which are smaller from what I have read from reviews but I will let you know tomorrow.
I am taking in a cotton bag (the freebie sort you get after races/ uni days ) for my drain and hope that will do

They gave me a little cross body soft bag for my drain. I seemed to be spectacularly unlucky with seepage so do put some pee pads on the bed to protect the mattress in case what happens to me happens to you! Just a bit of seepage! I also had spare pjs and pants out for changes 🙄. This too will pass.

All the best tomorrow @Puravida23

Thanks @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic feeling remarkably calm (I think I am still in denial)

Yes best of luck @Puravida23