Complications of Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer surgery is generally considered safe, but as with any surgery, there are risks.
Possible problems include:
Side Effects From Breast Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy and radiation destroy breast cancer cells. But these treatments can also affect healthy cells and can change how you feel. They might cause: Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Weakness and fatigue Mouth sores Hair loss Weight gain Early menopause A higher risk of infections Bleeding Diarrhea Medications and other therapies can help ease many of these side effects.
Read the Side Effects From Breast Cancer Treatments article > >
Talk to your doctor about all these possibilities before you have your surgery. The medical staff will keep an eye out for problems while you're in the hospital. Once you’re home, you’ll need to know the symptoms of problems:
Infection. Look for redness or swelling of the incision with pus or foul-smelling drainage. You may have a fever. Usually, antibiotics can treat these infections.
Lymphedema. Look for swelling of the arm or hand on the side of the surgery. This happens to some women after the lymph nodes under the arm are removed. It may go away on its own, but you may need to see a physical or occupational therapist. Treatments may include:
Seroma. You may notice swelling from a build-up of fluid at the site of the surgery. Usually, fluid is absorbed by the body. If it doesn’t go down on its own, your doctor may need to drain the area, using a needle.
If you notice any of these symptoms, let your doctor know right away.
You may have pain and stiffness in your shoulder as you recover. You may also have numbness or unusual sensations in the upper arm or armpit. Usually these side-effects go away with time.
Many women opt to get their breast reconstructed right after their cancer is removed. Problems can stem from that operation, too. They include:
Before any surgery, your doctor should give you information about the procedure, recovery, and follow-up care. Read it over, and get all your questions answered beforehand.
When you understand the surgery and the possible complications, you’ll be better able to care for yourself and catch problems early on.
Possible problems include:
Recommended Related to Breast Cancer
Side Effects From Breast Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy and radiation destroy breast cancer cells. But these treatments can also affect healthy cells and can change how you feel. They might cause: Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Weakness and fatigue Mouth sores Hair loss Weight gain Early menopause A higher risk of infections Bleeding Diarrhea Medications and other therapies can help ease many of these side effects.
Read the Side Effects From Breast Cancer Treatments article > >
- Infection.
- Hematoma.A build-up of blood under your skin
- Seroma. A build-up of fluid under your skin
- Lymphedema. Swelling in the arm
- A bad reaction to anesthesia
Talk to your doctor about all these possibilities before you have your surgery. The medical staff will keep an eye out for problems while you're in the hospital. Once you’re home, you’ll need to know the symptoms of problems:
Infection. Look for redness or swelling of the incision with pus or foul-smelling drainage. You may have a fever. Usually, antibiotics can treat these infections.
Lymphedema. Look for swelling of the arm or hand on the side of the surgery. This happens to some women after the lymph nodes under the arm are removed. It may go away on its own, but you may need to see a physical or occupational therapist. Treatments may include:
- Draining the fluid
- Compression bandages to keep the swelling down
- Skin care
- Arm exercises
Seroma. You may notice swelling from a build-up of fluid at the site of the surgery. Usually, fluid is absorbed by the body. If it doesn’t go down on its own, your doctor may need to drain the area, using a needle.
If you notice any of these symptoms, let your doctor know right away.
You may have pain and stiffness in your shoulder as you recover. You may also have numbness or unusual sensations in the upper arm or armpit. Usually these side-effects go away with time.
Complications of Reconstructive Surgery
Many women opt to get their breast reconstructed right after their cancer is removed. Problems can stem from that operation, too. They include:
- Infection
- Poor healing
- A leak or rupture of your breast implant
- Scar tissue around your implant
Before any surgery, your doctor should give you information about the procedure, recovery, and follow-up care. Read it over, and get all your questions answered beforehand.
When you understand the surgery and the possible complications, you’ll be better able to care for yourself and catch problems early on.